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.
As Good As New
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And this is a song for the old lights, the lights that we thought grew dim,
That came to my heart to comfort me, and I pass it along to you;
And here is a hand to the dear old friend who turns up as good as new.
And this is a song for the campfire, out west where the stars shine bright,
Oh, this is a song for the campfire, where the old mates yarn to-night;
Where the old mates yarn of the old days, and their numbers are all too few,
Oh, this is a song for the black sheep, for the black sheep that fled from town,
And this is a song for the brave heart, for the brave heart that lived it down;
And this is a song for the battler, for the battler who sees it through,
And this is a song for the broken heart that turns up as good as new.
Ah, this is a song for the brave mate, be he Bushman, Scot, or Russ,
A song for the mates we will stick to, for the mates who have stuck to us;
And this is a song for the old creed, to do as a man should do,
Till the Lord takes us all to a wider world, where we'll turn up as good as new.
The song "As Good As New" by Slim Dusty is a heartfelt tribute to the old lights - the people who have played a significant role in the singer's life, have inspired him, taught him, and helped him through his life's journey. The lyrics are sung as if they're a hymn, as the singer finds comfort in the memories of the old times and the people who were once a part of his life. The song evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for the old days, and the longing to return to them. It's a song for the campfire, where the singer and his old mates can sit and reminisce about the good old days, and where the black sheep of society and the battlers can find solace and hope. The singer appreciates the courage and resilience of the people he's singing about, the bravery of the black sheep who left town and the battlers who overcame their struggles.
The song is an ode to the mateship that exists between people, be they Bushman, Scot or Russ, and the old creed to do what is right, to stick to your mates, and be true to yourself. As the song ends, the singer looks forward to joining his dear old friends in the wider world, where they'll all turn up as good as new.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, this is a song of the old lights, that came to my heart like a hymn;
This song speaks of memories that feel holy, that fill our hearts and souls with nostalgia and comfort.
And this is a song for the old lights, the lights that we thought grew dim,
A tribute to the things and people we thought were lost to time but still remain in our hearts and memories.
That came to my heart to comfort me, and I pass it along to you;
This song has served as a balm for the songwriter's heart, and he shares it with others as a source of solace.
And here is a hand to the dear old friend who turns up as good as new.
A gesture of appreciation and fondness for an old friend who has returned, seemingly unchanged by the passage of time.
And this is a song for the campfire, out west where the stars shine bright,
A tribute to the tradition of gathering around a campfire out in the wilderness, where the natural world surrounds and dazzles.
Oh, this is a song for the campfire, where the old mates yarn to-night;
An ode to the joy of storytelling and reminiscing around a fire with dear friends.
Where the old mates yarn of the old days, and their numbers are all too few,
A lament for the fact that not all of the friends who experienced these memories are still present.
And this is a song for the great old times that will turn up as good as new.
A hopeful expression of belief that despite the passage of time, memories and joys from the past can still bring us joy and comfort now.
Oh, this is a song for the black sheep, for the black sheep that fled from town,
A tribute to those who have been ostracized or marginalized by society, who have chosen to leave behind societal pressures and live life on their own terms.
And this is a song for the brave heart, for the brave heart that lived it down;
An acknowledgement of those who have faced adversity with courage and resilience, and have emerged from it stronger and wiser.
And this is a song for the battler, for the battler who sees it through,
A salute to those who persist in the face of hardship and struggle, who refuse to give up and instead fight on.
And this is a song for the broken heart that turns up as good as new.
A message of encouragement for those who have suffered heartbreak or loss, reminding them that they have the strength to heal and recover.
Ah, this is a song for the brave mate, be he Bushman, Scot or Russ,
A tribute to courageous individuals from all walks of life, regardless of background or nationality.
A song for the mates we will stick to, for the mates who have stuck to us;
An expression of gratitude for the loyal friends who have supported and remained with the songwriter through thick and thin.
And this is a song for the old creed, to do as a man should do,
A nod to the traditional values of loyalty, honor, and integrity, which the songwriter believes are still important today.
Till the Lord takes us all to a wider world, where we'll turn up as good as new.
An acknowledgement of the inevitability of death, and a hope that in the afterlife or whatever comes next, we will be renewed and restored to our best selves.
Writer(s): David Gordon Kirkpatrick, Henry Archibald Lawson
Contributed by Callie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dallas Nyberg
It's still hard to believe he's left us and headed for a happy campfire somewhere.....But his music will always remain Australia's heartbeat.. RIP SLIM
Van LANGLEY
PBS or BBC should do a special on Dusty and Australian country music; it is a genre and a pleasure all of its own. U.S. and Euros do not know enough about it.
aaron Peterson
I love this song and having a hell of a time finding it to go on my phone
Mike Sums
wow, first time Im really coming across this man. Amazing voice. much respect from USA
Missa
None of my friends like Slimmy but I reckon he's bloody awesome aye. I'm playing The Biggest Disappointment on guitar in a months time for my pop's 60th. :)
Paul Spiteri
Slim is a legend and there will never be again a true aussie icon singer with his talent, that was great... Tahnkyou
111oldie
Thanks for posting this fine song! It is true and I love it!
BananaphoneInc
I remember when he died. He was a legend.
CountrynIrish
Great Song and Video ! What a great artist he was ! To call him a legend is an understatement ! Thanks 450hp202turbo for sharing ! Great Upload Musich3ad 5*****+
Colby Ski
Thats so BLOODY Australian! Slim you always be the Aussie legend. RIP mate!!!