way out back of the coolgardie
round the turn of the century
two riders came out of the west
they were lookin' for the colour of gold
trading on an old red blanket
passed him on to a pearl lugger
that was java bound outta roebuck bay
the crew were mainly manila men
and the young boy must have known
manila-man got the machete
manila-man cut him down cold
die with the balander boss on a lugger
looking out on a clear sky
as the sun beats down on her head
and as the long years go by
just an old red blanket to dry