[Intro]
C Bb F
[Verse]
F
Come, Stumpy, old man, we must shift while we can
Bb F C
All your mates in the paddock are dead
F
We must say our farewells to Glen Eva's sweet dells
C F
And the hills where your master was bred
[Verse]
F
Together to roam from our drought-stricken home
Bb F C
Seems hard that such things have to be
F
And it's hard on a horse, when he's naught for a boss
C F
But a broken-down squatter like me
[Chorus]
Bb F
For the banks are all broken, they say
C
And the merchants are all up a tree
F
When the bigwigs are brought to the bankruptcy court
C Bb F
What chance for a squatter like me?
[Verse]
F
No more shall we muster the river for strays
Bb F C
Or hunt on the fifteen-mile plain
F
Or dash through the scrub by the light of the moon
C F
Or see the old homestead again
[Verse]
F
Leave the slip-railings down, they don't matter much now
Bb F C
For there's none but the crow left to see
F
Perching gaunt on the pine, as though longing to dine
C F
On a broken-down squatter like me
[Chorus]
Bb F
For the banks are all broken, they say
C
And the merchants are all up a tree
F
When the bigwigs are brought to the bankruptcy court
C Bb F
What chance for a squatter like me?
[Verse]
F
When the country was cursed with the drought at its worst
Bb F C
And the cattle were dying in scores
F
Though down on me luck, I kept up me pluck
C F
Thinking justice might soften the laws
[Verse]
F
But the farce had been played, and the government aid
Bb F C
Ain't extended to squatters, old son
F
When me money was spent, they doubled the rent
C F
And resumed the best part of the run
[Chorus]
Bb F
For the banks are all broken, they say
C
And the merchants are all up a tree
F
When the bigwigs are brought to the bankruptcy court
C Bb F
What chance for a squatter like me?