Slim Dusty It Takes A Drought Lyrics

As I gaze out through my window I see hungry cattle
stand
Chewing sprigs of old man saltbush partly buried in the
sand
No trees to form a shelter from the blazing sun ahead
And dingoes eat the bones and hide of cattle long since
dead

Across the barren hopeless plain the shimmering mirage
leaps
Like phantom lakes that beckon on and claim your soul
for keeps
The heatwaves dance across the land zigzagging as it
goes
And butt bush flies a million miles as a big red dust
storm blows

The waterholes along the creeks and earthen tanks are
dry
The windmills workin’ overtime and the hungry crows
stand by
Sandblasting winds like tongues of flame burn off
remaining feed
And the men who battle old man drought are a tough and
hardy breed

[Instrumental]

The sight of rollin’ rainclouds are strangers’ way out
there
And the savage twisted whirlwinds have left the country
bare
There’s miles of station fencing covered up by shifting sand
Makes you wonder why the weather gods don’t lend a
helping hand

But every day that passes brings us nearer to the time
When stormclouds raise their thunderheads ready to
unwind
And when the rain comes pouring down cascading down our
necks
We’ll dream the dream all bushmen dream fat bullocks
and silver cheques

[Instrumental]

There’s nothing like the soaking rain to lift a
bushmans chest
And to see the dams all bywashed and the country fully
dressed
I one time heard a bushman say while drovin’ on the
track
It takes one hell of an old man drought to bring this
country back

Yes there’s nothing like the soaking rain to lift a
bushmans chest
And to see the dams all bywashed and the country fully
dressed
I one time heard a bushman say while drovin’ on the
track
It takes one hell of an old man drought to bring this
country back