[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] “It’s All Right.” New Original Song — Written and Sung by Mr. C. R. Thatcher. Air — “Speaking Automaton.” What curious expressions are going The round of the colony now; And … [Read more...] about “It’s All Right” [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
songs
Life of a Colonial Quack Doctor [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] Life of a Colonial Quack Doctor. New Original Song by Thatcher. Air — “Tatur Can.” I’ll give you my whole history now, Pay attention everyone, And I’ll quickly tell you … [Read more...] about Life of a Colonial Quack Doctor [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
The Digger’s Grave [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] The Digger’s Grave. The sun brightly shone upon gully and hill, And our party were all in high glee; For we’d stumbled at length on a piece of good luck — The lead we’d long … [Read more...] about The Digger’s Grave [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
The Bullock-Creek Picnic [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] The Bullock-Creek Picnic. New Original Song, written and sung by Thatcher, with great applause. Tune — “Kitty Jones.” An excursion in the summer is a pleasant kind of … [Read more...] about The Bullock-Creek Picnic [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
Stephen Cain [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] Stephen Cain. Parody on “Tubal Cain,” by Thatcher. Oh, Stephen Cain was a nice young man, And he went to Bendigo; In the days when Eagle Hawk was young, About three years … [Read more...] about Stephen Cain [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
John Chinaman’s Marriage [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] John Chinaman’s Marriage. A New Original Song by Thatcher, as sung by him for 400 nights. “Tune — “County Gaol.” Good people all give ear, I pray, To what I am about to … [Read more...] about John Chinaman’s Marriage [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
The Green New Chum [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] The Green New Chum. New Original Song by Thatcher. Tune — Nice Young Man. Come all of you assembled here, Just listen for awhile, I’ll give you my adventures now, At which … [Read more...] about The Green New Chum [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
The Leary Boy [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] The Leary Boy. New Original song, by Thatcher. Tune — The Learned Man. Come all you lads both great and small, Come stumpy ones as well as tall, If you honor me now with a … [Read more...] about The Leary Boy [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
Life of an Auctioneer [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] Life of an Auctioneer. New Original Song by Thatcher. Air — The Teatotaller. If Mister Brown was an auctioneer, highly respectable, And unless thing were bad, he was never … [Read more...] about Life of an Auctioneer [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
Billy Nutts in Australia [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] Billy Nutts in Australia. New Original Song by Thatcher. I’m Billy Nutts wot always cuts A figure, as a poet; I’ve got some rhymes to suit the times, And I means to let you … [Read more...] about Billy Nutts in Australia [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
Buying Land [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] Buying Land. An Original Song by Chas. R. Thatcher. Tune — “Calder Fair.” I came out here two years ago, As you must understand; And as I’d been successful, Thinks I, I’ll … [Read more...] about Buying Land [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
London and the Diggings [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] London and the Diggings. A New Original Song, written and sung by Thatcher, with great applause. Tune — “Things I don’t like to see.” What a difference exists between London … [Read more...] about London and the Diggings [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
Chinese Immigration [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
[Editor: This song by Charles Thatcher was published in Thatcher’s Colonial Songster, 1857.] Chinese Immigration. Original Song — Written and Sung by Mr. C. R. Thatcher. “Tune — Dicky Birds.” You doubtless read the papers, And as men of observation, Of course you … [Read more...] about Chinese Immigration [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
When First I Landed Here [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
When First I Landed Here. A new original song, by Thatcher. Tune — “When first I went to sea.” When first I landed here, I was struck quite with surprise, For everything was precious dear, And rents quite high, no flies. And rents, &c. I knew not what to do, For it … [Read more...] about When First I Landed Here [song by Charles Thatcher, 1857]
Ballad of Minnie Ramsay [song, 1902]
[Editor: This was written in the vernacular style of the day, including a particular style of emphasis in the spelling of some words, including: aout, araound, daoubt, daown, faound, hage, haint, haow, ighteen, naow, owful, olways, raound, taown, and thet.] Ballad of Minnie … [Read more...] about Ballad of Minnie Ramsay [song, 1902]
Song of the Sun-Downer [song, 1902]
Song of the Sun-Downer. O there’s dust on the road and there’s dust on me back And the glare o’ the sun makes me reel in me track, But I work when I may and I beg when I must, To keep me poor body from turning to dust, — Singing tweedle-dum, tweedle-dum, tweedle-dum di, O … [Read more...] about Song of the Sun-Downer [song, 1902]
The Son of a Jackaroo [song, 1902]
[Editor: This was written in the vernacular style of the day, including a particular style of emphasis in the spelling of some words, including: aout, araound, raound, and taown.] The Son of a Jackaroo. ’E’s a lazy sort o’ feller an ’e loafs araound all day, ’Sif th’ … [Read more...] about The Son of a Jackaroo [song, 1902]
My Jennie of Katoomba [song, 1902]
My Jennie of Katoomba. O my rosy laughing Jennie, will you hie away with me ? I’ve a station in the gum-bush where the grass will touch your knee ; I’ve a thousand sheep a-bleeting, I’ve a cosy hut for you ; It is lonely in the gum-bush and there’s room enough for two … [Read more...] about My Jennie of Katoomba [song, 1902]
South Australia [song, 1902 version]
[Editor: This version of the song “South Australia” was published in A Wanderer’s Songs of the Sea (1902), a book of songs collected by an American, Charles Keeler, in his travels around the Pacific Ocean.] South Australia. Our bark for South Australia sails And on we … [Read more...] about South Australia [song, 1902 version]
Click Go the Shears [folk music, lyrics; traditional Australian song, 1890s]
[Editor: “Click Go the Shears” is one of the most famous and iconic folk songs of Australia. With its Australian theme and wide popularity, it has become part of Australia’s folk music tradition. Click here to see some videos of this song being played. As is common with folk … [Read more...] about Click Go the Shears [folk music, lyrics; traditional Australian song, 1890s]
Advance Australia fair [Australia’s national anthem, 1984]
[Editor: This two-verse version of “Advance Australia Fair” was officially declared to be the Australian national anthem on 19 April 1984.] “Advance Australia Fair” Australians all let us rejoice, For we are young and free; We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil; Our … [Read more...] about Advance Australia fair [Australia’s national anthem, 1984]
Advance, Australia Fair [The Worker, 24 March 1942]
[Editor: As The Worker was traditionally a pro-republic paper, it is somewhat of a surprise to see “Advance Australia Fair” published in its pages, as the second verse is viewed by many as pro-British; although, it could be noted that the fourth verse, which might be regarded as … [Read more...] about Advance, Australia Fair [The Worker, 24 March 1942]
Advance Australia Fair [song, circa World War One version, 1915?]
[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 … [Read more...] about Advance Australia Fair [song, circa World War One version, 1915?]
Patriotic Song, “Advance Australia Fair.” [turn of the century version, 26 September 1906]
[Editor: This text of “Advance Australia Fair” differs from the 1878 version; in the third verse the fifth and sixth lines have been changed to “From England, Scotia, Erin’s isle” and “Who come our lot to share”; whilst in the fourth verse, the sixth and eighth lines were changed … [Read more...] about Patriotic Song, “Advance Australia Fair.” [turn of the century version, 26 September 1906]
Advance Australia Fair [song, 1878, from the sheet music of 1879]
[Editor: This is the original version of “Advance Australia Fair” as written by Peter McCormick, using the pseudonym “Amicus” (Latin for “friend”); taken from the sheet music held by the National Library of Australia.] 2nd Edition. Respectfully dedicated to the sons and … [Read more...] about Advance Australia Fair [song, 1878, from the sheet music of 1879]