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.
So Long Old Mates
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder where they are?
Some still wander and some made good
And others traveled far.
Some have gathered their gear and gone
To a better land or worse;
Their load was heavy, the passing years
Is the weight that oldsters curse.
And the longest day not hard,
We would joke our way from dawn to dark,
Through the mob in the branding yard.
One I remember when I was there,
Who helped me in early years,
When I was the butt of the stockrail jokes,
He taught me to take the jeers.
In life he didn't amount to much,
He came from further out.
He was only a lanky coloured lad,
A station rouse about.
Oh, I've thanked him often in after life,
For the things he taught me then,
He guided my youth through the stockman's life
In the hard, tough world of men.
Although he didn't amount to much,
All that he had, he gave.
He was white enough and man enough
To rest in a soldier's grave.
Forgotten by most of the ones he knew
And those of his tribal tree;
The world forgetting, the world forgot
Except by mates like me.
So long, old mate from early days
Wherever you may be.
May the grass be green and the water good,
From care may your days be free.
I've traveled a span of the road of life
And I've learned to understand,
Through mate-ship the way it was meant to be,
Has no colour, creed nor land.
Contributed: Marten Busstra 2009]
The lyrics of Slim Dusty's "So Long Old Mates" speaks about a sense of loss and nostalgia for the times gone by, and the mates he used to have. He questions the whereabouts of his old friends, some of whom have traveled far, while others have left for the better or worse. The passing years have been heavy on them, and oldsters' weight the curse that they carry. The singer reminisces about the days gone by when they would joke their way from dawn to dusk, and there was no such thing as a hard day.
The song further notes with great fondness the one particular friend who helped him in his early years when he was the butt of the stock rail jokes, and he taught him to take those jeers. Although he didn't amount to much in life, he guided the singer through the tough, hard world of men. He was only a lanky-colored lad, a station rouse about, but he was "white enough and man enough" to rest in a soldier's grave. Despite that he was forgotten by most, including his tribal tree, the only people who remembered him were his mates.
The song concludes on a reflective note, stating that through mate-ship, the way it was meant to be has no color, creed, or land. So long as the grass is green and the water good, and the friends are true, one can lead a life free of cares. The song's overall message emphasizes the importance of friendship, the memories and the lessons that the singer learned.
Line by Line Meaning
Where are the mates I used to have?
I wonder about the whereabouts of my old friends and companions.
I wonder where they are?
I am curious as to the current location of my old friends and what they are up to now.
Some still wander and some made good
Some of my friends still lead a nomadic life, while others have been successful in their pursuits.
And others traveled far.
Some of my friends have migrated to distant lands.
Some have gathered their gear and gone
Some have packed up their belongings and left to seek better opportunities elsewhere.
To a better land or worse;
The place they have gone could either be a better or worse place than their previous location.
Their load was heavy, the passing years
The burden of age has weighed heavy on them as the years have gone by.
Is the weight that oldsters curse.
Older people feel the weight of time more acutely and find it difficult to bear.
When we were young and the world was wide
We were carefree and full of energy when we were young.
And the longest day not hard,
We could work tirelessly even on the longest day without getting tired.
We would joke our way from dawn to dark,
We would pass the time by telling jokes and having a laugh.
Through the mob in the branding yard.
We would work together to brand the livestock in the crowded yard.
One I remember when I was there,
I still have vivid memories of a particular person and the time we spent together.
Who helped me in early years,
This individual provided me with essential guidance and support during my formative years.
When I was the butt of the stockrail jokes,
This person stepped in to help me deal with ridicule from my colleagues in the workplace.
He taught me to take the jeers.
He gave me the tools to cope with being teased or taunted by others.
In life he didn't amount to much,
This individual did not achieve much in his lifetime.
He came from further out.
He was from a remote area.
He was only a lanky coloured lad,
He was a thin and tall person, who happened to be of Indigenous ancestry.
A station rouse about.
He worked as a general hand or jack of all trades at a cattle station.
Oh, I've thanked him often in afterlife,
I have expressed my gratitude to him many times, even after he passed away.
For the things he taught me then,
I am thankful for the lessons he imparted to me during our time spent together.
He guided my youth through the stockman's life
He was instrumental in helping me navigate the challenges and demands of life as a livestock worker.
In the hard, tough world of men.
This was a difficult and competitive environment in which to work and survive.
Although he didn't amount to much,
Despite his lack of material success,
All that he had, he gave.
This person gave everything he had and was always willing to help others, despite his own circumstances.
He was white enough and man enough
This person was as good as any other human being, regardless of his ethnicity or background.
To rest in a soldier's grave.
This individual was honoured to be buried as a soldier, as he served his country or community in some way.
Forgotten by most of the ones he knew
Unfortunately, this person was largely forgotten by his acquaintances and peers.
And those of his tribal tree;
Even his relatives and fellow Indigenous people may have forgotten about him and his contributions.
The world forgetting, the world forgot
The world has moved on and forgotten this individual and his story.
Except by mates like me.
The memories of this person are kept alive by his friends, like myself.
So long, old mate from early days
Farewell to my friend and companion from the past.
Wherever you may be.
I hope you are at peace and in a better place.
May the grass be green and the water good,
I hope you are surrounded by natural beauty and harmony.
From care may your days be free.
I hope you are free from any burdens or worries.
I've traveled a span of the road of life
I have journeyed through many stages and experiences in my life so far.
And I've learned to understand,
I have gained valuable insights and perspectives through my travels and interactions with others.
Through mate-ship the way it was meant to be,
Through true friendship and camaraderie, as it should be in life.
Has no colour, creed nor land.
True friendship transcends racial, cultural or geographical boundaries.
Writer(s): David Kirkpatrick, Alexander Cormack
Contributed by Alex B. 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