Well it's hotter 'n blazes and all the long faces
there'll be no oasis for a dry local grazier
there'll be no refreshment for a thirsty jackaroo
from melbourne to adelaide on the overlander
with newfangled buffet cars and faster locomotives
the train stopped in serviceton
less and less often
There's nothing sadder than a town with no cheer
vic rail decided the canteen was no longer necessary there
no spirits, no bilgewater and 80 dry locals
and the high noon sun beats a hundred and four
there's a hummingbird
trapped in a closed down shoe store
This tiny victorian rhubarb
kept the watering hole open for sixty five years
now it's boilin' in a miserable march 21st
wrapped the hills in a blanket
of patterson's curse
the train smokes down the xylophone
there'll be no stopping here
all ya can be is thirsty in a town with no cheer
No bourbon, no branchwater
though the townspeople here
fought her vic rail decree tooth and nail
now it's boilin' in a miserable march 21 st
wrapped the hills in a blanket
of patterson's curse
the train smokes down the xylophone
there'll be no stopping here
all ya can be is thirsty in a town with no cheer

tom waits: vocal harmonium, synthesizer, freedom bell
anthony clark stewart: bag pipes
clark spangler: synthesizer program