Oh, they'd mustered all the cattle on the Innamincka 

run,

And also on Cordilla Downs the same thing had been 

done,

They shifted all the cows an' calves, the bullocks and 

the steers,

The biggest bang town muster job in many, many years.



Oh the Diamantina channels and the lignum flower beds

Some wide eyed long horned pikers were all they'd left 

out there,

Next day the helicopters came and cleared them from the 

run,

The mickeys didn't stand a chance, they shot 'em one by 

one.



The season blight had struck the herd, the beast all 

had to go,

To save the export market and increase the money flow,

Though it wasn't a very pretty scene to see the pikers 

fall,

And pilot of the chopper didn't like the job at all.



And the stockmen riding shotgun did his best to keep it 

clean,

He tried his best for one shot kills to ease the 

grizzly scene,

But soon the job was over and the land allowed a spell,

Once again the stony desert had a tragic tale to tell.



[Instrumental]



They wait now for the seasons to rejuvenate the land,

Restock again with breeders and keep them well in hand,

Oh the flood plains then will prosper and flights will 

be no more,

Once more the stockmen riding, like they used to do 

before.



And the cattle camps be busy with a new and stronger 

breed,

As they muster through the lignum where the cattle love 

to feed,

Through the sand hills of Cordilla or the Innamincka 

Plain,

Once more we'll see the stock men's hands rest lightly 

on the reins. 



At the Innamincka muster, there were choppers in the 

sky,

Cattle country gun ships with the rifleman on high,

Oh the pikers didn't stand a chance, the cattle war was 

won,

Beside the stony desert were they shot 'em one by one.



Old timers had another way, they very seldom failed,

To block the way with mickey , and throw him by the 

tail,

But now the ringer's airborne, helicopters on the go,

In the Diamantina country where the channels waters 

flow. 

Where the channels waters flow.