Mustering Song

(Air: So Early in the Morning.)     The boss last night in the hut did say     We start to muster at break of day;     So be up first thing, and dont be slow;     Saddle your horses and off you go.                                  Chorus          So early in the morning, so early in the morning,          So early in the morning, before the break of day.     Such a night in the yard there never was seen     (The horses were fat and the grass was green);     Bursting of girths and slipping of packs     As the stockmen saddled the fastest hacks.          Chorus: So early in the morning, &c.     Across the plain we jog along     Over gully, swamp, and billabong;     We drop on a mob pretty lively, too     We round em up and give em a slue.          Chorus: So early in the morning, &c.     Now the scrub grows thick and the cattle are wild,     A regular caution to this ere child     A new chum man on an old chum horse,     Who sails through the scrub as a matter of course.          Chorus: So early in the morning, &c.     I was close up stuck in a rotten bog;     I got a buster jumping a log;     I found this scouting rather hot,     So I joined the niggers with the lot wed got.          Chorus: So early in the morning, &c.     A long-haired shepherd we chanced to meet     With a water bag, billy, and dog complete;     He came too close to a knocked up steer,     Who up a sapling made him clear.          Chorus: So early in the morning, &c.     Now on every side we faintly hear     The crack of the stockwhip drawing near;     To the camp the cattle soon converge,     As from the thick scrub they emerge.          Chorus: So early in the morning, &c.     We hastily comfort the inner man     With the warm contents of the billy can;     The beef and damper are passed about     Before we tackle the cutting out.          Chorus: So early in the morning, &c.     Were at it nowthat bally calf     Would surely make a sick man laugh;     The silly fool cant take a joke;     I hope some day in the drought hell croak.          Chorus: So early in the morning, &c.     Weve em nowthe cows and calves     (Things here are never done by halves);     Strangers, workers, and milkers, too,     Of scrubbers also not a few.          Chorus: So early in the morning, &c.     Its getting late, wed better push;     Tis a good long way across the bush,     And the mob to drive are middling hard;     I do not think well reach the yard.          Chorus: So early in the morning, &c.