Once When I Was Mustering

Slim Dusty

Once when I was musterin', out Carnarvon way
I had a mob of musterers aworkin' night an' day
Well when the mobs were restin', you wouldn't hear a 
sound
But when they started movin' you could hear all around

Hey, stitch 'em up, fetch 'em back, turn the leaders 
round
Then come behind, come behind, come behind, you hound

Oh, we were under contract to run the scrubbers there
In amongst the gorges, the caves an' prickly-pear
We'd bulge 'em through the timber to sweep them down 
the plain
And if we saw a Mickey break, we'd yell this old 
refrain

Hey, stitch 'em up, fetch 'em back, turn that blighter 
round
Then come behind, come behind, come behind, you hound

I had a dog called Bluey, a terrier called Dot
And if I ever wanted them, well, they were on the spot
They'd trot along beside me, as quiet as fallin' snow
And you could see them strainin' when I'd give the word 
to go 

Hey stitch 'em up, fetch 'em back, turn the leaders 
round,
Then come behind, come behind, come behind, you hound

We'd box 'em in the big yard an' draft 'em through the 
pound
We'd hit 'em with the red-hot brand an' leave 'em safe 
an' sound
We didn't mind the sweatin' or workin' rather hard
But boys you'd hear a swearin' when they broke out of 
the yard

Hey stitch 'em up, fetch 'em back, turn the leaders 
round
Then come behind, come behind, come behind, you hound

Our beards were gettin' curly before we left that run
But the boys they liked it tough, an' sure had lots o' 
fun
Now if you were to ask me what stood out on my mind
Well if you'd like to wait a tick, I will soon unwind 

Hey stitch 'em up, fetch 'em back, turn the leaders 
round
Then come behind, come behind, come behind, you hound.