Ballad of the Drover (Death of Harry Dale)

DESCRIPTION: Harry Dale, the drover, is heading home after many months away. He comes to a river in flood. He tries to cross, but is swept from his horse. His dog leaps in to save him, but is also washed away. Now "in the lonely homestead the girl shall wait in vain"
AUTHOR: Henry Lawson (1867-1922)
EARLIEST DATE: 1955 (Meredith/Tritton-DukeOfTheOutback)
KEYWORDS: death river drowning dog horse Australia
FOUND IN: Australia
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Meredith/Anderson-FolkSongsOfAustralia, pp. 191-192, 206, 269-270, "Ballad of the Drover" (3 texts, 3 tunes)
Meredith/Tritton-DukeOfTheOutback, pp. 75-76, "Ballad of the Drover" (1 text, 1 tune, composite)
Ward-PenguinBookOfAustralianBallads, pp. 141-144, "Ballad of the Drover" (1 text)
Stewart/Keesing-FavoriteAustralianBallads, pp. 148-150, "Ballad of the Drover" (1 text)
Roud #22624
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Martha Dexter" (theme)
cf. "The Mother's Malison, or Clyde's Water" [Child 216] (theme)
NOTES [25 words]: This piece has often been included in school readers in Australia, and has therefore achieved popularity perhaps beyond what its merits warrant. - RBW
Last updated in version 5.2
File: MA191

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