Over the course of his career, he collected more gold and platinum albums than any other Australian artist.
Dusty not only recorded songs written by himself and other fellow Australian performers, but also recorded classic Australian poems by Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson with new tunes, to call attention to the old 'Bush Ballads.' An example is The Man from Snowy River by Paterson.
In 1970, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to music. In 1971 he won Best Single at the Australian Country Music Awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival (Slim's wife Joy McKean won Song of the Year as writer of the song for which he won best single). In all, he won a record 35 "Golden Guitars" over the years.
He died at home in St Ives, New South Wales on 19 September 2003 after a protracted battle with cancer, at age 76.
The Slim Dusty Story started back in the 1940s on a remote dairy farm in the hills behind Kempsey, NSW, when a 10-year-old boy dreamed of being a country music singer. His name was David Gordon Kirkpatrick... he called himself "Slim Dusty" and began to live that dream.
But even the most optimistic farm boy would never have imagined the life that was to unfold... a life that would establish Slim as the voice of the nation, the chronicler of Australian history in song.
Slim managed to hold on to those early visions of writing and singing about the bush because during his lengthy career, he always stayed in touch with his audience. And he did this in a very real and meaningful way, so much so that his fans would feel that Slim was one of their mates and his songs "just a good yarn you might hear from a mate at the pub, around a campfire in the bush or at a back yard barbie".
He described his music as "songs about real Australians... "I have to be fair dinkum with my audience. I can't see any other way of doing it," he said. "You have to believe in what you are singing about."
Slim Dusty was the first Australian to have a number one hit record and the only Australian to ever receive a 78rpm Gold Record (for A Pub With No Beer in 1958)...
He was the first Australian to have an international record hit and the first singer in the world to have his voice beamed to earth from space (astronauts Bob Crippen and John Young played Slim's recording of Waltzing Matilda from the space shuttle "Columbia" as it passed over Australia back in 1983).
During an amazingly successful career spanning over six decades, Slims' continued popularity saw him rewarded with more Gold and Platinum Awards for sales of his singles, eight-tracks, cassettes, CD's, videos and DVDs... more than any other Australian artist!
He received an unequaled 37 Golden Guitar Awards, two ARIA's (Australian Recording Industry Association awards), inductions into the ARIA Hall of Fame and the Australian Country Music Roll of Renown.
Slim was recognized for his long time services to Australian entertainment with an MBE and an Order of Australia. In 1999, Prime Minister John Howard named Slim Dusty Australia's Father of the Year and Senior Australian of the Year. There were many other awards and honors... too many to name here!
Dusty died at his home in St Ives, New South Wales on 19 September 2003 at the age of 76, after a protracted battle with cancer.
A Song of Granny
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A glorious summers day,
And quietly in her old arm chair,
Granny dreams away.
She wanders back into the past,
Across fine misty haze,
When she was tender sweet sixteen,
Gently rocking to and fro
Her days are free from care,
Dreaming of the long ago,
When she was young and fair.
Although her road of life's been rough,
She'd live it o'er again,
Those tired old hands so feeble now,
Have done the work of men.
Her home was a tumbled down old shack
Where lonely gum trees grew
She's faced the dangers way outback
And won the hardships too.
Her just reward is yet to come,
For her unceasing toil,
When treasures of that promised land,
Unfold to each and all.
Gently rocking to and fro
Her days are free from care
Dreaming of the long ago,
When she was young and fair.
The sun is setting in the west,
To close another day,
And quietly in her old arm chair,
Granny dreams away.
Slim Dusty's nostalgic ballad, "A Song of Granny," is a poignant tribute to an elderly woman who has spent a lifetime working hard and facing grit and obstacles with quiet dignity. The song opens with a description of a peaceful summer day, as Granny sits in her rocking chair and drifts off into reverie. She dreams of her youth, when she was a fresh-faced sixteen-year-old living in the Australian outback. Despite the difficulties and setbacks she has endured over the years, she looks back on her life with gratitude and a sense of accomplishment.
Dusty's lyrics paint a vivid picture of Granny's life - her humble beginnings in a ramshackle home surrounded by gum trees, her courage and resilience in the face of danger and hardship, and her tireless work ethic that enabled her to persevere despite the odds. The song suggests that Granny has earned a just reward for her labors - perhaps in the form of spiritual blessings, or in a sense of satisfaction at having lived a life well-lived.
What makes "A Song of Granny" so powerful is its ability to capture the essence of an entire generation - one that worked hard, faced adversity with stoicism, and held fast to the hope that a better future was possible. Dusty's haunting melody and simple, straightforward lyrics are a fitting tribute to this unsung hero, whose efforts have helped shape the world we live in today.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun is shining bright and fair,
It's a beautiful summer day, with the sun shining bright on Granny.
A glorious summers day,
The day is truly remarkable.
And quietly in her old arm chair,
Granny is sitting in her favorite chair, lost in thought.
Granny dreams away.
She's reminiscing about the past and the life she lived.
She wanders back into the past,
Granny is remembering her younger days.
Across fine misty haze,
The memories are a bit foggy, but still cherished.
When she was tender sweet sixteen,
Granny recalls her youth and how young and innocent she was at sixteen.
In those pioneering days.
Granny was living during a time of great exploration and progress.
Gently rocking to and fro
Granny is slowly moving back and forth in her chair.
Her days are free from care,
In this moment, Granny's mind is free from the worries of everyday life.
Dreaming of the long ago,
She's deeply immersed in her memories of the past, longing for those days.
When she was young and fair.
Granny misses the days when she was young and attractive.
Although her road of life's been rough,
Granny has experienced many challenges throughout her life.
She'd live it o'er again,
Despite the difficulties, she would still choose to live her life in the same way.
Those tired old hands so feeble now,
Granny's hands have aged and become weak over time.
Have done the work of men.
In her younger years, Granny performed tasks that were typically done by men.
Her home was a tumbled down old shack
Granny lived in a small, run-down house.
Where lonely gum trees grew
The landscape around her home was desolate, with few trees to be seen.
She's faced the dangers way outback
Granny has braved the many hazards of living in the Australian outback.
And won the hardships too.
Despite the numerous difficulties she's encountered, Granny has persevered and conquered them all.
Her just reward is yet to come,
Although Granny has worked tirelessly, she still awaits her ultimate reward.
For her unceasing toil,
Granny has never stopped working hard, even in her later years.
When treasures of that promised land,
Granny awaits the ultimate prize of her labor, the rewards promised to her.
Unfold to each and all.
Granny's efforts will benefit not only her, but also those around her.
The sun is setting in the west,
The day is drawing to a close, with the sun now setting in the west.
To close another day,
This is the end of another day, which has passed all too quickly.
And quietly in her old arm chair,
Granny is still sitting quietly in her favorite chair.
Granny dreams away.
She continues to dream about the past, lost in thought.
Contributed by Jordyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sandra
on One Truckie's Epitaph
My brother Terry Radke was the man Slim wrote the song for after he received a letter from Terry's youngest son, Lync. Thank you
Charley Boyter
on Axe Mark On a Gidgee
With horsebells to keep me company
Jake
on Your Country's Been Sold
You say you belong to Australia my friend
And rightly you’d die for this land to defend
But let us be honest, it’s sad but it’s true
Australia my friend doesn’t belong to you
Our country’s been sold by the powers that be
To big wealthy nations way over the sea
We couldn’t be taken by bayonets or lead
And so they decided to buy us instead
And talking of wars and the blood that was spilled
The widows, the crippled, the ones that were killed
And I often wonder if their ghosts can see
What’s happening now to their native country
I wonder if ghosts of the fallen can see
The crime and corruption and vast poverty
With a lost generation of youth on the dole
Who drift on life’s ocean without any goal
I once had a dream of our country so grand
The rivers outback irrigated the land
With towns and canals in that wasteland out there
And big inland cities with work everywhere
With profit from farming and factory and mine
Was used to develop a nation so fine
Then I woke from my dream into reality
That the wealth of our nation goes over the sea
Yeah you say you belong to Australia my friend
And rightly you’d die for this land to defend
But let us be honest, it’s sad but it’s true
Australia my friend doesn’t belong to you