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.
Dinosaur
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It got bigger everday
It got so big that it ate and ate
′Till it ate it all away
Oh you Couldn't hurt that old dinosaur
It had a hide like armour plate
But when it wasn′t eating right
It died beneath the weight
But now it is no more
And i feel we could learn alot
From that poor old dinosaur
Now when i think of the dinosaur
I think of the world today
And wonder if we, like the dinosaur,
Would waste it all away
Yes all those ships and guns and planes
And all that armour plate
Oh it seems to me already
That we're struggling beneath the weight
Oh the dinosaur was a great big thing
But it had a tiny brain
So it really makes me wonder why
We're doing the same
Oh they′ll stand ′till doom with their bragging rights
While the truth was turned and tossed
But it seems to me already
That the dollar is the boss
Oh the ends gonna come and go
While they're standing on their heads
While standing on their dignity
Too stuborn to change your bend
And all the while those sleep machines
Eat up more and more
And it makes me think once again
Of that poor old dinosaur
Yes the dinosaur was a great big thing
It got bigger everday
It grew so big that it ate and ate
′Till it ate it all away
Yes the dinosaur was a great big thing
But now it is no more
And we should learn before it's too late
From that poor old dinosaur
Yes we should learn before it′s too late
From that poor old dinosaur
Slim Dusty's "Dinosaur" presents an analogy between the anthropomorphic lifestyle of dinosaurs and the activities of human beings who consume resources without thought for the consequences. At the outset, the song highlights the immense size of the titular creature that devoured everything in sight, including its own self, leading to extinction. Despite its physical invincibility, the dinosaur fell under the weight of its gluttony. The singer suggests that we could take a lesson from the dinosaur's fatal mistake; we should learn to consume with responsibility—for our sake and that of the environment.
The singer further draws our attention to the sorry state of the world today, where human beings continue to mindlessly consume and waste resources. The singer questions if humans are like the dinosaur, swallowing pride, dignity, and refuse without a second thought, destroying everything in their path. The song points out the irony of a civilization that values profit over humanity, even as it lauds progress through scientific advancement. Slim Dusty seems to suggest that such attitudes are contrary to our survival.
"Dinosaur" is a poignant articulation of humanity's unsustainable consumption of resources, leading to environmental degradation, extinction, and potentially, the end of civilization. With a gentle country twang in the background, Slim Dusty's subtle storytelling style powerfully penetrates our consciousness and leaves us with an important message that we should not ignore.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the dinosaur was a great big thing
The dinosaur was a massive and prominent creature.
It got bigger everday
It increased in size regularly with the passing of time.
It got so big that it ate and ate
The dinosaur ate a lot due to its enormous size.
′Till it ate it all away
It kept eating until there was nothing left to consume.
Oh you Couldn't hurt that old dinosaur
The dinosaur had a robust and resilient physique.
It had a hide like armour plate
It had a thick and tough skin.
But when it wasn′t eating right
When it wasn't able to sustain its diet appropriately.
It died beneath the weight
It perished due to its size and inability to survive
Yes the dinosaur was a great big thing
Restating that the dinosaur was a colossal creature.
But now it is no more
It has gone extinct, and no longer exists.
And i feel we could learn alot
The singer thinks that there are lessons to be learned from the dinosaur.
From that poor old dinosaur
Reiterating that there are valuable lessons that can be gleaned from the dinosaur.
Now when i think of the dinosaur
The singer is now connecting his thoughts on the dinosaur with present times.
I think of the world today
The singer is comparing modern times with the era of the dinosaurs.
And wonder if we, like the dinosaur,
The singer is pondering if current human actions are similar to how the dinosaurs went extinct.
Would waste it all away
Whether humans will waste everything away just like the dinosaurs.
Yes all those ships and guns and planes
The artist is discussing the technology and machinery used today.
And all that armour plate
Referring to the thick metal shields on vehicles and equipment.
Oh it seems to me already
The singer shares his opinion.
That we're struggling beneath the weight
Humans are currently struggling due to overindulgent acts.
So it really makes me wonder why
The artist is confused as to why humans are not learning from history and are repeating it.
We're doing the same
Comparing current human actions to the dinosaurs who could not sustain their size and hunger.
Oh they′ll stand ′till doom with their bragging rights
People will continue to boast even when its too late.
While the truth was turned and tossed
The honesty of the situation was ignored and not faced.
But it seems to me already
The singer shares their opinion again.
That the dollar is the boss
Money has taken the upper hand in controlling people's actions instead of listening to reason.
Oh the ends gonna come and go
The result of current actions will come and go without being taken heed of.
While they're standing on their heads
People will disregard reason while suffering consequences.
While standing on their dignity
People will hold on to their pride rather than accepting the truth.
Too stuborn to change your bend
People are too obstinate to change their flawed ways.
And all the while those sleep machines
Machines that are draining resources or killing the planet slowly.
Eat up more and more
They consume more and more resources despite the consequences.
And it makes me think once again
The artist reiterates that his thoughts have returned to the subject of the dinosaur.
Of that poor old dinosaur
Reemphasizing the importance of learning from the dinosaur.
And we should learn before it's too late
The singer believes that humans should learn from the past before it's too late.
Yes we should learn before it′s too late
Reiterating the importance of learning from the past.
Writer(s): Moyses Barry Neale
Contributed by Alaina K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kerryknight623
I meat slim many many times humble man there onley One slim thay can try Sing there heart out not the same there only one slim
@kerryknight623
Good one u slim Ur songs still playing 🌹🌹♥️♥️🌹🌹
@kerryknight623
I grue up with slim I was 7 yrs I’m a bit older now I miss him love u slim
@kerryknight623
Go slim miss rip slim
@debbielightfoot-dehamer6330
I had just the best time dancing with my Dad at the Broadwater hall with my best friend.
He taught me so well I went onto Compition Ball Room. Which is far from today's Media programming.
Thanks Dad.
@GeoffHyde
Good on you Slim. Thanks for the memories!😎
@mrniceguy9086
I'm glad I grew up listening to slim dusty thank you Dad for making me listening this legend
@rodneyperry6942
He'd fit right in at the Ryman in Nashville. I wish I'd known about him sooner
@miriamchungulla8045
My dad love slim so do I. Slim dusty old Aussie king. Country music.
@malachiwex4622
This song could never get old