Analysis of Flash Jack From Gundagai

Andrew Barton Paterson 1864 (Orange, New South Wales) – 1941 (Sydney, New South Wales)



I've shore at Burrabogie, and I've shore at Toganmain,
I've shore at big Willandra and upon the old Coleraine,
But before the shearin' was over I've wished myself back, again
Shearin' for old Tom Patterson, on the One Tree Plain.

All among the wool, boys,
Keep your wide blades full, boys,
I can do a respectable tally myself whenever I like to try,
But they know me round the back blocks as Flash Jack from Gundagai.

I've shore at big Willandra and I've shore at Tilberoo,
And once I drew my blades, my boys, upon the famed Barcoo,
At Cowan Downs and Trida, as far as Moulamein,
But I always was glad to get back again to the One Tree Plain.

I've pinked 'em with the Wolseleys and I've rushed with B-bows, too,
And shaved 'em in the grease, my boys, with the grass seed showing through.
But I never slummed my pen, my lads, whate'er it might contain,
While shearin' for old Tom Patterson, on the One Tree Plain.
I've been whalin' up the Lachlan, and I've dossed on Cooper's Creek,
And once I rung Cudjingie shed, and blued it in a week.
But when Gabriel blows his trumpet, lads, I'll catch the morning train,
And I'll push for old Tom Patterson's, on the One Tree Plain.


Scheme AAAA BBCD CDAA EEAADDAA
Poetic Form
Metre 111101111 11111001011 101010110111101 1011110010111 101011 111111 111001001010101111 1111101111111 1111101111 0111111101011 1101011111 111111110110111 1111010111111 011001111011101 111011111101101 11011110010111 111010100111101 011111011001 1110011101110101 01111110010111
Closest metre Iambic heptameter
Characters 1,160
Words 220
Sentences 8
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 8
Lines Amount 20
Letters per line (avg) 45
Words per line (avg) 11
Letters per stanza (avg) 224
Words per stanza (avg) 55
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:10 min read
86

Andrew Barton Paterson

Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, was an Australian bush poet, journalist and author. He wrote many ballads and poems about Australian life, focusing particularly on the rural and outback areas, including the district around Binalong, New South Wales, where he spent much of his childhood. Paterson's more notable poems include "Clancy of the Overflow" (1889), "The Man from Snowy River" (1890) and "Waltzing Matilda" (1895), regarded widely as Australia's unofficial national anthem. more…

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