Down the River

I've done with joys an' misery,

An' why should I repine?

There's no one knows the past but me

An' that old dog o' mine.

We camp an' walk an' camp an' walk,

An' find it fairly good;

He can do anything but talk,

An' he wouldn't if he could.

We sits an' thinks beside the fire,

With all the stars a-shine,

An' no one knows our thoughts but me

An' that there dog o' mine.

We has our Johnny-cake an' "scrag",

An' finds 'em fairly good;

He can do anything but talk,

An' he wouldn't if he could.

He gets a 'possum now an' then,

I cooks it on the fire;

He has his water, me my tea -

What more could we desire?

He gets a rabbit when he likes,

We finds it pretty good;

He can do anything but talk,

An' he wouldn't if he could.

I has me smoke, he has his rest,

When sunset's gettin' dim;

An' if I do get drunk at times,

It's all the same to him.

So long's he's got me swag to mind,

He thinks that times is good;

He can do anything but talk,

An' he wouldn't if he could.

He gets his tucker from the cook,

The cook is good to him,

An' when I sobers up a bit,

He goes an' has a swim.

He likes the rivers where I fish,

An' all the world is good;

He can do anything but talk,

An' he wouldn't if he could.

Down the River: H. Lawson / I. MacDougall / Loaded Dog

The words for this song provide Henry Lawson’s wonderful description of the bond between man and dog.  This song provides the inspiration and the words for the title of this album.