I've eaten bitter bread 
In sweat wrung from my brow ; 
And earth-bent, hunger-gripped 
Scarred hands on axe and plough. 
Now, when the sun is shining, 
With swag slung on my back, 
I laugh at soured selectors 
When I pass down the track. 

 Whalin' up the Lachlan 
 By the waters grey, 
 Whalin' up the Lachlan 
 All a summer's day, 
 We'll drop a line to tickle 
 The black fish and the cod, 
 Whalin' up the Lachlan 
 Beside a lazy rod.

Some choose to crack the greenhide, 
And some to sow and reap, 
And some to pink with B-bows 
A-shearin' greasy sheep. 
But some there are, sundowners, 
Who take the easy way, 
Nor think of lean to-morrow 
If they fare fat to-day. 

 Whalin' up the Lachlan, 
 Done with axe and plough, 
 Whalin' up the Lachlan, 
 The billy's boilin' now. 
 We'll fill our pipes, an' yarn there, 
 And watch the world roll by, 
 Whalin' up the Lachlan 
 Under a starry sky.