The Road to Omeo

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As we started down from Nariel one early morn in spring
The busy bees were humming and the mocking bird did sing
The little birds all round us joined in the morning song
So we saddled up our horses and we steered for Corryong

There was Billy Moore and Brownie, Doug Warland and two more
And none of us afraid of quod we'd all been there before
We'd whips and whips of rhino and I mean to let you know
That we wont go back with Jackson's on the road to Omeo

Now we steered down into Tintaldra to see big Jack McGrath
His breath would fairly stun you as he served behind the bar
His wine would knock you silly and his beer would make you blow
But we wont go back with Jackson's on the road to Omeo

Now we reined them up at Winn's Hotel the best pub in the town
We wasn't there so very long and our cheques was all knocked down
Brownie said we're stoney broke and I think we'd better to go
But we wont go back with Jackson's on the road to Omeo

Now my spree is nearly ended and I think I've drunk my share
If ever I get another cheque I'll act up on the square
Saddle up an old grey horse and a shearing I will go
But we wont go back with Jackson's on the road to Omeo

Oh now my spree is over and it's home I will return
Ill go back to that pretty girl her heart will surely yearn
I'll roll her in the clover let the wind blow high or low
But we wont go back with Jackson's on the road to Omeo




From John Meredith's Folk Songs of Australia.


The illustration to this post is a photograph from the State Library of Victoria collection, captioned:


Devil's Backbone on the Tambo Valley Road to Omeo