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.
Banjo's Man
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That man from Snowy River, renown throughout the land,
Who ran those wild bush horses, thru that rugged countryside,
Who was that man he wrote of, who made that famous ride."
Some say he was Jack Riley from down near Corryong,
They say the man could really ride, the name to him belong
The gold brit brines and penders they all could lay a claim,
Banjo′s man is riding, he's riding with the best,
In the ranges where in winter time it snows,
He's riding now to reel them. Yes riding on the wind
In the country where the Snowy River flows Oh Yes,
Now Banjo knew this country, he knew it′s riders well,
He spent time in the ranges where Snowy riders dwell,
He saw them ride full gallop swinging stockwhips in their hands,
And as a tribute to them all, he penned his famous man.
Those men who roamed the mountains in search of straying stock,
Who spent their lives on horseback in those rugged mountain blocks
They rode the hills and gorges where Snowy River ran,
And each and everyone of them could ride like Banjo′s man.
He saw them running brumbies on the steep an' timbered slopes,
Catch the brumbies at a gallop with their greenhide catching ropes,
He saw that they had whipped the wildest country in this land,
And so was formed the legend of the famous Banjo Man.
Hey!
Banjo′s man is riding, he's riding with the best,
In the ranges where in winter time it snows,
He′s riding now to reel them, yes riding on the wind,
In the country where the Snowy River flows Oh Yes,
The legend is still living and I say it always will,
As long as their are brumbies and horsemen in the hills
For they run them mountain brumbies, yes, run them till they stand
And there's horsemen in the Snowy, yeah as good as Banjo′s man.
Banjo's man is riding, he's riding with the best,
In the ranges where in winter time it snows,
He′s riding now to reel them, yes riding on the wind,
In the country where the Snowy River flows.
Banjo′s man is riding, he's riding with the best,
In the ranges where in winter time it snows,
Yes he′s riding now to reel them, yes riding on the
Wind
The lyrics to Slim Dusty's song "Banjo's Man" pay tribute to the legendary figure described in Banjo Paterson's poem "The Man from Snowy River." The song reflects the ongoing curiosity surrounding the identity of the man whom Banjo Paterson wrote about.
The lyrics open with a question, asking who Banjo's man is and describing him as renowned throughout the land for running wild bush horses in rugged countryside. The first verse suggests that some believe the man to be Jack Riley from Corryong, known for his exceptional horse-riding skills. However, Banjo Paterson chose not to single out a specific individual, hence why there is no known name attached to the legend.
The song goes on to emphasize Banjo's familiarity with the country and its riders, having spent time in the ranges where Snowy River riders dwell. It describes the riders' ability to gallop full speed and swing stockwhips while paying tribute to their skill and dedication. The legend of Banjo's man is born out of the riders' expertise in catching and taming the wild brumbies that roam the steep and timbered slopes.
Overall, "Banjo's Man" celebrates the enduring presence of the legend and its connection to the horsemen and brumbies in the hills, suggesting that as long as these elements exist, so too will the legend of Banjo's man.
Line by Line Meaning
The question is still asked today, "Who is Banjo′s man,
Even today, people still wonder about the identity of the man referred to as Banjo's man.
That man from Snowy River, renown throughout the land,
This man from Snowy River is widely known and respected throughout the country.
Who ran those wild bush horses, thru that rugged countryside,
He courageously tamed and guided untamed bush horses through the rough and challenging terrain.
Who was that man he wrote of, who made that famous ride."
Banjo wrote about a man who achieved a legendary ride, and people wonder who that man really was.
Some say he was Jack Riley from down near Corryong,
There are claims that the man Banjo referred to as Banjo's man could possibly be Jack Riley, hailing from the Corryong area.
They say the man could really ride, the name to him belong
According to rumors, this man was an exceptional rider and thus associated closely with the name.
The gold brit brines and penders they all could lay a claim,
Various individuals with surnames like Brit, Brine, and Pender have claimed to be the inspiration for Banjo's man, but Banjo did not specifically identify anyone.
But Banjo singled no one out, that's why there was no name.
Banjo did not explicitly mention anyone's name, hence the absence of a specific name for Banjo's man.
Banjo′s man is riding, he's riding with the best,
Banjo's man is currently riding alongside the most skilled and talented horsemen.
In the ranges where in winter time it snows,
They are riding in the icy mountain ranges that experience winter snowfall.
He's riding now to reel them. Yes riding on the wind
He is currently riding with great speed and agility, as if propelled by the wind itself.
In the country where the Snowy River flows Oh Yes,
They are navigating through the land where the Snowy River flows, adding a touch of geographical reverence.
Now Banjo knew this country, he knew it′s riders well,
Banjo had a deep understanding of the country and its skilled riders.
He spent time in the ranges where Snowy riders dwell,
Banjo had significant exposure to the mountain ranges where the experienced Snowy River riders reside.
He saw them ride full gallop swinging stockwhips in their hands,
Banjo witnessed these riders fearlessly galloping while skillfully handling stockwhips.
And as a tribute to them all, he penned his famous man.
In admiration and honor of all these riders, Banjo wrote about his iconic character, Banjo's man.
Those men who roamed the mountains in search of straying stock,
These courageous men would wander the mountains, diligently looking for lost or wandering livestock.
Who spent their lives on horseback in those rugged mountain blocks
Devoting their entire lives to horsemanship, these men lived amidst the challenging and rugged mountain areas.
They rode the hills and gorges where Snowy River ran,
They would traverse the hills and deep gorges where the Snowy River flowed.
And each and everyone of them could ride like Banjo′s man.
Every single one of these riders possessed the same exceptional riding skills as Banjo's man.
He saw them running brumbies on the steep an' timbered slopes,
Banjo witnessed them skillfully chasing and capturing untamed brumbies on the steep and forested slopes.
Catch the brumbies at a gallop with their greenhide catching ropes,
They could capture these wild brumbies while on horseback, using their expertise and special greenhide ropes.
He saw that they had whipped the wildest country in this land,
Banjo acknowledged their ability to conquer and master the most untamed parts of the country.
And so was formed the legend of the famous Banjo Man.
This is how the legendary figure of Banjo's man was created and came to be well-known.
The legend is still living and I say it always will,
The legend of Banjo's man continues to endure and will, without a doubt, persist for years to come.
As long as their are brumbies and horsemen in the hills
As long as there are wild brumbies and skilled horsemen in the hills, the legend will remain alive.
For they run them mountain brumbies, yes, run them till they stand
These horsemen tirelessly pursue the mountain brumbies, making them run until they surrender and stand still.
And there's horsemen in the Snowy, yeah as good as Banjo′s man.
Among the horsemen in the Snowy River area, there are individuals who are just as skillful as Banjo's man.
Writer(s): Ernie Constance
Contributed by Jake S. 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