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Clancy Of The Overflow

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Clancy of the Overflow
Poem by A B "Banjo" Paterson
[Verse 1]
GI had written him a letter which I Chad, for want of Gbetter
Knowledge, Csent to where I Gmet him down the Lachlan, years aDgo,
He was Cshearing when I knew him, so I Gsent the letter to him,
Just ‘on Dspec’, addressed as follows, ‘Clancy, Cof The OverGflow’.
[Verse 2]
GAnd an answer came directed in a Cwriting unexGpected,
(And I Cthink the same was Gwritten with a thumb-nail dipped in Dtar)
’Twas his Cshearing mate who wrote it, and verGbatim I will quote it:
‘Clancy’s Dgone to Queensland droving, and we Cdon’t know where he Gare.’
[Verse 3]
GIn my wild erratic fancy visions Ccome to me of GClancy
Gone a-Cdroving ‘down the GCooper’ where the Western drovers Dgo;
As the Cstock are slowly stringing, Clancy Grides behind them singing,
For the Ddrover’s life has pleasures that the Ctownsfolk never Gknow.
[Verse 4]
GAnd the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kCindly voices Ggreet him
In the Cmurmur of the Gbreezes and the river on its Dbars,
And he Csees the vision splendid of the Gsunlit plains extended,
And at Dnight the wond’rous glory of the Ceverlasting Gstars.
[Verse 5]
GI am sitting in my dingy little Coffice, where a Gstingy
Ray of Csunlight struggles Gfeebly down between the houses Dtall,
And the Cfoetid air and gritty of the Gdusty, dirty city
Through the Dopen window floating, spreads its Cfoulness over Gall
[Verse 6]
GAnd in place of lowing cattle, I can Chear the fiendish Grattle
Of the Ctramways and the G‘buses making hurry down the Dstreet,
And the Clanguage uninviting of the Ggutter children fighting,
Comes Dfitfully and faintly through the Cceaseless tramp of Gfeet.
[Verse 7]
GAnd the hurrying people daunt me, and their Cpallid faces Ghaunt me
As they Cshoulder one anGother in their rush and nervous Dhaste,
With their Ceager eyes and greedy, and their Gstunted forms and weedy,
For Dtownsfolk have no time to grow, they Chave no time to Gwaste.
[Verse 8]
GAnd I somehow rather fancy that I’d Clike to change with GClancy,
Like to Ctake a turn at Gdroving where the seasons come and Dgo,
While he Cfaced the round eternal of the Gcash-book and the journal...
But I Ddoubt he’d suit the office, Clancy, Cof ‘The OverGflow’

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Clancy Of The Overflow

by Wallis & Matilda

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Clancy of the Overflow

Poem by A B "Banjo" Paterson

[Verse 1]

G C G

I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better

C G D

Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ago,

C G

He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him,

D C G

Just ‘on spec’, addressed as follows, ‘Clancy, of The Overflow’.

[Verse 2]

G C G

And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected,

C G D

(And I think the same was written with a thumb-nail dipped in tar)

C G

’Twas his shearing mate who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it:

D C G

‘Clancy’s gone to Queensland droving, and we don’t know where he are.’

[Verse 3]

G C G

In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Clancy

C G D

Gone a-droving ‘down the Cooper’ where the Western drovers go;

C G

As the stock are slowly stringing, Clancy rides behind them singing,

D C G

For the drover’s life has pleasures that the townsfolk never know.

[Verse 4]

G C G

And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him

C G D

In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars,

C G

And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended,

D C G

And at night the wond’rous glory of the everlasting stars.

[Verse 5]

G C G

I am sitting in my dingy little office, where a stingy

C G D

Ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tall,

C G

And the foetid air and gritty of the dusty, dirty city

D C G

Through the open window floating, spreads its foulness over all

[Verse 6]

G C G

And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle

C G D

Of the tramways and the ‘buses making hurry down the street,

C G

And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting,

D C G

Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet.

[Verse 7]

G C G

And the hurrying people daunt me, and their pallid faces haunt me

C G D

As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste,

C G

With their eager eyes and greedy, and their stunted forms and weedy,

D C G

For townsfolk have no time to grow, they have no time to waste.

[Verse 8]

G C G

And I somehow rather fancy that I’d like to change with Clancy,

C G D

Like to take a turn at droving where the seasons come and go,

C G

While he faced the round eternal of the cash-book and the journal...

D C G

But I doubt he’d suit the office, Clancy, of ‘The Overflow’

About Clancy Of The Overflow Chords by Wallis & Matilda

Learn how to play Clancy Of The Overflow by Wallis & Matilda with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Clancy Of The Overflow chords”, “Clancy Of The Overflow guitar chords”, or “Wallis & Matilda Clancy Of The Overflow chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Clancy Of The Overflow chords and for experienced players who want accurate Clancy Of The Overflow lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, B, G, C, D.

FAQ — Clancy Of The Overflow by Wallis & Matilda

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