River Bend

    (Air: Belle Mahone.)


At River Bend, in New South Wales,
All alone among the whales,
Busting up some post and rails,
            Sweet Belle Mahone.
In the blazing sun we stand,
Cabbage-tree hat, black velvet band,
Moleskins stiff with sweat and sand,
            Sweet Belle Mahone.

                Chorus: Sweet Belle Mahone, &c.

In the burning sand we pine,
No one asks us to have a wine,
Tis a jolly crooked line,
            Sweet Belle Mahone.
When I am sitting on a log,
Looking like a great big frog,
Waiting for a Murray cod,
            Sweet Belle Mahone.

Land of snakes and cockatoos,
Native bears and big emus,
Ugly blacks and kangaroos,
            Sweet Belle Mahone.
Paddymelons by the score,
Wild bulls, you should hear them roar,
They all belong to Johnny Dore,
            Sweet Belle Mahone.

Andrew Barton Paterson

Andrew Barton Paterson, also known as Banjo Paterson, was an Australian bush poet, journalist, and author. Renowned for his poignant and humorous depictions of rural Australia, he wrote iconic works like "Waltzing Matilda" and "The Man from Snowy River." His storytelling, deeply rooted in Australian culture, has cemented his legacy as one of the nation's most beloved literary figures.

Andrew Barton Paterson

The Dam That Keele Built

Andrew Barton Paterson, Simple Poetry

The Old Survey

Andrew Barton Paterson, Simple Poetry

Our New Horse

Andrew Barton Paterson, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

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The Beautiful Land Of Australia

All you on emigration bent,
With home and England discontent,
Come, listen to my sad lament,
    All about the bush of Australia.
I once possessed a thousand pounds.
Thinks Ihow very grand it sounds
For a man to be farming his own grounds
    In the beautiful land of Australia.

                                Chorus

            Illawarra, Mittagong,
            Parramatta, Wollongong.
    If you wish to become an ourang-outang,
    Then go to the bush of Australia.

Upon the voyage the ship was lost.
In wretched plight I reached the coast,
And was very nigh being made a roast,
    By the savages of Australia.

And in the bush I lighted on
A fierce bushranger with his gun,
Who borrowed my garments, every one,
    For h...

Andrew Barton Paterson

The Old Bullock Dray

Oh! the shearing is all over,
    And the wool is coming down,
And I mean to get a wife, boys,
    When I go up to town.
Everything that has two legs
    Represents itself in view,
From the little paddy-melon
    To the bucking kangaroo.

                        CHORUS

    So its roll up your blankets,
        And lets make a push,
    Ill take you up the country,
        And show you the bush.
    Ill be bound you wont get
        Such a chance another day,
    So come and take possession
        Of my old bullock dray.

Now, Ive saved up a good cheque,
    I mean to buy a team,
And when I get a wife, boys,
    Ill be all-serene
For calling at the depôt.
    They say theres no delay
To get an off-side...

Andrew Barton Paterson

The Australian Stockman

The sun peers oer you wooded ridge and thro the forest dense,
Its golden edge oer the mountain ledge looks down on the stockyard fence,
Looks down, looks down, looks down on the stockyard fence;
And dark creeks rush thro the tangled brush, when their shuddering shadows throng
Until they chime in the rude rough rhyme of the wild goburras song.

                                    Chorus

    Till they chime, ha! ha! till they chime, ha! ha! in the wild goburras song;
    Till they chime, ha! ha! till they chime, ha! ha! in the wild goburras song.

The night owl to her home hath fled, to shun the glorious pomp
Of golden day she speeds away to her nest in the tea-tree swamp;
Away, away to her nest in the tea-tree swamp.

The dingo looks with a timid stare as he...

Andrew Barton Paterson

The Murrumbidgee Shearer

Come, all you jolly natives, and Ill relate to you
Some of my observationsadventures, too, a few.
Ive travelled about the country for miles, full many a score,
And oft-times would have hungered, but for the cheek I bore.

Ive coasted on the Barwonlow down the Darling, too,
Ive been on the Murrumbidgee, and out on the Paroo;
Ive been on all the diggings, boys, from famous Ballarat;
Ive loafed upon the Lachlan and fossicked Lambing Flat.

I went up to a squatter, and asked him for a feed,
But the knowledge of my hunger was swallowed by his greed.
He said I was a loafer and for work had no desire,
And so, to do him justice, I set his shed on fire.

Oh, yes, Ive touched the shepherds hut, of sugar, tea, and flour;
And a tender bit of mutton I always coul...

Andrew Barton Paterson

Colonial Experience

    [By A New Chum]

    (Air: So Early in the Morning.)


When first I came to Sydney Cove
And up and down the streets did rove,
I thought such sights I neer did see
Since first I learnt my A, B, C.

                        Chorus

    Oh! its broiling in the morning,
    Its toiling in the morning,
    Its broiling in the morning,
    Its toiling all day long.

Into the park I took a stroll
I felt just like a buttered roll.
A pretty name The Sunny South!
A better one The Land of Drouth!

    Chorus: Oh! its broiling, &c.

Next day into the bush I went,
On wild adventure I was bent,
Dame Natures wonders Id explore,
All thought of danger would ignore.

    Chorus: Oh! its broi...

Andrew Barton Paterson

Paddy Malone In Australia

Och! my names Pat Malone, and Im from Tipperary.
    Sure, I dont know it now Im so bothered, Ohone!
And the gals that I danced with, light-hearted and airy,
    Its scarcely theyd notice poor Paddy Malone.
Tis twelve months or more since our ship she cast anchor
    In happy Australia, the Emigrants home,
And from that day to this theres been nothing but canker,
    And grafe and vexation for Paddy Malone.
        Oh, Paddy Malone! Oh, Paddy, Ohone!
        Bad luck to the agent that coaxed ye to roam.

Wid a man called a squatter I soon got a place, sure,
    Hed a beard like a goat, and such whiskers, Ohone!
And he saidas he peeped through the hair on his faitures
    That he liked the appearance of Paddy Malone.
Wid him I agreed to go up to his stat...

Andrew Barton Paterson