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.
Easy Goin' Drifter
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And often I'm out strolling with Sadie, Lily or Flo.
I asked Lil once to marry, but she just shook her head,
I asked her for her reasons and this to me she said.
You're an easy goin' drifter, gotta a guitar' picking style,
But I don't think you'd be faithful cause, you'd only stay a while,
So I jumped in the old ranch wagon, that's painted silver-grey,
but I'm an easy goin' drifter, from way up Queensland way.
So if you're ever up in Queensland, you'll sure to hear of me,
You'll find me travellin' with my show in that locality,
I sing a country love song, an' see ol' biddies sway,
For I'm an easy goin' drifter, from way up Queensland way.
I always dreamed of travel, from the time I was a boy,
Played this old guitar and live a drifter's life of joy,
I left my home folks standin' there by the homestead door,
I've had my share of travel now a million miles or more.
Oh I'm an easy goin' drifter that's fairly plain to see,
I'm here today and gone tomorrow if I wish to be,
If I had my life all over I'd take the same highway,
For I'm an easy goin' drifter from way up Queensland way.
I'm an easy goin' drifter that's fairly plain to see,
I'm here today and gone tomorrow if I wish to be,
If I had my life all over I'd take the same highway,
For I'm an easy goin' drifter from way up Queensland way.
From way up Queensland Way
The song "Easy Goin' Drifter" by Slim Dusty is a tale of a man who describes himself as an easy-going drifter who enjoys the company of women, travels with his guitar and has a love for country music. The song speaks to his carefree lifestyle and his willingness to hop in his "old ranch wagon" and travel wherever the wind may take him. The lyrics reveal the main character's desire for adventure and love for music, as he sings a "country love song" that makes "ol' biddies sway." Lil, one of his companions, declines his marriage proposal because of his reputation for being unfaithful, knowing that he would only stay a while.
The song portrays the main character's love of travel and the freedom of the open road. Despite his wandering ways, he has no regrets about living a life of a drifter. He is content living in the moment, and his guitar is his constant companion along the way. The song is upbeat and has a simple melody, representing the main character's carefree lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm an easy goin' drifter, well the ladies tell me so,
Women find me to be carefree and laidback.
And often I'm out strolling with Sadie, Lily or Flo.
I spend a lot of time with these women and enjoy their company.
I asked Lil once to marry, but she just shook her head,
I proposed to Lil but she rejected me.
I asked her for her reasons and this to me she said.
I asked for an explanation and this is what she told me.
You're an easy goin' drifter, gotta a guitar' picking style,
You have a laidback personality and play guitar well.
But I don't think you'd be faithful cause, you'd only stay a while,
I don't think you'd be loyal because you're always on the move.
So I jumped in the old ranch wagon, that's painted silver-grey,
I got into my old silver-grey wagon.
but I'm an easy goin' drifter, from way up Queensland way.
But I'm a carefree wanderer from Queensland.
So if you're ever up in Queensland, you'll sure to hear of me,
If you ever visit Queensland, you'll probably hear about me.
You'll find me travellin' with my show in that locality,
You'll see me traveling around with my show in the area.
I sing a country love song, an' see ol' biddies sway,
I perform country love songs and see older women dance along.
For I'm an easy goin' drifter, from way up Queensland way.
Because I'm a carefree wanderer from Queensland.
I always dreamed of travel, from the time I was a boy,
I've always had a desire to travel since I was young.
Played this old guitar and live a drifter's life of joy,
I play guitar and live a happy go lucky life of wandering.
I left my home folks standin' there by the homestead door,
I left my family standing by the door of our home.
I've had my share of travel now a million miles or more.
I've traveled over a million miles and more.
Oh I'm an easy goin' drifter that's fairly plain to see,
It's obvious that I'm a carefree wanderer.
I'm here today and gone tomorrow if I wish to be,
I can leave anytime I want and move on to the next place.
If I had my life all over I'd take the same highway,
If I could do it all again, I'd choose the same path.
For I'm an easy goin' drifter from way up Queensland way.
Because I live a carefree life of wandering in Queensland.
From way up Queensland Way
From the northern part of the state of Queensland.
Writer(s): David Kirkpatrick, Edwin Haberfield
Contributed by Connor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jimmy Rodgers
RIP Slim When you passed, a large chunk of the good old Australia went with you.
john lovick
What a wonderful singer one of the very best You have done us proud Slim, I am 80 years old and listen to you most of the time in Norfolk England
Jules B
Hi John, he is one of the best👍
Best regards, Julia...
Sydney, Australia 🇦🇺
Lance ThunderCok
@Jules B bloody fucking love it you guys say your location, from brissy queensland
David Buckley
This song will never die I'm taking it with me
hans mcmaster
This man is a legend.. true Aussie.
Bradley Booth
I say he is the hub of country music him and his family all deserve credit as well , what i love the most is there is a good story in every song, you can also keep your eyes open or shut, doesn't matter they put a movie in your head that you can see.Hippy❤to all👍
Jules B
I totally agree with you there Bradley. Eyes closed or shut and either way you see that movie rolling👍
Try listening to Man From Snowy River and read the poem at the same time, makes the hair stand and gives you goosebumps...
Aussie Sean
My grandad's favourite song and mine. Love it all day and night long.
Anne Radanovic
This was one of the songs I played at my Dad's Funeral.