The old man sat upon his swag his eyes were red and bleared.
I doubt he-d had a wash for days or even combed his beard.
He cadged my pouch and filled his pipe and calmly blew a cloud
-Some blokes ain-t got no pride- he said, -but I was always proud.

Some time ago I humped me swag along the Lachlan side
A blazing drought had hit the land and all the stock had died.
One night a good bit after dark I reached a country town;
Pulls up outside the local hall and flings me bluey down.

A dance was going on inside, a crowd was on the floor,
So I -itches up me pants a bit and mooches in the door.
Some tarts was taken round the grub; I thinks I-m just in time;
A cup of tea will do me good; them sandwiches look prime.

But all at once the head serang, a great big hulking brute,
Strides across the floor at me and landed me a beaut.
He never said what made him narked or what he-d done it for
Just simply hits me good and hard, and knocks me out the door.

I landed fair upon me back. I got a nasty jar
And I thought just how he weren-t polite, I wondered who -e are.
I thought per-aps he meant no harm, so I -itches up me pants
And makes me mind up come what would, I-d take another chance.

I mooches in the door again. They-re cartin- round the sweets.
Cream puff and buns -n rainbow cakes and other fancy eats.
I-m just reaching out me dook when, strike me blue and blind,
One feller grabs me in the front, another from behind.

They swings me like a bag o- chaff and shouted one, two, three
And then they laughs and holler -Go-, and it was go for me.
I hurtled out into the night and lands upon a stump
(Just put yer -and behind me ear, you still can feel the lump)

That settled me; my oath it did; they-d hurt me in me pride;
And I decided there and then I wouldn-t go inside.
I knew I wasn-t welcome there, I saw it clear as print;
Some blokes ain-t got no pride at all - but I can take a hint!