T.Y.S.O.N.

"T.Y.S.O.N." is a poem by Banjo Paterson, first published in The Australasian Pastoralists' Review, on 15 December 1898.

James Tyson (April 8 1819 - December 4 1898) was an Australian pastoralist and is regarded as Australia's first self made Millionaire. Unmarried and without children he died intestate in 1898 and his extensive holdings were sold off and divided among his closest relatives.

T.Y.S.O.N.

by A. B. "Banjo" Paterson

Across the Queensland border lineThe mobs of cattle go;They travel down in sun and shineOn dusty stage, and slow.The drovers, riding slowly onTo let the cattle spread,Will say: "Here's one old landmark gone,For old man Tyson's dead."

What tales there'll be in every campBy men that Tyson knew!The swagmen, meeting on the tramp,Will yarn the long day through,And tell of how he passed as "Brown",And fooled the local men:"But not for me -- I struck the town,And passed the message further down;That's T.Y.S.O.N.!"

There stands a little country townBeyond the border line,Where dusty roads go up and down,And banks with pubs combine.A stranger came to cash a cheque --

Few were the words he said --A handkerchief about his neck,An old hat on his head.

A long grey stranger, eagle-eyed --"Know me? Of course you do?""It's not my work," the boss replied,"To know such tramps as you."

"Well, look here, Mister, don't be flash,"Replied the stranger then,"I never care to make a splash,I'm simple, but I've got the cash;I'm T.Y.S.O.N."

But in that last great drafting-yard,Where Peter keeps the gate,And souls of sinners find it barred,

And go to meet their fate,There's one who ought to enter inFor good deeds done on earth,One who from Peter's self must winThat meed of sterling worth.

Not to the strait and narrow gateReserved for wealthy men,But to the big gate, opened wide,

The grizzled figure, eagle-eyed,Will saunter up -- and thenOld Peter'll say: "Let's pass him through;There's many a thing he used to do,Good-hearted things that no one knew;That's T.Y.S.O.N."

The Australasian Pastoralists' Review,15 December 1898

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