Paterson’s Humorous Deconstruction of Pioneer Dreaming

Adopting the voice of a disenchanted settler, this satirical folk song inverts the romantic myths surrounding colonial Australian life.

Through a catalog of mishaps from shipwrecks to drunken convicts, Paterson paints a disastrous portrait of rash emigration and futile farming in the harsh interior or “bush.”

The vivid frontier place names and repetitive “ourang-outang” chorus mock high ambitions, conveying how unsuited the settler is for survival in the alien landscape. Each failed venture is described with humorous exaggeration.

While comical in tone, Paterson reveals the naivety surrounding Australia’s promised prosperity and the difficulties of carving out a new life. The settler’s losses reflect the reckless dreams of many newcomers.

By closing with a declaration to now happily work modest British jobs instead of romanticizing pioneering, Paterson amusingly subverts legendary bush folklore through the settler’s hapless tale.

So while exaggerated for comic effect, “The Beautiful Land” insightfully punctures myths of effortless prosperity in the colonies. Paterson sheds an ironic light on the flip side of emigration down under through satire.

THE BEAUTIFUL LAND OF AUSTRALIA

All you on emigration bent,
With home and England discontent,
Come, listen to my sad lament,
All about the bush of Australia.
I once possessed a thousand pounds.
Thinks I–how very grand it sounds
For a man to be farming his own grounds
In the beautiful land of Australia.

            Chorus

  Illawarra, Mittagong,
  Parramatta, Wollongong.

If you wish to become an ourang-outang,
Then go to the bush of Australia.

Upon the voyage the ship was lost.
In wretched plight I reached the coast,
And was very nigh being made a roast,
By the savages of Australia.

And in the bush I lighted on
A fierce bushranger with his gun,
Who borrowed my garments, every one,
For himself in the bush of Australia.

          Chorus

  Illawarra, Mittagong,
  Parramatta, Wollongong.

If you wish to become an ourang-outang,
Then go to the bush of Australia.

Sydney town I reached at last,
And now, thinks I, all danger’s past,
And I shall make my fortune fast
In this promising land of Australia.
I quickly went with cash in hand,
Upon the map I chose my land.
When I got there ’twas barren sand
In the beautiful land of Australia.

          Chorus

  Illawarra, Mittagong,
  Parramatta, Wollongong-

If you wish to become an ourang-outang,
Then go to the bush of Australia.

Of sheep I got a famous lot.
Some died of hunger, some of rot,
For the devil a drop of rain they got,
In this flourishing land of Australia.
My convict men were always drunk,
They kept me in a constant funk.
Says I to myself, as to bed I slunk,
How I wish I was out of Australia!

           Chorus

   Booligal, Gobarralong,
   Emu Flat and Jugiong.

If you wish to become an ourang-outang,
Then go to the bush of Australia.

Of ills, enough I’ve had you’ll own.
And then at last, my woes to crown,
One night my log house was blown down
That settled us all in Australia
And now of home and all bereft,
The horrid spot I quickly left,
Making it over by deed of gift
To the savages of Australia.

           Chorus

   Booligal, Gobarralong,
   Emu Flat and Jugiong.

If you wish to become an ourang-outang,
Then go to the bush of Australia

I gladly worked my passage home,
And now to England back I’ve come,
Determined never more to roam,
At least, to the bush of Australia.
And stones upon the road I’ll break,
And earn my seven bob a week,
Which is surely better than the freak
Of settling down in Australia.

          Chorus

  Currabubula, Bogolong,
  Ulladulla, Gerringong.

If you wouldn’t become an ourang-outang,
Don’t go to the bush of Australia.