The Ballad of Millie Hall

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1. Inside a hut of mud brick, nailed onto a wall.

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there’s on old picture calendar that belonged to Millie Hall.

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And the circle drawn around the month is now a faded blue,

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it marks that black November in eighteen sixty-two.

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2. Millie Hall was just a girl, she was nineteen years, but old,

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the lines on her face gave lies for age, she’d hardened to her world.

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But sometimes with a tenderness she’d show a woman’s care,

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and show that love could not be crushed in a cruel and barren world.

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3. Her husband’s name was Nathan, her baby’s name was Rose,

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they left their home in Bendigo when the mining company closed.

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They came in search of fortune as many folk would do,

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and settled by the Arrow in eighteen sixty-two.

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4. And then one clear November morn, after they were dressed,

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Millie Hall fixed breakfast, with the child at her breast.

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And Nathan roped his pick and spade and tied his gunny sack,

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he kissed his family both goodbye, and said, I’ll soon be back.

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5. And they gathered by the Arrow, fifteen men so young,

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you could hear their billy’s rattlin’ as laughter songs were sung.

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And as their voices disappeared, a silence filled the air,

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somewhere in the northern sky the wind began to stir.

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6. The baby lay down sleeping in the quiet of the afternoon

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and Millie Hall was thinking the men would be back soon.

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The storm clouds left their hiding place and rolled across the sky,

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and raindrops beat the iron roof, she heard her baby cry.

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7. And the Arrow river lay asleep in the stillness and the peace,

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but the rain that came a crashing down, awoke the dreadful beast.

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And rising from it’s gravel bed, it gave a mighty yell,

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and lashed it’s tongue of fury through the rocky jaws of hell.

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8. And branches snapped like kindling, and rode the monster’s back,

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and down came rocks and shovels, a billy and a gunnysack.

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Fifteen men had perished, fifteen men so young,

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Millie Hall reached to her throat where a silver cross was hung.

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9. Now fifteen boxes lowered to fifteen open graves,

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and the Reverend told the silent crowd of how Lord Jesus saves.

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And they looked away from Millie with her babe wrapped in her shawl,

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as she cursed the murderous river and cried for Nathan - - - Hall.

(From the Musical ”Rush”)