The unlucky Irishman wrote a humorous poem about it, turning tragedy into comedy.

Slim Dusty – “Pub With No Beer”

“Pub With No Beer” (1957)

This humorous song was adapted from a poem written during the war by an Irish immigrant to Australia (that is, a beer drinker). Once, after he had ridden his horse 20 miles into town, he discovered that the bar in the local hotel had run out of beer, which had been rationed because of the war.  

Pub with a Poet

The unlucky Irishman wrote a humorous poem about it, turning tragedy into comedy. The poem was published in a local newspaper, and several years later, Gordon Parsons turned it into the song “Pub with No Beer.”

Although Parsons was apparently the first to perform the song in public, it was Slim Dusty who recorded it and made a hit. (In this vid, Parsons joins Slim on stage for the 3rd verse.)

Sounds Australian

“Pub with No Beer”  became the first Australian song to become an international hit.

In May 2001, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Australasian Performing Right Association, the association ranked “Pub with No Beer”  at Number 5 on its list of “Best Australian Songs of All Time.”  In 2008, it was added to the “Sounds of Australia”  registry of the National Film and Sound Archive.   _{(Image source)}

Slim Dusty

Slim Dusty was an Australian country musician whose career spanned 7 decades. (real name, David Gordon Kirkpatrick) 

Beyond any Trend

Beginning in the early 1950s, Dusty chronicled many aspects of life in Australia, and he became very famous during those years. However, with the explosion of rock’n’roll and pop music, popular awareness of him and his music waned. Nevertheless, Dusty continued to record and perform, seemingly oblivious to the trends around him.   

By 2007, domestic sales of his records had surpassed 7 million. During his lifetime, he won 37 “Golden Guitar”  awards, as well as 2 awards from the Australian Recording Industry Association. Moreover, he was designated to be an Australian National Treasure.   

When Slim Dusty died in 2003, he was working on his 106th album. Within 2 weeks of its release, it had gone gold.    _{(Image source)}

Oh it's a-lonesome away from your kindred and all
By the campfire at night, we'll hear the wild dingoes call
But there's a-nothing so lonesome, morbid or drear
Than to stand in the bar of a pub with no beer

Now the publican's anxious for the quota to come
And there's a faraway look on the face of the bum
The maid's gone all cranky and the cook's acting queer
Oh, what a terrible place is a pub with no beer

Then the stockman rides up with his dry dusty throat
He breasts up to the bar and pulls a wad from his coat
But the smile on his face quickly turns to a sneer
As the barman says sadly, "The pub's got no beer"

Then the swaggie comes in, smothered in dust and flies
He throws down his roll and rubs the sweat from his eyes
But when he is told, he says, "What's this I hear?
I've trudged fifty flamin' miles to a pub with no beer"

Now there's a dog on the v'randa, for his master, he waits
But the boss is inside, drinking wine with his mates
He hurries for cover and he cringes in fear
It's no place for a dog 'round a pub with no beer

And old Billy the blacksmith, the first time in his life
Why he's gone home cold sober to his darling wife
He walks in the kitchen, she says, "You're early, Bill dear"
But then he breaks down and tells her the pub's got no beer

Oh, it's hard to believe that there's customers still
But the money's still tinkling in the old ancient till
The wine buffs are happy and I know they're sincere
When they say they don't care if the pub's got no beer

So it's a-lonesome away from your kindred and all
By the campfire at night, we'll hear the wild dingoes call
But there's a-nothing so lonesome, morbid or drear
Than to stand in the bar of that pub with no beer.
Lyrics by Gordon Parsons, courtesy of – AZLyrics.com
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – Wikipedia <
Thanks to AG catxoxo, for his informative comment – YouTube  

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"