Dismal guernsey comes to Oz

In come the dollars and in come the cents
to replace the pounds, the shillings and the pence.
Be prepared folks when the coins begin to mix
on the 14th of February 1966.

Clink go the cents folks
clink, clink, clink. Changeover day is closer than you think.
Learn the value of the coins and the way that they appear
and things will be much smoother when the decimal point appears.

In come the dollars and in come the cents
to replace the pounds, the shillings and the pence.
Be prepared folks when the coins begin to mix
on the 14th of February 1966.

1966 Decimal currency was introduced in Australia 40 years ago today. Pounds, shillings and pence gave way to dollars and cents. The conversion was aided by a large advertising campaign that lasted for months. A cartoon character named 'Dollar Bill' sang the words above, to the tune of the traditional Australian folksong 'Click Go the Shears'.

In 1966 most people were unaware of Valentine's Day as it was not celebrated then in Australia.

Me, I prefer the original folksong, especially the third verse about the British 'newchum' ("colonial experience man"):

Out on the board the old shearer stands,
Grasping his shears in his thin bony hands
Fixed is his gaze on a blue-bellied joe,
Glory if he gets her, won't he make the ringer go.

[Chorus sung after each verse]
Click go the shears boys, click, click, click,
Wide is his blow and his hands move quick,
The ringer looks around and is beaten by a blow,
And curses the old snagger with the blue-bellied joe.

In the middle of the floor in his cane-bottomed chair
Sits the boss of the board with his eyes everywhere,
Notes well each fleece as it comes to the screen,
Paying strict attention that it's taken off clean.

The colonial experience man, he is there of course,
With his shiny leggings on, just got off his horse,
Gazes all around him like a real connoisseur,
Scented soap and brilliantine and smelling like a whore.

The tar-boy is there waiting in demand
With his blackened tar-pot in his tarry hand,
Spies one old sheep with a cut upon its back
Hears what he's waiting for it's "Tar here Jack"

Now the shearing is all over, we've all got our cheques,
So roll up your swags and it's off down the track,
The first pub we come to it's there we'll have a spree,
And everyone that comes along it's 'Have a drink on me.'

There we leave him standing shouting for all hands,
Whilst all around him every 'shouter' stands,
His eye is on the keg which now is lowering fast,
He works hard, he drinks hard, and goes to Hell at last.

Glossary
Board: Floor of the shearing shed.
Ringer: fastest shearer on the team.
Swagger: lucky fella.
Blue-bellied (bare-bellied) joe: sheep with completely shaved belly.
Tar: antiseptic tar used for cuts on the sheep.
Shouter: One who shouts, ie, buys drinks for the others.

Hear the tune (midi)

Tagged: australia, folklore, folk+music, lore