Out in the west, where runs are wide,And days than ours are hotter,Not very far from Lachlan SideThere dwelt a wealthy squatter.
Of old opinions he was full,An Englishman, his sire,Was hated long where peasants pullTheir forelocks to the squire.
He loved the good old British laws,And Royalty's regalia,And oft was heard to growl becauseThey wouldn't fit Australia.
This squatter had a lovely child,An angel bright we thought her;And all the stockmen rude and wildAdored the squatter's daughter.
But on a bright eventful morn,A swell of northern nation,A lordling, brought his languid yawnAnd eyeglass to the station.
He coveted the squatter's wealth;He saw the squatter's daughter:And, what is more than heart or health,His empty title bought her.
And "Yes", the father made her sayIn spite of tears and kissing;But early on the wedding dayThe station found her missing.
And madder still the squatter grew,And madder still the lover;When by-and-by a-missing too,A stockman they discover.
Then on the squatter's brow the frownWent blacker still and blacker;He sent a man to bring from townA trooper and a tracker.
The dusty rascal saw the trail;He never saw it plainer;The reason why he came to failWill take a shrewd explainer.
A day and night the party lose;The track the tracker parried;And then a stockman brought the news,"The runaways were married!"
The squatter swore that he'd forgive,Perhaps, when he forgot her;But he'd disown her while he'd live,And while they called him squatter.
But as the empty months went o'er,To ease his heart's vexationHe brought his bold young son-in-lawTo manage stock and station.
And glad was he that he forgave,Because a something had heTo keep his gray hairs from the grave,And call him "Dear Grand Daddy".
To Democratic victoriesIn after years he'd listen;And, strange to say, to things like theseHis aged eyes would glisten.
The lordling took another girlNot quite of his desire,And went to where the farmers twirlTheir forelocks to the squire.
Now often to the station comesAn old and wrinkled tracker:They cheer his heart with plenty rum,And "plenty pheller bacca".