Click Go the Shears

Out on the board the old shearer stands
Graspin' his shears in his thin bony hands
His bleary eyes are fixed on a blue-bellied ewe
Sayin', “If I get you, gal, I'll make the ringer go.”

[First Chorus]
Click go the shears, boys, click, click, click
Wide is his blow and his hands are movin' quick
And the ringer looks around and he's beaten by a blow
And he curses that old snagger with the blue-bellied ewe

In the middle of the floor in his cane-bellied chair
Sits the boss of the board with his eyes everywhere
He notes every fleece as it comes to the screen
Paying close attention that it's took off clean

[First Chorus]
Click go the shears, boys, click, click, click
Wide is his blow and his hands are movin' quick
And the ringer looks around and he's beaten by a blow
And he curses that old snagger with the blue-bellied ewe

The colonial-experience man, he is there, of course
With his shiny leggins, just off his horse;
Castin' round his eyes like a real connossoor
Brilliantine and scented soap and smelling like a whoor (Who said that?)

[First Chorus]
Click go the shears, boys, click, click, click
Wide is his blow and his hands are movin' quick
And the ringer looks around and he's beaten by a blow
And he curses that old snagger with the blue-bellied ewe

The tar-boy is there and waiting on demand
With his old tar-pot and in his tarry hand
Sees an old ewe with a cut upon her back
This is what he's waitin' for: “Tar here, Jack!”

[First Chorus]
Click go the shears, boys, click, click, click
Wide is his blow and his hands are movin' quick
And the ringer looks around and he's beaten by a blow
And he curses that old snagger with the blue-bellied ewe

First you take the belly-wool and niggle out the crutch
Go up the neck, for the rules they are such
Clean around the horns and the first shoulder down
A long blow up the back and turn her around

[Second Chorus]
Click, click, click, that's how the shearin' goes
Click, clicketty click, oh my boys it isn't slow
A fellow pulls out a sheep and it lands him a kick
And still you hear the shears a-goin': Click, click, click

Now the shearin's over and we've all got our cheque
Roll up your swags and we're off along the track
The first pub we'll come to it's there we'll have a spree
And to everyone that comes along it's: “Have a drink on me!”

[Second Chorus]
Click, click, click, that's how the shearin' goes
Click, clicketty click, oh my boys it isn't slow
A fellow pulls out a sheep and it lands him a kick
And still you hear the shears a-goin': Click, click, click

Down by the bar the late shearer stands
Graspin' his glass in his thin bony hands
His eyes are on the barrel which now is lowerin' fast
He works hard, he drinks hard, and goes to hell at last!

[Second Chorus]
Click, click, click, that's how the shearin' goes
Click, clicketty click, oh my boys it isn't slow
A fellow pulls out a sheep and it lands him a kick
And still you hear the shears a-goin': Click, click, click