(Air: Little Low Log Cabin
in the Lane.)
The weather had been sultry for a fortnights time
or more,
And the shearers had been driving might
and main,
For some had got the century whod neer got it
before,
And now all hands were wishing for the
rain.
Chorus
For the boss is getting rusty and
the ringers caving in,
For 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.
A few had taken quarters and were coiling in their
bunks
When we shore the six-tooth wethers from
the plain.
And if the sheep get harder, then a few more men will
funk,
Unless we get another fall of rain.
But the sky is clouding over, and the thunders
muttering
loud,
And the clouds are driving eastward oer
the plain,
And I see the lightning flashing from the edge of
yon black
cloud,
And I hear the gentle patter of the rain.
So, lads, put on your stoppers, and let us to the
hut,
Where well gather round and have a
friendly game,
While some are playing music and some play ante up,
And some are gazing outwards at the rain.
But now the rain is over, let the pressers spin the
screw,
Let the teamsters back the waggons in
again,
And well block the classers table by the way
well put them
through,
For everything is merry since the rain.
And the boss he wont be rusty when his sheep they
all are
shorn,
And the wringers wrist wont ache
much with the pain
Of pocketing his cheque for fifty pounds or more,
And the second man will press him hard
again.
Another Fall of Rain is a song
that needs a little explanation. The strain
of shearing is very severe on the wrists, and the
ringer or fastest shearer is very apt to go in the
wrists, especially at the beginning of a season.
Hence the desire of the shearers for a fall of rain
after a long stretch of hot weather.