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.
There's a Rainbow Over the Rock
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the Sun has started shining
I just see a flock of cockatoos fly by
And I see a silver lining
On the clouds as they roll on
Bringing life to the desert and stock
And you've gotta believe in a god
When there's a rainbow over the rock
Call it Ayers Rock or Uluru
They both mean much the same
Named after our ancestors
From both our yesterdays
Now here we stand on common ground
Still drenched from the desert rain
In awe of what's before us
And breathing in being Australian
There's a rainbow over the rock
And the Sun has started shining
I just see a flock of cockatoos fly by
And I see a silver lining
On the clouds as they roll on
Bringing life to the desert and stock
And you've gotta believe in dream time
When there's a rainbow over the rock
There stands that magic, majestic rock
The rain has washed her clean
Dressed in the colors of the rainbow
As if for a new beginning
And there's a brand new day in the horizon
And there's a brand new feeling in the air
And now that the dust has settled
Advance Australia fair
There's a rainbow over the rock
And the Sun has started shining
I just see a flock of cockatoos fly by
And I see a silver lining
On the clouds as they roll on
Bringing life to the desert and stock
And you've gotta believe in a god
When there's a rainbow over the rock
And you've gotta believe in dreamtime
When there's a rainbow over the rock
And you've gotta believe together
When there's a rainbow over the rock
In Slim Dusty's "There's a Rainbow Over the Rock" the skilled singer describes his experience with the stunning and ancient rock formation in the Australian Outback, Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock). The song commences with a fortunate moment, as the sun starts shining, creating a shining rainbow arc over the rock. Dusty sees a flock of white cockatoos flying in the distance, against the backdrop of some looming clouds which seem to bring some life to the usually barren desert. Dusty raises a deep connection to a divine spirit as well, suggesting the presence of God through the gloriously majestic arch he sees.
Dusty acknowledges the significance of the rock's name, whether it is called Ayers Rock or Uluru, as a symbol of his home country's rich Indigenous culture. He reveals his pride in being Australian as he stands in awe of the rain's impact on the desert and feels blessed to be able to see such a magnificent sight. As he thinks of "dream time," an essential aspect of the Aboriginal religion and also Australia's history, he uses this experience to connect him more to the land and to better understand the people who lived there before colonization. A remarkable feeling of united belief accompanies the moment the rainbow appears, showing how the land joins us all, whatever our background or upbringing may be.
The song concludes, highlighting how the shower has cleaned Uluru and how, like the rainbow, it produces the promise of a new and changing day. Incoming winds reveal a breath of fresh air indicating that the dust has settled. The last verse encourages the listener to accept Uluru's majesty and incorporate it into their Australian identity, to be united as Australians when they look upon the rock.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a rainbow over the rock
The singer sees a rainbow arching over the Uluru rock in Australia's desert.
And the Sun has started shining
The sun is now shining, illuminating the landscape and the rainbow.
I just see a flock of cockatoos fly by
A group of cockatoos fly by and catch the singer's attention.
And I see a silver lining
There's a silver lining visible among the clouds in the sky.
On the clouds as they roll on
The clouds continue to drift and move across the sky.
Bringing life to the desert and stock
The rain carried by the clouds brings life to the desert, including the animals and plants that live there.
And you've gotta believe in a god
The beauty of the rainbow and the surrounding landscape inspires a belief in a higher power or god.
Call it Ayers Rock or Uluru
The artist acknowledges the two names commonly used to refer to this majestic rock formation.
They both mean much the same
Both names refer to the same natural landmark with cultural significance.
Named after our ancestors
The rock is named after the artist's ancestors, who have lived and cherished it for generations.
From both our yesterdays
The history and cultural significance of the rock are passed down from previous generations to the present.
Now here we stand on common ground
Despite differences in culture and backgrounds, people stand together in awe of the same natural wonder.
Still drenched from the desert rain
The singer and others are still soaked from the rain that has fallen in the desert.
In awe of what's before us
The natural beauty of the Uluru rock commands the singer's respect and admiration.
And breathing in being Australian
The experience of standing before the Uluru rock is a source of pride and connection to the singer's Australian identity.
And you've gotta believe in dream time
The beauty and cultural significance of the Uluru rock inspires belief in the Dreamtime or Aboriginal spiritual beliefs.
There stands that magic, majestic rock
The Uluru rock is described as a powerful and majestic force of nature.
The rain has washed her clean
The recent rainfall has cleared the rock's surface and provided relief from the harsh desert environment.
Dressed in the colors of the rainbow
The rock is now adorned with the vibrant colors of the rainbow, creating a surreal and awe-inspiring sight.
As if for a new beginning
The rainbow and recent rain provide hope and optimism for new growth and life in the desert.
And there's a brand new day in the horizon
The future is full of promise and optimism, symbolized by the new day on the horizon.
And there's a brand new feeling in the air
The artist and others feel a sense of newness and rejuvenation brought about by the recent rain and rainbow.
And now that the dust has settled
After the rain, the dust and harshness of the desert have been tamed and settled.
Advance Australia fair
The artist is filled with patriotic pride and sings the Australian national anthem.
And you've gotta believe together
The beauty and significance of the Uluru rock bring people together and inspire a sense of commonality and shared experience.
Contributed by Stella M. 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