Way out back of the Coolgardie  Round the turn of the century  Two riders came out of the west  They were lookin' for the colour of gold  Trading on an old red blanket  Took 'em in a young boy  Passed him on to a pearl lugger  That was Java bound outa Roebuck Bay  The crew were mainly Manila men  And the young boy must have known  He'd never be back now  Down in the red sand  Manila-man got the machete  Manila-man cut him down cold  Die with the Balander boss on a lugger  Could not have been more  Than twelve years old  Looking out on a clear sky  As the sun beats down on her head  A mother alone  Fails to understand  And as the long years go by  Just an old red blanket to dry  The tears for the son  Who'll never be home  Down in the red sand