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.
Trumby
Slim Dusty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A good one too at that
He could rake and ride a twister
Throw a rope and fancy plait
He could count a line a saddle
A man lost in the night
Trumby was a good boy but he couldn't read or write
He never took to beer
The boss admired him so much
One day made him overseer
It never went to Trumby's head
He didn't boast or skite
Trumby was a good boy but he couldn't read or write.
The drought was on the country
The grass in short supply
The tanks were getting lower and the water holes near dry
Cattle started dying
And relief was not insight
To estimate the losses Trumby couldn't read or write.
He rode around the station pulling cattle from the bog
To save them being torn apart by eagles crows and dogs
He saw a notice on a tree
It wasn't there last night
Trumby tried to understand but he couldn't read or write.
On bended knee down in the mud
Trumby had a drink
Swung the reigns and to his horse said "We go home I think"
"Tell 'im boss about the sign, 'im read 'im good alright"
"One day boss's missus teach 'im Trumby read and write"
Well concern was felt for Trumby
He hadn't used his bed
Next day beside that muddy hole they found the ringer dead
And a piece of tin tied to a tree then caught the boss's eye
He read the words of 'Poison Here'
And signed by Dogger Bry
Now the stock had never used that hole along that stony creek
And Trumby's bag was empty
It has frayed and sprung a leak
The dogs were there in hundreds
And the dogger in his plight
Told the boss he never knew poor Trumby couldn't read or write
Now Trumby was a ringer
As solid as a post
His skin was black but his heart was white and that's what mattered most
Sometimes I think how sad it is in this world with all its might
That a man like Trumby met his death because he couldn't read or write.
Couldn't read or write
Couldn't read or write
Slim Dusty's song "Trumby" is a tribute to a man named Trumby, who was a ringer or a cowboy. It describes how Trumby was a skilled cowboy, with the ability to ride through twisters, rope cattle, plait ropes, as well as count and saddle horses. However, despite his skills, Trumby was illiterate and could not read or write.
Trumby earned the respect of his boss who eventually appointed him as overseer of the ranch. But as the drought persisted, Trumby found it challenging to estimate the number of cattle dying due to a lack of water and grass. He rode around the station, pulling cattle out of bogs to save them from predators like eagles, crows, and dogs. While doing so, he found a notice on a tree that alerted him about a poison in the area. Unfortunately, Trumby could not read or understand the warning, and he unwittingly drank the poisoned waterhole, dying the next day.
The song chronicles how Trumby's illiteracy led to his untimely passing and how important it is for people with skills like his to be educated. Overall, the song conveys the tragedy of Trumby's untimely death and the importance of literacy to prevent such fatalities.
Line by Line Meaning
Trumby was a ringer
Trumby was a skilled and experienced worker in the cattle industry
A good one too at that
He was exceptionally good at his job
He could rake and ride a twister
Trumby was good at mustering cattle and handling unpredictable situations
Throw a rope and fancy plait
He was also skilled in roping and plaiting cattle for branding and other purposes
He could count a line a saddle
Trumby was able to count cattle and navigate while riding a horse
A man lost in the night
He was comfortable and competent working in the dark or in unfamiliar terrain
Trumby was a good boy but he couldn't read or write
Despite his many talents and abilities, Trumby was not literate
Trumby was dependable
Trumby was reliable and could be counted on to do his job well
He never took to beer
Unlike many of his peers, Trumby did not drink alcohol
The boss admired him so much
Trumby’s employer held him in high esteem
One day made him overseer
Trumby was promoted to oversee other workers on the station
It never went to Trumby's head
Despite this promotion, Trumby remained humble and did not become arrogant or boastful
He didn't boast or skite
Trumby did not brag or show off his successes
The drought was on the country
The area was experiencing a prolonged period of little to no rainfall and drought conditions
The grass in short supply
There was very little grass for the cattle to eat due to the drought
The tanks were getting lower and the water holes near dry
Water supplies for the cattle were running low and were not being replenished
Cattle started dying
Due to the lack of food and water, some cattle were beginning to perish
And relief was not insight
There was no hope for immediate relief or assistance to alleviate the struggling conditions
To estimate the losses Trumby couldn't read or write
Trumby was unable to keep track of the number of cattle deaths, which made it difficult to estimate losses for the station
He rode around the station pulling cattle from the bog
Trumby spent his days rescuing cattle that had become stuck in mud or bogs
To save them being torn apart by eagles crows and dogs
He saved the cattle from being preyed upon by birds or dogs
He saw a notice on a tree
Trumby came across a sign posted on a nearby tree
It wasn't there last night
The sign had not been present the night before when he had ridden by
Trumby tried to understand but he couldn't read or write
Trumby was unable to comprehend the message posted on the sign due to his illiteracy
On bended knee down in the mud
Trumby knelt in the mud beside his horse
Trumby had a drink
He paused to take a drink of water
Swung the reigns and to his horse said 'We go home I think'
He gently pulled the reins and guided his horse back towards the station
"Tell 'im boss about the sign, 'im read 'im good alright"
Trumby was determined to share the message on the sign with his employer, despite his inability to read it himself
"One day boss's missus teach 'im Trumby read and write"
Trumby hoped that one day his employer's wife would be able to teach him how to read and write
Well concern was felt for Trumby
Trumby began to be missed and his absence was noted
He hadn't used his bed
Trumby had not returned to his quarters, and it was clear that something was wrong
Next day beside that muddy hole they found the ringer dead
Trumby was found dead next to a muddy hole the following day
And a piece of tin tied to a tree then caught the boss's eye
Trumby’s employer noticed a piece of metal attached to a nearby tree
He read the words of 'Poison Here'
The boss read the message posted on the metal sign, which warned of poison
And signed by Dogger Bry
The sign was attributed to a man named Dogger Bry
Now the stock had never used that hole along that stony creek
Cattle had never frequented the area around the muddy hole where Trumby was found
And Trumby's bag was empty
His belongings had been removed or stolen
It has frayed and sprung a leak
Trumby's bag was old and worn out, with visible signs of wear and tear
The dogs were there in hundreds
Vultures and scavengers had arrived in large numbers to feed on Trumby's remains
And the dogger in his plight
Dogger Bry was questioned and investigated, as he was the one who had posted the warning sign
Told the boss he never knew poor Trumby couldn't read or write
Dogger Bry claimed that he was unaware of Trumby's illiteracy, and did not intend for him to come to any harm
As solid as a post
Trumby was unwavering and unshakeable in his character and abilities
His skin was black but his heart was white and that's what mattered most
Despite the color of his skin and his lack of education, Trumby had a kind and pure heart, which was his most valuable quality
Sometimes I think how sad it is in this world with all its might
The songwriter reflects on the tragedy of Trumby's untimely death and the unfairness of life
That a man like Trumby met his death because he couldn't read or write.
Trumby's inability to read and write ultimately led to his demise, a sobering reminder of the importance of education and literacy in a person's life.
Couldn't read or write
Repeated refrain emphasizing Trumby's illiteracy and the devastating consequences it had.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID KIRKPATRICK, JOE DALY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-wn8nk9vd9e
Also, we miss yu uncle SLIM DUSTY, THE BEST COUNTRY SINGER IN THE WORLD! & NO ONE WILL EVER COME UP TO HIM, NONE B4! NONE AFTER!!!
@trumby7822
Slim Dusty my mate your heart is black and thats what matters most love you and your songs miss you Old fella . R.I.P.
@user-wn8nk9vd9e
So true this song, there really was a Trumby!
@lloydsmith4714
One of my favourite slim dusty my Dad brainwashed me listening to his songs growing up but we had a black slim to but they both gone not forgotten we love you slim God bless you mate.
@annalouise280110
Puts a lump in ya throat listening to this as its the true fact that sadly still exists.
@gordonclark4049
Greatest of all country western singers Slim Dusty
@darylsullivan7707
I love this song slim I'm so sad to Here your wife has passed as well I know she is with you now I still have your music
@1gregk1
A great song by Joe Daley, shows the injustice then, is it still apparent? Tops to see Slim, Joy and Barry T back there in the day. Years later, at a show I heard Slim sing, "skin was black but heart was pure." I appreciated that. Onyer Slim
@shanoinoz
Greg.... only because he felt obligated to tow the PC BS train.... Slim (and I) came from an era when people weren't prescios little flowers and everything offended them. We seen society for what it actually was. I wish the current generation all the best... steering the ship onto the rocks....
@ronramsay8587
@@shanoinoz How can you speak for what Slim Dusty was thinking? It was he who made the decision to sing it the way he saw fit. Perhaps it is you who you are acting like more of a "precious little flower" if modifying the line offends you so.
I reckon that saying that Trumby's heart was "pure" is probably closer to the intended abstract meaning of "white". I don't think the writer intended to imply that Trumby had the heart/mind of a white fella, or anything like that, just that he was an upstanding and righteous bloke.
Personally, I prefer the "white" version because it's a more powerful lyric, with black obviously contrasting better with white. In any case, I think if there's any issue, it's, "his skin was black, BUT", as if justification or apology is needed for someone's skin colour. It's a little cringey. That's what I thought as a kid in the day originally listening to this tune, and that's what I think now. But I take it on face value that there was no ill intent.