source: POEMS WRITTEN IN YOUTH
WILLIAM WALKER
1984 Sydney
Mitchell Library
Written at the breaking out of the Gold Diggings 1851
AIR: OH SUSANNAH
SITE SOURCE: Section 4. GOLD, EMIGRATION AND FREE SELECTION
THE WORLD IS NOW TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN
The world is now turned upside down
And everything seems queer,
For all the men are leaving town,
And prog gets dreadful dear
And it's “Oh! Susannah, don't you cry for me,
I'm going up to Summerhill, the gold mines for to see
To talk of love now no one thinks,
The men have got so cold,
Their heads are stuffed with nothing, but –
This cursed, filthy gold
A woman's voice sounds dull and tame,
In her no charm now lives;
But spades and picks are harmony,
And gold the music gives
Though wintry blasts prevail around,
And hills be white as snow,
No care have they, but shout aloud
“I'm off to the diggings O!
Singing: Oh Susannah, don't cry for me,
I'm going to the diggings, dear, to get the gold for thee.
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