Lyrics:

When first I left old Ireland's shores
The yarns that I was told
How folks out in Australia
Could pick up lumps of gold
How gold dust lay in every street
And miners' rights were free
Hurrah said I me loving friends
That's just the place for me
With me swag upon me shoulder
Black billy in my hand
I'll travel the bushes of Australia
Like a true born native man
And when our ship reached Sydney town
We all prepared to slip
All bar the captain and the mate
The crew abandoned ship
And all the girls in Sydney town
Threw up their arms with joy
Saying one unto the other
Here comes a wild colonial boy
With me swag upon me shoulder
Black billy in my hand
I'll travel the bushes of Australia
Like a true born native man

For many a year I travelled round
To each new field I bound
I made and spent old many a pound
Since the alluvial petered out
And now for any job of work
I am prepared to try
But now I've found this tucker track
I'll stay here till I die
With me swag upon me shoulder
Black billy in my hand
I'll travel the bushes of Australia
Like a true born native man
With me swag upon me shoulder
Black billy in my hand
I'll travel the bushes of Australia
Like a true born native man