Out on the wastes of the Never Never ---

That's where the dead men lie!

There where the heat-waves dance for ever---

That's where the dead men lie!

That's where the earth's loved ones are keeping

Endless tryst!: not the west wind sweeping

Feverish pinions can wake their sleeping---

Out where the dead men lie!

Where brown Summer and Death have mated---

That's where the dead men lie!

Loving with fiery lust unsated---

That's where the dead men lie!

Out where the grinning skulls bleach whitely

Under the saltbush sparkling brightly;

Out where the wild dogs chorus nightly---

That's where the dead men lie!

Deep in the yellow, flowing river---

That's where the dead men lie!

Under the bank, where the shadows quiver---

That's where the dead men lie!

Where the platypus twists and doubles,

Leaving a train of tiny bubbles,

Rid at last of their earthly troubles

That's where the dead men lie!

East and backward pale faces turning---

That's how the dead men lie!

Gaunt arms stretched wide with a voiceless yearning---

That's how the dead men lie!

Oft in the fragrant hush of nooning

Hearing again their mother's crooning,

Wrapt for eye in a dreamful swooning---

That's how the dead men lie!

Only the hand of Night can free them---

That's when the dead men fly!

Only the frightened cattle see them---

See the dead men go by!

Cloven hoofs beating out one measure,

Bidding the stockman know no leisure---

That's when the dead men take their pleasure!

That's when the dead men fly!

Ask, too, the never-sleeping drover:

He sees the dead pass by;

Hearing them call to their friends--the plover,

Hearing the dead men cry;

Seeing their faces stealing, stealing,

Hearing their laughter pealing, pealing,

Watching their grey forms wheeling, wheeling

Round where the cattle lie!