Tex Morton's Dream

TEX MORTON’S DREAM 

©Lyrics Graham Seal; tune trad, arr Seal August 2009 

Tex Morton had a tremendous influence on some aspects of Australian traditional music, particularly country and indigenous varieties. The showman deserved at least a song, I reckoned.

I was riding on a rattler heading north from Sydney town

With my roll and a billy, I was Queensland bound

Renewing the acquaintance of a bloke I used to know

When I travelled through in search of work a year or two ago

I can crack a stockwhip and I’m a crack shot, too

I boxed for Jimmy Sharman and floored more than a few

I’m almost thirteen stone and over six foot tall

Going back to Western Queensland to beat up Sergeant Small

I found him in the goodsyards where he always used to be

I said ‘Hey Sarge, you bastard, do you remember me?

You beat me up and locked me up for riding on the rails

Now I’ve come to pay you back for every bum you ever gaoled’

I punched him on the nose and blackened both his eyes

I kneed him in the guts, but then to my surprise

He cupped his hands and begged me not to hit him any more

So I gave him one last serve just to even up the score

Back in Sydney town the news had travelled through the land

Every bagman in that city came out to shake my hand

I went to sleep that night the biggest man I’d ever been

But when I woke up in the morning –it had all just been a dream.