The Cockies Of Bungaree

Come, all you weary travellers who's out of work, just mind
If you take a trip to Bungaree, it's plenty there you'll find
Take a trial with the cockies, you can take it straight from me
You'll very surely rue the day you go to Bungaree

Well, how I came this weary way I means to let you know
Being out of employment, I didn't know where to go
I went to the register office, and there I did agree
To take a job aclearing for a cocky in Bungaree

His homestead was of surface mud, and his roof of mouldy thatch
The doors and windows hung by a nail with never a bolt or a catch
The chickens ran over the table, such a sight you never did see
One laid an egg in the old tin plate of the cocky from Bungaree

And on the very first morning it was the usual go
He battled a plate for breakfast before the cocks did crow
The stars were shining gloriously, the moon was high, you see
I thought before the sun would rise, I'd die in Bungaree

And when I got home for supper, it was about half past nine
And when I had it ate well, I reckoned it was bedtime
The cocky he came over to me, and he said with a merry laugh
"I want you now for an hour or two to cut a bit of chaff"

And when I had it finished, I'd to nurse the youngest child
Whenever I said a joking word, the missus she would smile
The old fellow got jealous, looked like he'd murder me
And there he sat and whipped the cat, the cocky from Bungaree

Well, when I had my first week done, I reckoned I'd had enough
I walked up to the cocky, and I asked him for my stuff
I went down in to Ballarat, and it didn't last me long
I went straight in to Sayer's Hotel, and blew my one pound one

And now my job is over and I'm at liberty
I'll never forget the day I met the cocky from Bungaree