[Verse 1]
He's leanin' where the beaten dusty furrows line his face
And the eyes that look out past you tell how much he loves this place
He was born out in the west land and he sees no need to go
To places stockmen talk about around the campfire's glow
They talk of lush green pastures, he loves the dusty plains
They talk of flooded rivers, he's happy if it rains
In this land of isolation, a man could go berserk
It takes a special breed to live beyond the back of Bourke
[Verse 2]
He found a bride and brought her home, his back-of-Bourke to see
She loved it, so they settled down to raise a family
She turned his house into a home of happiness and love
And everyone was welcome there around the kitchen stove
It wasn't always easy—in fact, some called it tough
But they always had each other, and for them that was enough
No matter what life threw at them, there's nothing they would shirk
It takes a special breed to live beyond the back of Bourke
[Chorus]
Beyond the back of Bourke is the place that he loves best
Where black soil plains keep rolling on forever to the west
He knows if ever he should roam, his heart will always lurk
Out on the dusty western plains beyond the back of Bourke
[Verse 3]
Now he sits and reminisces under clear blue western skies
Of days spent in the saddle, of heat and dust and flies
Of sleeping 'neath the stars, his saddle pillowing his head
His faithful dog beside him, saddle blanket for a bed
Of listening to the silence, to not a sound at all
Till finally it's broken by a lonely mopoke's call
He's older now, but nimble, and still he loves his work
It takes a special breed to live beyond the back of Bourke
[Chorus]
Beyond the back of Bourke is the place that he loves best
Where black soil plains keep rolling on forever to the west
He knows if ever he should roam, his heart will always lurk
Out on the dusty western plains beyond the back of Bourke