Pretty Bird Tree - Damien Dempsey, Pauline Scanlon

Up here on the slopes and plains

In the town of Narrabri

On the banks of the Namoi river

'Neath the shade of the pretty bird tree

All my brother died, he died down there

Neath the willows oh so cool

Now he walks with our ancestors

Underneath the Kamillaroi moon

Namoi River

You’re home to me

I’ll sit with you 'neath the pretty bird tree

Early on in life I took to the booze

And drank away my dreams

I watched my life flow sadly by

Like teardrops down the drain

So I headed for the river, and became a river rat

I’d worn out all my welcomes

No place to lay my hat

Oh there was cranky Frankie and Jackie Brown

Boodie man Joe Creggy and me

Then we’d lie next day like poisoned dogs

All around the pretty bird tree

Namoi River

You’re home to me

I’ll sit with you 'neath the pretty bird tree

When the hallowing wind doth wane

On the Namoi late at night

You can hear the old ones singing

As they dance in the pale moon light

Oh there were many more names I can’t recall

But their faces I still see

Old Whisper Smith’s calm face appears

As I dream of the pretty bird tree

Namoi River

You’re home to me

I’ll sit with you 'neath the pretty bird tree

I’ll sit with you 'neath the pretty bird tree