[Editor: This song was published in The Queenslander (22 September 1894). It was also included in Banjo Paterson’s collection, The Old Bush Songs (1905), under the title of “The Bushman”, with some variations.]
True Bushmen.
(Supplied by R.C.L., Mitchell.)
Air. — “The Wearing of the Green.
“Come, fill up your glasses, and sit ye down close by,
And drain off a toast will bring the tear to your eye,
What merchant or soldier, or e’en jolly tar,
Can enjoy the times like us, my boys, who true bushmen are?
Chorus.—Who true bushmen are, who true bushmen are,
Can enjoy the times like us, my boys, who true bushmen are.
Let the merchant delight in counting his cash,
Young Master strut about with bright sword and sash;
Good winds and fair weather may prosper the tar,
Yet them you’ll own we’ll envy not who true bushmen are.
When the merchant lies down he cannot go to sleep
For thinking of his merchandise upon the fickle deep,
His ships may be wrecked, or taken in the war;
Then him you’ll own we’ll envy not who true bushmen are.
When the soldier lies down his mind is fall of thought,
Thinking of that promotion so long he has sought;
He fain would seek repose through mortal wound or soar;
Then him you’ll own we’ll envy not who true bushmen are.
When the sailor lies down his mind he must prepare
To rouse up in a moment should the wind prove unfair;
His ship may be wrecked for want of a spar;
Then him you’ll own we’ll envy not who true bushmen are.
When the bushman lies down his mind is free from care,
He knows his flocks will furnish him with meat, wear, and tear;
Should all commerce be stopped in event of a war,
Bread and beef will never fail us, boys, who true bush men are.
So fill up your glasses, a toast I give you then;
No shirking as you count yourselves true-hearted men;
Here’s a health to the merchant, the soldier, the tar,
May they ever meet as friends with us, who true bushmen are.
Source:
The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld.), Saturday 22 September 1894, page 548
The Institute of Australian Culture
Speak Your Mind