Misc Soundtrack – Reedy River - The Ballad Of 1891 (Guitar)

    Am                           G  Am
The price of wool was falling in 1891

    C                           Dm                F
The men who owned the acres saw something must be done

         Am                             F                  G
"We will break the Shearers' Union, and show we're masters still

            Am                C                   G                Am
And they'll take the terms we give them, or we'll find the men who will"

     Am                           G                    Am
From Claremont to Barcaldine, the shearers' camps were full

    C                             Dm               F
Ten thousand blades were ready to strip the greasy wool

     Am                                    F              G
When through the west like thunder, rang out the Union's call

        Am               C             G                 Am
"These sheds'll be shore Union or they won't be shore at all"

    Am                            G                 Am
Oh, Billy Lane was with them, his words were like a flame

    C                             Dm             F
The flag of blue above them, they spoke Eureka's name

   Am                                    F                G
"Tomorrow," said the squatters, "they'll find it does not pay

      Am                C           G             Am
We're bringing up free labourers to get the clip away"

   Am                                G             Am
"Tomorrow," said the shearers, "they may not be so keen

       C                               Dm                F
We can mount three thousand horses, to show them what we mean"

            Am                                F                  G
"Then we'll pack the west with troopers, from Bourke to Charters Towers

        Am                C                G                 Am
You can have your fill of speeches but the final strength is ours"

    Am                                G              Am
"Be damned to your six-shooters, your troopers and police

    C                            Dm             F
The sheep are growing heavy, the burr is in the fleece"

         Am                            F                G
"Then if Nordenfeldt and Gatling won't bring you to your knees

      Am               C                       G                   Am
We'll find a law," the squatters said, "that's made for times like these"

   Am                       G                 Am
To trial at Rockhampton the fourteen men were brought

     C                            Dm                  F
The judge had got his orders, the squatters owned the court

         Am                             F                 G
But for every one that's sentenced, ten thousand won't forget

            Am             C               G                  Am
Where they jail a man for striking, it's a rich man's country yet