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.
Plains of Peppimenarti
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I've been around Australia and I've travelled everywhere
But there's one place I really like to go
Where the land is big and wide and tall dark ringers ride
On the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows
Tough riders there of course in a truck or on a horse
And they'll really teach you things you didn't know
It's excitement to the full if you're out there chasing bulls
And the Kangaroo still bounds on that rough and rugged ground
The ant hills and the old pandanas grow
Yes and everyday's a Sunday if you're catching Barramundi
By the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows
Yodel
(hey, hey hey)
Instrumental
Now the men out on the stock camps are the finest riders known
And they'll work four weeks without a break or spell
They're the back bone of our beef steaks
And I've mentioned this before
And it's a story that I'm always proud to tell.
May the march of time never ever bring too many changes
To a way of life you people love and prize
May the years ahead be good ones
And you never lose your customs
With old Peppimenarti Hill looking down so old and wise
And the Kangaroo still bounds on that rough and rugged ground
The ant hills and the old pandanas grow
Yes and everyday's a Sunday if you're catching Barramundi
By the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows
And the Kangaroo still bounds on that rough and rugged ground
The ant hills and the old pandanas grow
Yes and everyday's a Sunday if you're catching Barramundi
By the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows Fade
The song "Plains of Peppimenarti" by Slim Dusty is an ode to a place that the artist truly loves, a place where he can find excitement, adventure, and connection to the land. The lyrics depict the image of a vast and rugged land where Kangaroos and other wild animals still roam free. The land is painted as a place where tough riders on trucks or horses teach others about things they didn't know, and where chasing bulls brings excitement to the extreme. The song recognizes the hard work and dedication of the stockmen who work long hours, without a break, and are the backbone of the beef industry, a story that Slim is always proud to tell.
The artist wishes for the land to never change too much and for its people to never lose their valued customs. It is a place where everyday is like a Sunday when catching Barramundi on the plains of Peppimenarti where the old Moyle River flows. The song is a tribute to a way of life that is simple yet fulfilling, energetic and yet peaceful, and a place that holds a special place in the artist's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Yodel
Introduction to the song with an upbeat yodel
Now I've been around Australia and I've travelled everywhere
The singer has explored much of Australia but has a special place he likes to go
But there's one place I really like to go
A specific location that the singer enjoys visiting
Where the land is big and wide and tall dark ringers ride
Describing the vast and open nature of the location, with cowboys riding on horseback
On the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows
Naming the location as the Plains of Peppimenarti, where a river runs through
Tough riders there of course in a truck or on a horse
The cowboys are skilled and tough, whether they are using a truck or a horse to get around
And they'll really teach you things you didn't know
Visitors can learn a lot from these expert cowboys
It's excitement to the full if you're out there chasing bulls
The thrill of chasing bulls on this location is unmatched
By the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows
Reiteration of the location, where the river is an important landmark
And the Kangaroo still bounds on that rough and rugged ground
Observing the wildlife in the area, with kangaroos hopping around
The ant hills and the old pandanas grow
Description of the flora, with ant hills and pandanas plants present
Yes and everyday's a Sunday if you're catching Barramundi
Fishing for Barramundi is so enjoyable that every day feels like a laid-back Sunday
By the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows
Reiteration of the location and the importance of the river
Yodel (hey, hey hey)
Instrumental yodeling
Now the men out on the stock camps are the finest riders known
Acknowledging the skilled cowboys who work on the cattle camps
And they'll work four weeks without a break or spell
The cowboys have a tough job and work long hours without taking a break
They're the back bone of our beef steaks
Appreciation for the important role these cowboys play in producing beef
And I've mentioned this before
The singer has expressed this sentiment previously
And it's a story that I'm always proud to tell.
The singer takes pride in telling this story about the hardworking cowboys
May the march of time never ever bring too many changes
A hope that this special place remains the same, without too much change over time
To a way of life you people love and prize
Acknowledgement of the importance of this way of life to the people who live there
May the years ahead be good ones
Hoping for a positive future for this community
And you never lose your customs
Desire for the people to hold on to their traditions and cultural practices
With old Peppimenarti Hill looking down so old and wise
Mention of a hill in the area, depicted as ancient and wise
And the Kangaroo still bounds on that rough and rugged ground
Another observation of the wildlife in the region
The ant hills and the old pandanas grow
Reiteration of the flora in the area
Yes and everyday's a Sunday if you're catching Barramundi
Emphasizing the enjoyable pastime of Barramundi fishing
By the plains of Peppimenarti, where the old Moyle River flows
Final reiteration of the location, highlighting the importance of the river
Fade
End of the song
Contributed by Miles H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gosper420tyvs7
Slim knew and respected black fulla’s and we respected and supported him in listening to his beautiful music !!! 🔥🔥🔥💚🇦🇺❤️💛🖤👍🏼
@calebstephen7414
🇦🇺💛🖤❤️
@coreywheatcroft1374
One love forever fella 🇭🇲🇭🇲
@janiskoolmatrie8510
Absolutely ♥️
@williamboney7371
If ever a musician paid his dues it was Slim.
@shaunh1642
My People's 🖤💛❤️ much love from NSW Paakantji people's darling river mob 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿
@coreywheatcroft1374
That's some beautiful souls 🇭🇲
@user-of9cf7ks9u
My people
@bigears4014
You cant get anymore australian than slim
@williamboney7371
If you want to know about Australian history,listen to Slims songs.