[Editor: By the time of the First World War, “Advance Australia Fair” had gone through several changes. In the fourth verse, the sixth and eighth lines were replaced with “Beyond wide oceans roll” and “Still keep a British soul”; whilst the third verse was replaced with an entirely new verse. This version is from the sheet music held by the National Library of Australia.]
New edition.
Commonwealth anthem and patriotic song.
“Advance Australia Fair.”
Under Govt. Patronage N.S.W., and League of the Empire, London. Performed by the Massed Bands at the Naming of the Federal Capital Celebrations, Canberra. Sung by the Great Choir of 10,000 voices at the inauguration of the Commonwealth and played by Bands at all Reviews, Tattoos, &c.
Written and Composed by “Amicus.”
Australian sons, let us rejoice,
For we are young and free ;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea ;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare ;
In hist’ry’s page let ev’ry stage
Advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair.
When gallant Cook from Albion sailed,
To trace wide oceans o’er ;
True British courage bore him on,
Til he landed on our shore ;
Then here he raised Old England’s flag,
The standard of the brave ;
“With all her faults we love her still”
“Britannia rules the wave.”
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair.
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We’ll toil with hearts and hands,
To make our youthful Commonwealth
Renowned of all the lands ;
For loyal sons beyond the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share,
With courage let us all combine
To “Advance Australia Fair.”
In joyful strains, etc.
Should foreign foe e’er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We’ll rouse to arms like sires of yore,
To guard our native strand ;
Britannia then shall surely know,
Beyond wide oceans roll,
Her sons in fair Australia’s land
Still keep a British soul.
In joyful strains, etc.
The author of this song, Mr. P. D. McCormick (Amicus) is indebted to the late Professor Stuart Blackie, of Edinburgh, for improvement in last verse.
Full Edition, with Piano Accompaniment & Band Parts, at Paling’s, Syd.
Source:
Peter Dodds McCormick. “Advance Australia Fair” [music], [P. McCormick?, Sydney?, 1915?], (accessed 30 October 2011)
And see:
Peter Dodds McCormick. “Advance Australia Fair: Australia’s national song” [music], W.H. Paling & Co., Sydney, [1910-1919?], (accessed 30 October 2011)
[Editor: Corrected “nauguration” to “inauguration”.]
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