Slim Dusty - By A Fire Of Gidgee Coal Lyrics

My Dad was a Drover in the 60s and loved Fire of Gidgee Coals.We played it at his funeral in 1996.Love Slim.

Slim I miss you

All king ware crowns but only one king wares a cowboy hat slim dusty

Oh man....that Gibson 335 sound!!! Who says you need a tele for country....

slim dusty is with out doubt the king of country music

Slim you're a legend we miss you but you song's will always be there rip king of country music

The song is of a wealthy retired man who reminisces of his early days as a Labourer with simple comforts

Well as a drover

I think this is the best song Slim ever did. It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it because I can relate to it so much. Sadly missed is Slim Dusty.

Sang this song is few times with my ole mate slim dusty. My favourite slim dusty song. Slim Dusty will always be king of country music an his will live on forever through his music. Love ya slim. Xxxx

I was at Granville RSL in 1974 and Slim was a spectator at a show there. I had more than my share of amber fluid and I went up and asked him if he would sing By A Fire Of Gidgee Coal. He explained that he wasn't working and couldn't do it but thanked me for being a fan of his. In 1993 I was introduced to Slim by Reg Lindsay at Rooty Hill RSL and I told Slim of that occasion and he said that he remembered that day. I thought, he has to be having me on. I said; Slim, did I make that big a fool of myself did I? He replied, no John it wasn't that. I remember how disappointed you were when I told you I couldn't sing it for you and I never like disappointing my fans. I thought right there and then what a genuine man and champion of Australia he is. I was honoured to meet the great man a dozen times or so after that and just couldn't help but admire the man so much, even more, every time I met him. There will never be anyone like Slim Dusty rooting for Australia again, what a great loss. RIP Slim ol' mate

Born in the south eastern part of North Dakota I never heard of Slim Dusty. I grew up on Hank Williams, Roy Acuff, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and all the American Bluegrass, Folk and Country music performers. I found Slim Dusty a couple Days ago when I was searching for Waltzing Matilda. I have been listening to him non stop since.

Hi Charles,
Good comments. I have listened to all those singers you mentioned for decades going back to the 60s and Slim is still one of my favourites and typically country Australian. Gidgee is a tree that is termite resistant in Australia. Keep well.

only thing wrong with gidgee wood is that is b....y hard to cut

Slim & Stan Coster were the real Story tellers both were great mates we have lost them both but they are always here in those beautiful Bush Ballads

The best of them all.Missing you Slim, and black tea and damper.

morning
music
KING OF COUNTRY
R.I.P.
OLD SLIM

Love this, In fact not heard a slim song I haven’t loved RIP

So true KING OF AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY MUSIC,, THANKS FOR THE MEMORYS

Sadly these songs will be on U tube and know ones will ever play them in the yrs to come,,,just like old classic movies

I love slim so much and this song I always love listening too it I love singing it such a beautiful song slim is such a great inspiration too many people he sure has inspired me very much such a talented man

the only way to be brought up listening to this mans songs if all australians listened and learnt from this bloke australia be a different country appreciate this country and the traditional owners just shows recognition and respect goes along way rip slim

My grandmother loves this song.

Tonya Rogers good on her.

thats country mate.

Rob  Cowles..whow  love  this   one  --so memories brought back  ..memories  from  Omeo..

A most enjoyable ballad from a great artist of Australia. we miss you mate...

This is true Australian country ,sole of country Music ,Slim knew how to tell the story in song, thank you for letting us to hear such beautiful songs

🤟🏻 soul 😉

another great song by the Legend...................................................................................................

FANTASTIC SONGS SLIM DUSTY XXX

This far by one of the best sung by Slim

I always like Slim Dusty's music any day!

Australians think , love and remember without gushing. Slim was and will always be the greatest of our singers, he was much more. RIP old mate,

Just beautiful Slim

Another great song from the pen of StanCoster.

John Colville the master caster.

Slim dusty is a legend he traveled all over australia towing a caravan talking to people learning from people and doing it really really really tough He has his own unique style and he kept everyone in the bush happy for many years especially the aboriginal people of austrlia

3 years is too long ago for anyone not to have posted any comment on one of Australia's greatest musical artists......ONLY EVER ONE SLIM  but never forgotten by this writer

New every song before I left school.

Again, back with Slim. Soon to give away my last saddle, thankfully to a family member who will use it.

I think Stan Coster wrote this song

Aye, he did. Both Slim and Stan have amazing versions of the song.

Back with Slim again. An 'old rider in the grandstand'.

I heard him sing this at a campfire in the outback not long before he died. A campfire, a starry sky and Slim singing (as Jimmy and friends). It doesn't get much better than that. Thanks for sharing this.

my brother followed in his footsteps of old slim and is sorely missed by our family and his legend is in our hearts,...

@colindominy -Believe he did in conjunction with Stan Coster. What a superb song from Slim - in my view his very best song.

QUESTION : did Slim write these lyrics (which go so well with the music here) ? For these lyrics to me have a real HENRY LAWSON feel to them. That's how highly I regard these fantastic lines .. and it's no suck-up at all on my part in my esteem for Slim & his wonderful talent .. because here, I consciously place Slim & his ability with words & lyrics, right up there on a pedestal with the GREAT Henry Lawson.

This song is from Slim's l.p."Songs of Australia! in 1964 and this song was co wrote by Stan Coster & Slim Dusty .they also co wrote 5 other songs on this great l.p.

@redspeed56 - Liked your comment. Different days, different world really. People away from life in the bush, especially the far-out bush, will never really understand it, I don't think. But Slim captures it all here. What a legend! To lose him and RM Williams in one year was an immense loss to the Australia as it was.

Yep, worked in contract mustering camps on Brunette for a couple of years, as well as on other stations. It was a great life back then, all changed now though. Sad to see Slim go, but we have his music forever. Cheers.

pittycross

@BABSINUK - Slim's best ever song, and I'm an Aussie. He's had many top songs here, but this one in my view is the best of all of them. Having had some experience of what this song is about I can relate to what Slim is saying here.

Paul Herring

Of course, from NT stations back in those days, 60's, we used to mail order our moleskins and gabardines through the R M Williams catalogue, along with everything else, boots, spurs, shirts, chaps etc.
The catalogue was a prized item, but shared around the stockcamps.

Way to go Arnoz.

Thanks for posting this true classic from Slim RIP

Can't understand why there are so few people listening/looking here.
Guess the old days don't do it for the younger generation.
Perhaps in the same way I preferred his songs about the old days in camps etc rather than his new stuff.

I'm still alive, and remember gidgee fires alright. Spent some time in stockcamps on various stations up here in the NT back in the 60's. Before Toyotas and motorbikes and helicopters came onto the scene. Still stock horses and bronco yards in those days.
I preferred when Slim sang about the old days, rather than truck etc stuff.

Very pleasing to the ear .. another of Slim's greats. Impressive guitar work + of course the melody & rhythm as well, as is par for the course for Slim . And like so many of Slim's great songs, this song tells a wonderful, if somewhat wistful tale. Uniquely Australian !! These lyrics sound very much like Henry Lawson's reknowned style - i.e. they are superb. RIP, Slim old mate. You will not be forgotten .....

what a great man a ledgen to country music