Since Then (1996 Digital Remaster) - Slim Dusty

Written by：Slim Dusty/Henry Lawson

I met Jack Ellis in town today

Jack Ellis my old mate Jack

Ten years ago from the Castlereagh

We carried our swags together away

To the never again out back

To the never again out back

He saw me first and he knew 'twas I

The holiday swell he met

Why have we no faith in each other oh why

He made as though he would pass me by

For he thought that I might forget

Thought that I might forget

He ought to have known me better than that

By the tracks we tramped far out

The sweltering scrub and the blazing flat

When the heat came down through each old felt hat

In the hell born western drought

In the hell born western drought

I asked him in for a drink with me

Jack Ellis my old mate Jack

But his manner no longer was careless and free

He followed but not with the grin that he

Wore always in days out back

Wore always in days out back

I tried to live in the past once more

Or the present and past combine

But the days between I could not ignore

I couldn't but notice the clothes he wore

And he couldn't but notice mine

And he couldn't but notice mine

He placed his glass on the polished bar

And I'll see you again said he

Then he hurried away through the crowded street

And the rattle of buses and scrape of feet

Seemed suddenly loud to me

Seemed suddenly loud to me

I met Jack Ellis in town to day

Jack Ellis my old mate Jack

Ten years ago from the Castlereagh

We carried our swags together away

To the never again out back

To the never again out back

To the never again out back

To the never again out back