The earliest extant version of the song is from 1879 and was its second edition (it was first published in 1878). The National Library of Australia has a copy in their collection and it is scanned and online.
Posted on 01/11/2007 12:22:13 AM PST by naturalman1975
Come think of it yes Austriala were found by convicts and ho's were from England to reform themselves to make what be consider County of Austrila
That is an urban legend. The original sheet music with lyrics exists.
At the time of transportation, there were over 200 capital offences in England. At the same time, children were treated as adults and children as young as seven years were convicted and sentenced to death for trivial offences. Often they spent several years in rat infested jails before being transported to Australia rather than being executed. They included young girls and also political prisoners fighting to extend political freedom. In Australia, they became respectable citizens and built a democratic and properous country in a remote part of the world. They set a great example of courage in adversity. As far as I am concerned, in denigrating our convict ancestors the Sheik is guilty of blasphemy and should be transported forthwith.
You may be right. I remember it differently.
When I was in school (in Australia) in the 60s, I was taught for we are white and free. (Feel free to check with Mr. Grant / Bellevue Hill Primary.) By the time the competition for the National Anthem came around, the lyrics were altered. I do remember a funny submission for the National Anthem was put forward by the "Auntie Jack" troupe -- they had a song that glorified the industrial city of Wollongong. Part of their lyrics went: "Stand tall, straight and strong, hold your nose in Wolllongong." They did not win.
You're wonderful allies.
:-)
Do you need help scraping that Muzzy-poop off of your land?
You're wonderful allies.
:-)
Do you need help scraping that Muzzy-poop off of your land?
The earliest extant version of the song is from 1879 and was its second edition (it was first published in 1878). The National Library of Australia has a copy in their collection and it is scanned and online.
Thank you for that. This is becoming a real head scratcher. We were taught for hours on end (by Mr. Grant of Bellevue Hill Primary) that early Australians had a myopic view of the world, stemming from their arrogant view of themselves and of their self-importance -- "for we are white and free" was drilled into us as an early faux pas -- something for which he would then go to great lengths to apologize.
It left quite an impression on me.
After Bellevue Hill Primary, I was off to Sydney Girls' High - then the Australian National University. While at the ANU, I literally lived at the Australian National Library. I certainly do not doubt your evidence.
If called into court, I would swear to you on a stack of bibles that for we are white and free was presented to me as the original legitimate verse of Advance Australia Fair. I guess dear ol' Mr. Grant had a hidden agenda in his lessons.
I rate this almost on the same level as finding a little fraud perpetrated by my dear Grandpa, who insisted for decades that our family was descended from royalty. Upon his death, we learned that he had actually changed his name. The original true name of the family was of a lack-luster non-royal mongrel type.
Sigh
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