Sergeant Small

I went broke in western Queensland in 1931,

Nobody would employ me so my swag carrying begun.

I came down in to Charleville through all the western towns

I was on my way to Roma - destination Darling Downs.

My pants were pretty ragged and my boots was wearing thin;

As I stopped at Mitchell a goods train shunted in.

I could hear the whistle blowing and looking out could see

She was on her way to Roma, it was quite plain to me.

CHORUS

And I wish I was twenty stone and ohhh seven foot tall

I'd go back to western Queensland and I'd beat up Sergeant Small.

As I sat there watching, inspiration's seed was sown;

I remembered the government slogan, "Here's the railway that you own"

By now the sun was setting and night was coming nigh

So I gathered my possessions and I took her on the fly.

And when I got to Roma I kept my head down low,

And I heard a voice say, "Any room mate?"  I answers, "Plenty Bo!"

"Well, come out of there my noble man," came the voice of Sergeant Small,

"I've trapped you very nicely, you've ridden for a fall."

The judge was pretty kind to me, he gave me thirty days,

He said, "Maybe this will help to cure your rattler jumping ways."

So if you're down and outback boys I'll tell you what I think

Just stay off them Queensland goods trains, they're a short cut to the clink.

Sergeant Small: T. Boylan / B.Tate

Several versions of this song are known to exist – the sergeant obviously made an impression on the “rattler jumpers” of Western Queensland.  Brad Tate combined a poem with a chorus from a similar song sung by Tex Morton.  It is sung here by Bob Rummery.