Beat Of The Government Stroke-Slim Dusty

[00:01.32]I never was much at singin [00:04.53]And I ain't a musical bloke [00:07.28]But I play a mad pick and the Banjo [00:10.35]To the beat of the government stroke [00:13.56]To the beat of the government stroke [00:16.93]I play my form called the tune [00:19.77]And the rattle of gravel on the banjo blade [00:23.13]Is all I hear till noon [00:26.14]My head's down low my tail bone high [00:29.18]Sweat runnin’ down my brow [00:32.00]And a big yellow sign sayin' Men at work [00:35.10]I show all the people how [00:38.39]A council man he can swing a pick [00:41.36]Or a shovel the whole day long [00:44.59]Diggin' up drains ditches for [00:47.56]A pittance an' a song [00:50.53]And what does the local yokel say hey [00:54.10]Look at the council man [00:56.42]He never would work in an iron lung [00:59.49]Or dirty his little hands [01:02.35]Have-a-go ya sulky bloody mug I say [01:05.41]But he give me the old thumbs up [01:08.64]And then tears off like a greasy mug [01:11.54]To find him another pub [01:14.52]I'm fed to the teeth as there I stand [01:17.59]In a typical council pose [01:20.65]Leaning upon my ole banjo [01:23.46]With the sweat running down my nose [01:25.92] [01:38.82]Oh I worked all day for an honest quid [01:42.21]And this is the thanks I get [01:45.43]What'll I do What are my rights [01:48.21]I ask of the union rep [01:51.22]So there we are with a hole in the road [01:54.33]Traffic is piling up [01:56.03]But the Billie boy he was doin' his bit [02:00.12]And calling us for a cup [02:03.04]So the ten of us and the foreman too [02:06.31]And the man on the stop and go [02:09.37]Downed our tools and we were joined [02:12.12]By the bloke on the big back hoe [02:14.92]And while the little old lady was a tooting her horn [02:18.43]And the Truckie was a-jumpin' 'round [02:21.10]We nibbled our bickies and we sipped our tea [02:24.00]And we never even heard a sound [02:27.11]Oh Sittin' at ease neath the bird that might fly [02:30.08]Watchin' the world go by [02:32.96]My mind went back to an earlier day [02:35.95]When I never would'a thought that I [02:39.21]Could play the mad mick and the banjo [02:42.04]To the beat of the government stroke [02:45.05]But like I said I never could sing [02:47.93]And I ain't a musical bloke [02:50.73]OhI never was much at singin' [02:53.17]And I ain't a musical bloke [02:56.86]But I play the mad mick and the banjo [02:59.94]To the beat of the government the beat of the government [03:03.72]The beat of the government stroke [03:06.53]