How Will I Go With Him Mate
Slim Dusty Lyrics


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This is the tale of a mate I had,
Back in those other days,
Thin as wire and just as tough,
And woolly and wide and his ways.

When the going was rugged and really rough,
He would always cheerfully state,
"Things are bad but they could be worse,
So we'll see how we go with it mate."

There was a time when we busted our cheques
In a town on the long ago now,
When a big gun shearer got on the tear
And started to kick up a row.

And he picked on the smallest one of our lot,
And slaughter was plain to see
Till our mate said "Listen you son of a gun
Come and fire a charge at me."

Ha! things really began to happen then because,
As he picked himself out of the dust an the dirt,
Both eyes were the colour of slate
And he squinted a bit as he said to me,
"How did I go with him mate?"
How did he go with him, need I tell ya.

Another time in the sunny state,
With both of us was badly bent,
With saddle bags empty and nothing to smoke
And between us we hadn't a cent.

When we saw on a poster, stuck on a wall,
News of a rodeo;
"Well here's our chance" he said to me,
"We'll be kings of the wild west show."

But he drew the worse horse there was in the draw,
Mean eyed and short in the neck,
As he climbed up the chute, he whispered to me,
"Be ready to collar the cheque."
Collar the cheque, this is what really happened,

As he picked himself out of the red Queensland dust,
Just a few yards away from the gate,
He looked up at me with a lop-sided grin and said,
"How did I go with him mate?"
Ha! That's the way this fella used to be.

Now this mate of mine has gone to rest,
The way he was destined to go,
Wheeling the lead of the scrubbers that broke
From a camp on the overflow.

As I stood by his grave on that drear winters day
With the rest of the crew and the boss,
I thought of his happy-go-lucky ways
And I knew just how great was our loss.

And I thought of him climbing those long golden stairs,
With St Peter in-charge of the gate,
And I'm certain I heard his voice at my side, saying
"How will I go with him mate?"
Ha! That's the way he use to be.

Well it's all over now and I'm settled down,
Away from those rovin' days,
And the mates I had have all drifted on
Like by-gone yesterdays.

But I'll always remember that certain mate,
And the way he could cheerfully state,
"Things are bad but they could be worse,




So we'll see how we go with it mate".
Oh yeah, we'll see how we go with it mate.

Overall Meaning

The song "How Will I Go With Him Mate" by Slim Dusty tells the story of a loyal friend and mate who accompanied the singer on his adventures. The song reflects on the memories shared with this friend, including times of struggle and hardship. The lyrics depict the mate as a resilient individual, always willing to face difficult circumstances with a positive attitude. The friendship between the two men is portrayed as one of mutual admiration and support.


The song tells two stories, one when the mate stood up to a bigger bully, and one about the time they entered a rodeo contest with nothing to their names. In both stories, the mate is shown as fearless yet optimistic. The song shares an account of the mate's passing, and the singer's reflection on how much he meant to him. The last verse depicts the singer's sense of loss and grief over his mate's death but also his faith that he is now in heaven.


The song's main theme is a tribute to the true Aussie spirit and a homage to the country's pioneering way of life. It celebrates the courage, resilience, and camaraderie of the Australian people who have ridden adversity and have remained optimistic in the face of hardship.


Line by Line Meaning

This is the tale of a mate I had,
The singer tells the story of his friend.


Back in those other days,
The story takes place in the past.


Thin as wire and just as tough,
The friend was physically thin, but mentally strong.


And woolly and wide and his ways.
The friend had a rough appearance and mannerisms.


When the going was rugged and really rough,
During tough times, the friend remained optimistic.


He would always cheerfully state,
The friend spoke with positivity and hopefulness.


"Things are bad but they could be worse,
Even in dire situations, things could be even worse.


So we'll see how we go with it mate."
They would face the situation together and hope for the best.


There was a time when we busted our cheques
The artist and friend were struggling financially.


In a town on the long ago now,
The story takes place in the past.


When a big gun shearer got on the tear
A skilled sheep-shearer began causing trouble.


And started to kick up a row.
The shearer became aggressive and caused a commotion.


And he picked on the smallest one of our lot,
The shearer targeted the weakest member of their group.


And slaughter was plain to see
The shearer intended to cause harm.


Till our mate said "Listen you son of a gun
The friend intervened and stood up for their group.


Come and fire a charge at me."
The friend challenged the shearer to a fight instead of attacking their weaker friend.


Ha! things really began to happen then because,
The situation escalated and tension heightened.


As he picked himself out of the dust an the dirt,
The friend managed to get up despite the physical altercation.


Both eyes were the colour of slate
The friend's eyes were injured and swollen from the fight.


And he squinted a bit as he said to me,
The friend spoke through the pain and discomfort.


"How did I go with him mate?"
The friend asked for the artist's opinion on the fight.


Another time in the sunny state,
The story takes place in a different state.


With both of us was badly bent,
The singer and friend were physically injured or exhausted.


With saddle bags empty and nothing to smoke
They had no supplies or comfort items.


And between us we hadn't a cent.
They had no money.


When we saw on a poster, stuck on a wall,
They saw an advertisement for a rodeo.


News of a rodeo;
The poster advertised an upcoming rodeo event.


Well here's our chance" he said to me,
The friend saw the rodeo event as an opportunity to make money or find adventure.


"We'll be kings of the wild west show."
The friend had high expectations for their success at the rodeo.


But he drew the worse horse there was in the draw,
The friend had bad luck in the lottery for the horses in the rodeo.


Mean eyed and short in the neck,
The horse had an unfriendly appearance and physical traits.


As he climbed up the chute, he whispered to me,
The friend spoke quietly to the artist as he proceeded with the rodeo event.


"Be ready to collar the cheque."
The friend hoped to win and collect the prize money.


As he picked himself out of the red Queensland dust,
The friend got up after being thrown off the horse.


Just a few yards away from the gate,
He was close to the end of the rodeo event.


He looked up at me with a lop-sided grin and said,
The friend was proud and smiled at the artist.


"How did I go with him mate?"
He asked for the singer's opinion on his performance in the rodeo.


Now this mate of mine has gone to rest,
The friend has passed away.


The way he was destined to go,
It was his fate to pass away in this manner.


Wheeling the lead of the scrubbers that broke
He was in charge of a group of workers.


From a camp on the overflow.
The workers were from an overflow camp or temporary lodging place.


As I stood by his grave on that drear winters day
The singer visited his friend's grave.


With the rest of the crew and the boss,
Others who knew the friend were also present.


I thought of his happy-go-lucky ways
The friend had a carefree and positive outlook on life.


And I knew just how great was our loss.
The artist deeply regretted the loss of his friend.


And I thought of him climbing those long golden stairs,
The artist imagined the friend going to heaven.


With St Peter in-charge of the gate,
The singer pictured the friend at the gates of heaven with St Peter.


And I'm certain I heard his voice at my side, saying
The artist believed he heard his friend's voice.


"How will I go with him mate?"
The friend asked for the singer's opinion on how he did in his journey to heaven.


Well it's all over now and I'm settled down,
The singer has moved on and is living a different life.


Away from those rovin' days,
The singer is no longer traveling and seeking adventure.


And the mates I had have all drifted on
The artist's former friends have all gone their separate ways.


Like by-gone yesterdays.
Those memories feel distant and in the past.


But I'll always remember that certain mate,
The singer will never forget his friend.


And the way he could cheerfully state,
The singer remembers his friend's positive attitude.


"Things are bad but they could be worse,
The friend always had a hopeful outlook on life.


So we'll see how we go with it mate".
Together, they would face the challenges of life with courage and optimism.




Writer(s): David Kirkpatrick, Alexander Cormack

Contributed by Ruby N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@pittycross

Still around Slim, still listening. OCT 2020.

@trevorbailey1486

A song for all time. Where would we be without that one among us who chimes in with: "Things are bad, but they could be worse, so we'll see how we go with it mate!" God bless you Slim, & may you rest in peace in His arms.

@rosscollingwood5189

Amen!

@coraltroutfishing

After 46 yrs ..i have a few mates like this:)

@pittycross

Way to go Slim. Haven't forgotten about you mate. Cheers.

@paulherring2434

Touching song - really good from the best there is in Aussie music - sadly missed.

@henryrainger7456

Still here mate.

@pittycross7147

Just looking now I thought the horse had a crupper on, which I always used when breaking in, but it may be the shadow of his rein.

@paulherring2434

I think it is the shadow - but hard to tell.

@pittycross

Yep, Oct 2017.

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