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.
Charleville
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The kind of place that some girls won′t attend,
The moon shone over Edwards Street and later I could tell,
I'd never be a lonely man again.
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
There′s a pretty little woman says she'll say I will,
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
We′re gonna have a wedding cake that's twenty layers high,
And fifteen hundred family and friends,
We′ll cook ourselves a dozen lambs and drink the district dry,
Then whip around the hat and start again.
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
There's a pretty little woman says she′ll say I will
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
There's a pretty little woman says she′ll say I will.
Well I've seen Girls in Paris to humble any man,
I've seen Earls embarrassed by models in Milan,
But I′ve seen enough to know the only girl I need to see
And she′s waiting back in Charleville for me.
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
There's a pretty little woman says she′ll say I will
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
There's a pretty little woman says she′ll say I will
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
There's a pretty little woman says she′ll say I will.
The lyrics to Slim Dusty's "Charleville" are a love song, written about a woman the singer met at a disco in the School of Arts Hotel. Despite the fact that the kind of girls he usually met wouldn't attend such a place, the moon shone over Edwards Street that night, and the singer knew he wouldn't be lonely anymore. The song speaks of a love so strong that the singer proposes marriage, and of a future life together in which they will celebrate their love surrounded by friends and family.
The lyrics are simple, but they tell a heartfelt story of love and commitment. The singer expresses his love for his hometown of Charleville and for the woman who has captured his heart. The song captures the excitement and joy of finding true love, and the hope, promise and commitment of the future together.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I met her at a disco in the School of Arts Hotel,
I first laid eyes on her at a party thrown at a particular hotel where some ladies tend to avoid.
The kind of place that some girls won′t attend,
It's not the most likely hangout spot for most women.
The moon shone over Edwards Street and later I could tell,
The light from the moon illuminated the street where she and I met, a moment that made me fortunate enough to never see myself lonely again.
I'd never be a lonely man again.
That fateful meeting was enough for me to know that I would never have to spend another moment alone.
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
Right in the town of Charleville, where I've found love.
There's a pretty little woman says she′ll say I will,
There's a lovely lady who has agreed to take my hand in marriage.
We′re gonna have a wedding cake that's twenty layers high,
We plan to have a grand celebration with a towering cake, surrounded by a massive group of people.
And fifteen hundred family and friends,
We're expecting a massive number of guests to come and share our joy, including many family members and close friends.
We′ll cook ourselves a dozen lambs and drink the district dry,
We'll have a feast, featuring as many as a dozen lambs cooked to perfection, coupled with an abundance of drink that will leave the entire district thirsty.
Then whip around the hat and start again.
After the party is over, we'll pass around a hat and start collecting funds for our future plans, including another potential celebration.
Well I've seen Girls in Paris to humble any man,
I've seen some beautiful women in some of the most romantic places in the world and they were beautiful enough to make any man feel small.
I've seen Earls embarrassed by models in Milan,
Even noblemen can be caught off guard by how beautiful models in the fashion capital can truly be.
But I′ve seen enough to know the only girl I need to see
Despite seeing beautiful women from all walks of life, I realized that the only woman I ever truly needed was waiting for me back in Charleville.
And she′s waiting back in Charleville for me.
My love is anxiously awaiting my return back in the town where we first met and fell in love, making Charleville the only place I need to be.
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
My heart belongs to Charleville, where I found the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.
There's a pretty little woman says she′ll say I will
I'm proud to say that I'm in love with a beautiful woman who has agreed to go through life together, saying 'I will' every step of the way.
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
Charleville, the place where I finally found my soulmate, an experience that makes it the most important place in my life.
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
In Charleville, where the woman I'm in love with resides, the town where I found true happiness.
In Charleville (in Charleville), in Charleville (in Charleville)
Charleville, the place where I'll start a new chapter with the woman I love in my arms and in my heart.
There's a pretty little woman says she′ll say I will.
I'm grateful to have found the person who makes my life complete, a beautiful, loving woman who has agreed to walk down the aisle with me, saying 'I will' when I ask her to be mine forever.
Writer(s): Donald Walker
Contributed by Joshua P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stephentaege6255
My late father had lots of football 🏈 carnivals here Dad always held the fine citizens close to his heart ❤️ very friendly town 👍🤠 cheers Stephen 🐨🐨🦘🦘✌️
@kelliepriestley6120
My Mum and Dad home town, good ole Charleville.
@sliobutros6664
Great man that I can never stop listening to his great songs 👏👏👏👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@mickeybrennan8775
Happy 96 Birthday Champion for tomorrow 13 June 2023 🎸 Love you Buddy, Mickey 😉
@dalefisher1316
A magnificent Don Walker written song. Sung here by Don and Slim Dusty.
@markmartin6083
Love it you rock slim
@judycopelin9283
Love this song ❤️
@Itsme_billi
My fav song
@adlap0152
I wonder why this video was re-uploaded? Great song, and great video nevertheless!
@leobull1525
Isn't that Don Walker singing with Slim in the clip. Being also one of the founding members of Cold Chisel.