An Ode To Peace (1919)
The Office Boy writes, suggesting that the Commonwealth and State Governments should unite and give a really good prize for the best Ode on Peace, to be sung by a happy people on the occasion of their proposed "Celebration." This course, he thinks, would effect a considerable saving when compared with the proposed expenditure on fireworks, wear, and tear of drums, and incitements to drunkenness, etc., etc. He suggests that the prize should be at least £1000. As a sample of the Ode he offers the following little thing, which, he made out of his own head. As a loyal chap, he is prepared to donate the copyright to anybody who can sing it--
Ye bells, and drums and rockets flashThrough Commonwealth and State:--
We'll make the public find the cash
For us to celebrate.
With Messrs. Watt and Holman, whose
Resolve is spend and--spend,
We hope to have some big chivoos
No matter how they end.
Though bushies, far from noise and chime,
May growl, and shake their head,
We mean to have a jolly time,
And paint the cities red.
Money to burn ! Money to burn !
All the world's watching our Pantomime turn ! With Peace declared, both, you and I
Will promptly combinate.
With flares and rockets in the sky
We will illuminate.
Though postages, and income tax,
And loans were raised for war,
For peace, we'll burn our powder sacks
And--"strike the light guitar!"
There may be some old wooden-head
Who'll growl land make a fuss,
Forgetting he should go to bed
And leave the game to us.
Money to burn! "Money to burn!
But with the spending--that's our concern. What, though our soldiers go ill-shod,
With hungry families,
We'll strafe the Public Service squad
And give the rest a rise.
Create new railways, docks and "biz,"
And purchase land all round,
And double baby-bonuses
For kids in gardens found.
We'll make a noise to fill the boys
With loyalty intense,
And fire off whirls to please the girls
Regardless of expense.
Money, to burn! Money to burn!
Magpie and Daisy will fill the churn. The "Flu" may cost us pounds and worse.
In "Deaths and" Very ills,"
The public has an open purse
To liquidate our bills.
We'll send forth emissaries, new
To countries everywhere,
And pay their screw (with exes. too)
"While touring over there.
See Pearce and Jensen do their best
For Fisher, Cook, and Hughes,
While Braddon, Beeby, and the rest
Display their retinues.
Money to burn! Money to burn!
Oh! won't we be happy when these blokes return,?
So, listen to the fiddles play,
And hear the joy-bells ring,
And listen to the chorus they
Combine with us to sing!
Money to burn Money to burn!
This is our Programme. Now we'll adjourn. Notes From the Sydney Newspaper The Watchman 20 Mar 1919 p. 5.
This song tells us much about war weary attitudes towards politions following the end of the Great War. It also raises the poor treatment of returned soldiers despite the repeated promises of a "Land fit for heroes". The mention of "Flu" also reminds us the what was called "Spanish Flue" arrived in Austalia in 1919 and we now know that this wartime epidemic caused at least 30 Million deaths around the world.