album cover
Captain Starlight
27
Country
Captain Starlight was released on January 1, 1982 by Ted Egan Enterprise as a part of the album The Overlanders
album cover
Release DateJanuary 1, 1982
LabelTed Egan Enterprise
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy
BPM115

Credits

Lyrics

Out on the Barkly Tableland
Not far from Brunette Downs
Is the grave of Harry Redford
Near the creek where he was drowned
Respected Territory cattleman, outback pioneer
But not too many know about his exploits
Do you hear?
So I’ll tell you about his younger days
Fascinating tale, you know,
Stole a thousand head of cattle
And he walked them across Australia, so
I want you all to raise your glasses
Drink a toast with me
Harry Redford, Captain Starlight
One! Two! Three!
Captain Starlight was his name
Duffing cattle was his game
That’s how he achieved his fame
Captain Starlight was his name
At Bowen Downs in Central Queensland
Harry carefully chose
A thousand head of cattle
Right beneath the squatter’s nose
He’d walk them through the outback
Where Burke and Wills had died
He’d cross the Stony Desert
No other man had tried
But he made a fundamental error
Stole a big, white bull you know
Thought it would be useful
To keep the cows content and so
Down the Barcoo, down the Cooper
Down Strezlecki Creek
Into South Australia
His fortune there to seek, went...
Captain Starlight, that was his name
Duffing cattle was his game
That’s how he achieved his fame
Captain Starlight was his name
Harry sold the cattle, sailed for Sydney
Headed for the bush and there,
Found that all the Queensland cops
Were looking for him everywhere
The overseer from Bowen Downs
Had followed Harry’s tracks
Down the Cooper, through the desert
Through the Great Outback
He found the big white bull
With the LC brand upon its rump you know,
Sailed it round to Brisbane
Railed it out to Roma, so
The Queen against H. Redford
Became a legal battle
“Harry Redford, you’re under arrest
Charged with duffing cattle
Captain Starlight was his name
Duffing cattle was his game
That’s how he achieved his fame
Captain Starlight was his name
Captain Starlight was his name
Duffing cattle was his game
That’s how he achieved his fame
Captain Starlight was his name
Well, the bull was brought before the Court
The case seemed cut and dried
A jury was convened
So Harry Redford could be tried
The jurymen were not impressed
With all the legal facts
But they did admire the bushman
Who’d performed such daring acts
Despite the Court’s instructions
The jury said: “Not Guilty”...so
When you hear of Captain Starlight
There’s one thing that you all should know
If you’ve read Robbery Under Arms?
If you haven’t, take a look
You’ll find that Harry Redford
Is the hero of the book
Captain Starlight was his name
Duffing cattle was his game
That’s how he achieved his fame
Captain Starlight was his name
Written by: Ted Egan
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