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 prouder man than you
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you hint that higher breeding by a word or by a sign,
If you′re proud because of fortune or the clever things you do --
Then I'll play no second fiddle: I′m a prouder man than you!
If you think that your profession has the more gentility,
And that you are condescending to be seen along with me;
If you notice that I'm shabby while your clothes are spruce and new --
If you have a swell companion when you see me on the street,
And you think that I′m too common for your toney friend to meet,
So that I, in passing closely, fail to come within your view --
Then be blind to me for ever: I′m a prouder man than you!
If your character be blameless, if your outward past be clean,
While 'tis known my antecedents are not what they should have been,
Do not risk contamination, save your name whate′er you do --
'Birds o′ feather fly together': I′m a prouder bird than you!
If you fancy that your people came of better stock than mine,
If you hint that higher breeding by a word or by a sign,
If you're proud because of fortune or the clever things you do --
Then I'll play no second fiddle: I′m a prouder man than you!
If you think that your profession has the more gentility,
And that you are condescending to be seen along with me;
If you notice that I′m shabby while your clothes are spruce and new --
You have only got to hint it: I'm a prouder man than you!
In Slim Dusty's song "A Prouder Man than You," he describes the importance of self-worth, integrity and pride in oneself, regardless of societal expectations or material possessions. The song features a series of rhetorical questions and challenges to those who may judge or look down on him based on personal or social factors such as occupation, status or family history. He asserts that he will not be made to feel inferior or ashamed, and that he is just as deserving of respect as anyone else, regardless of their background or accomplishments.
Slim Dusty's lyrics also contain a subtle critique of classism, suggesting that those who hold themselves up as superior based on external factors such as wealth or education are ultimately missing the point. He argues that true pride and character come from within and cannot be bought or inherited, and that anyone who fails to recognize this is truly the lesser person. The song is ultimately a celebration of personal strength and dignity, and a call to reject any attempts to belittle or diminish oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
If you fancy that your people came of better stock than mine,
If you believe your ancestry is superior to mine,
If you hint that higher breeding by a word or by a sign,
If you insinuate that you are better bred than me,
If you're proud because of fortune or the clever things you do --
If you boast about your wealth or accomplishments,
Then I'll play no second fiddle: I'm a prouder man than you!
I refuse to be subordinate to you and proclaim myself a prouder person
If you think that your profession has the more gentility,
If you believe your occupation is more refined than mine,
And that you are condescending to be seen along with me;
And you view yourself as doing me a favor by being seen with me,
If you notice that I'm shabby while your clothes are spruce and new --
If you take note of my less fashionable attire compared to yours,
You have only got to hint it: I'm a prouder man than you!
You don't intimidate me and I assert my own pride in spite of your snobbery.
If you have a swell companion when you see me in the street,
If you are accompanied by a wealthy or high-status person when you encounter me,
And you think that I'm too common for your toney friend to meet,
And you consider me too low-class for your sophisticated friend to associate with,
So that I, in passing closely, fail to come within your view --
To the extent that I am invisible to you when we cross paths,
Then be blind to me forever: I'm a prouder man than you!
You may ignore me indefinitely, but I will not let it undermine my self-worth.
If your character be blameless, if your outward past be clean,
If your reputation is untarnished and your past indiscretions are not known,
While 'tis known my antecedents are not what they should have been,
While it's common knowledge that I come from a less reputable background than I should have had,
Do not risk contamination, save your name whate'er you do --
Don't associate with me for fear of tarnishing your own reputation, whatever you do.
'Birds o' feather fly together': I'm a prouder bird than you!
Like-minded individuals tend to associate with each other, but I still view myself as superior to you.
Writer(s): David Gordon Kirkpatrick, Henry Archibald Lawson
Contributed by Grace E. 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