[Editor: This song was published in The Old Bush Songs (1905), edited by Banjo Paterson.]
Bringing Home the Cows
Shadows of the twilight falling
On the mountain’s brow,
To each other birds are calling
In the leafy bough.
Where the daisies are a-springing,
And the cattle bells are ringing,
Comes my Mary, gaily singing,
Bringing home the cows.
By a bush the pathway skirted
Room for two allows.
All the cornfields are deserted,
Idle are the ploughs.
Striving for wealth’s spoil and booty,
Farmer boys have finished duty,
When I meet my little beauty
Bringing home the cows.
Tender words and kind addresses,
Most polite of bows,
Rosy cheeks and wavy tresses
Do my passions rouse;
Dress so natty and so cleanly,
Air so modest and so queenly,
Oh! so haughty, yet serenely
Bringing home the cows.
Arm-in-arm together walking,
While the cattle browse,
Earnestly together talking,
Plighting lovers’ vows.
Where the daisies are a-springing,
Wedding bells will soon be ringing;
Then we’ll watch our servant bringing
Mine and Mary’s cows.
Source:
A. B. Paterson (editor), The Old Bush Songs, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1905, pp. 64-65
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