The Frog (1996 Digital Remaster)

The Frog (1996 Digital Remaster) - Slim Dusty

Now I've listened to tales

That the oldsters told from Bourke to Camooweal

And on dusty tracks in the southern states from Orbost to Warracknabeal

Some were grave and some were gay and some with humour too

And each of the tellers always swore that the tale

That he told was true

Old Paddy the dancer a swagman of note

Who followed the 'Bidgee run

Found himself on the tucker track

And most of his food was done

So he pondered a while and thought

At last as far as he could see

That he'd have to catch himself a cod

To cook on the coals for tea

So he rigged a line from binder

Twine that he'd scrounged from a farmers hay

And then fashioned a hook from

A rusty nail that got stuck in his foot that day

Well he looked with pride on

His fishing gear and to try he could hardly wait

Then he saw at last as anglers

Do you must cover your hook with bait

He remembered a tale that someone

Told in the dim and distant past

That frogs were the things that

The anglers used for the fish to break their fasts

But frogs were as scarce as

Teeth on hens or that's what he said to me

But he searched around till he found a frog

At the foot of a light wood tree

Well he stalked that frog on

Hands and knees like big game hunters do

But a black snake coming the other way

Had the same idea in view

But both of them grabbed together

But the snake was a fraction fast

It swallowed the frog but

Found itself held in the swagman's grasp

Well he fished from his

Pocket a flask he had of very potent grog

And said with a sigh

It must be done I want that flamin' frog

Well he squeezed that

Wriggling reptile's neck 'til

It's jaws were opened wide

Then with tears in his eyes

He poured the lot into the snakes' insides

Well it gave a gurgle and

Then a gulp and then quite a twist or two

And there was that old frog

In the light of day almost as good as new

Well he grabbed that frog and

An hurried away to bait up his rusty hook

And then lay back on the grassy

Bank by the side of that peaceful brook

Then he felt a tap on his shoulder

Blade and turned with eyes agog

And there was that snake all bleary eyed

In it's mouth was another frog

Well that was the tale that was told

To me at a camp on the reedy flat

Maybe it's true or maybe not

You'd best be the judge of that

But what I can hardly believe is

Is the way that he liked the grog

He would give it away to a

Worthless snake for the sake of a useless frog