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The Old Survey [song, 1905]

12 April 2012 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This song was published in The Old Bush Songs (1905), edited by Banjo Paterson.]

The Old Survey

Our money’s all spent, to the deuce it went!
The landlord, he looks glum;
On the tap-room wall, in a very bad scrawl,
He has chalked to us a sum.
But a glass we’ll take, ere the grey dawn break,
And then saddle up and away —
Theodolite-tum, theodolite-ti, theodolite-too-ral-ay.

With a measured beat fall our horses’ feet,
Galloping side by side;
When the money’s done, and we’ve had our fun,
We all are bound to ride.
O’er the far-off plain we’ll drag the chain,
And mark the settler’s way —
Theodolite-tum, theodolite-ti, theodolite-too-ral-ay.

We’ll range from the creeks to the mountain peaks,
And traverse far below;
Where foot never trod, we’ll mark with a rod
The limits of endless snow;
Each lofty crag we’ll plant with a flag,
To flash in the sun’s bright ray —
Theodolite-tum, theodolite-ti, theodolite-too-ral-ay.

Till with cash hard-earned once more returned,
At “The Beaver” bars we’ll shout;
And the very bad scrawI that’s against the wall
Ourselves shall see wiped out.
Such were the ways in the good old days! —
The days of the old survey!
Theodolite-tum, theodolite-ti, theodolite-too-ral-ay.



Source:
A. B. Paterson (editor), The Old Bush Songs, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1905, pp. 17-18

Filed Under: songs Tagged With: song, SourceArchiveOrg, The Old Bush Songs (Banjo Paterson 1905), year1905

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