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Farewell to Anzac

Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

Adapted for singing by Mike Kennedy, ©2010

Printable Version - PDF ~ MP3 - Complete ~ Original Poem ~ Notes

 

Oh, hump your swag and leave, lads, the ships are in the bay–
We’ve got our marching orders now, it’s time to come away–
And a long good-bye to Anzac Beach - where blood has flowed in vain –
And we’re leaving it, leaving it, game to fight again!

But some there are will never quit this bleak and bloody shore–
And some that marched and fought with us will fight and march no more;
Their blood has bought till Judgement Day the slopes they stormed so well,
And we’re leaving them, leaving them, sleeping where they fell.

Leaving them, leaving them – the bravest and the best–
Leaving them, leaving them, and maybe glad to rest!
We’ve done our best for yesterday, tomorrow’s still our own–
But we’re leaving them, leaving them, sleeping all alone!

And ay, they've gone beyond it all, the praising and the blame,
And many a man may win renown, but none more fair a fame:
They showed the world Australia’s lad’s knew well the way to die:
And we’re leaving them, we're leaving them, quiet where they lie.

Leaving them, leaving them, sleeping where they died;
Leaving them, leaving them, in their quiet and their pride–
Around them the sea and barren land, over them the sky,
And we’re leaving them, leaving them, quiet where they lie!

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Original Poem:

Farewell to Anzac

by Cicely Fox Smith
From "Fighting Men" (Elkin Mathews 1916) pp 51-52.

Oh, hump your swag and leave, lads, the ships are in the bay —
We've got our marching orders now, it's time to come away —
And a long good-bye to Anzac Beach — where blood has flowed in vain
For we're leaving it, leaving it, game to fight again!

But some there are will never quit this bleak and bloody shore —
And some that marched and fought with us will fight and march no more;
Their blood has bought till Judgment Day the slopes they stormed so well,
And we're leaving them, leaving them, sleeping where they fell.

(Leaving them, leaving them — the bravest and the best —
leaving them, leaving them, and maybe glad to rest!
We've done our best with yesterday, to-morrow's still our own —
But we're leaving them, leaving them, sleeping all alone!)

Ay, they are gone beyond it all, the praising and the blame,
And many a man may win renown, but none more fair a fame;
They showed the world Australia's lads knew well the way to die;
And we're leaving them, leaving them, quiet where they lie.

(Leaving them, leaving them, sleeping where they died;
Leaving them, leaving them, in their glory and their pride —
Round them sea and barren land, over them the sky,
Oh, We're leaving them, leaving them, quiet where they lie!)


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Notes:

Tune by Mike Kennedy, ©2010, recorded 6/4/2012

From "Fighting Men" (Elkin Mathews 1916) pp 51-52.
Also reprinted in a book of World War 1 poetry called WAR VERSE, edited by Frank Foxcroft, published by Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York, US, © 1918, pp. 153-154, and originally printed in the magazine "The Spectator."

This poem focuses on the abandonment of the disastrous Gallipoli campaign in 1916. Thousands of Australian troops were mowed down by the Turks, and there were bitter recriminations resulting from this failed invasion.

"ANZAC" referred to the troops of the Australia New Zealand Army Corps.

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