We are one

But we are many

And from all

The lands on earth we come

We share our dream

And sing with one voice

I am

You are

We are Australian

Albert Namatjira (1902-1959), who is mentioned in the song, painted in the early 20th century. He was the first indigenous artist to follow Western traditions. In 1938, Namatjira's first solo exhibition of 41 works was held in Melbourne. In 1957, he was given citizenship, a status generally denied Aboriginals at the time.

An Albert Namatjira website has been created by the Australian government.

Once upon a long long time ago

There was

"terra australis incognita"

An unknown land

Somewhere far south

Beyond the horizon

Travellers of the oceans

Often wandered by

Seeking precious spices

In mystical lands

Or dabbled in

The tropical island beauty

Of noble savages

Gauguin painted

The bright colours

And scents

Of Pacific islands

But

Somehow

Somehow

The isand of Australia was

A Clayton's world

A place

But not really

A Place!

There came a time

When sails

Huge and billowing on the horizon

But folded

Waiting

In the shoreline surf

Brought strange whiteness

Into

Never-Never-Land

Wandering

Exploring

Settling

Ploughing

Building

And the dark ones

Watched

Lost

In questions

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There came a time

After long time

When two flags

One

Stars

On a blue sea

With just a hint

Of some

Far motherland

In a quiet corner

The other

A golden

Ball of light

Glowing

On a red

And black

Earth

Finally

Tried to share

The Australian spirit

Like huge

Billowing sails

On new

Horizons

Of Oneness

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been to cities that never close down,

from New York to Rio and old London town,

but no matter how far or how wide I roam,

I still call Australia home.

I'm always travelIing, I love being free,

and so I keep leaving the sun and the sea,

but my heart lies waiting over the foam,

I still call Australia home.

All the sons and daughters spinning 'round the world,

away from their family and friends,

but as the world gets older and colder,

it's good to know where your journey ends.

Someday we'll all be together once more,

when all of the ships come back to the shore,

And I realise something I've always known,

I still call Australia home.

but no matter how far or wide I roam,

I still call Australia I still call Australia, I still call Australia home.

Brissy - or Bris Vegas - colloquial for Brisbane, capital of Queensland

Bush - anywhere outside the city

Bush Telegraph - word of mouth or "grapevine"

Croweater - anyone from South Australia

Digger - Australian soldier especially from WWI - "old digger"

the Gabba - Queensland cricket ground at Woolloongabb

lingo - language

Jeff's Shed - "Jeff" is a reference to Jeff Kennett, former premier of Victoria. And the shed is the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre

Lucky Country - nickname for Australia

Mexicans - nickname for people from Melbourne (refers to being south of the border of NSW)

Ocker - nickname for an Australian, but mainly refers to particular language uses.

Oz - nickname for Australia

Sandgroper - anyone from Western Australia

Stubbies - men's shorts OR compact bottles of beer

True blue - generally "the real" or"dinky die" Australian

Vegemite - our beloved yeast spread, often used on bread or toast for breakfast

N.B. Kangaroo, koala, kookaburra, galah, quokka, wombat and boomerang are all words with Aboriginal origins.

For more details of English words with Aboriginal origins see this extensive list.

Here is a sample of some lingo in action + translation

G'day Mate (or buddy),

Well, what a beaut site you have here it's a real bonza! Pop over and throw a few snags & chops on the barbie, knock a few coldies down, bring the softies (or fizzy stuff) for the ankle biters, plonk your butt and have a natter (or yarn), it will be a ripper of a day....

You li'le beauty...

See ya mate

Translation:

Hello friend,

Well you have a really great site ( or home) and it's terrific. Come on over and toss a few sausages and lamb chops on the BBQ, have a few cold beers, (or wines or any alcohol), bring the pop (or fizzy drink or soft drink) for the children, sit down and have a great chat....it will be a great day (or the best of days),

You are a terrific friend,

Will talk again with you,friend

Source: adapted from History of Australia Day

Perhaps, in over 200 years of settlement, you may be feeling there must be a whole lot more than a first wave. Ah! But I am thinking of a HUGE wave; the kind you would find on the wild west coast of Tasmania; the kind that has been gathering momentum for thousands of time and space dimensions, and now impacts with mighty force against a towering, craggy cliff! Now THAT is wave, loaded with mini memories and lifetimes that finally collide with other worlds. That wave is Australia.

Australia is no longer just "terra australis incognita". She is a voice behind the microphone, on stage. And she is beginning to sing sweetly.