Road Trains

The drovin' tracks are over they move in cattle trains
Where there’s red dust on the ridges and blacksoil on the plains
The drover strokes his iron steed and springs to a bucket seat
He throws the monster into gear and she moves on rubbered feet
The hobble chains and horse bells hang silent on the wall
They’ve been on many stages through downs and timber tall
Besides the saddles and the packs that were the drovers pride
Road trains roar along the track where the drovers used to ride
But it’s road trains roll, road trains roll
The stock routes are deserted no droving plant you see
The bores and tanks they watered at are just a memory
No more you see the mob strung out along the sunburnt plain
Where the old time drover battled on though dust and drought and rain
He sees again in fancy beside the camp fires glow
The battered old bedourie that once was filled with dough
With saddle gear and swagwrap rolled out by the fireside
To drove again would be this old timers joy and pride
But it’s road trains roll, road trains roll
Road trains roar along the track where the drover used to ride
Churning up the bulldust as they roll the miles aside
Like a winding reptile with trailers wide and long
Over the road and range land where the drover sang his song
There’s saltbush bill and Clancy both drovers long since dead
Who’d marvel to see a fleet of trailers load a thousand head
Maybe their ghost a watching as progress takes its stride
Over the roads and range lands where the drover used to ride
But it’s road trains roll, road trains roll
Road trains roll, road trains roll.