EUREKA!

The government was broke again
and people broke their backs
to work the eastern goldfields
they had to pay a tax

A miner's right, they called it then
and if you didn't pay
the government sent troopers out
to carry you away

The miners chose to make a stand
they faced both death and bars
They took up arms and gathered round
beneath a flag of stars

'The time has come', the rich men said
'to take these rebels down'
'They stand and they defy our law'
'they disobey the crown'

And so they gathered soldiers up
and set them on their way
'Attack the rebel camp at dawn'
was what they had to say

The soldiers came while rebels slept
upon that Sunday morn
and on the field of battle there
a brave new world was born

The soldiers died and miners fell
but not it seems in vain
for tyranny was put on trial
and rebels broke their chains

The government said traitors all
must face the hangman's rope
The papers and the people came
to give the rebels hope

In court they dragged the cases out
a message they would send
But all the rebels walked away
as free men in the end

So why when miners once stood up
do we now fail to rise?
We need to raise that flag of stars
beneath these southern skies

The rich are back in power once more
we live beneath their yoke
The rebels who, once stood so tall
just wouldn't get the joke

So soft and so compliant
it seems we have become
Who now will raise the flag of stars
and beat the rebel drum?

(c) October 2013

Point Peron, Western Australia

GET YOUR OWN COPY -

If you would like to get a PDF copy of the ballads on this website that you can read offline or even print out and turn into your own hard copy book, you can order through PayPal at the link below. All sales of this book help me to keep this and other free websites going for everyone to enjoy. It is only $3.99 AUD!

An original collection of poems about life in Australia.
$4.00 AU

PDF book will be emailed on receipt of payment
Remember to add your email address to the order or we cannot send your PDF book.