to be published by Penguin early in 1984. This and other verses in the book are described by
him as "political and convivial drinking songs." Once a jolly bagman sat by the harbourside
Under the shade of a sheltering free;
And he sang as he sat and launched a little company:
'Who'll come a-waltzing O'Reilly with me?' Waltzing O'Reilly, waltzing O'Reilly
Curran and Slutzkin and fiddle-dee-dee;
Painters and dockers and taxation dodgers:
Who'll come a-waltzing O'Reilly with me? Up rode Frank Costigan, fearless Frank Costigan,
McCabe and LaFranchi and Doug Meagher QC:
'Where's that jolly company that bought that other company
And cashed it up and stripped it down and sank it in the sea?' Waltzing O'Reilly, waltzing O'Reilly,
Curran and Slutzkin and fiddle-dee-dee:
Where's that jolly company that bought that other company?
Who'll come a-waltzing O'Reilly with me? Up jumped the bagman and leapt into the deep blue sea.
'You'll have to go fishing to find it,' said he.
'The bottom of the harbour is full of little companies.
Everybody's doing it - so why pick on me?' Waltzing O'Reilly, waltzing O'Reilly,
Curran and Slutzkin and fiddle-dee-dee.
The bottom of the harbour is full of little companies:
Who'll come a-waltzing O'Reilly with me? 'Compared to you,' said Costigan, 'Ned Kelly was a gentleman.
Think of Pentridge, matey, as you're floating out to sea.'
'You'll never get me in court,' laughed the bagman.
'Why not come waltzing O'Reilly with me?' Waltzing O'Reilly, waltzing O'Reilly.
Curran and Slutzkin and fiddle-dee-dee;
Painters and dockers and taxation dodgers:
Who'll come a-waltzing O'Reilly with me? ROBERT BRISSENDEN Notes
From the Canberra Newspaper The Canberra Times 1 Oct 1983 p. 11
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