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.
I'm Married To My Bulldog Mack
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen to the 48 diesel crew,
It’s gotta have a mind of her own,
Rollin' all the way back home,
She's knows it’s so right.
I treat her just fine
There's an overhaul waitin' at the end of the line,
Lord knows we're such a good pair,
An' we’re livin’ our lovin’ affair.
Hey, I'm married to my Bulldog Mack,
Married to my Bulldog Mack,
Fire or rain an' back again
Makin' the best of this crazy game,
I'm married to my Bulldog Mack,
Married to my Bulldog Mack,
She's a highway queen, a truckers dream,
Married to my Bulldog Mack.
Gotta make it to the truck stop over the rise,
Road map showin’ in both of my eyes,
Lord I need a beer an' a bite,
If gonna make it home tonight
Because all the way over due,
Hope I don't run into the boys in blue,
Gonna push her all the way non stop,
She’ll be rantin’ and ragin’ and disengagin’
An' givin' me the pips she's got.
I'm married to my Bulldog Mack,
Married to my Bulldog Mack,
Fire or rain an' back again
Makin' the best of this crazy game,
I'm married to my Bulldog Mack,
Married to my Bulldog Mack,
She's a highway queen, a truckers dream,
Married to my Bulldog Mack.
Instrumental
You know it’s alright we just doin' just fine
No long legged woman is gonna change my mind,
She won’t even stand a chance,
As long as there's a road
An' as long as there's a load,
I got my long distance romance.
Hey, I'm married to my Bulldog Mack,
Married to my Bulldog Mack,
Fire or rain an' back again
Makin' the best of this crazy game,
I'm married to my Bulldog Mack,
Married to my Bulldog Mack,
She's a highway queen, a truckers dream,
Married to my Bulldog Mack.
Instrumental
The lyrics to Slim Dusty's song "I'm Married To My Bulldog Mack" describe the relationship between a long-haul trucker and his trusty old truck. The singer refers to his truck as "Bulldog Mack" and personifies it as if it has a mind of its own, describing how it keeps rolling along no matter what challenges come their way. The singer proudly declares that he and his truck are such a good pair and that they are living their loving affair.
The lyrics further explain the day-to-day challenges faced by long-haul truckers on the road. They need to stop at the truck stop for some food and beer, but they also want to avoid running into law enforcement officials. The singer is devoted to his long-distance romance with his truck and no woman can take its place.
The song celebrates the relationship between the trucker and his truck and exemplifies the dedication and passion of truckers who spend their lives on the road.
Line by Line Meaning
Rolling down the highway spittin’ out fumes,
Driving on the highway while the vehicle emits toxic substances
Listen to the 48 diesel crew,
Hearing the sounds of other diesel engines around
It’s gotta have a mind of her own,
Referring to the truck as if it has a personality or unique behavior
Rollin' all the way back home,
Driving for a long time until reaching home
She's knows it’s so right.
Feeling content and satisfied with the truck
I treat her just fine
Taking good care of the truck
There's an overhaul waitin' at the end of the line,
A maintenance repair is scheduled for the truck
Lord knows we're such a good pair,
Expressing the strong bond and connection between the driver and the truck
She keeps a-burnin' and her wheels keep a-turnin',
The truck keeps working smoothly and effectively
An' we’re livin’ our lovin’ affair.
Describing the deep love and attachment that the driver has for the truck
Gotta make it to the truck stop over the rise,
Needing to reach the next truck stop located uphill
Road map showin’ in both of my eyes,
Focusing intently on the road map to stay on the right path
Lord I need a beer an' a bite,
Desiring a drink and a meal to regain energy
If gonna make it home tonight
If the driver hopes to make it home by the end of the night
Because all the way over due,
Being behind schedule
Hope I don't run into the boys in blue,
Hoping to avoid encountering law enforcement along the way
Gonna push her all the way non stop,
Driving continuously without any breaks
She’ll be rantin’ and ragin’ and disengagin’,
The truck may experience problems or difficulties
An' givin' me the pips she's got.
Causing stress and frustration for the driver
You know it’s alright we just doin' just fine
Feeling content and satisfied with the current situation
No long legged woman is gonna change my mind,
No attractive woman can persuade the driver to give up the truck
She won’t even stand a chance,
Asserting that the driver is completely devoted to the truck
As long as there's a road
As long as there is a path to drive on
An' as long as there's a load,
As long as there is cargo to transport
I got my long distance romance.
Expressing the deep emotional connection between the driver and the truck
Hey, I'm married to my Bulldog Mack,
Describing the strong attachment and love towards the truck
Married to my Bulldog Mack,
Repeating the emphasis on the bond between the driver and the truck
Fire or rain an' back again
Able to handle any weather conditions and transport cargo back and forth
Makin' the best of this crazy game,
Embracing the reality of truck driving as a difficult yet rewarding profession
She's a highway queen, a truckers dream,
Emphasizing the high value and quality of the truck for its purpose and use in truck driving
Contributed by Charlie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@andy072pmc
I have been driving macks for twenty years carting stock all over australia...never one as nice as this tho...what a machine...awesome...and awesome singer...old slim has kept me company in the cab for the whole twenty years...RIP slim...a legen gone but not forgotten
@hiiamfromaustralia1929
How could 21 people possibly not like this!? Us Aussies are outraged.
@filthyanimal874
Stupid Idiot so are we Texans!!!!
@katematthews3703
Hi Nicole Rankin Casey Hahn Richard Stanyard Cecil Stone
Greenacres to pick up at
9:00am til 12pm tomorrow ?
Natalie Kellyway for Gateway
to pick Kate up at 10:00 to 4:00pm on Tuesday morning?
Going to back to bed now to get more sleep after cec is coming back to work afternoon at 2:00pm till Sleepover in the staff bed 10:00pm Tonight
@nyabollanky6833
I grew up listing to slim he sang about our great country and every word he sang was so true Everly moring I listen to slim and I go to bed listing to slim miss you mate
@tsp9156
Love that good classic sound. Sad to see a wonderful legend pass away. Tom USA
@roberttyrrell3907
Stan coster
@darrelclay7641
Slim king of trucking songs
@jacobbell7291
This song is great 👍❤️
@subzero1875
Slim,Simply The Best..