She set off to see Australia
In all its glory galore
She dashed off to discover Australia
That and so much more
A land so broad, open and vast
She’d meet it today; visit its past.
Where would she go?
What would she do?
Who would she meet?
She didn’t have a clue!
She only knew…
The Great Barrier Reef beckoned her
Diving down beneath the blue
satin sea, swam fish of shimmering silver
Green sea turtles flew
hunting deadly Irukandji
She steered clear, skipped painful injury!
Where would she go?
What would she do?
Who would she meet?
She didn’t have a clue!
But off she flew…
Sea to her back, ‘Red Centre’ ahead
The heart of Australia
Unbelievable Uluru stood brick red
paraphernalia
free, there in all her majesty
‘Queen of Dawn, Day and Night’s’ tapestry.
Where would she go?
What would she do?
Who would she meet?
She didn’t have a clue!
She only knew…
On golden beaches, gulls called and screeched
Lamingtons joined fish and chips
Frolicking youngsters kicked balls far out of reach
Towards boats and ships
Salty zephyrs blew, laughter sprang
floated, returned like a boomerang.
Where would she go?
What would she do?
Who would she meet?
She didn’t have a clue!
So off she flew…
To Tasmania, ‘The Apple Isle’
cuddling koalas so cute
viewing Fairy Penguins who waddled in style.
Hike in muddy boot
Round crater lakes and snowy peak
Ghostly convict voices echo, speak.
Where would she go?
What would she do?
Who would she meet?
She didn’t have a clue!
To somewhere new…
To Sydney’s white sailed Opera House
Overlooking the harbour
Players play, audience applaud, spirits rouse
Music and songs soar
Out across the shore, along the ridge
swing, swoop and spiral over the bridge.
Where would she go?
What would she do?
Who would she meet?
She didn’t have a clue!
she only knew…
Despite drought, cyclone and bushfire
frequent floods… life is so good
Our bountiful country gives all we require
Freedom, fun and food.
Sure, there are sharks, spiders and snakes
But they add zing — excitement they make.
Where would she go?
What would she do?
Who would she meet?
She didn’t have a clue!
she only knew…
She is Australian born and bred
where Aussie mateship is strong
Family and friends bound tight together like thread
Her anchor, life long
Rejoicing, crying together
through thick and thin, and stormy weather.
Where would she go?
What would she do?
Who would she meet?
She didn’t have a clue!
At last, she knew…
This was her home, right where she belonged
She was certain of it now
Where home, hearth and health her happiness prolonged
Where doom and gloom bow
burn on the funeral pyre
What more could she want, need or desire?
Where would she go?
What would she do?
Who would she meet?
She now had a clue!
A breakthrough …
She’d set off to see Australia
In all its glory galore
She’d dashed off to discover Australia
That and so much more
A land so broad, open and vast
She’d met it today; learnt of its past.
*
Written for the below challenge:
About the Creator
Angie the Archivist 📚🪶
Labrador‘s personality🐕🦺… attention span of a gnat! 🙃
Top Stories: Race Against Time; Elusive Parkrun; Painting Pandemonium
The Quandry; A Parade Of Shoes; Shadow of You; Her Majesty Mia
Keep reading
More stories from Angie the Archivist 📚🪶 and writers in Beat and other communities.
Pressure!
Pressure! I've yet to meet one person who walks this earth and is immune to pressure. Despite my laidback approach to life, pressure all too often rears its hideous head and slams me. Billy Joel’s 1982 New Wave Experimental Pop song "Pressure" snuck up on me and hit me over the head, much the same way pressure is prone to do!
By Angie the Archivist 📚🪶about a year ago in Beat
'20/20'
"Do It Again" the track that would ultimately open the Beach Boys final album on Capitol Records which was released on February 10th 1969 had originally been released as a single in August of 1968. The track was the first of many post-Pet Sounds era throwbacks to the early Beach Boys sound which would become continually more cliched and eventually lead the Beach Boys to the level of self-parody they would eventually succumb to in the 1980s while their closest contemporaries The Beatles nearing the end of their run in 1969 would go on to be viewed as the most influential band of all time. However, the song itself is not bad on its surface, and it opens with a futuristic sounding (for 1969) drumbeat captured by then-Beach Boys engineer Stephen Desper using tape delays on the drums performed by Dennis Wilson and John Guerin. The song has been re-recorded numerous times over the years on various Beach Boys-related projects most notably the 2011 re-recording at Capitol studios featuring the five surviving Beach Boys at the time backed instrumentally by various members of both the Brian Wilson Band and Mike Loves touring "Beach Boys" to promote the then upcoming Beach Boys 50th Anniversary reunion tour in 2012. The hammering and power drill sound at the end of the song was an excerpt from a track called "Workshop" that was to be a part of the uncompleted "SMiLE" album.
By Sean Callaghan8 days ago in Beat
Comments (25)
"Loved this!"
Late to this party, but congrats on placing in the challenge! Well deserved :)
There's so much motion in this Angie! It felt like moving swiftly between places and areas at a dizzying pace! Excellently written!
I have family who have visited Australia, and I've always wanted to go. What a beautiful song, Angie! Congratulations on your top story and for placing in the harmonic verses challenge!
boy, I'd sure like to go...Great job and congrats on placing!!
Oh!!! Angie!!!! I'm so stoked this placed (runner-up) in the harmonic challenge!! 🎉
Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
I really like the sense of adventure and pride that shines through — it captures a real love for Australia in a joyful, uplifting way. Congratulations on your Top Story!
Our new national anthem in the making Angie. Congratulations on top story
This does a good job painting a beautiful picture of Australia. 💕
In one's lifetime, one has to escape from the mundane at least once! Live, feel, escape from day after day, and go to a moment that you like and enjoy to the fullest!
Brilliant work, Angie! This makes me want to visit Australia- some day I'll get there... I particularly loved the ABABCC rhyme scheme of the verses and the chant-like chorus; they really lend a musical lilt to the whole piece! Congrats on the well-deserved Top Story! :)
Ah, lovely Australia! It is a wonderful place to live. Good luck in the challenge, Angie!
Good..
Well done Angie. So many great points about Australia and what it has to offer. "Sure, there are sharks, spiders and snakes But they add zing — excitement they make." Loved these lines but the snakes and spiders I can do without. Sharks I don't mind and have dived with them many times.
Every article you write feels like a journey—your words captivate, educate, and inspire all at once. Keep up the amazing work!
Oh this made me so happy Angie! I love Australia so much - this was fab!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
This is so evocative! I've never been outside the United States. As you describe it, everything is so beautiful, the life and the landscape. Uplifting song. ⚡💙⚡
How wonderful, Angie! When I was growing up we had a cd of some very whimsical ocean inspired songs we would listen to and this felt similar to me but a sea and land adventure through Australia! And of course more serious in parts and more clever!
Fell asleep before I could comment last night, but congrats on top story
This was a really song, Angie!! Love the pride you showed for Australia in this, the repetitive verse really added to the overall impact!
Oooo, I would love to try the Lamingtons. And also play with the koala and fairy penguins! Loved your lyrics!
Go Australia 🇦🇺🥳 Great song!
Oh wow, what a beautiful ode to Australia, Angie! I enjoyed its harmony very much.