The Good Old Concertina
By Henry Lawson
Twas merry when the hut was full
Of jolly girls and fellows.
We danced and sang until we burst
The concertinas bellows.
From distant Darling to the sea,
From the Downs to Riverina,
Has eer a gum in all the west
Not heard the concertina?
Twas peaceful round the campfire blaze,
The long white branches oer us;
Wed play the tunes of bygone days,
To some good old bush chorus.
Old Erins harp may sweeter be,
The Scottish pipes blow keener;
But sing an old bush song for me
To the good old concertina.
Twas cosy by the hut-fire bright
When the pint pot passed between us;
We drowned the voice of the stormy night
With the good old concertinas.
Though trouble drifts along the years,
And the pangs of care grow keener,
My heart is gladdened when it hears
That good old concertina.