Digital Tradition Mirror

Another Fall of Rain

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Another Fall of Rain
(John Neilson)

The weather has been sultry for a fortnight now or more
And the shearers have been driving might and main;
For some have got the century who ne'er got it before
But now we all are waiting for the rain.

cho: For the boss is getting rusty and the ringer's caving in
     His bandaged wrist is aching with the pain;
     And the second man I fear will make it hot for him
     Unless we have another fall of rain.

Now some had taken quarters and were keeping well in bunk
When we shore the six-tooth wethers from the plain,
And if the sheep get harder then a few more men will flunk
Unless we get another fall of rain.

Some cockies come here shearing, they would fill a little book
About this sad dry weather for the grain;
But here is lunch a-coming. Make way for Dick the cook
Old Dick is nigh as welcome as the rain.

But the sky is clouding over and the thunder's muttering loud
And the clouds are sweeping westward o'er the plain.
And I see the lightning flashing 'round the edge of yon black cloud
And I hear the gentle patter of the rain.

So lads, put up your stoppers and let us to the hut
Where we'll gather 'round and have a friendly game;
While some are playing music and some play ante up
And some are gazing outward at the rain.

But now the rain is over, let the pressers spin the screw
Let the teamsters back their wagons in again;
We'll block the classer's table by the way we push them through
For everything goes merry since the rain.

final chorus:
     And the boss he won't be rusty when his sheep they all are shore
     And the ringer's wrist won't ache much with the pain
     Of pocketing his cheque for a hundred quid or more
     And the second man will press him hard again.

MG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!