Australia Day – We Are Australian

For Australia Day this year I wanted to share with you a song that I love, and embraces everything about Australia … “I am Australian”. From the Aboriginals who of course were the first settlers, to the convicts and the free. The goldiggers and bushrangers, to the Anzacs and recent migrants … all of them, is what makes Australia the amazing, multi-cultural country it is today, and they all get a mention in this song.

Personally I am a 6th generation Australian, whose roots lie in many countries around the world. I am Australian!

I am Australian

I came from the dream-time, from the dusty red soil plains
I am the ancient heart, the keeper of the flame.
I stood upon the rocky shore, I watched the tall ships come.
For forty thousand years I’ve been the first Australian.

I came upon the prison ship, bowed down by iron chains.
I fought the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains.
I’m a settler, I’m a farmer’s wife on a dry and barren run
A convict then a free man, I became Australian.

I’m the daughter of a digger who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road
I’m a child of the depression, I saw the good times come
I’m a bushy, I’m a battler, I am Australian

We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice:
I am, you are, we are Australian

I’m a teller of stories, I’m a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira, and I paint the ghostly gums
I am Clancy on his horse, I’m Ned Kelly on the run
I’m the one who waltzed Matilda, I am Australian

I’m the hot wind from the desert, I’m the black soil of the plains
I’m the mountains and the valleys, I’m the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky, the rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land, I am Australian

We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice:
I am, you are, we are Australian
I am, you are, we are Australian!

We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice:
I am, you are, we are Australian
I am, you are, we are Australian!

Lyrics written in 1987 by Bruce Woodley of ‘The Seekers’ and Dobe Newton of ‘The Bushwackers’ and set to music composed by Bruce Woodley.

4 Responses to “Australia Day – We Are Australian”

1. Helen Smith says:

   January 26, 2018 at 11:11 am

   Great minds think alike! I love this song and to me it would make an excellent anthem.

   Reply
   • Alona says:

     January 26, 2018 at 11:27 am

     Gotta agree with you on it being a great song, and as for an being anthem … for sure! That would be awesome.

2. Jill Ball says:

   January 26, 2018 at 11:56 am

   Thanks for sharing. I love that song.

   Reply
3. Sharon says:

   January 26, 2018 at 8:59 pm

   I am another who loves that song! Thank you for sharing! Happy Australia Day!

   Reply