Bogswamp

The speaker notices the distant headlights of a road train on the railway track.

The road train is too far away for the speaker to hear any associated noise.

The speaker hears only the sound of twigs crackling on the fire they've built.

The speaker is alone with their dog near Weaner Creek, away from others.

The speaker stopped near Weaner Creek to camp for the night.

They made a fire next to a boab tree using coals.

The landscape behind them was glowing in the fading sunlight.

The speaker prepared baked potatoes and brewed tea.

Expresses a feeling of persistence despite facing various challenges, symbolically represented by different adversities ("waylaid, unpaid, mislaid...")

I'm itching like a hobo when he hears that whistle wail

On the trail (on the trail) on the track

I'm driven like a bullock with the stock whip on his back

I've been waylaid unpaid mislaid forbade betrayed dismayed delayed derailed blackmailed curtailed femaled stuck in a bogswamp quagmire quicksand pindan barbed wire flat tyre bushfire desire

Once or twice I might have even failed

But now I'm on the track I'm on the trail

The speaker's songs seem to drift with the smoke rising into the sky.

The speaker feels grateful and enchanted by the surroundings, prompting them to sing about their love for the country.

A gift of gratitude and wonder for the spell that I was under

Made me serenade this country that I love

Reiteration of persistence in the face of difficulties and failures, emphasizing determination to continue on the track.

I'm itching like a hobo when he hears that whistle wail

On the trail (on the trail) on the track

I'm driven like a bullock with the stock whip on his back

I've been waylaid unpaid mislaid forbade betrayed dismayed delayed derailed blackmailed curtailed femaled stuck in a bogswamp quagmire quicksand pindan barbed wire flat tyre bushfire desire

Once or twice I might have even failed

But now I'm on the track I'm on the trail

Describes the elusive nature of the land's magic and mystery, difficult to capture except through art forms like songs, poems, or stories.

Then eludes you as it slips right through your grasp

You can touch it in a song or a poem or a yarn

But you'll never catch it in a photograph

Highlights the overwhelming beauty and spiritual experience of being under the vast sky and witnessing the sunrise by a riverside.

you'll be singing hallelujah

Underneath a sky of diamonds deep and wide

And when the sun breaks the horizon

it could feel like a baptizin'

As you watch in wonder by a riverside

Reiteration of determination to persist despite challenges and past failures while staying on the track and trail.

I'm itching like a hobo when he hears that whistle wail

On the trail (on the trail), on the track

I'm driven like a bullock with the stock whip on his back

I've been waylaid unpaid mislaid forbade betrayed dismayed delayed derailed blackmailed curtailed femaled stuck in a bogswamp quagmire quicksand pindan barbed wire flat tyre bushfire desire

Once or twice I might have even failed

But now I'm on the track I'm on the trail

Expresses the commitment to continue forward without turning back, embracing wonder and determination even if there might be occasional failures.

Now I'm on the track I'm on the

Never turning back I'll wander

With a heart that's full of wonder

Keep myself from going under

Still maybe a time or two I'll fail

Confirms the speaker's present state of being on the track and trail.