Sung solemnly to the tune of "The House of the Rising Sun", this song was composed by Des Byers, who was a boner at the Queera meat works near Cairns (Queensland). It was collected by Ron Edwards in Edmonton in 1966. (Edwards, R, 1976, The Big Book of Australian Folk Song, Rigby, Adelaide).
lyrics
There is a shed near Edmonton,
Where beef-boning is done,
It's been the ruin of many a poor girl,
And Lord I know I'm one.
My father was a slicing man,
My mother worked the scales,
They weighed and sliced in every shed,
From here to New South Wales.
My matadors are wearing thin,
My boots will wear out soon,
For I must wear them them every day
In this cold boning room.
The boners they are cheeky,
They think that we are bold,
They think we wear pants just for them,
And not because we're cold.
And if I cut my fingers,
No hospital for me,
Just wheel me down to Woree pub,
And there just let me be.
There is a shed near Edmonton,
Where beef-boning is done,
And I know that I'll go there again,
For Lord I need the mon.
credits
from To Lawsons Joy,
released January 26, 2014
Engineered by Bryce Moorhead.
Produced by Bryce Moorhead and Steve Towson.
Steve Towson (vocals, guitar), Ness Glenn (cello).
Profile photo by Staples. Banner art by TB (Mr. T + MC.T + WHO).