Cattle And Cane
The Go-Betweens · Other Songs - The Go-Betweens
Lyrics: Grant
I recall a schoolboy coming home
through fields of cane
to a house of tin and timber
and in the sky
a rain of falling cinders
from time to time
the waste memory-wastes
I recall a boy in bigger pants
like everyone
just waiting for a chance
his father's watch
he left it in the showers
from time to time
the waste memory-wastes
I recall a bigger brighter world
a world of books
and silent times in thought
and then the railroad
the railroad takes him home
through fields of cattle
through fields of cane
from time to time
the waste memory-wastes
the waste memory-wastes
further, longer, higher, older
I recall a schoolboy coming home
through fields of cane
to a house of tin and timber
and in the sky
a rain of falling cinders
from time to time
the waste memory-wastes
I recall a boy in bigger pants
like everyone
just waiting for a chance
his father's watch
he left it in the showers
from time to time
the waste memory-wastes
I recall a bigger brighter world
a world of books
and silent times in thought
and then the railroad
the railroad takes him home
through fields of cattle
through fields of cane
from time to time
the waste memory-wastes
the waste memory-wastes
further, longer, higher, older
Cattle And Cane
Released by The Go-Betweens, "Cattle And Cane" stands as a defining track within the band's influential Australian folk-rock catalog. The song exemplifies the group's signature blend of acoustic instrumentation and introspective lyricism, capturing the quiet melancholy characteristic of their mid-1980s work. Often associated with the album *The Go-Betweens*, the recording showcases the band's mastery of atmospheric textures and narrative storytelling. As a staple of their discography, the track remains a touchstone for fans of the genre, reflecting the band's enduring impact on indie and alternative music through its evocative mood and melodic structure.