[Editor: This song was published in Old Bush Songs: Composed and Sung in the Bushranging, Digging, and Overlanding Days (8th edition, 1932), edited by Banjo Paterson.]
To-morrow I’m Losing My Darling
(Air: Rory O’More.)
I’m very unhappy, tho’ nothing I’ve done.
I’ll tell you the cause of my sorrow;
To-morrow my darling is leaving the run,
She goes from the station to-morrow.
The missus and she had a bit of a row
About something or other this morning;
The missus she started abusing her so,
My darling at last gave her warning.
Chorus
Oh, bother the missus, and bother her tongue,
And bother her snapping and snarling;
Through wagging her jaws, without any cause,
To-morrow I’m losing my darling.
She went in the kitchen and kicked up a row,
She said that my darling was lazy;
My poor little darling had nothing to say —
She thought that the missus was crazy.
’Tis jealousy, boys, was the cause of it all,
For my darling had done well her duty;
The missus, confound her, is scraggy and tall,
My darling a plump little beauty.
Chorus: Oh, bother, etc.
I went in the office and picked up a book,
And sadly was turning the pages,
When the missus came in, and said she, with a look,
“Pay up this young woman her wages.”
“It cannot be done, ma’am,” said I with a grin,
“Your husband his cheque-book has taken;”
To tell an untruth was not much of a sin,
Especially when your heart is aching.
Chorus: Oh, bother, etc.
The boss is expected home by the next mail,
And the missus, confound her and dang her,
Of course with her husband is sure to prevail;
What woman would not in her anger?
My darling is packing as fast as she can,
She vows she will go in the morning,
Was ever a man tormented as I am?
My heart will seek solace in mourning.
Chorus: Oh, bother, etc.
Source:
A. B. Paterson (editor), Old Bush Songs: Composed and Sung in the Bushranging, Digging, and Overlanding Days (8th edition), Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1932, pp. 67-68
Editor’s notes:
bother = an exclamatory term, expressing annoyance or irritation (e.g. “Oh bother!”), similar to “drat”
dang = an exclamatory term, a euphemism for “damn”
ma’am = (vernacular) a contraction of “madam”
row = a noisy argument, conflict, disturbance, or fight; an argument or dispute; a loud noise, commotion, or uproar
run = a property on which stock are grazed, such as a “cattle run” or a “sheep run”
station = a large rural holding for raising sheep or cattle; the term “property” is used for smaller holdings
tho’ = (vernacular) though
’tis = (archaic) a contraction of “it is”
[Editor: The word “Chorus” (which is used several times in this song) has been put into italics (Chorus) so as to distinguish it from the text of the song.]
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