Lachlan Tigers from Our Country by The Queensland Tiger

Australia has produced many shearing songs, and this is one of the best. Shearing was a seasonal job, but the work was hard and intense, and very competitive, shearers being paid on the number of sheep they shore. A tally of 100 sheep (“the century”) in a single day was regarded as a very respectable total. Jackie Howe, (1861 – 1920) mentioned in the second verse, shore 321 sheep in a single day (7 hours, 40 minutes) with blade shears at Alice Downs station outside Blackall in Queensland in 1892. It’s thought that this record will never be broken.

On the day in question, legend has it he wore a blue singlet, which has been known ever since as a “Jackie Howe”. Jackie Howe was at his top as a shearer during the 1890s, which was the era of The Great Shearers Strike, and he was a strong trade unionist. The song seems to have been written after he retired.

Violin by Jessie Morgan. Cello by Natasha Jaffe. Flute and Whistles by Paul Johnson

Tracklist

10.	Lachlan Tigers	4:11

Videos

Lyrics

================ LYRICS ==================
Lachlan Tigers (Traditional)

----------------------- [ VERSE 1 ] --------------------
Now at his gate each shearer stood as the whistle loudly blew
With eyebrows fixed and lips compressed, the tigers all bent to
You can hear the clicking of the shears as through the wool they glide
See the gun al-ready turn , he's on the whipping side

------------------------[ CHORUS ] -----------------------
A lot of Lachlan tigers it’s plain to see we are
Hark to our burly ringer as he loudly calls for tar
'Tar Here' calls one and quick the tar boy flies
'Sweep those locks a-way' another loudly cries

----------------------- [ VERSE 2 ] ----------------------
The scene it is a lively one and ought to be admired
There hasn’t been a better board since Jacky Howe expired
Along the board the gaffer walks, his face all in a frown
And passing by the ringer says, “ You watch, my lad, keep down ……

-------------------------- [ VERSE 3 ] -------------------------
…… For I must have their bellies off and topknots too likewise
My eye is quick so none of your tricks or from me you will fly”
My curse on that contractor ! He's never on our side
To shear a decent tally, me boys, in vain I've often tried

------------------------[ CHORUS ] -----------------------
A lot of Lachlan tigers it’s plain to see we are
Hark to our burly ringer as he loudly calls for tar
'Tar Here' calls one and quick the tar boy flies
'Sweep those locks a-way' another loudly cries

----------------- [ VERSE 4 ] ---------------
I have a pair of Ward and Paine's that are both bright and new
I'll rig them up and let you see what I can really do
For I've shore on the Riverine where they shear 'em by the score
But such as tally as this to clip, I’ve never seen before

------------------------[ CHORUS ] -----------------------
A lot of Lachlan tigers it’s plain to see we are
Hark to our burly ringer as he loudly calls for tar
'Tar Here' calls one and quick the tar boy flies
'Sweep those locks a-way' another loudly cries
=======================================

Credits

from Our Country, track released December 17, 2021
Words : Traditional
Tune : Traditional
Violin : Jessie Morgan (violin)
Natasha Jaffe (cello)
Paul Johnson (flute and whistles)

License

CC BY-NC-ND 3.0. See the Creative Commons website for details.