Still 2000 miles to go and the men are dressed in rags But the horses are still fit and strong, still eager yet to run Sony Jim you'll ride the drag for you are the youngest here And before this day is out you'll be crying for your mum Eight hours in the saddle with but one change of horse Your body thick with dust and cowshit A voice now harsh and coarse Charlie, ***, you'll ride the flanks for I need them held in tight And when we hit the camping ground you'll be my riders in the night The cows are getting thirsty but waters still ten miles away But still we must stop and rest them at the dying of the day ***, Charlie ride softly found the herd Sing or whistle a gentle song The rest of you now sleep close by, reins tied to your hand Keep your horses saddled, keep your boots on tight For you all might be required to ride like madmen in the night UP, Up for they are up and running free You've got to reach the head and turn them Before they crash down on the scree Close in, close in and get the head to turn Force them to the centre force the head to wheel But a man and horse are down and trampled in the dust But before he died he turned the herd and very few were lost First light and we ride out to find our fallen friend Alas it was poor Sony Jim, just sixteen years of age Yes Sony gave his life doing what he loved Nobody ever forced him to ride the drivers road
In America they had the cattle trails, in Australia the drovers roads. Which ever country brave men and boys road thousands of miles in all weathers to make sure the herds of cattle got through