Australia takes her pen in hand
To write a line to you,
To let you fellows understand
How proud we are of you.
From shearing shed and cattle run,
From Broome to Hobson's Bay,
Each native-born Australian son
Stands straighter up today.
The man who used to "hump his drum",
On far-out Queensland runs
Is fighting side by side with some
Tasmanian farmer's sons.
The fisher-boys dropped sail and oar
To grimly stand the test,
Along that storm-swept Turkish shore,
With miners from the west.
The old state jealousies of yore
Are dead as Pharaoh's sow,
We're not State children any more —
We're all Australians now!
Our six-starred flag that used to fly
Half-shyly to the breeze,
Unknown where older nations ply
Their trade on foreign seas,
Flies out to meet the morning blue
With Vict'ry at the prow;
For that's the flag the Sydney flew,
The wide seas know it now!
The mettle that a race can show
Is proved with shot and steel,
And now we know what nations know
And feel what nations feel.
The honoured graves beneath the crest
Of Gaba Tepe hill
May hold our bravest and our best,
But we have brave men still.
With all our petty quarrels done,
Dissensions overthrown,
We have, through what you boys have done,
A history of our own.
Our old world diff'rences are dead,
Like weeds beneath the plough,
For English, Scotch, and Irish-bred,
They're all Australians now!
So now we'll toast the Third Brigade
That led Australia's van,
For never shall their glory fade
In minds Australian.
Fight on, fight on, unflinchingly,
Till right and justice reign.
Fight on, fight on, till Victory
Shall send you home again.
And with Australia's flag shall fly
A spray of wattle-bough
To symbolise our unity —
We're all Australians now.
Notes
Published as an Open letter to the troops at The Dardanelles, 1915
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From guest Taylor (contact)
Hello. I just have a couple of questions about this poem what social/cultural is being portrayed in this poem? and also, what is banjo paterson trying to persudae the reader what he believes are facts? thank you -
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For Guest Taylor
Rather than do your homework for you I suggest you read the comments from myself and others below this poem. Then think about what was happening in the world in General and Australia in particularm when Patterson wrote this poem.
Jim
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for Guest Matt
For Matt:
the phrase 'Hump his Drum' refers back to Gold Rush days when a man would carry his gold and all his belongings, meagre as they were, with him wherever he went, ‘hump his swag is a similar terminology. It arose in colloquial language about 1870.
The ‘far-out Queensland Run’ refers to the cattle stations in Central and Northern Queensland. I think that Banjo, in this particular poem is referring to a man who is perhaps a horseman, stockman etc. who comes from the tropical areas of Australia then showing a comparison to a Tasmanian farmer, who under normal circumstances may never have been in the same place – not until WWI began as Australians ‘signed up’ in their droves to fight. -
Poem
From guest Matt (contact)
What does the term "the man who used to hump his drum on far out queensland runs" mean -
From guest laura (contact)
hey i'm from germany and i have to do this assingment as well but its really hard for me... if someone could send me his i would have an idea and it would be easier for me to dos this so please help :)thanks! -
we're all australian now
From guest jess (contact)
i am doing an english assignment & using the poem we're all australians now was was wondering what is the meaning behind the poem. tar -
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To guest Jess.
Think how Australia was populated. The indigenous peoples, the immigrants by choice, by economic pressure and by force. They tended to settle in different places, did different jobs, even formed different states.
But when faced with a common threat/purpose what happened?
Re-read Banjo's words and it should become much clearer.
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From guest John (contact)
I belive that the below verse sums up the feelings the Australian nation developed during World War I. WHY? Because the poem was written just after the battle at Gallipoli. Well that's what I hope my Modern History teacher thinks!!! The mettle that a race can show Is proved with shot and steel, And now we know what nations know And feel what nations feel. -
information
From guest liam (contact)
would you be able to send me some information on this poem since i am doing it for my assignment for english. i need to know why he wrote it and the meaning of the peom and any more information u have. thankyou -
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If you had read a little further Liam you would have seen the answer to your question.
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Sundance - Thank you for the information that you gave me. im doing an assignment on this Poem, and there isnt much info on why he wrote the poem and the purpose of the poem.
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Belinda - look up above and you will see the date '1915' - this is when Banjo wrote the poem. If you go to his author page you will also find a biography of the man himself, with much information about him, his life and his poetry.
As for the purpose I see as quite evident; Pride in one's country, he was a very proud Australian, read more of his poetry and you will be left in no doubt.
Von
Oldpoetry Team -
This is a great poem, but you neeed to put information on this site, like why banjo wrote this poem and the purpose of the poem.
Thanks -
It seems rather a done deal that man will destroy it all when we continue to fly fast boast and seed that silly beast that has been called `the manly art of war' ---> nothing i am proud of.
Maybe once, before `understanding' that it ultimately can solve
nothing as i or my descendants take up my case many years latter
against the some old foe, now knowing we learn so little when we keep our cheeks unturned and free from, even afraid of slap.
There is no defending pride or place in killing! PEACE Man! And only that! -
Patriotic Aussie poetry.. I have to say this is a wonderful piece and that I am a proud Aussie...
Banjo sure did know how to string his words together to make a heart stand with pride and with honour
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