Backblock Ballads and Later Verses

The Austral—aise

C.J. Dennis


FELLERS of Australier,
    Blokes an’ coves an’ coots,
Shift yer —— carcases,
    Move yer —— boots.
Gird yer —— loins up,
    Get yer —— gun,
Set the —— enermy
    An’ watch the —— run.

Chorus:
    Get a —— move on,
        Have some —— sense.
    Learn the —— art of
        Self de- —— -fence.

Have some —— brains be-
    Neath yer —— lids.
An’ swing a —— sabre
    Fer the missus an’ the kids.
Chuck supportin’ —— posts,
    An’ strikin’ —— lights,
Support a —— fam’ly an’
    Strike fer yer —— rights.

CHORUS:
    Get a —— move on, etc.

Joy is —— fleetin’,
    Life is —— short.
Wot’s the use uv wastin’ it
    All on —— sport?
Hitch yer —— tip-dray
    To a —— star.
Let yer —— watchword be
    “Australi- —— ;-ar!”

CHORUS:
    Get a —— move on, etc.

’Ow’s the —— nation
    Goin’ to ixpand
’Lest us —— blokes an’ coves
    Lend a —— ’and?
’Eave yer —— apathy
    Down a —— chasm;
’Ump yer —— burden with
    Enthusi- —— -asm.

Chorus:
    Get a —— move on, etc.

W’en old mother Britain
    Calls yer native land
Take a —— rifle
    In yer —— ’and
Keep yer —— upper lip
    Stiff as stiff kin be,
An’ speed a —— bullet for
    Post- —— -terity.

Chorus:
    Get a —— move on, etc.

W’en the —— bugle
    Sounds “Ad- —— -vance”
Don’t be like a flock er sheep
    In a —— trance
Biff the —— Kaiser
    Where it don’t agree
Spifler- —— -cate him
    To Eternity.

Chorus:
    Get a —— move on, etc.

Fellers of Australier,
    Cobbers, chaps an’ mates,
Hear the —— German
    Kickin’ at the gates!
Blow the —— bugle,
    Beat the —— drum,
Upper-cut an’ out the cow
    To kingdom- —— -come!

Chorus:
    Get a —— move on,
        Have some —— sense.
    Learn the —— art of
        Self de- —— -fence.


Backblock Ballads and Later Verses - Contents


Back    |    Words Home    |    C.J. Dennis Home    |    Site Info.    |    Feedback