[Editor: This song by L. E. Homfray was published in Australians, Awake! And Other Poems (1915).]
Australians, Awake!
Awake! awake! ye sons of fair Australia,
Your King and country need your help to-day,
A voice is calling ’mid the roar of battle,
And shall not you for honour’s sake obey?
Chorus: Awake! awake! and for your honour’s sake the call obey.
Awake! awake! for through the distance soundeth
The cry of helpless children in their woe,
And women in their weakness bravely striving
To guard their honour ’gainst the ruthless foe.
Awake! awake! and for your honour’s sake the call obey.
Awake! awake! and to the conflict hasten
My brothers of this fair and sunny land,
Go forward gladly, at the voice of Duty,
And for your country’s right and honour stand.
Awake! awake! and for your honour’s sake the call obey.
Source:
L. E. Homfray, Australians, Awake! And Other Poems, Sydney: D. S. Ford, [1915?], page 2
Editor’s notes:
Vernacular spelling in the original text:
’gainst (against)
’mid (amid)
Old spelling in the original text:
soundeth (sounds)
ye (you)
[Editor: Changed “honours sake” to “honour’s sake” (changed in the first two stanzas and the chorus; however, the apostrophe was already included in the third stanza).]
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