Carroll's substantial introduction, titled The True Story of William James Wye Bushman, Poet & Balladist, Including His Recordings of Australia's History through Verse (pp. 9-141), traces the life, family and writing career of William James Wye. Included in this section are, Souvenirs of the Sunny South: Being a Collection of Australian Horse Verse, Bush Minstrelsy, and other poetry by William James Wye.
The second half of this volume comprises Wye's poetry under the headings; Legends, Places, Humour, Nation and Nature, Family and Friends, Troopers, Horses and Other.