Song: The Rum Boys Poem by Dave SmithWhite

My name is John MacCarthur.
To posterity I'm the father,
Of a national wealth curled
Beneath the fleece.
My ideas are not so woolly,
For I've worked them all out fully,
But in my exile from the world,
I know no peace.

Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Beat the blessed drum, boys,
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Oh why am I so glum?
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Just what have I done, boys?
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Why have I been shunned?

I came out to Australia,
As an officer of the Corps.
To teach the dross from English gaols,
The meaning of the law.
With the true spirit of adventure,
That marks the Scot of breed,
I banished all doubts of failure,
As ambition became my creed.

Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Look what we've become, boys,
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
The masters of the slum.
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
We had them under our thumbs, boys,
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Turnkeys to the scum.

You should have heard the hue and cry,
When Major Johnston and I,
Arrested the meddler William Bligh.
They called it the Rum Rebellion.
To me it comes as no surprise,
That we won the day but lost the prize,
And history dealt us a pack of lies,
To name us as the villains.

Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
I'll not be keeping mum, boys,
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Ingrates leave me numb.
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Left to me were crumbs, boys,
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Oh the depths that I have plumbed.

I'm known as John MacCarthur.
The rebel who would rather,
Live the quiet life as I please.
No favours shall I curry,
To that stuck up prig Macquarie,
For in truth I am not sorry in the least.

Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Make a fearful noise, boys,
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Prepare and study war.
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Let me hear your voice, boys,
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Rum Boys of the Corps.

Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Damn their bloody eyes, boys,
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
Oh why am I despised?
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
I'll not remain dumb, boys.
Rum Boys! Rum Boys!
My revenge is yet to come!