Send 'Er Down Hughie
Slim Dusty Lyrics


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Oh the radio tells me it's raining
But that I can see for myself
And they tell me a cyclone is coming
Oh I surely could do with some help
This little old shovel I'm holding
Looks puney beside this old Mac
She's down to the diff and still going
And there's only more mud up the track

Oh I've reved and I've rocked and reversed it
Oh I've dug at the mud on the wheels
I've kicked and I've swore and I've cursed it
And to the good Lord I've appealed
But the line up to heaven aint open
I've a feeling I'm not getting through
I'll just have to lighten the load
One carton of stubies should do

Oh I wonder if ever they'd miss it
One carton from all of those tons
But I bet you they'd be asking where is it
And licking their dry dusty tongues
Oh I can picture those miners all dying
Of thirst in that drought stricken town
While here in the mud I've been trying
Striving to put the booze down

And in each of these stubbies I empty
I insert a small note of distress
And cast it adrift in the gully
An SOS out of the west
How many days have I languished
Here in this swamp called a road
While in my dispair and my anguish
I've been working at lighting the load

Perhaps some old fisherman casting
His line on the Barrier Reef
Will see all these stubbies go past him
And come sailing up to my relief
And won't we all have such a booze up
The best ever seen on this road
But I doubt if they ever will choose us
To carry their next flaming load

So good health to the sand flies and skeeters
Good luck to that solmen old frog
Oh I'm damned if this rain's going to beat me
Thank hell for this truck load of grog
Oh send her down Huey you beauty
You got the right knack of doing it now
All my sorrows have drowned well and truly
And there's plenty more booze to put down





Ah it's lomesome ah ha

Overall Meaning

In Slim Dusty's song "Send 'Er Down Hughie," the singer is stuck in a swampy road during a rainy and cyclone season. The song is a humorous take on the challenging experience of navigating treacherous roads during bad weather. The singer expresses his desperation for help, as his truck gets stuck in the mud, and he attempts to lighten his load by sacrificing a carton of beer. He hopes that the note of distress he inserts into each emptied stubby would be cast adrift in the gully and rescue him. The singer continues with his humorous tone, imagining that the miners in a nearby drought-stricken town are dying of thirst while he is trying to lighten his load with alcohol.


The song also highlights the singer's resilience, as he refuses to give up and turns to the truckload of grog for temporary solace. He acknowledges the insects and animals around him, including the sand flies, mosquitoes, and the solemn old frog, as companions during his struggle.


The song captures the Australian spirit of facing adversity with humor, determination, and resourcefulness. It is an ode to the nation's love of beer and its ability to find a lighthearted perspective during tough times.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh the radio tells me it's raining
The radio confirms the obvious, that it's raining outside


But that I can see for myself
I don't need the radio to tell me it's raining, I can see it


And they tell me a cyclone is coming
The radio predicts a cyclone approaching


Oh I surely could do with some help
I could use some assistance in this situation


This little old shovel I'm holding
The shovel I'm holding is small and insignificant


Looks puney beside this old Mac
The shovel seems small compared to the 'old Mac' truck


She's down to the diff and still going
The truck has traveled a long way and is still going despite challenges


And there's only more mud up the track
The road ahead is only going to get more challenging


Oh I've reved and I've rocked and reversed it
I've tried various methods to move the truck through the mud


Oh I've dug at the mud on the wheels
I've tried to remove the mud from the wheels


I've kicked and I've swore and I've cursed it
I've been angry and frustrated with the situation


And to the good Lord I've appealed
I've asked for help from a higher power


But the line up to heaven aint open
I'm not getting a response from my prayer


I've a feeling I'm not getting through
I don't think my prayer is reaching anyone


I'll just have to lighten the load
The only solution is to remove some weight from the truck


One carton of stubies should do
I will remove one carton of beer


Oh I wonder if ever they'd miss it
I wonder if anyone will notice that I've taken one carton of beer


One carton from all of those tons
One carton of beer from all the cargo will hardly make a difference


But I bet you they'd be asking where is it
People will still ask where the beer is, even if it's only one carton


And licking their dry dusty tongues
People will be thirsty and in need of a drink


Oh I can picture those miners all dying
I imagine the miners in the nearby town suffering from thirst


Of thirst in that drought stricken town
The town is experiencing a severe lack of water


While here in the mud I've been trying
While I'm in the mud, I'm trying to lighten the truck's load


Striving to put the booze down
I'm trying to remove the beer from the cargo


And in each of these stubbies I empty
In every beer I drink, I put a note of distress


I insert a small note of distress
I add a written plea for help with each empty beer


And cast it adrift in the gully
I throw the empty bottle into the nearby gully


An SOS out of the west
The notes serve as a distress call from the west


How many days have I languished
I have been here for many days


Here in this swamp called a road
This road is swampy and difficult to navigate


While in my dispair and my anguish
I'm feeling hopeless and upset about the situation


I've been working on lighting the load
I'm trying to reduce the weight of the cargo


Perhaps some old fisherman casting
Maybe someone fishing nearby will find the notes


His line on the Barrier Reef
The fisherman is on the Barrier Reef


Will see all these stubbies go past him
He will notice the empty beer bottles floating by


And come sailing up to my relief
He will come to my rescue with more beer


And won't we all have such a booze up
When we are rescued, we will have a big drinking party


The best ever seen on this road
It will be the best party on this road


But I doubt if they ever will choose us
I don't think anyone will choose us for their next cargo job


To carry their next flaming load
To transport their next shipment


So good health to the sand flies and skeeters
Cheers to the sand flies and mosquitos


Good luck to that solmen old frog
Wishing the frog good luck


Oh I'm damned if this rain's going to beat me
I won't let this rain get the best of me


Thank heaven for this truck load of grog
Thankful for the beer in the truck


Oh send her down Hughie you beauty
Rain harder, Hughie, let it pour


You got the right knack of doing it now
You're doing a good job with the rain, Hughie


All my sorrows have drowned well and truly
All my worries have gone away with the rain


And there's plenty more booze to put down
There's still a lot of beer left to drink


Ah it's lomesome ah ha
It's lonely out here in the mud




Contributed by Nathaniel K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@keithschmidt6418

RIP. SD. I've listened to this song and known every word for many a year, also many many others, i never get tired of slim and never will.

@belindamarmion2914

My dad loved Slim and I loved my dad and miss him so much, even after 30 years,

@court5792

My dad says send her down Hughie when it starts raining ❤❤❤

@Pablo-vh8tg

as much as i listen to the country music now, i will always have a soft spot for old slim

@TonyMac28

The reason there is the Pub with no Beer! Love ya Slim!

@hansgoepel

Pub with no Beer! Love ya Slim!

@trooper44069

Love slim dusty from the UK but an Aussie by heart

@trooper44069

Same here

@undertheblade1

omg slim does it again hehehe i cnt stop lughing :)

@tracyschiemer4366

Whats happen to country today its lost its way sounds more like rock an roll now slimy dusty marty robbins tex ritter an so manny more old singers there country music an songs was far bedder then todays

Miss you slim

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