The Billy-Goat Overland

By Banjo Paterson (Andrew Barton)

Ballad
Come all ye lads of the droving days, ye gentlemen unafraid, I'll tell you all of the greatest trip that ever a drover made, For we rolled our swags, and we packed our bags, and taking our lives in hand, We started away with a thousand goats, on the billy-goat overland. There wasn't a fence that'd hold the mob, or keep 'em from their desires; They skipped along the top of the posts and cake-walked on the wires. And where the lanes had been stripped of grass and the paddocks were nice and green, The goats they travelled outside the lanes and we rode in between. The squatters started to drive them back, but that was no good at all, Their horses ran for the lick of their lives from the scent that was like a wall: And never a dog had pluck or gall in front of the mob to stand And face the charge of a thousand goats on the billy-goat overland. We found we were hundreds over strength when we counted out the mob; And they put us in jail for a crowd of thieves that travelled to steal and rob: For every goat between here and Bourke, when he scented our spicy band, Had left his home and his work to join in the billy-goat overland.

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Ballads
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a spirited narrative that uses vivid imagery and a strong sense of rhythm and rhyme to capture the adventurous spirit and challenges of a drover's life, particularly on what is referred to as 'the billy-goat overland'. The lads' journey is portrayed as a test of courage and resilience, marked by encounters with irascible goats and disgruntled squatters. The tone is largely jovial and irreverent, creating a sense of camaraderie and shared hardships among the drovers.

The poem employs a strong, rollicking rhythm that echoes the movement of the goats and drovers, while the consistent rhyme scheme adds to the overall musicality of the piece. The use of colloquial language and local references such as 'Bourke' infuse the poem with a distinctly Australian flavor, reflecting the cultural context of the drover's life. The poet makes effective use of humor and hyperbole such as in the lines, "They skipped along the top of the posts and cake-walked on the wires" and "Their horses ran for the lick of their lives from the scent that was like a wall", which serve to create vivid, memorable imagery while highlighting the chaotic and uncontrollable nature of the droving life. This poem is not just a tale of adventurous droving, but also a subtle critique of societal norms, as the drovers are unjustly labeled as thieves.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.