The Sunny Cowgirls - Cuttin Up B&S Style

Country music has a long tradition of duos, which leads us to this week's astonishing discovery, The Sunny Cowgirls.

While Americans may only think of Keith Urban when they hear "Australian Country Music", there is a huge country scene Down Under - to the point where there is a Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA), with annual Country Music Awards of Australia.

The Sunny Cowgirls are a story of lost-in-obscurity meets success fast enough for whiplash. Raised on a farm, working odd jobs as Jillaroos (the female equivalent of Jackaroo - farmhand), playing the odd gig. Then suddenly they meet a record producer in Perth. Three weeks later, their music is playing on Australian country radio. Their web site describes how the world Antipodal recieved their music:

The Qantas inflight magazine told its international readers: “Australian rather than American accents, catchy tunes, great harmonies, lyrics that make you laugh (“gone like a beer on a Friday night”) and kick-arse rhythms.

Boy howdy, I'd say so. Welcome to a new world of Country, Yanks!



Cuttin Up B&S Style (Songwriters: unknown)

We've been waitin' all week
for Saturday night
and the day is finally here
got the swags in the back
and the BBQ packed
the $5 suits and beer we're right to go
lets say we hit the open road

Now, there's 5 of us goin; in convoy
the utes are runnin' fine
but out on the horizon
you can see the lightning brighten up the sky
yeah us and that old storm have now arrived

we got a 2 kay wait before the gate will finally open
pay our 90 bucks get our cup
tires will be smokin'

We'll all be cuttin' up gravel,
cuttin' up dirt,
ready for the party,
gonna lose control and have a ball tonight,
we'll be covered in rum and havin' our fun
in the boots and black ties,
goin' wild, we're cuttin' up B & S style

Now it's pourin' down and no one's sure
if its bundy or the rain,
but it won't last we're drinkin' fast
it all just tastes the same after a while,
looks like we've been swimmin' in the Nile

Now Johnno's stripped and runnin round
like a drunken headless chook,
and Linda now has lost her bra
and Righty's havin' a look for his new tie,
top to toe covered in food dye

Now all us smurfs find our turf or somebody elses'
and at 9 o'clock it's a burnout comp still drunk but its all worth it

We'll all be cuttin' up gravel,
cuttin' up dirt,
ready for the party,
gonna lose control and have a ball tonight,
we'll be covered in rum and havin' our fun
in the boots and black ties,
goin' wild, we're cuttin' up B & S style

We're circle workin', bonnett surfin', tail gaitin', pig chasin', rum skullin', piss cuttin', ute stackin', whip crackin',
have a hoot, lose ya boot, hit the floor, get a score, grab a cup, bundy up, B&S Warrior.

We'll all be cuttin' up gravel,
cuttin' up dirt,
ready for the party,
gonna lose control and have a ball tonight,
we'll be covered in rum and havin' our fun
in the boots and black ties,
goin' wild, we're cuttin' up B & S style

(cuttin' up in style)
(cuttin' up tonight)

We're circle workin', bonnet surfin', tail gaitin', pig chasin', rum skullin', piss cuttin', ute stackin', whip crackin',
have a hoot, lose ya boot, hit the floor, get a score, grab a cup, bundy up, B&S Warrior.

To both my American readers, here's a translation of what I can make out of the Aussie lyrics:

B&S - Bachelor & Spinster, as in an event (B&S Ball)
Bonnet - The hood of a car or truck
Bundy - Short for Bundaberg, Queensland; specifically, the rum made there
Chook - Chicken
Comp - (compo) Worker's pay
Kay - ???
Skulling - Doing a shot (of rum, in this case)
Swag - Bedroll (sleeping bag)
Ute -
a tricked out truck: running lights, mud flaps with reflective nekkid ladies, etcConant in the comments points out that "Ute" is a pickup, probably derived from "Sport Utility".

UPDATE 2 May 2009 22:27: Updated translations.