Works in the Bulletin 1914
A STRIKE OF LOYALISTS

If the King of England signed the Bill and force was used to coerce the Ulster loyalists, he for one would never again sing the National Anthem. How could he sing "God Save the King" if his Majesty gave his sanction to such an iniquitous measure? (Hear, hear.) - Speaker at a Melbourne Orange meeting.

Never again!  Though he starve and die
   For the lack of praise we gave him.
Never again!  Though he yearn and sigh
   For the strains of the old "Gor' Save 'Im."
If a king will thus transgress our rules
We loyalists shall down our tools.

What is the use of a king to us Who is dead against our notions - Mocking our whims and our foibles thus, And our "loyal" Orange motions? What is the use of our loyalty If a king won't think the same as we?
Never again shall we doff the hat To the strains of anthems royal: When they lift their voices - (mostly flat) - And declare they still are loyal. And the lack of howls in a minor key Shall rack his soul with misery.
Not a word of ours shall praise his name, For he counts no more our cobber. And a king who fails to play our game Ain't worth a single slobber. Then let him reign in silence grim; This lack of praise will madden him.
Never again shall the rafters ring With a midnight song uproarious, Asking heaven to save our king And to send him great and glorious. And heaven, marking well the lapse, Will cease its patronage, perhaps.
Then let him mope in his castle dim, A king unsung, ungreeted; And yearn in vain for the loyal hymn To which he once was treated. And let him weep and cry in vain: "Let's hear 'Gor' Save' just once again!"
Never again! Though he plead with sobs And on his knees doth sue us! For kings who want to hold their jobs Must be respectful to us. If they ignore our little ways Henceforth shall we withhold all praise.
Upon his throne in London town A king sat up and wondered. The loyal howls he longed to drown No more around him thundered. "Nay, can it be we are so blest? Peace! Peace at last! Now may we rest!"

"Den"
The Bulletin, 23 April 1914, p3

Copyright © Perry Middlemiss 2002