The Canecutters Lament (#2)

Words: Unknown
Tune: My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean



There's a girl in the township of Mossman
Believe me she's something to see
With eyes like the stars in the heavens
She looked like an angel to me.

Tail on, tail on, tail on you canecutters, tail on, tail on
Tail on, tail on,
She looked like an angel to me.

I went into town with my cane cheque
My senses were all in a whirl
I made my way into the bar-room
To gaze on this wonderful girl.

Tail on, tail on, tail on you canecutters, tail on, tail on
Tail on, tail on,
To gaze on this wonderful girl.

I pushed my way up to the counter
My barmaid she slipped me a drink.
In no time we're quite well acquainted
She drooped one sweet eye in a wink

Tail on, tail on, tail on you canecutters, tail on, tail on
Tail on, tail on,
She drooped one sweet eye in a wink

My cash must have vanished like water
Twas late the next day I awoke
I found myself out in the gutter
My angel was gone- I was broke

Tail on, tail on, tail on you canecutters, tail on, tail on
Tail on, tail on,
My angel was gone- I was broke

Now you cutters have all heard my story
So mark you the moral quite well
A girl maybe looks like an angel
But you never can tell, ne'er can tell.

Tail on, tail on, tail on you canecutters, tail on, tail on
Tail on, tail on,
But you never can tell, ne'er can tell.


Another from Singabout, volume 4, Number 4 (1962). Published with these notes:

Sent in by Jimmy Laycock of Ravenshoe, North Queensland, who says "when I tried to think back, some of the words eluded me, but this is a pretty close approximation."