Thirty Shillings a Month
A song by Martin McKenna©Martin McKenna 2010
Winner of Monster Meeting Song Awards 2010
- [play]
Chorus:
Thirty shillings a month to dig for gold
In the dust and the heat and the rain and the cold
While the squatter pays I understand
Around the same for a swag of lamb
Ten quid a year they give him a vote
He has a say in what we have to pay
And they lock up the land from folks such as us
Time to stand up for what's right and what's Just
Chorus
Some diggers strike riches but most strike it tough
Now the government claims that we don't pay enough
So they'll double the fee its easy you see
To keep us in chains while the squatter rides free
When we came to this land we hoped we'd find
Old servant and master roles left far behind
But the gentry and crown are eager to see
Us kept in our place so they'll double the fee
Chorus
So come gather boys in Forest Creek
It's time to be bold there's no place for the meek
We'll rally for justice and what is our right
Victory is ours if we diggers unite
Chorus