The Magpies

DENIS GLOVER
Music – Paul Kelly (Sony/ATV)

When Tom and Elizabeth took the farm 
The bracken made their bed, 
And Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle 
The magpies said.  

Tom’s hand was strong to the plough 
Elizabeth’s lips were red, 
And Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle 
The magpies said.  

Year in year out they worked 
While the pines grew overhead, 
And Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle 
The magpies said.  

But all the beautiful crops soon went 
To the mortgage-man instead, 
And Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle 
The magpies said.  

Elizabeth is dead now (it’s years ago) 
Old Tom went light in the head; 
And Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle 
The magpies said.  

The farm’s still there. Mortgage corporations 
Couldn’t give it away. 
And Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle 
The magpies say.