Some carry their swags in the Great North-West Where the bravest battle and die, And a few have gone to their last long rest, And a few have said "Good-bye!" The coast grows dim, and it may be long Ere the Gums again I see; So I put my soul in a farewell song To the chaps who barracked for me.
Their days are hard at the best of times, And their dreams are dreams of care-- God bless them all for their big soft hearts, And the brave, brave grins they wear! God keep me straight as a man can go, And true as a man may be! For the sake of the hearts that were always so, Of the men who had faith in me!
And a ship-side word I would say, you chaps Of the blood of the Don't-give-in! The world will call it a boast, perhaps-- But I'll win, if a man can win! And not for gold nor the world's applause-- Though ways to the end they be-- I'll win, if a man might win, because Of the men who believed in me.