# How many patriotic songs do you know? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 30, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-patriotic-songs-do-you-know/111552 "2002-05-30T15:11:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-patriotic-songs-do-you-know/111552/22 "2002-05-31T05:39:43Z")
Well, let’s see… “O Canada” by Calixa Lavallee “Northwest Passage”, “The Nancy” and “The Bluenose” by Stan Rogers The Canadian lyrics to “This Land is Your Land” (“From Bonavista to Vancouver Island/From the Arctic Circle to the Great Lake waters…”) Oh, and “The War of 1812 (The White House Burned, Burned, Burned, and We’re The Ones Who Did It)” by the Arrogant Worms. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-patriotic-songs-do-you-know/111552/23 "2002-05-31T13:55:44Z")
Americans, be thankful you have _The Battle Hymn of the Republic_, and _America the Beautiful_. Those two (especially the former) are amazing pieces of music. As for my native Australia, well of course I know _Advance Australia Fair_ (including the lesser known imperialist British verses), and the mighty _Waltzing Matilda_, but I’ll post here the lyrics to the more whimsical _Home Among the Gum Trees_: 1 I’ve been around the world A couple of times, or maybe more, I’ve seen the sights, I’ve had delights On ev’ry foreign shore, But when my friends all ask me The place that I adore, I tell them right away. CHORUS Give me a home among the gum trees, With lots of plum trees, A sheep or two, a kangaroo. A clothesline out the back, Verandah out the front And an old rocking chair. 2 You can see me in the kitchen Cooking up a roast, Or vegemite on toast, Just you and me, a cup of tea. Later on, we’ll settle down, And mull up on the porch And watch the possums play. CHORUS 3. There’s a Safeway on the corner And a Woolworths down the street, And a New World’s just been opened Where they regulate the heat, But I’d trade them all tomorrow For the simple bush retreat Where the kookaburras call. CHORUS 4 Some people like their houses With fences all around, Others live in mansions, And some beneath the ground, But me, I like the bush, you know, With rabbits running round And a pumpkin vine out the back. CHORUS. CODA And an old rocking chair. ---
**Author:** ![Norrybaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9a28c/32.png) [@Norrybaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norrybaby)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2002, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-patriotic-songs-do-you-know/111552/24 "2002-05-31T19:44:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Later on, we’ll settle down, and mull up on the porch That line always makes me laugh TLD. I think we don’t really have the variety of patriotic songs that Americans are blessed with, and I say that without a hint of irony. Apart from the ones you mentioned, I might include _And the band played Waltzing Matilda_ as a song that means a lot to many Aussies, even though The Pogues recorded the best version, IMO anyway. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-patriotic-songs-do-you-know/111552/25 "2002-06-01T01:39:44Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Norrybaby \* > \*\* > That line always makes me laugh TLD._\* There was a classic episode of _Play School_ where they sang _Home Among the Gum Trees_ for the kiddies, and when John Hamblin came to “Later on, we’ll settle down, and mull up on the porch”, he barely held it together. The co-host was having trouble stifling her smile too. It was brilliant. I knew it was coming, and expected them to change that line to something else. Cool of then not to though. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-patriotic-songs-do-you-know/111552/26 "2002-06-01T08:03:25Z")
Yes, John and Noni made a wonderful pair, especially when they were romping around the studio pretending to be dogs 😃 woof! What about ‘True Blue’ by that moron John Williamson?? While his ‘ocker’ image bugs me, the song always brings a lump to my throat. ---
**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-patriotic-songs-do-you-know/111552/27 "2002-06-01T09:41:13Z")
_My Country 'Tis of Thee_, _This Land is Your Land_ (sort of), a few sections of _The Star Spangled Banner_, _America the Beautiful_, _Grand Old Flag_, the Taiwanese Flag Song, Taiwanese National Anthem, _Waltzing Matilda_, and… I think that’s it. Not counting parodies and such… Phew! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-patriotic-songs-do-you-know/111552/28 "2002-06-01T11:25:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kambuckta \* > \*\*Yes, John and Noni made a wonderful pair, especially when they were romping around the studio pretending to be dogs 😃 woof! > > What about ‘True Blue’ by that moron John Williamson?? While his ‘ocker’ image bugs me, the song always brings a lump to my throat. \*\* How could I forget Noni Hazelhurst’s name? Musta been a brainfart. She was great on that show. They both were. John Hamblin just had the right face for it. I feel sorry for the poor bugger whenever he goes into a pub though: “Hey, it’s that Play School bloke! _Hel-lo! I’m drink-ing BEER to-day!_” And you’re right, John Williamson is a major pain in the arse. His politics are pretty iffy too. But I must admit, I do like _True Blue_, and also _Raining On the Rock_. **Norrybaby** , _And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda_ is truly moving. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2002, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-patriotic-songs-do-you-know/111552/29 "2002-06-01T15:47:15Z")
Tons of 'em. I went to public school during the Reagan years, and music class consisted almost entirely of patriotic schlock (with the occasional musical soundtrack thrown in). Shoot, I know patriotic songs which have probably never been _heard_ outside of school corridors: _In the days of '76, my boys We ever must recall Our fathers took their muskets then For freedom to stand tall Upon the plains of Lexington They caused the foe to fall …_ I swear, I think my music teacher made that one up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-patriotic-songs-do-you-know/111552.md?page=1)