The Maranoa Drovers

By Banjo Paterson (Andrew Barton)

Ballad
         (Air: Little Sally Waters.)     The night is dark and stormy, and the sky is clouded oer;         Our horses we will mount and ride away,     To watch the squatters cattle through the darkness of the night,     And well keep them on the camp till break of day.                                         Chorus          For were going, going, going to Gunnedah so far,              And well soon be into sunny New South Wales;          We shall bid farewell to Queensland, with its swampy coolibah              Happy drovers from the sandy Maranoa.     When the fires are burning bright through the darkness of the night,         And the cattle camping quiet, well, Im sure     That I wish for two oclock when I call the other watch         This is droving from the sandy Maranoa.     Our beds made on the ground, we are sleeping all so sound         When were wakened by the distant thunders roar,     And the lightnings vivid flash, followed by an awful crash-         Its rough on drovers from the sandy Maranoa.     We are up at break of day, and were all soon on the way,         For we always have to go ten miles or more;     It dont do to loaf about, or the squatter will come out         Hes strict on drovers from the sandy Maranoa.     We shall soon be on the Moonie, and well cross the Barwon, too;         Then well be out upon the rolling plains once more;     Well shout Hurrah! for old Queensland, with its swampy coolibah,         And the cattle that come off the Maranoa.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
The poem vividly captures the experience of drovers - individuals who drive livestock over long distances - through the Australian landscape, specifically the journey from Queensland to New South Wales. The primary themes that emerge from the poem include the tough yet adventurous life of drovers, the harshness of nature, as well as a deep sense of camaraderie and duty. The tone of the poem is at once resilient, nostalgic, and celebratory, reflecting the drovers' attitude towards their demanding work.

The poem employs a simple, repetitive structure, with each stanza narrating a phase of the drovers' journey, and the chorus reinforcing their sense of purpose and destination. This structure creates a rhythm that mirrors the consistent, unending movement of the drovers and their livestock. The poet uses vivid imagery ("the night is dark and stormy", "the lightnings vivid flash, followed by an awful crash") to paint a picture of the unpredictable and often hostile natural elements the drovers face. However, these challenges are met with a spirit of determination and camaraderie, as shown in lines like "Our horses we will mount and ride away" and "we are sleeping all so sound". The use of specific place names like Gunnedah, Queensland, and Maranoa, and regional terms like 'squatter' and 'coolibah' add a layer of authenticity to the poem, grounding it in a specific cultural and geographical context.

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.