The Road to Gundagai by Australian writer Banjo Paterson

Featured

Stories & Humour

Caring About Our Country

by Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson (1864-1941)

Australian writer

If you are looking for the song The Road to Gundagai, what you want is Along the Road to Gundagai and it was written by Jack O'Hagan.

he mountain road goes up and down
From Gundagai to Tumut Town
And, branching off, there runs a track
Across the foothills grim and black,

Across the plains and ranges grey
To Sydney city far away.

It came by chance one day that I
From Tumut rode to Gundagai,

And reached about the evening tide
The crossing where the roads divide;

And, waiting at the crossing place,
I saw a maiden fair of face,

With eyes of deepest violet blue,
And cheeks to match the rose in hue –

The fairest maids Australia knows
Are bred among the mountain snows.

Then, fearing I might go astray,
I asked if she could show the way.

Her voice might well a man bewitch –
Its tones so supple, deep, and rich.

"The tracks are clear," she made reply,
"And this goes down to Sydney Town,
And that one goes to Gundagai."

Then slowly, looking coyly back,
She went along the Sydney track

And I for one was well content
To go the road the lady went;

But round the turn a swain she met –
The kiss she gave him haunts me yet!

I turned and travelled with a sigh
The lonely road to Gundagai.

About the Writer

See our page on Banjo Paterson.
Includes a linked list of all his writing available on our website.

Did you enjoy this poem?

Someone you know may love hearing about it.
Send this page to a friend.

Visit Our Sponsor

Movie Transfers

We offer low-cost
movie transfer to DVD of your VHS, Betamax,
VHS-C, Hi8, MiniDV, 8mm & Super 8 reels.

Record & Cassette

Let us transfer your 78, 45, 33 rpm records
cassette to CD & MP3.

Slides & Photos

We turn your slides, negatives, & photos into something you will enjoy watching.

MaxRescue

Multimedia
Transfer Service

See our website
for more info