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.
The Lights On the Hill
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a long straight road and the engine is deep
I can't help thinkin' of a good night's sleep
And the long long roads of my li-ife were a callin' me
These rough old hands are a-glued to the wheel
My eyes full of sand from the way they feel
And the lights comin' over the hi-ill are a-blindin' me
It's a long tough haul from a-way down south
A man's gotta find a little bread for his mouth
And a home for a girl as swee-eet as my honey can be
So it's down through the gears, she's a-startin' to pull
The gauge on the tank is a-showin' they're full
And the lights comin' over the hi-ill are a-blindin' me
There's rain on the road and I can feel the load start a-shiftin'
I-i-in a dance
Too late, I see the post and I haven't got a ghost of a chance
Ah-hah-hah-no
The windscreen wipers are a-beatin' in time
The song they sing is a part of my mind
And I can't believe it's a-really happenin' to me
Oh, but I'm over the edge and down the mountain side
I know they'll tell about the night I died
In the rain when the lights on the hi-ill were a-blindin' me
Hey!
There's rain on the road and I can feel the load start a-shiftin'
I-i-in a dance
Too late, I see the post and I haven't got a ghost of a chance
Ah-hah-hah-no
The windscreen wipers are a-beatin' in time
The song they sing is a part of my mind
And I can't believe it's a-really happenin' to me
Oh, but I'm over the edge and down the mountain side
I know they'll tell about the night I died
In the rain when the lights on the hi-ill were a-blindin' me
In the rain when the lights on t
Lights On The Hill is a classic country song by Slim Dusty that has become an iconic Australian tune. The song is about a truck driver who is on a long journey, searching for a place to call home and provide for his loved ones. The opening lines "It’s a long straight road and the engine is deep, I can't help thinkin' of a good night's sleep" set the tone for the rest of the song, with the driver tired and dreaming of a place to rest. He then describes how the lights from the hill in the distance are blinding him as he continues on his journey.
The lyrics of the song have a melancholic tone that evokes feelings of nostalgia and longing. The driver's hands are rough and his eyes are tired, symbolizing the hard work and long hours that go into being a truck driver. The rain and shifting load add to the tense mood, and the song takes a tragic turn as the driver loses control of his vehicle and crashes off the side of the mountain. The final lines "I know they'll tell about the night I died, In the rain when the lights on the hill were a-blindin' me" leave a haunting feeling, reminding us of the dangers that come with life on the road.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a long straight road and the engine is deep
The journey ahead is long and challenging, and the vehicle needs to be in top condition to cover the distance.
I can't help thinkin' of a good night's sleep
The driver is already tired and dreams of a peaceful night's rest.
And the long long roads of my li-ife were a callin' me
The driver feels like he was born to be on the road, travelling through the long stretches of highways.
These rough old hands are a-glued to the wheel
The driver's hands are calloused and tired from holding the steering wheel for so long.
My eyes full of sand from the way they feel
The dryness in the air has caused irritation in the driver's eyes, making it difficult for him to drive.
And the lights comin' over the hi-ill are a-blindin' me
The brightness of the headlights from the hilltop blind the driver temporarily, making it harder for him to see the road ahead.
A man's gotta find a little bread for his mouth
The driver is struggling to make ends meet and provide for himself and his loved ones.
And a home for a girl as swee-eet as my honey can be
The driver has someone special in his life and wants to be able to provide a comfortable home for her.
So it's down through the gears, she's a-startin' to pull
The driver shifts down the gears to make the vehicle run smoothly and efficiently as he starts to climb the hill.
The gauge on the tank is a-showin' they're full
The fuel gauge shows that the vehicle has enough gas to cover the distance ahead.
There's rain on the road and I can feel the load start a-shiftin'
The rain has made the road slippery, and the driver can feel the weight of the vehicle shifting.
Too late, I see the post and I haven't got a ghost of a chance Ah-hah-hah-no
The driver notices the danger too late, and it's already too late to avoid it.
The windscreen wipers are a-beatin' in time
The rhythm of the windshield wipers matches the beat of the song, creating a surreal experience for the driver.
The song they sing is a part of my mind
The song playing on the radio is so familiar that it feels like it's a part of the driver's subconscious mind.
And I can't believe it's a-really happenin' to me
The situation feels like a nightmare to the driver, and he can't believe it's real.
Oh, but I'm over the edge and down the mountain side
The driver has lost control of the vehicle and is falling off the mountain.
I know they'll tell about the night I died
The driver is aware that his actions could lead to his death, and it will be a story told for years to come.
In the rain when the lights on the hi-ill were a-blindin' me
The deadly accident occurred on a rainy night when the headlights from the hill blinded the driver and caused him to lose control of the vehicle.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOY MCKEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Damian-xt6xl
The man from snowy mountains
@Gunjaroo
This is the best Australian song
@DiLLiGaF-fg7by
I’ve never heard of this song til I met Ian who I work as a support worker for.. now I listen to it and think of the times we had talking about his trucking years. Rest in peace my dear friend, thank you for leaving me with life long advice and a friendship I’ll treasure forever. 19/06/2023 🕊️
@danieldraper7637
I'm 24 years old in 2023 and I absolutely love slim dusty👍
@aaronjohnson1590
just about to hit 40, grew up on Slim. bloody legend
@phillipmanser616
My pop passed today this was his favourite song
@anonburger5010
Sorry to hear mate. My Dad passed away 2 weeks ago and we found this as a note in his phone as a possible farewell song for himself, so we played it when he was leaving the service. He was a true blue Aussie trucker and this song matches him well.
I hope you're okay after your pop passing ❤
@richardtaudevin1860
So sorry mate, condolences from PNG.
@thomasmoore9833
That sucks
@shazziec3610
This was my pops favourite song and he was truck driver we had this as hus goodbye song