One of several songs about failed Otago goldminers, like Bright Fine Gold and Farewell to the Gold.

When I first came and took up my claim, Well, Bill Muggins was my name, For though I'm a young man and able, Here I'm stuck, a-rocking the cradle, And that is a Bill Muggins game, But I'm a-wake up! - I will break up! I'm nevermore going to roam. I've panned in my dugout with never a nugget, I'm packing my things to go home. I've hunted Otago for gold In the wind and the rain and the cold, Holed up all winter under the snow Along the winding Molyneaux, And that is where you need to have holed But I'm a-wake up! - I will break up!... In those Shanties where you spin Away all of your hard-earned tin, Nancy's smiles are so beguiling, That's why Nancy's always smiling. Landlord says he's not taking you in. But I'm a-wake up! - I will break up! ...

Rocking the cradle

Origins

In the mid 1960s, folksong developer Neil Colquhoun published this song in his book New Zealand Folksongs, Songs of a Young Country where he gives Alistair Swan (?) as the source of his lyrics.

NZ folkies like singing it for the feel of its unusal 5 line structure and robust sing-along chorus.

Packing My Things on Record

1959, Song Spinners, Songs of the gold diggers
1971, Phil Garland, Down a country road,
1972, Neil Colquhoun, Song of a Young Country
1976, Bluegrass Expedition, Settling in
1985, Arthur Toms, Trypots, cradles and gutboards
1987, Steven Fraser, Dain
1998, Mike Harding, Past to the present,
1990, R Simpson, R Wardrop, T Clark, Kiwi kidsongs,
1993, Mike Harding, Songs of local folk
1996, Phil Garland, Under the Southern Cross
2006, C & J Roweth, Australia, Another Threshing Day (in 4/4 time)