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.
Paddy William
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With his old dark skin, a wrinkled grin, grandchildren and a wife
He drove cattle through to Camel Wheel and up the Isa too
And his old eyes shone of the days long gone and the mates, he knew
Well I met him there, in Turkey Creek as he sat in a four-wheel drive
I was glad to find his mind was sharp and the memories still alive
Of the droving days and the stockyard camp when he rode at the boss' side
Well he'd been a ringer all his life on the western side
And droving was his game
But a thousand miles on the outback trails is a long, long way from home
Oh Paddy William is his name
And droving was his game
But a thousand miles on the outback trails is a long, long way, from home
Well he looked so old and weary as he proudly spoke his name
His old eyes shone like beacons when he talked of the droving game
He said he was born on Marble Bar, been a drover all his life
With his old dark skin, a wrinkled grin, said he loved the life
And I guess he's still in Turkey Creek, near the hills of Misty Blue
And I hope his dreams of the Cattle Run, all come true
And I hope he finds a horse so fine to carry him away
And on the droving run, he'll be number one
Like the good old days
Oh Paddy William is his name
And droving was his game
But a thousand miles on the outback trails is a long, long way from home
Oh Paddy William is his name
And droving was his game
But a thousand miles on the outback trails is a long, long way, from home
So if your driving through the Kimberleys or around the Isa way,
You might see him slowly riding with a big mob on the graze
He'll be tall and straight don't hesitate, just call out his name
Just say g'day there Paddy William, how's the droving game?
Oh Paddy William is his name
And droving was his game
But a thousand miles on the outback trails is a long, long way from home
Oh Paddy William is his name
And droving was his game
But a thousand miles on the outback trails is a long, long way from home
Slim Dusty's song, Paddy William, tells the story of an old drover named Paddy William who has spent his entire life working in the outback of Australia. The song reveals that he was born in Marble Bar and spent his life droving cattle through the rugged outback, from Camel Wheel to Isa. Despite his age, Paddy William still reminisces about the days when he was a ringer on the western side of Australia. The singer meets Paddy William in Turkey Creek and is amazed by his sharp mind and vivid memories of his life as a drover. Paddy William is proud of his career as a drover and seems to have a deep love and respect for the lifestyle. He hopes to find a horse to take him on his last droving run, just like the good old days.
The song is a tribute to the tough and independent spirit of the Australian drover, who played an important role in the development of the outback. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and respect for the hard-working drovers who helped shape Australia's history. The song also highlights the importance of tradition and the passing down of knowledge from one generation to the next.
Line by Line Meaning
Said he was born on Marble Bar, been a drover all his life
He claimed to have been born in Marble Bar and spent his entire life as a drover.
With his old dark skin, a wrinkled grin, grandchildren and a wife
He had dark, wrinkled skin and was accompanied by his wife and grandchildren.
He drove cattle through to Camel Wheel and up the Isa too
He drove cattle through Camel Wheel and up the Isa.
And his old eyes shone of the days long gone and the mates, he knew
His old eyes sparkled with memories of bygone days and mates he knew.
Well I met him there, in Turkey Creek as he sat in a four-wheel drive
The artist met Paddy William in Turkey Creek, where he was sitting in a four-wheel drive.
I was glad to find his mind was sharp and the memories still alive
The singer was happy to discover that Paddy William had a sharp mind and vivid memories.
Of the droving days and the stockyard camp when he rode at the boss' side
He talked about the days of droving and stockyard camps when he worked as the boss's right-hand man.
Well he'd been a ringer all his life on the western side
He had been a ringer all his life in the western part of Australia.
Oh Paddy William is his name
His name is Paddy William.
And droving was his game
Droving was his way of life.
But a thousand miles on the outback trails is a long, long way from home
Droving required being away from home for long periods of time, which often spanned thousands of miles on the outback trails.
Well he looked so old and weary as he proudly spoke his name
Despite looking old and tired, he took pride in stating his name.
He said he was born on Marble Bar, been a drover all his life
He reiterated that he was born in Marble Bar and had spent his entire life as a drover.
With his old dark skin, a wrinkled grin, said he loved the life
He expressed his love for the droving life with his dark, wrinkled skin and a grin.
And I guess he's still in Turkey Creek, near the hills of Misty Blue
The singer assumes that Paddy William is still in Turkey Creek, near the hills of Misty Blue.
And I hope his dreams of the Cattle Run, all come true
The artist hopes that Paddy William's dreams of the Cattle Run come true.
And I hope he finds a horse so fine to carry him away
The artist wishes for Paddy William to find a magnificent horse that would make his droving experience even better.
And on the droving run, he'll be number one like the good old days
The singer hopes for Paddy William to feel like number one once again, like in the good old days of droving.
So if your driving through the Kimberleys or around the Isa way,
If someone is driving through the Kimberleys or around the Isa way,
You might see him slowly riding with a big mob on the graze
They might spot Paddy William slowly riding with a large group of cattle on the graze.
He'll be tall and straight don't hesitate, just call out his name
Paddy William will be tall and upright, and one should not hesitate to call out his name.
Just say g'day there Paddy William, how's the droving game?
One can greet Paddy William and inquire how his droving game is.
But a thousand miles on the outback trails is a long, long way from home
Once more, the song states that droving requires being far away from home for long periods of time, often spanning thousands of miles on the outback trails.
Contributed by Nathaniel M. 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