source:
Shearer's Record Newspaper
attributed to G. T. Rilley
Tune: Tramp, Tramp, Tramp
SITE SOURCE: Labour History
Unity Boys
Now the shearing's at an end
So my promise I'll fulfil
To sing a song the union to defend.
Though I must admit the fact
That they showed a want of tact
But the error made is one that they can mend.
Old Aesop wrote a fable
How the strong man was unable
To break the bundled sticks across his knees,
But when he cut the cord
He broke them easily
Because he broke the bond of unity.
CHORUS
So stick to one another
As steadfast as a brother
And never lose an inch that we have gained
For we know that right is might
So we'll boldly stand and fight
Till the object of our struggle is obtained.
That the shearers played their part
With manly honest heart
Is evident to any man with brains,
But when they went to law
Little justice there they saw
But imprisonment or confiscated claims.
The squatters can't deny
No matter how they try
That avarice over-ruled their better sense,
And they never would have stopped
Till the price of shearing dropped
Down as low as ten or fifteen bob per cent.
Then it's not at all surprising
With the price of rations rising
That the shearers' time had come to make a stand.
Now we've shown the bold example,
Te employers cannot trample
The right to freedom that we cherish in this land.
So we'll give a hearty cheer
And hope the coming year
Every man will give support with heart and hand,
And with a plucky spirit
We'll to the world prove it
The foundation of the union's not on sand.
And now before we sever
Some, perhaps, forever
For Mr Faulkner Junior give a cheer.
And we hope that he does pay
Our mates who went away
And we'll pray success will crown each coming year.
