A Pub With No Beer

Slim Dusty

About A Pub With No Beer

"A Pub with No Beer" is the title of a humorous country song made famous by country singers Slim Dusty (in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States) and Bobbejaan Schoepen (in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria). The song was written about his local pub at Taylors Arm, New South Wales, adapted by Gordon Parsons from the original poem "A Pub Without Beer" by Irish poet Dan Sheahan of Ingham, North Queensland, in the Day Dawn Hotel, now known as Lees Hotel, Ingham, Queensland. The song gently explores the "devastation" caused to a pub and its community when its beer supply is interrupted. It is believed the song was first performed in public by Gordon Parsons in 1954 at the 50th birthday of George Thomas, a resident of Creek Ridge Road, Glossodia (near Windsor in Sydney). It was performed with an extra verse that was dropped from Slim Dusty's recorded version, because it contained elements of blue humour. In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "A Pub with No Beer" was ranked number 45. 


Year:
2014
2:58
66 
#1

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!

Oh it's-a lonesome away from your kindred and all
By the campfire at night we'll hear the wild dingoes call
But there's-a nothing so lonesome, morbid or drear
Than to stand in the bar of a pub with no beer

Now the publican's anxious for the quota to come
And there's a far away look on the face of the bum
The maid's gone all cranky and the cook's acting queer
Oh what a terrible place is a pub with no beer

Then the stockman rides up with his dry dusty throat
He breasts up to the bar and pulls a wad from his coat
But the smile on his face quickly turns to a sneer
As the barman says sadly the pub's got no beer

Then the swaggie comes in smothered in dust and flies
He throws down his roll and rubs the sweat from his eyes
But when he is told, he says what's this I hear
I've trudged fifty flamin' miles to a pub with no beer

Now there's a dog on the v'randa, for his master he waits
But the boss is inside drinking wine with his mates
He hurries for cover and he cringes in fear
It's no place for a dog 'round a pub with no beer

And old Billy the blacksmith, the first time in his life
Why he's gone home cold sober to his darling wife
He walks in the kitchen, she says you're early Bill dear
But then he breaks down and tells her the pub's got no beer

Oh it's hard to believe that there's customers still
But the money's still tinkling in the old ancient till
The wine buffs are happy and I know they're sincere
When they say they don't care if the pub's got no beer

So it's-a lonesome away from your kindred and all
By the campfire at night we'll hear the wild dingoes call
But there's-a nothing so lonesome, morbid or drear-a

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Slim Dusty

David Gordon "Slim Dusty " Kirkpatrick AO, MBE (13 June 1927—19 September 2003) was an Australian country music singer-songwriter and producer, with a career spanning nearly seven decades. He was known to record songs in the legacy of Australian poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson that represented the Australian Bush Lifestyle, and also for his many trucking songs. Dusty was the first Australian to have a No. 1 Hit song with Gordon Parsons (A Pub With No Beer). He received an unequalled 37 Golden Guitar and two ARIA awards and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and the Country Music Roll of Renown. At the time of his death at the age of 76, Dusty had been working on his 106th album for EMI Records. In 2007 his domestic record sales in Australia surpas… more »

1 fan

Written by: GORDON PARSONS

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Artist Contribution
"A Pub With No Beer" was a joint production between Gordon Parsons and Slim Dusty. Parsons wrote the lyrics while Dusty provided the vocals.
Inspiration
The song was inspired by an actual incident when a pub in Ingham, Queensland (Australia), ran out of beer due to extreme flooding.
Release Date
The song was first released in Australia in 1957.
Popularity
It became a major hit not just in Australia, but also internationally. It was the first Australian song to become an international hit.
Chart Performance
The song topped the Australian music charts and reached the UK top three, establishing Slim Dusty as the most successful Australian country music artist.
Historical Significance
"A Pub with No Beer" is considered an iconic Australian country music song and reflects an important part of Australian history and culture.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by various artists worldwide, including Tom T. Hall and The Dubliners, which further popularized the song beyond Australia.
Recognition
The song was added to the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia registry in 2008, confirming its significant cultural, historical, and aesthetic value in Australia's sound recording history.
Continuation
The song's popularity led to a series of sequels, such as "The Sequel to the Pub with No Beer", "The Pub That Never Has Beer" and "The Day the Pub Burned Down".
Parody Versions
"A Pub With No Beer" has been parodied several times, with Slim Dusty himself releasing a humorous version titled "A Bathroom With No Beer".

Discuss the A Pub With No Beer Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "A Pub With No Beer Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/32833169/Slim+Dusty/A+Pub+With+No+Beer>.

    Missing lyrics by Slim Dusty?

    Know any other songs by Slim Dusty? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    A Pub With No Beer

    394K
    1,017     39

    Album

    Australia's Country King

    • #4
      A Pub With No Beer

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    "Dear Winter, I hope you like your name..." Who wrote these lyrics?
    A AJR
    B Adam Met
    C Ryan Met
    D James Met

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Slim Dusty tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!