Union Songs
Anastasia's Petticoat
A song by Phyl Lobl©2003 Phyl Lobl
The miners of Eureka have long been brought to fame,
Its time the wives who stood by them were honoured just the same,
Many were prepared to die but weren't allowed to fight,
They sewed Eureka's flag instead, the flag of blue and white.Chorus
But the stars, the petticoat stars, fly beyond the battle,
Of that December morning when hot blood stained the wattle.The miners push for justice came in 1854,
They stumbled into trouble and then into civil war.
Anastasia felt it right, that she should also join the fight,
Though a white lawn petticoat seemed too slight an offering for the cause.Henry Ross had planned a flag he hoped would prove to be
A flag to unify all those who scorned the licence fee.
Armed with scissors thread and thimble, miners wives worked on the symbol
Sewing with their hearts a tremble stitching for the cause.On Bakery Hill, the flag first flew brave against the cloud,
It gave the speakers heart and hope when they addressed the crowd,
Mid calls for solidarity, for justice and for liberty,
The petticoat stars shone constantly, dancing for the cause.It led the marchers down the road, that ran from Creswick town,
To flower on the stockade pole till King had torn it down.
With Ross now dead from musket shot,the troopers used the flag for sport,
They dragged it through the mud and thought they'd killed the miners cause
Notes
Many thanks to Phyl Lobl for permission to add this song to the Union Songs site
union songs..........a selection by mark gregory