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Scrumptious Young Gals

[Charles Thatcher (1831-1878)]

Danny Spooner sang Scrumptious Young Gals on his 2013 CD Gorgeous, Game Girls. He commented:

Another [see also Big Poll the Grog Seller] of Thatcher’s offerings, this song reflects how things were changing on the [Australian] goldfields by the 1860s. The numbers of womenfolk were growing, and as towns grew more prosperous they tried to move away from the image of the Roaring Days; to appear more civilised. Thatcher, who enjoyed the company of women, saw their contribution to the civilising of the goldfields societies as evident.

Lyrics

Danny Spooner sings Scrumptious Young Gals

Scrumptious young girls, oh, you’re togged out so finely
Adorning the diggings so charming and so gay;
With your beautiful smiles, oh, you look so divinely,
Thus lovers crowd around you their homage for to pay.
Australia may yield her profuse golden treasures
And her bright summer skies shine with radiance too;
But women alone can afford us real pleasures -
Say what would the goldfields now be without you?

Chorus (after each verse):
Scrumptious young girls, oh, you’re togged out so finely
Adorning the diggings so charming and so gay;
With your beautiful smiles, oh, you look so divinely,
And lovers crowd around you their homage for to pay.
Gals, gals, glorious gals, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
Scrumptious young girls.

Scrumptious young girls thanks to free emigration
Out to the diggins for husbands you fly;
Mrs Chisholm, we hold on in great veneration,
Because you’ve kept up such a constant supply.
Five years ago and how dull was this quarter,
And how very monotonous, too, was the life;
The sight of a female would our mouths water,
And only rich diggers could pick up a wife.

Scrumptious young girls, oh, how flash you are growing,
Quiet print dresses you’ve left upon the shelf;
Wearing rich satins and silks and thereby a-showing
That each of you thinks no small beer of herself.
Balls and casinos and concerts frequenting,
Oh, still may you flourish so queenly and grand:
And ever such charming new pleasures inventing,
Grace with your presence this fair golden land.