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.
Man From The Never Never
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the salt bush and the sand
I've got that rock'n'rollin' beat from this rollin' saddle seat
Because I live in the Never Never Land
I've never travelled out to all your high class towns
Because I'm right just where I am
Our town's a pub and general store, what's the use of any more
Away out in the Never Never Land
The above lyrics are an ode to the simple life in the Australian outback or the 'Never Never Land'. The persona in the song, most likely a stockman, boasts of his bowed legs, shaped from long hours riding horses through the salt bush and sand. He imbues his experience with a 'rock'n' rollin' beat' which refers to the rhythmic movement of his horse's saddle. By painting a vivid picture of his lifestyle, he suggests that he wouldn't have it any other way. He has no desire to travel to the 'high class towns', as he feels like he belongs in the 'Never Never Land.' His town consists of a pub and general store, but for him, that is enough, and he sees no use for anything more.
The song's lyrics speak to the high value placed on the ruggedness and simplicity of life in the outback, which is characterized by its distinctive flora and fauna, cowboy hats, and dusty boots. The persona in the song finds peace and fulfillment in this way of life, which compels him to remain in the Never Never Land, content with what he has. The song also highlights the enduring legacy of the Australian stockman and their contribution to the country's cultural heritage.
Line by Line Meaning
My legs are kind of bowed from horses that I've rode
The singer has spent a lot of time riding horses, which has resulted in his legs being a bit bowed.
Through the salt bush and the sand
The singer has ridden horses through a variety of terrains, including areas with salt bushes and sand.
I've got that rock'n'rollin' beat from this rollin' saddle seat
The singer has a certain rhythm to his movements that comes from his experience riding horses.
Because I live in the Never Never Land
The artist lives in an isolated area that is referred to as the Never Never Land.
I've never travelled out to all your high class towns
The artist has never left his isolated community to visit more affluent areas.
Because I'm right just where I am
The singer is content with his current situation and doesn't feel the need to travel elsewhere.
Our town's a pub and general store, what's the use of any more
The singer's community has a pub and a general store, and he doesn't see the need for anything more than that.
Away out in the Never Never Land
The artist is emphasizing once again that his community is located in a remote, isolated area that is called the Never Never Land.
Contributed by Scarlett Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sandra
on One Truckie's Epitaph
My brother Terry Radke was the man Slim wrote the song for after he received a letter from Terry's youngest son, Lync. Thank you
Charley Boyter
on Axe Mark On a Gidgee
With horsebells to keep me company
Jake
on Your Country's Been Sold
You say you belong to Australia my friend
And rightly you’d die for this land to defend
But let us be honest, it’s sad but it’s true
Australia my friend doesn’t belong to you
Our country’s been sold by the powers that be
To big wealthy nations way over the sea
We couldn’t be taken by bayonets or lead
And so they decided to buy us instead
And talking of wars and the blood that was spilled
The widows, the crippled, the ones that were killed
And I often wonder if their ghosts can see
What’s happening now to their native country
I wonder if ghosts of the fallen can see
The crime and corruption and vast poverty
With a lost generation of youth on the dole
Who drift on life’s ocean without any goal
I once had a dream of our country so grand
The rivers outback irrigated the land
With towns and canals in that wasteland out there
And big inland cities with work everywhere
With profit from farming and factory and mine
Was used to develop a nation so fine
Then I woke from my dream into reality
That the wealth of our nation goes over the sea
Yeah you say you belong to Australia my friend
And rightly you’d die for this land to defend
But let us be honest, it’s sad but it’s true
Australia my friend doesn’t belong to you