Lyrics
Shotover river, your gold it is waning
Expressing the diminishing returns of gold from the Shotover river.
It's weeks since the colour I've seen
Referring to the extended period without finding any gold.
But it's no use just sitting and Lady Luck blaming
Acknowledging the futility of blaming luck and emphasizing the need for action.
So I'll pack up and make the break clean
Deciding to leave and start anew, distancing from the unproductive situation.
Farewell to the gold that never I found
Bidding farewell to the elusive gold that was never discovered.
Goodbye to the nuggets that somewhere abound
Saying goodbye to the potential nuggets that might be present elsewhere.
For it's only when dreaming that I see you gleaming
Highlighting the dreamlike nature of envisioning gold while asleep or in imagination.
Down in the dark, deep underground
Imagining the gold hidden deep below the ground in the dark.
It's nearly two years since I left my old mother
Indicating the duration since leaving home for the pursuit of gold.
For adventure and gold by the pound
Clarifying the reasons for the departure: seeking adventure and wealth in gold.
With Jimmy the prospector - he was another
Mentioning a companion, Jimmy the prospector, sharing the quest for gold.
For the hills of Otago was bound
Heading towards the Otago hills to prospect for gold.
We worked the Cardrona's dry valley all over
Detailing the hard work in the dry valley of Cardrona.
Old Jimmy Williams and me
Identifying the companion, Jimmy Williams, and their joint efforts.
But they were panning good dirt on the winding Shotover
Recognizing better gold prospects along the winding Shotover river.
So we headed down there just to see
Deciding to explore the Shotover river to find more promising locations.
We sluiced and we cradled for day after day
Engaging in the laborious processes of sluicing and cradling for sustenance.
Making hardly enough to get by
Describing the meager returns, barely enough for survival.
Til a terrible flood swept poor Jimmy away
Recounting the unfortunate event of Jimmy being swept away by a flood.
During six stormy days in July
Specifying the duration of the flood, six stormy days in July.
Comment