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.
Christmas on the Station
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We’ll go swimming in the creek
But all the kids and relations
Who are staying for a week
The campfire’s blazing brightly
Steak on the barbecue
Welcome all the neighbors in
Were putting on a do.
There’s going to be dancing and singing
At the old homestead tonight
Going to be carols ringing
Through he warm Australian night
Dance on the homestead verandah
To an old time fiddle tune
There’s going to be an old time party
With Christmas coming soon.
Ohh the kids are hanging stockings
And there’s one for me and you
Santa’s wearing moleskins
And a shirt of faded blue
The kitchen tables loaded
With ham and chicken too
Welcome all the neighbors in
Were putting on a do.
There’s going to be dancing and singing
At the old homestead tonight
Going to be carols ringing
Through he warm Australian night
Dance on the homestead verandah
To an old time fiddle tune
There’s going to be an old time party
With Christmas coming soon
Ohh there’s going to be an old time party
With Christmas coming soon.
The lyrics of Slim Dusty's "Christmas on the Station" take us to a rural Australian setting where there is no snow or sleigh rides, but instead, people gather to celebrate Christmas in a uniquely Australian way. The tone of the song is joyful and upbeat as it describes the festive preparations for the upcoming celebration. Instead of snow, the families will go swimming in the creek, and while the children are excitedly hanging their stockings, the neighbors are being welcomed in for a big feast, where the kitchen table is stocked with ham and chicken.
The chorus of the song speaks to the excitement and liveliness of the celebration. The old homestead is filled with music, singing, and dancing, all the things that make a party complete. In the warm Australian night, Christmas carols ring out, and people dance on the homestead verandah to old-time fiddle tunes. The mood is festive, and everyone is ready to celebrate Christmas, even if it looks a little different than what we are used to seeing in pop culture.
Overall, the lyrics of "Christmas on the Station" depict a joyful and lively celebration that is uniquely Australian. The song emphasizes the importance of community and gathering together with neighbors and loved ones to celebrate the holiday season. It showcases how diverse Christmas celebrations can be and how traditions can vary from place to place.
Line by Line Meaning
Ohh we wont have no sleigh ride
We won't be experiencing the traditional sleigh ride but instead, we will be swimming in the creek.
But all the kids and relations Who are staying for a week
Despite the change in plans for celebrating Christmas, all the children and relatives who are visiting will still be with us for a week long stay.
The campfire’s blazing brightly Steak on the barbecue
We have a lively campfire burning and are cooking steak on the barbecue.
Welcome all the neighbors in Were putting on a do.
We are welcoming all the neighbors to our Christmas celebration and throwing a party.
There’s going to be dancing and singing At the old homestead tonight
Tonight we'll be dancing and singing at the old homestead.
Going to be carols ringing Through he warm Australian night
We'll have the pleasure of hearing carols being sung throughout the night amidst the warm weather characteristic of Australia.
Dance on the homestead verandah To an old time fiddle tune
We'll dance on the homestead verandah to the sound of an old time fiddle tune.
There’s going to be an old time party With Christmas coming soon.
We're going to have an old time party to celebrate the arrival of Christmas soon.
Ohh the kids are hanging stockings And there’s one for me and you
The children are hanging stockings, and we should expect one each for ourselves as well.
Santa’s wearing moleskins And a shirt of faded blue
Santa has chosen to put on moleskins and a faded blue shirt.
The kitchen tables loaded With ham and chicken too
There is a plethora of food including ham and chicken on the kitchen table.
Ohh there’s going to be an old time party With Christmas coming soon.
We're eagerly looking forward to Christmas and having a wonderful time with an old fashioned party!
Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Simon Bartlett
This song is amazing!
Vickie Creek
I have loved his songs ever since I had gotten my first album
Michael Frazer
Thank You for sharing. Have a fantastic day
Ragdoll Racing
Long live the memories of the legend Slim Dusty
Cameron Hayward
Slims got a song for every occasion 🙂 miss ya mate
Aximus Roh
You bloody beauty 🎵🎵🎶🎶..... Thank you and God bless!
Ethan Robinson
Nothing beats a Slim Dusty song. Most Kings wore crowns but nearly every Australian should know that one wore an Akubra.
Definitely added to the Christmas play list. Great song by a legendary singer.
🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 Slim "The King" Dusty. An Aussie Icon and Legend. R.I.P mate. A toast to you🍻
Croatian_gamer [SGE007]
Beautiful :-D
Wayne Simes
All king's where a crown, only one where's a akubra