Australia

Lyrics

Traditional When I was a young man, my age seventeen I ought to have been serving Victoria, my Queen But them hard-hearted judges, oh how cruel they be For to send us poor lads to Australia I fell in with a damsel, she was handsome and gay I neglected my work more and more everyday And to keep her like a lady, I went on the highway And for that I was sent to Australia Chorus: Australia, Australia, I would ne'er see no more Worn out with the fever, cast down to Death's door And if I ever live, say, seven years more I would soon bid adieu to Australia Now the judges, they stand with their whips in their hands And they drive us like horses to plough up the land You should see us poor young fellows, a-working in the gaol-yard How cruel is our fate in Australia Chorus Australia, Australia, I would ne'er see no more Worn out with the fever, cast down to Death's door And if I ever live, say, seven years more I would soon bid adieu to Australia