With my swag all on my shoulder
C
Am
1. When first we left old England's shores such yarns as we were told,
C F C G C
as
how folks in Australia could pick up lumps of gold.
F
C Am
So when we got to Melbourne
Town we were ready soon to slip,
C F C
G C
and
get even with the captain we scuttled from the ship.
C Am
With my swag all on my shoulder, black billy
in my hand,
C F C G C
I travelled the bush of Australia like a true born native man.
C
Am
2. We steered our course for Portland Town, then north
west of Ballarat,
C F C G C
where
some of us got mighty thin and some got sleek and fat.
F C Am
Some tried their luck at Bindigo and some at Fiery Creek,
C F C G C
I made a fortune in a day and
spent it in a week.
+ CHORUS
C
Am
3. So round the tucker tracks I tramp nor leave them
out of sight,
C
F C
G C
my
swag's on my left shoulder and then upon my right.
F C Am
And then I take it on my back
and oft upon it lie,
C
F C G
C
these
are the best of tucker tracks, so I'll stay here till I die.
+ CHORUS
C F C G C
+ I travelled the bush
of Australia like a true born native man !
(orig. = capo 5th) (The
Seekers)