Diggers

Digging’s in the blood, boys, digging’s in the bone Digging’s passed on when the seed is sown The way you dig is the life you own Digging’s in the blood, boys, digging’s in the bone Great-great-grandpa for his reward Dug English coal for an English lord Body crippled, lungs burnt black Crawl down the pit and break your back From dawn till dusk to earn your whack Dig like the Devil or get the sack Great-great-granddad refused to be sold Came to Australia to dig for gold Sun’s like fire. Christ it’s hot! Nuggets fill the publican’s pot Pay the tax or risk getting shot Dig like the Devil and lose the lot Great-grandpa took the King’s shilling Home by Christmas if we show willing Somme’s slaughter, Flanders’ flood No escape from the cannon’s thud Covered all over in shit and blood Dig like the Devil or drown in mud Great-granddad took slouch hat and gun To show the Old Country how it’s done Board the ships, sail the Med Turkish guns entrenched ahead Sand and water stained bright red Dig like the Devil or join the dead Granddad put his name in the hat To win some land on the Malley flat Mulga scrub, horse and chain Try to force up a crop of grain Watch the drought bugger us again Dig like the Devil and don’t complain Grandpop left his homeland’s rubble Swapped his degree for a pick and shovel Snowy’s sweep, worlds apart Tied together by a project chart Cut a hole through the mountain’s heart Dig like the Devil for a new start Dad got caught in the conscript net Began as a choko and became a vet Quickly trained, fully armed Pack your kit you’re Vietnam’d Live six months if your life is charmed Dig like the Devil or get napalmed I am stamped by the digger’s make But I won’t dig in the Devil’s wake Leave behind Industry Build a cabin by the sea Sun and wind and water’s free Dig and plant in harmony Nurture the Earth for posterity