Australian Bush Poetry, Verse & Music

I Never Cried For Elvis But I She A Tear For Slim

©Merv Webster

Perhaps I’d heard it wrong somehow that quiet September day,
But no, the words rang in my head. Slim Dusty’s passed away.
I knew the old bloke had been crook and not that well of late.
Still, legends live forever – though – it seems I’m wrong old mate.
Like Lawson you could tell a tale about the average bloke,
Though sung them in the ballad style backed by a guitar stroke.
Your songs portrayed an image which aroused our Aussie pride
And most of us we shed a tear when poor old Trumby died.

So rest in peace for now old friend until the trumpet calls;
The spirit of your ballads, mate, ring through life's memories halls.
A lifetimes dedication proves you where no passing whim;
I never cried for Elvis, but I shed a tear for Slim.

You walked a mile or two we know, through muddy tracks and dry
And entertained a lot of folk and made them laugh or cry.
You pioneered an industry and did the real hard yards
And kept alive the sentiments of yesterday’s bush bards.
A myriad of campfires echoed tunes that bore your brand.
The Pub With No Beer, Duncan; just two that come to hand.
You made us feel Australian with a sense of wrong and right.
The city bloke, the bushy, whether brindle, black or white.

They said goodbye in style that day and gathered in their throngs
And old St Andrews echoed to a melody of songs.
Your passing’s left us empty mate, we’ve lost a true blue friend
And no one lives forever, but the memories will not end.
I know we lost an icon, but his family lost much more,
A father, grandad, soul mate, of that I am quite sure.
We stand and we salute you Slim despite the fact we know
The final curtain’s fallen on the last Slim Dusty show.

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