Religious Humor in the Outback

Banjo Paterson’s amusing narrative ballad ‘A Bush Christening’ uses comedic situations and Australian stereotypes to recount an unorthodox baptism in the outback. Through colorful characters and irony, Paterson explores tensions between religion and the bush life.

We are introduced to devout parents in the remote outback alarmed their unbaptized son could die and be denied heaven. However, the roguish child overhears plans for his christening and misunderstands it to mean “branding” like livestock.

Paterson masterfully conveys the hilarious escalating chaos as the boy flees to hide in a log, resistant to this perceived barbarity. The priest resorts to smoking him out and improvising a sloppy baptismal when he emerges.

Religion is affectionately ridiculed as incompatible with the unconstrained bush lifestyle, unable to control the irreverent lad. Paterson presents tensions between propriety and the outback but ultimately celebrates the humor and unpredictability of the bush.

The rambunctious lad escaping both christening and literal branding becomes a humorous symbol of resistance to civilized conventions. However, the amused tone suggests acceptance of benign eccentrics like the baptized ‘Maginnis’.

With comic exaggeration, Paterson evokes the spirit of the bush and its colorful characters. Though lighthearted, ‘A Bush Christening’ hints at a changing society amidst the laughter.

A Bush Christening

On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few,
And men of religion are scanty,
On a road never cross’d ‘cept by folk that are lost,
One Michael Magee had a shanty.

Now this Mike was the dad of a ten year old lad,
Plump, healthy, and stoutly conditioned;
He was strong as the best, but poor Mike had no rest
For the youngster had never been christened.

And his wife used to cry, `If the darlin’ should die
Saint Peter would not recognise him.’
But by luck he survived till a preacher arrived,
Who agreed straightaway to baptise him.

Now the artful young rogue, while they held their collogue,
With his ear to the keyhole was listenin’,
And he muttered in fright, while his features turned white,
`What the divil and all is this christenin’?’

He was none of your dolts, he had seen them brand colts,
And it seemed to his small understanding,
If the man in the frock made him one of the flock,
It must mean something very like branding.

So away with a rush he set off for the bush,
While the tears in his eyelids they glistened —
‘Tis outrageous,’ says he,to brand youngsters like me,
I’ll be dashed if I’ll stop to be christened!’

Like a young native dog he ran into a log,
And his father with language uncivil,
Never heeding the praste’ cried aloud in his haste, Come out and be christened, you divil!’

But he lay there as snug as a bug in a rug,
And his parents in vain might reprove him,
Till his reverence spoke (he was fond of a joke)
I’ve a notion,’ says he,that’ll move him.’

`Poke a stick up the log, give the spalpeen a prog;
Poke him aisy — don’t hurt him or maim him,
‘Tis not long that he’ll stand, I’ve the water at hand,
As he rushes out this end I’ll name him.

Here he comes, and for shame! ye’ve forgotten the name — Is it Patsy or Michael or Dinnis?’ Here the youngster ran out, and the priest gave a shout — Take your chance, anyhow, wid `Maginnis’!’

As the howling young cub ran away to the scrub
Where he knew that pursuit would be risky,
The priest, as he fled, flung a flask at his head
That was labelled `MAGINNIS’S WHISKY’!

And Maginnis Magee has been made a J.P.,
And the one thing he hates more than sin is
To be asked by the folk, who have heard of the joke,
How he came to be christened `Maginnis’!