Union Songs

Johnny Be Gone

A Song by Keith Price and Ken Brewer
[Apologies to Chuck Berry]

In Old Sydney Town down Canterbury way,
Behind a white picket fence he began to play
There stood a brick veneer, grey and sad,
Where lived a nerdy little boy name of Johnny B. Badde...
He learned to read and write pretty well,
So he could lie and cheat like the Devil in hell.

Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go
Johnny be gone!

He used to carry his guitar in a small briefcase
And sit at the dispatch box by the speaker’s mace.
Oh, the pollies saw him sitting in Malcolm’s shade,
Playing to the rhythm that Bob Menzies made.
People passing by would stop and say
Why won’t the silly drongo just go away?

Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go
Johnny be gone!

His mama told him someday he would be a man,
And he would be the leader of our sunburnt land.
Many people coming from miles around,
To hear his droning speeches, very profound!
Maybe if he stuck around for years like glue
All of his dream would come out true!

Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go
Johnny be gone!

Well Johnny he got lucky in the end
Pretending to be the battlers’ friend
Made a horrible mess of our laws
Locked up refugees landing on our shores
Locked up our troops in a fight bound to fail
Locked up David Hicks in a lawless jail

Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go
Johnny be gone!

He locked in our workers with AWAs
Harassed refugees in countless ways
Flashed children overboard before our eyes
Told us interest rates would never rise
So please join in and sing our song
A prayer to the powers that Johnny be gone!

Go Go
Go Johnny Go
Go Go
Johnny be gone!

Notes

 

Return to top of page