Lyrics
Last night I dreamed, of my old mate, the dream was earthly real,
The scene was set in a mustering camp somewhere near Camooweal.
He rode a horse of silver grey with stockwhip quickly coiled,
G’day old mate, he said to me, «I see the billy’s boiled.»
Oh I’ve rode tonight from far away, it’s great to see you mate,
I saw your fire through the milky way when I came through the golden gate,
The boss up there is a decent bloke, he treats us all real fine,
At the biggest stock camp of them all and the sun has a special shine.
No droughts prevail, no dust storms blow, the grass is green and high.
And saddened hearts are never known or a sight brings a tear to your eye,
Up there a man don’t prove his worth, his fortunes or his lot,
He takes us all on equal terms and a man is not forgot.
He wore the same lopsided smile and the ol' black hat was there,
Slanted sidewards on a crown, thick big black curly hair,
He gazed about at the sleeping men in the campgear on the ground,
And joined in with an old bush song, as the night watch rode around.
We drifted back through childhood days and shared each other’s grief,
Realized so quickly now how life can be so brief,
When we are born, we start to die, it’s He who calls the turn,
And when He called you home ol' mate, He called you much too soon.
Oh the dream I had of you ol' mate forever will remain,
To me you are my earthly loss, for Him you’re heavens gain,
As I stand beside your earthen mound, no words can quite express,
Just how I feel but mem’ries mate, to me are heaven blessed.
So long mate, till we meet again, rest in perfect peace,
Your mem’ries locked inside my heart, my thoughts will never cease,
I know you cannot answer mate, but to me it always seems,
We can live a part of life again, even though it’s in our dreams.