As I walked down by the Oxborough Banks
Where the maids of Australia do play their wild pranks
Beneath a green shady bower I sat myself down
Where the birds sang so gaily enchanted all round
In the forest of native Australia
In the forest of native Australia
Where the maidens are handsome and gay.
Now she dived in the water without fear or dread
Her beautiful limbs she exceedingly spread
Her hair hung in wrinkles, the colour was black
"Sir", said she, "you will see how I float on my back
On the stream in me native Australia
On the stream in me native Australia
Where the maidens are handsome and gay."
Now being exhausted she swam to the brink
"Assistance, kind sir, for I surely shall sink".
As quick as the lightning I took hold of her hand
My foot slipped and we fell on the sand
Here, on the native plains of Australia
Here, on the native plains of Australia
Just as the sun went down.
Now we frolicked together in the highest of glee
In the finest Australia you ever did see
The sun it went down and the clouds did resign
Then I left the fair maid of Australia behind
Then I left the fair maid of Australia behind
Just as the sun went down.
Now six months being over and nine being come
This pretty fair maid she brought forth a fine son
"Oh where was his father?"; he could not be found
And she cursed the hour that she laid on the ground
In her native the plains of Australia
In her native the plains of Australia
Where the maidens are handsome and gay.
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Source: Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Dec 1958
Notes:
From the singing of Harry Cox. Recorded by Peter Kennedy, July 19th, 1956. Transcribed by Micheal Bell. BBC Record RPL 22915 (LP)
The Journal entry is as follows:
This song is apparently not uncommon in Norfolk (this is the third version that has come to my notice) though I believe it has not been reported elsewhere. It does not seem to have persisted in Australia, and one Antipodean folklorist has suggested that this may be because, in at least one of its versions, the song appears to refer to an Aboriginal girl. Miscegenation is a theme that Australian folklore inclines to avoid.
No doubt 'Oxborough' refers to the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales - A. L. L.
In the Journal for 1959, the following appears:
John Meredith of 47 Chelsea Street, Redfern, New South Wales, writes in reference to A. L. L.'s notes to 'The Maid of Australia' in the Journal, Vol VIII, No 3, 1958, p 150:
I must disagree with A. L. Lloyd's statement the 'miscegenation is a theme that Australian folklore inclines to avoid'. If this is his belief, then his knowledge of Australian folklore must be even sketchier than I had prevously imagined it to be.
There is a group of songs, recitations and yarns, plus quite a few quips, toasts and proverbs which deal exclusively with this subject, and a number of other songs go out of their way to touch briefly on the matter.
The letter then goes on to give a number of examples, including 'Goondiwindi Song', 'The King Billy Song', 'Warrego Lament', 'a bawdy version of Waltzing Matilda', 'Black Alice', 'Black Velvet' and several more. Only 'Warrego Lament' and 'Black Alice' have any quoted lyrics.
Roud: 1872 (Search Roud index at VWML)
Laws:
Child: