They don't write songs like they used to...

Anthem for Australia

I still prefer C J Dennis' Austra.....aise:

****
A Marching Song
Air - Onward Christian Soldiers


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 blighters 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.

'0w'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- --- -ity.

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.

(With some acknowledgements to W.T. Goodge.)

Footnote to 1915 reissue - Where a dash (---) replaces a missing word, the adjective "blessed" may be interpolated. In cases demanding great emphasis, the use of the word "blooming" is permissible. However, any other word may be used that suggests itself as suitable.

****

This was Dennis' contribution to a competition to write a new National Anthem for Australia (then 'God Save The Queen').

It won a 'special' prize and was sung by many troops at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.

Of course Dennis didn't mean that the blanks should be replaced by 'blessed' or 'blooming' but in 1915 he couldn't print the words he actually intended. Fill in the blanks yourself.

Og
 
oggbashan said:
... Of course Dennis didn't mean that the blanks should be replaced by 'blessed' or 'blooming' but in 1915 he couldn't print the words he actually intended. Fill in the blanks yourself. Og
Aw, com'on, tell us, Og!
What bloody word did Dennis intend. :confused:
 
Hey, Burl, I just want you to know I love this thread and will be printing it out. I have nothing to add, some of my fave old songs have already been mentioned. If I had the lyrics at hand I'd probably add 95% of Cole Porter's.

muchas gracias, Perdita :)
 
Virtual_Burlesque said:
Aw, com'on, tell us, Og!
What bloody word did Dennis intend. :confused:

It obviously wasn't one word but several opprobious adjectives. "f**king" is one of the possibilities.

Og
 
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