Shanty On The Rise
Slim Dusty Lyrics

When the caravans of wool-teams climbed the ranges from the West,
As wool-teams travelled through the mountains, there was one shanty known as 'The Bullock-drivers' Rest'

It was built of bark and saplings, and was rather rough inside,
'The Bullock-drivers' Rest' was made from sparse materials and had a simple interior

But 'twas good enough for bushmen in the careless days that died --
Despite the simplicity of the shanty, bushmen found it sufficient in the old days

Just a quiet little shanty kept by 'Something-in-Disguise',
The shanty was run by a mysterious landlord known only as 'Something-in-Disguise'

As the bushmen called the landlord of the Shanty on the Rise.
This was the nickname given to the landlord of the shanty by the local bushmen

'Twas the bullock-driver's haven when his team was on the road,
The shanty was a welcome haven for bullock-drivers when they were travelling

And the waggon-wheels were groaning as they ploughed beneath the load;
The heavy wagon loads would cause the wheels to groan as they made their way to the shanty

And I mind how weary teamsters struggled on while it was light,
I remember how exhausted the teamsters were as they pushed on until it got dark

Just to camp within a cooey of the Shanty for the night;
They would travel far just to camp close by the shanty for the night

And I think the very bullocks raised their heads and fixed their eyes,
Even the bullocks themselves appeared to recognize the shanty and would look towards it

On the candle in the window of the Shanty on the Rise.
Particular attention was paid to the candle that was always lit in the window of the shanty

And the bullock-bells were clanking from the marshes on the flats
As they approached, the sound of the bells on the bullocks from the wetlands could be heard

As we hurried to the Shanty, where we hung our dripping hats;
Upon arrival, it was customary to hang one's wet hat up inside the shanty

And we took a drop of something that was brought at our desire,
The patrons would partake in a drink of their choice that was brought to them upon request

As we stood with steaming moleskins in the kitchen by the fire.
Standing close to the fire, they would dry their wet pants while socializing in the kitchen

Oh! it roared upon a fireplace of the good, old-fashioned size,
The fire grew strong and warm in a vintage, spacious hearth

When the rain came down the chimney of the Shanty on the Rise.
During a downpour, the rain would cause some issues by coming down the chimney, making it an even cosier place to be

They got up a Christmas party in the Shanty long ago,
Years ago, the shanty hosted a Christmas party

While I camped with Jimmy Nowlett on the riverbank below;
At that time, I was camped out with Jimmy Nowlett down by the riverbank

Poor old Jim was in his glory -- they'd elected him M.C.,
Jimmy was in his element and proud to have been chosen as the master of ceremonies for the event

For there wasn't such another raving lunatic as he.
There was no one quite like Jimmy due to his eccentric ways

'Mr. Nowlett, Mr. Swaller!' shouted Something-in-Disguise,
The landlord called out to both Jimmy Nowlett and myself

As we walked into the parlour of the Shanty on the Rise.
We then proceeded to go inside the shanty's living room

Jimmy came to me and whispered, and I muttered, 'Go along!'
Jimmy came up to me secretly and said something which I half-heartedly told him to proceed with

But he shouted, 'Mr. Swaller will oblige us with a song!'
Despite my initial reluctance, Jimmy announced to everyone that I would sing a song

And at first I said I wouldn't, and I shammed a little too,
Initially, I pretended I wasn't going to sing and was somewhat hesitant

Till the girls began to whisper, 'We're all waiting now for you.'
But then the girls started whispering that they were eagerly anticipating my song

So I sang a song of something 'bout the love that never dies,
I proceeded to sing a song about ever-lasting love

And the shook the rafters of the Shanty on the Rise.
My singing was so energetically received that the rafters of the shanty vibrated

Jimmy burst his concertina, and the bullock-drivers went
Following my song, Jimmy got a bit carried away and broke his concertina while the bullock drivers

For the corpse of Joe the Fiddler, who was sleeping in his tent;
Headed out to retrieve Joe the Fiddler, who was napping in his own tent

Joe was tired and had lumbago, and he wouldn't come, he said,
Joe was unwell and simply wanted rest, so he declined the invitation to the shanty

But the case was very urgent, so they pulled him out of bed;
Even though Joe didn't want to come, there was a pressing matter that made them insist on him getting out of bed anyway

And they fetched him, for the bushmen knew that Something-in-Disguise
The other people in attendance forced Joe to come because they knew that the landlord, 'Something-in-Disguise'

Had a cure for Joe's lumbago in the Shanty on the Rise.
had a remedy for Joe's sore back in the shanty

I suppose the Shanty vanished from the ranges long ago,
It's likely that the shanty disappeared from the mountains many years ago

And the girls are mostly married to the chaps I used to know;
The girls, who were present at the Christmas party of the shanty, are likely to be married to the men I knew at that time

My old chums are in the distance -- some have crossed the border-line,
My old buddies are far away, with some of them having already passed away

But in fancy still their glasses chink against the rim of mine.
In my imagination, I can still hear our glasses clink together in a toast

And, upon the very centre of the greenest spot that lies,
In the midst of my memories, there exists a particularly lush area

In my fondest recollection, stands the Shanty on the Rise.
And the most vivid scene from these fond memories is that of the Shanty on the Rise standing proud in that lush area.