The Wonderful Aussie Waler,Arthur Henry Adams was a New Zealand-born poet, novelist and journalist who spent most of his time in Australia with brief sojourns in England and China. His early career direction appeared to be heading towards the legal profession but he soon found a niche in journalism instead, on the Wellington Evening Post.
He was, at about the same time, in collaboration with a composer called Alfred Hill and the pair of them produced several comic operas and cantatas. Shortly afterwards he started publishing his poetry.
The Wonderful Aussie Waler by Arthur Henry Adams
When Allenby’s Army smashed the Turk
Who was the bloke who did all the work
The Aussie knows and he’ll tell you straight
That most of the job was done by his mate
The wonderful Aussie Waler
It was umpty-nine in the shade each day
And the wells were spoiled in the Turkish way
But with nothing to eat and plenty to do
The heart of the Waler carried him through
The wonderful, wonderful WalerFor ten long weeks through the desert hot
He plugged along and all that he got
Was a drink, or not a drink a day
But did the stamina once give way
Of the wonderful Aussie Waler?
Was he the one to desert his mate?
Just watch him coming up the straight
With twenty stone of harness and man
No wonder the Turk was an also ran
With the wonderful, wonderful WalerWhen drinks were not and feeds were few
There still was his harness that he could chew
With a nibble or two at another’s mane
He plucked up heart to march again
The wonderful Aussie Waler
And when everything edible seemed to be stale
A hair or two from a neighbour’s tail
Makes a pleasant meal and there’s no doubt
They took it turn and turn about
The wonderful, wonderful WalerA great Australian through and through
There’s a good time coming old horse for you
There’s a paddock green with grass to your knees
And there you shall roll at your lordly ease
My wonderful Aussie Waler
With a gallop or two to keep you fit
And won’t it bring back the thrill of it!
There ‘re no more hardships and little work
For the cobber who broke the heathen Turk
My wonderful, wonderful WalerBut what is that the orders tell?
This mate of mine they’re going to sell
To the old home paddock you’ll never come back
They are selling you as a local’s hack
My wonderful, wonderful Waler
The times together that we’ve been through
When all that I had in the world was you
Out there! Out there in a world of men
You were more than wife or sweetheart then
My wonderful, wonderful WalerThere was trust and mateship in your eyes
A horse has no soul – All lies I All lies!
And more than a kiss or soft eyes that speak
Was your muzzling nose against my cheek
You wonderful Aussie Waler
A life long slavery is your fate
Not while a mate can still shoot straight
Your eyes – I need a steady hand –
Good bye old chap – you understand
You wonderful, wonderful Waler.
