Australia For Visitors > The Austral-aise, C. J. Dennis

The Austral-aise
A Marching Song
Air: Onward Christian Soldiers
by C. J. Dennis
(1876-1938)




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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,
Have some --- sense.
Learn the --- art of
Self de- --- -fence.

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,
Have some --- sense.
Learn the --- art of
Self de- --- -fence.

'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,
Have some --- sense.
Learn the --- art of
Self de- --- -fence.

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,
Have some --- sense.
Learn the --- art of
Self de- --- -fence.

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,
Have some --- sense.
Learn the --- art of
Self de- --- -fence.

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.





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 poem was first published in the magazine, the Bulletin, in 1908; reissued in a revised edition in 1915 and dedicated to the A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Force); and then republished in Backblock Ballads and Later Verses (1918).


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