AUSTRALIA

By Chronofus

12/3/93

IN 1917 IT ALL BEGAN

I HEARD THE BUGLE I ANSWERED THE CALL

GO TO THE WAR WHERE GOOD MEN FALL

I DON'T KNOW WHY I WENT.

MY FAMILY CAME DOWN TO WAVE ME GOODBYE

ONTO THE BOAT WITH A TEAR IN MY EYE

WE ALL WENT AWAY SINGING OUR SONGS

WITH PRIDE IN OUR HEARTS AND THINKING

OF THOSE AT HOME IN AUSTRALIA.

TO A MUDDY FIELD CALLED THE SOMME

TO BE SHOT AT WITH BULLETS AND RAINED ON WITH BOMBS

OH WHY DID I DO IT AUSTRALIA.

I SHOT DOWN THEIR SOLDIERS

THE GOOD AND THE BAD

I GAVE MY BEST WITH ALL THAT I HAD

KNOWING THAT I WOULD DIE FOR AUSTRALIA.

I DID MY TIME DID MY COUNTRY PROUD

A SHELL IN MY EAR SO INCREDIBLY LOUD

I KNEW THEN NO MORE TIME WAS ALLOWED

I'D NO LONGER DANCE WITH MATILDA.

I WOKE UP WITH MY BUDDIES NOW REDUCED TO A CORPSE

AND ALL AROUND US THE REMAINS OF A HORSE

I WANTED TO SCREAM AND DROWN OUT MY THOUGHTS

I WANTED TO BE HOME IN AUSTRALIA.

I'M A WAR HERO NOW WITH ONE CRIPPLED LEG

ALOT OF BAD BRUISES AND SHOOK UP IN THE HEAD

BUT SOMETIMES I WISH, I WISH I WAS DEAD

DEAD FIGHTING FOR MY AUSTRALIA

NOW EVERY YEAR I MARCH ON MY DAY

THE YOUNG KIDS STAND NEXT TO ME TO

SO I DON'T SWAY

THEY LOOK UP & SMILE & SAY HEY ITS OKAY

& I BREAK DOWN & CRY FOR AUSTRALIA.

NOW THERES A CLOWN IN A FANCY SUIT

HE'S UP AT THE TOP & HE'S RUN AMUCK

WE MAY AS WELL GIVE HIM THE GUN

HE DOESN'T GIVE A ....... A DAMN,

HE'S JUST ABOUT BUGGERED MY AUSTRALIA.

NOW THERES PEOPLE HERE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

AND AID GOES OUT TO WHERE BOMBS ARE NOW HURLED

BUT WHAT OF AT HOME ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS

THE SILENT WOUNDED PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA.

WE TURN OUR EYES TO THE THINGS WE WON'T SEE

EVERYTHINGS OK MATE, TAKE IT FROM ME

SHE'S A BLOODY BEAUTY MATE

THIS LAND WE ALL CALL AUSTRALIA.

NOW EVERY YEAR I MARCH ON MY DAY

THE YOUNG KIDS STAND NEXT TO ME SO I DON'T SWAY.

THEY LOOK UP AND SMILE AND SAY HEY IT'S OK

AND I BREAK DOWN AND CRY FOR MY AUSTRALIA.