The Old Camp Oven – Terry Bennetts/Keith Lethbridge
By a big boab tree in the East Kimberley,
Old Digger and I made our camp,
I can see it again on the Cockatoo Plain,
By the light of the old Tilley lamp.
Just Digger and me by the big boab tree,
We’d draw up our tree stumps to dine,
Then we’d dole out a stew or a damper or two,
From this old camp oven of mine.
And many’s the rowdy chorus,
We sang when the nights were fine,
And we ate from this same camp oven,
This old camp oven of mine.
There was work to be done in the blazing hot sun,
Far away from the comforts of home.
But we’d never complain of the heat or the rain,
Dry, dusty or drenched to the bone.
We were building a dream called the Ord River Scheme;
We were turning the water to wine;
And we couldn’t go wrong with a smile and a song,
And this old camp oven of mine.
And many’s the rowdy chorus,
We sang when the nights were fine,
And we ate from this same camp oven,
This old camp oven of mine.
She’s rusty, it’s true, but it cooks a good stew,
And its small Johnny cakes are the best.
For rice, fish or ham, plum pudding and jam,
This oven has been through the test.
Now I’ve got a good wife; she’s the joy of my life,
And her cooking, believe me, it’s fine,
But we still have our days by the camp fire blaze,
With this old camp oven of mine.
And many’s the rowdy chorus,
We sang when the nights were fine,
And we ate from this same camp oven,
This old camp oven of mine.
Now Digger’s sits there in his old rocking chair,
With grandchildren perched on his knee,
But little they know of our days long ago,
Surviving on damper and tea.
We’d have to make do with old billygoat stew
Or a catfish we hooked on a line,
But I doubt if there’s been a more welcome cuisine
In this old camp oven of mine!
And many’s the rowdy chorus,
We sang when the nights were fine,
And we ate from this same camp oven,
This old camp oven of mine.
NOTES: The Old Camp Oven is an Australian Country Music song composed by Terry Bennetts and Keith Lethbridge and is on Terry’s “Salt of the Earth” album
The Old Camp Oven is an Australian Camp Oven Fire as per the image at the top of the page. Excellent for camping and outback cooking yer old billygoat stew.
