Back on the Wallaby

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ALANM
Posts: 96
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:57 pm
Location: North Queensland

Back on the Wallaby

Post by ALANM » Thu Dec 19, 2019 8:02 am

Back on the Wallaby
(By Alan McCosker 1969 revised January 2019)

When life gets you down and you’re in a bad place
when all that you try blows right back in your face
when people around you, look at you with distaste
what the hell can you do, get on the wallaby mate

When you’re out on the wallaby you’ll be free from strife
there’s no-one to berate you and manage your life
you can row your own boat, even though it’s upstream
while the rest of the lemmings can only but dream

But make no mistake it can be a hard slog
there’ll be many a time when you’ll see the black dog
when you’re sittin’ hunched up on the side of the road
rain pourin’ down on you, thinkin’, why is life so hard

But you made your choices and now you must live
this life on the road and all it might give
but I’ll tell you right now mate the sun will come out
it’ll lift up your spirits and you’ll dry yourself out

You’ll roll up your wet swag and hang out your thumb
stand patiently waiting for the next lift to come
a friendly face greets you as a muddy old truck
pulls up beside you, the new day’s brought you luck

“How far you goin’, chuck your gear on the back”
“I can take you a few hundred miles up the track”
“ that would be great ” and as you bless your luck
toss your swag and your saddle up onto the truck

He’s in no great hurry you meander along
shouts you a meal in a roadhouse near molong
he starts you to talkin’ and you finally hold forth
‘bout the reasons you’re hitchin’ rides back to the north

He listens with interest to your tale so forlorn
then tops off your yarn with sad tales of his own
you find common ground, you’re no longer downcast
you feel uplifted, turned your back on the past.

Not far from the border, he slows the truck down
he’s reached destination you’re back on your own
he bids you farewell and good luck with your quest
then slips you a twenty and a wish for the best

You watch as the truck rolls down the side road
you’re back on the wallaby but no longer bowed
wherever it takes you it’s most definitely better
than back where you came from, where life was so bitter

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