Time For Some Australiana

A song written to idolise Australia, “We Are Australian”.

“The Man From Snowy River”, by Banjo Paterson, one of Australia’s best bush poets.

Another from Banjo Paterson, called “The Man From Ironbark”. Incidentally, Banjo Paterson is pictured on the Australian $10 note.

Yet another from Banjo Paterson, called “Waltzing Matilda”, and is being performed by the Seekers. This song is actually one that was nominated to become the Australian National Anthem, but it was voted down because the song is about a man who commits suicide after being caught stealing sheep.

Now for Rolf Harris, with “Tie Me Kangaroo Down”.

Absolutely no post on proud Australians and their music can ignore this contribution, by the fantastic Beccy Cole. She wrote this song in response to a critic of her going to entertain the troops in the Middle East who said he’d take down her posters and never listen to her music again. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you “Poster Girl (On The Wrong Side Of The World)”.

And to end with, the Australian National Anthem. There’s actually five verses to this, and I’m probably the only person on earth who knows how to “sing” them all. Even though I’m a crappy singer. This version actually has more than the two verses which are commonly sung.

The verse they sing in this that is not commonly sung is:

Beneath the radiant Southern Cross*,
We’ll toil with hearts and hands.
To make this Commonwealth of ours,
Renowned of all the lands.
For those who’ve come across the seas,
We’ve boundless plains to share.
With courage let us all combine,
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.