ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Butchers son Johnny and Teachers Math’s sticks

And she came from the city, to back in the bush that’s not so slick
She bought her little coloured sticks, to teach the pupils maths so quick.

Now little Johnny who was nearly eight quickly opened up a math’s debate.
Now teacher will you come with me, in that paddock, what can you see.

Now I see, there are ten lambs said she, wrong said Johnny proud was he.
Just you add up, what I’m telling ye, two legs of lamb on each wee beast.

That’s twenty roasts I’ll have you know, two forequarters each lamb has so.
That’s twenty baked in the oven slow, there’s eight loin chops on each side.

That’s sixteen on his back so wide, why that’s one hundred and sixty chops.
Two flaps each beast that’s twenty, used in soup or stews it will be plenty.

Adds to two hundred and twenty in a song, please miss correct me if I am wrong
Them math stick that you have got, have now had the gong



Written by Bill Williams ©

"G'day Bill",

Maths was always too hard for me.
Jim.

G/day Bill,
I'll have a half a dozen loin chops and a leg of lamb mate.

Good one Bill.

Cheers

Terry

I bought a cheap lamb from one of the rouseabouts up at Bourke. Strange sort of sheep, it only had three legs, or maybe he couldn't count.