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The second part of the song about Joe Byrne reference not only that he knew the Chinese miners and spoke Cantonese, he smoked opium with them too.
"It don't matter Chinese or Afghan All that he wants grows on dry land"
and
"Show me where the doomed roam free With poppy seeds and armored hides"
In fact, much of the song musically and (in the second half) lyrically evokes the imagery of a mine in a dreamlike opium haze.
The second part of the song about Joe Byrne reference not only that he knew the Chinese miners and spoke Cantonese, he smoked opium with them too.
"It don't matter Chinese or Afghan All that he wants grows on dry land"
and
"Show me where the doomed roam free With poppy seeds and armored hides"
In fact, much of the song musically and (in the second half) lyrically evokes the imagery of a mine in a dreamlike opium haze.