Click Go The Shears is an Australian Bush ballad about shearing sheep by hand. This is a great song for Drama and Movement.
The tune and lyrics follow closely an American Civil war song called “Ring The Bell, Watchman,” written by Henry Clay Work in 1865.
The first version of this song in Australia was titled “The Bare-Belled Ewe” and was published in a Victorian newspaper in 1891, possibly written by C. C. Eynesbury.
The song only gained popularity in the 1950’s, more than 50 years later. (Source: Wikipedia)
Terms Explained
The ‘ringer’ is the shearer who shears the most sheep in that shed. He is the most experienced specialist in the shed and he is being beaten by one ‘blow’.
The “blow” is referring to his arm movement, the cutting sweep of the shears.
A “snagger” is an unskilled shearer.
The “bare-bellied joe” describes a sheep with little or no hair on its belly. Such a sheep can be sheared faster, which is why the “ringer” is beaten by a “blow.”
The word “Joe” is presumably a corruption of “Yowe” or “ewe” which is a female sheep.
Teaching Points: drama and movement; 6/8 swing beat; banjo.
Note: Our version, for young children, has only the first verse and Chorus, whereas the original song has seven verses.
Product – Click Go The Shears Value Pack
Audio Single Song Pack
Vocal mp3
Instrumental mp3
Instrumental with melody mp3
Lyric Sheet PDF
Colored Poster PDF
Coloring Sheet PDF
Sheet Music PDF
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SINGLE SONG PRODUCT
Click Go The Shears is also available as an Audio Single Song product for only $1.
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