It's A Way Of Life Lyrics - John Williamson

by John Williamson 

Real country people in their prime, 

Livin' in New South on Queensland time 

He's a stockman, likes raisin' sheep, 

Likes raisin' children, don't get much sleep 

On the shady big verandah, with his hardworking wife, 

Three young sidekicks, 

It's a way of life. 

Some years they make it, some years they don't 

Sometimes the creek flows, sometimes it won't 

Sometimes he's mean, he's got a gun 

When the ewes are lambing he's got pigs on the run 

Out in the lignum, on the water course 

You could lose a pig dog, you could lose a horse. 

Think you oughta know the channel's coming through 

Wipin' out the bushland and the kangaroo 

Greedy men with water rights to neutralise the land 

When's it gonna stop I just don't understand. 

With cotton in their ears and dollars in their eyes 

Their banker grins and our country dies. 

They love the bush, they grow the wool 

They respect the land and it's beautiful 

Blue Bonnets, Leatherheads and Red-Back Wrens 

Bower Birds, Ring Necks and Water Hens 

Red Wings and Red Tailed Black Cockatoos Think of all the rainbows we could lose 

Real country people in their prime 

Livin' in New South on Queensland time 

He's a stockman likes raisin' sheep, 

Likes raisin' children, don't get much sleep 

On the shady big verandah with his hard workin' wife 

Three young side kicks, 

It's a way of life.