1861

In 1861, I was marched upon a ship
Cast down in iron chains for a crime I did not commit
As I look out towards the sun, amongst the darkness and the grit
The ship set sail for New South Wales, now I'm Australian

In 1891, I was drovin' from town to town
Tryna find a place for my wife and my kids, so we could settle down
Just east of Mitchell Downs, I met a man who became my friend
He sang me stories of spirits of old, Now we're Australian

You can take my freedom, well, I really don't need it
There's a spirit running through these veins
Of a convict man with a toiled hard hand
Whose fighting can never be tamed
When you tell me it's over, I'll still go drovin'
There is nothing that can hold me down
I live beneath the southern stars, I'm Australian, whoa

Whoa-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh

In 1914, my son was handed a gun
He and his mates were gonna see the world, gonna get the job done
They met their fears the day they leapt out of that blood-stained ditch
Shouting through the rainin' fire, "We're Australian"

Today I stand a wounded man, my son never returned
He met his fate with a thousand mates, they lay buried on hallowed ground

You can take my freedom, well, I really don't need it
There's a spirit running through these veins
Of a convict man with a toiled hard hand
Whose fighting can never be tamed
When you tell me it's over, I'll still go drovin'
There is nothing that can hold me down
I live beneath the southern stars, I'm Australian

Whoa-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh
I'm Australian