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LYRICS
Son of a Scoundrel

(Shel Silverstein)

Big Barney Fitch, he got soddenly rich
Bought a big fancy house in Melbourne
With buckets of loot and big black leather boots
Acting so haughty and well-born

But we of Australia, we are children of convicts
And some of us wear it quite proudly
So as he rides by in his carriage so fine
I wave and I call to him loudly

Was your grandma a whore? Was your grandpa a thief?
Were they forgers and grafters who fell to their grief?
If you’re born of Australia I’d know who you’d be
You’re the son of a son of a scoundrel like me

Maggie McKay’s got a sweet loving way
And I know that she does adore me
But her parents they feel it would be a bad deal
So they say that she’s much too good for me

So we said our goodbye, with a tear in our eyes
And I know they were glad of the breaking
But they didn’t look so proud when I shouted out loud
‘Til that whole floggin’ town was awakened

Was your grandma a whore? Was your grandpa a thief?
Were they forgers and grafters who fell to their grief?
If you’re born of Australia I’d know who you’d be
You’re the son of a son of a scoundrel like me