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.
Angel Of Goulburn Hill
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For once in my life I got the feelin' that luck was all my way,
I got a clear run ahead of me still, and a load that will pay me some bills
And I know my angel is waitin' on Goulburn Hill.
About a year ago I was flying down Goulburn Hill,
Floating out around an old Kenwood, just for the thrill,
And the load beneath the old tub, was as high as my bank overdraft,
Well I don't mind sayin' I nearly went out my mind,
I went cold all over as the speedo started to climb,
You better float'n in angel gear
Well there's no place for doing it here,
With a bend and a bridge at the bottom of Goulburn Hill.
I was calling myself all kinds of one eyed lair
Tryin' gearin', stearin' and pumping an' sayin' my prayers,
When the posts were just a white blur,
That's the moment I first saw her,
They say she's called the Angel of Goulburn Hill.
She was there in the cab and I don't know how she got there,
She put her hand on the wheel and said try the brakes just once more,
There's no rhyme or reason to show, why the old girl suddenly slowed,
But that's how it happened that night on Goulburn Hill.
Now don't think that I'm the only one who's ever seen her,
And don't mention angel gear to me cause I've been there,
I got a new paint job on this truck,
And I hope it brings me good luck,
But the name on the door is 'The Angel of Goulburn Hill.'
Oh, the name on the door is 'The Angel of Goulburn Hill.'
The song "Angel of Goulburn Hill" by Slim Dusty tells the story of a truck driver who is on the southbound highway with a load that will not only pay some bills but also bring him some good luck. As he comes to Goulburn Hill with a high load and fading brakes, he gets worried and starts calling himself all kinds of one-eyed lair, trying to figure out how to navigate the situation. All of a sudden, he sees an angel in the cab of his truck, and she calmly puts her hand on the wheel and asks him to try the brakes one more time. The truck inexplicably slows down, and he makes it safely down the hill. The driver then goes on to name his truck after the angel, hoping to bring him good luck and keep him safe in his future trips.
The lyrics of the song are metaphorical and speak to the idea of having a guardian angel who watches over us in times of trouble. The story shows that sometimes when we are faced with difficult circumstances, we can find comfort in believing that someone is watching over us and guiding us through it. The song also highlights the power of faith and positive thinking in helping us overcome challenges and achieve success.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I picked up my load, hit the road on the southbound highway,
I began my journey on the southbound highway after picking up the cargo.
For once in my life I got the feelin' that luck was all my way,
I felt lucky for the first time in my life.
I got a clear run ahead of me still, and a load that will pay me some bills
I have a smooth and profitable journey ahead of me.
And I know my angel is waitin' on Goulburn Hill.
I am aware that there is a legendary angel on Goulburn Hill who helps drivers in need.
About a year ago I was flying down Goulburn Hill,
One year ago, I was recklessly driving downhill at Goulburn Hill.
Floating out around an old Kenwood, just for the thrill,
I was controlling my vehicle around an old Kenwood just for fun.
And the load beneath the old tub, was as high as my bank overdraft,
The cargo in my truck was as valuable as my bank overdraft.
When the brakes they started to fade on Goulburn Hill.
Suddenly, my brakes started failing while going downhill at Goulburn Hill.
Well I don't mind sayin' I nearly went out my mind,
I admit I was terrified and panicked.
I went cold all over as the speedo started to climb,
I began to experience fear and stress as the speedometer kept increasing.
You better float'n in angel gear
You need to be protected by an angel to survive this dangerous road.
Well there's no place for doing it here,
There is no safe place to stop or take a break here.
With a bend and a bridge at the bottom of Goulburn Hill.
There is a dangerous curve followed by a bridge at the bottom of Goulburn Hill.
I was calling myself all kinds of one eyed lair
I was insulting myself using all sorts of foul language.
Tryin' gearin', stearin' and pumping an' sayin' my prayers,
I tried every trick I knew like shifting, steering, and pumping the brakes while praying for help.
When the posts were just a white blur,
I couldn't properly see the road signs as they were just a blur due to speeding.
That's the moment I first saw her,
That's when I saw the legendary Angel of Goulburn Hill for the first time.
They say she's called the Angel of Goulburn Hill.
According to the legends, she is known as the Angel of Goulburn Hill.
She was there in the cab and I don't know how she got there,
The Angel somehow appeared in the vehicle's cab without me noticing how she did it.
She put her hand on the wheel and said try the brakes just once more,
The Angel suggested I try the brakes once more.
There's no rhyme or reason to show, why the old girl suddenly slowed,
There is no logical explanation as to why the truck suddenly slowed down.
But that's how it happened that night on Goulburn Hill.
That's how I survived my dangerous drive down Goulburn Hill with the help of the Angel.
Now don't think that I'm the only one who's ever seen her,
I am not the only person who has seen the Angel of Goulburn Hill.
And don't mention angel gear to me cause I've been there,
I don't want to talk about wearing angel gear because I've experienced the danger firsthand.
I got a new paint job on this truck,
I repainted my truck.
And I hope it brings me good luck,
I hope this new paintjob will bring me good fortune.
But the name on the door is 'The Angel of Goulburn Hill.'
I named my truck 'The Angel of Goulburn Hill' in honor of the Angel who saved me that day.
Contributed by Liliana N. 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