Song of the 1917 Strike

Anonymous contemporary poem set to music by Christina Mimmocchi, 2017

 Tramp, tramp, tramp,

Tramp, tramp, tramp, can’t you hear the marching feet
As the sturdy sons of labour come swinging down the street?
With manly steps and bearing and faces shining bright,
They have taken up the gauntlet in the battle of the right.

 Tramp, tramp, tramp,

 In the van are labour’s heroes, who have fought and shed their blood
To save our daunted freedom being trampled in the mud.
They can hear their comrades calling, from far across the sea,
“As we fight in France for freedom, fight to keep our homeland free!”

 Tramp, tramp, tramp,

 “We have fought the German Tyrant and have written Austral’s name
In imperishable letters high upon the scroll of fame.
But our blood was spilt for nothing and our sacrifices were in vain,
If our own dear Australia is bound by Serfdom’s chain.”

 Tramp, tramp, tramp,

 So courage, comrades, courage, stand together one and all
For united we shall conquer but divided we shall fall
And with grim determination see the freedom flag still waves,
For the true sons of Australia never, never shall be slaves.

 Tramp, tramp, tramp.