The Poetry Corner

The Dam That Keele Built

By Banjo Paterson (Andrew Barton)

This is the dam that Keele built. This is the stream that brought the water to fill the dam that Keele built; This is the Water and Sewer Brigade, That measured the stream that brought the water to fill the dam that Keele built; This is the Engineer by Trade*, Head of the Water and Sewer Brigade, Who measured the stream that brought the water to fill the dam that Keele built; These are the Calculations made By the Eminent Engineer by Trade, Head of the Water and Sewer Brigade, Who measured the stream that brought the water to fill the dam that Keele built; This is the scornful Mr Wade**, Who sneered at the Calculations made By the Eminent Engineer by Trade, Head of the Water and Sewer Brigade, Who measured the stream that brought the water to fill the dam that Keele built; This is the Minister quite dismayed At the sight of the Scornful Mr Wade, Who sneered at the Calculations made By the Eminent Engineer by Trade, Head of the Water and Sewer Brigade, Who measured the stream that brought the water to fill the dam that Keele built; This is the Sydneyite afraid That a serious blunder will be made, Because of the Minister, quite dismayed At the sight of the Scornful Mr Wade, Who sneered at the Calculations made By the Eminent Engineer by Trade, Head of the Water and Sewer Brigade, Who measured the stream that brought the water to fill the dam that Keele built;