Peddling Round the World

Henry Lawson, 1914

      When at first in foreign parts
             Was her flag unfurled,
      England was a Gipsy lass
             Peddling round the world.
      Sailing on the Spanish Main —
             Everywhere you roam —
      Peddling in the Persian Gulf
             Things she'd made at home.

             Peddling round the world,
             Peddling round the world —
             England was a Gipsy lass
             Peddling round the world.

      England never wanted war,
             Not on land or sea —
      Other nations rising up
             Couldn't let her be.
      England only wanted peace,
             And the ocean's breath;
      So there came, in course of time,
             Queen Elizabeth.

             Queen Elizabeth —
             Queen Elizabeth —
             Came a plain, bad-tempered queen,
             Called Elizabeth.

      Queen Elizabeth, she called
             Drake, and Raleigh too —
      Essex, Howard, and the rest
             Of the pirate crew;
      "See what you can do," she said.
             "England's feeling sick —
      If you don't, I'll hang you all!
             Better do it quick."

             "Better do it quick," she said —
             "Better do it quick";
             And they knew she'd keep her word,
             So they did it quick.

      Drake and Raleigh sailed away —
             (Only Bess they feared)
      Cleared the Spanish Main and singed
             The King of Spain his beard —
      Singed the King of Spain his beard,
             And his hair they curled.
      England was a Gipsy's love
             Peddling round the world.

             Peddling round the world,
             Peddling round the world.
             England was a Gipsy's love
             Peddling round the world.

      Once again, when Cromwell came,
             England wanted room;
      So he lowered Holland's tone,
             Smashed the Dutchman's broom.
      Sent a message to Algiers;
             Made its meaning plain —
      On the way they called once more
             On the King of Spain.

             On the King of Spain —
             On the King of Spain:
             Called, to jog his memory,
             On the King of Spain.

      So the years went round and round,
             Over hills and flats —
      England was a Gipsy wife —
             England had her brats;
      Peddling in the China Sea,
             Far from English ground;
      Doing biz with Mrs. Jap —
             Peddling all around.

             Peddling all around —
             Peddling all around;
             Making friends with Mrs. Jap —
             Peddling all around.

      When the war is past and gone,
             With its blood and tears;
      And the world may count upon
             Peace for fifty years —
      When the gory battle-flags
             Round their sticks are furled —
      Then you'll see a Gipsy crone
             Peddling round the world.

             Peddling round the world —
             Peddling round the world.
             Then you'll see a Gipsy crone
             A-peddling round the world!

      Shawl as old as Joseph's coat,
             Hair as white as snow,
      Mind as bright as Seventeen —
             Eyes still like the sloe —
      Peddling in the Southern Seas —
             Everywhere you roam —
      And she'll fill her baskets here
             With things we'll make at home.
             Things we'll make at home —
             Things we'll make at home —
             Call to fill her baskets here
             With things we'll make at HOME.