The man out wayback will look with a particularly unfriendly eye on the Federal Tariff. Four things that the back-blocker looks upon as necessaries of life: tea, sugar, tobacco and matches, have all advanced in price owing to the heavier duty, and the only thing left him untaxed is his eternal mutton. Hand down the accordeon --

When I went fer Federation I wus lead to understand,
   If the States into a Commonwealth was turned,
It was sure to make Australier a peace an' plenty land
   An' a sorter paridise fer all concerned.
There's some sees the advantage uv the union, I suppose,
   But all that Federation's done fer me,
So fur as I kin see it, is to 'ave the dooty rose
   On me baccy an' me sugar an' me tea.

                    CHORUS

   Then its hi for Federation!
      An' a dooty on yer weed.
   An' its one united nation!
      An' a tax on all you need.
   Oh, its fewer smokes o' nights!
   An' its drinkin' tea that bites,
   An' its raise the price o' lights
            With Federation.

An' the only thing thet's left me is me mutton sheep an' mutton,
   An' me ram an' lamb an' baa-baa an' me meat;
If they taxed it ten times over I'd a never cared a button,
   Fer I might a got a bit of beef to eat.
But they're done me fer me pleasures, and it's gettin' past a joke
   When yer sugar an' yer tea is took away.
An' you 'ave to tackle gum-leaves when yer dyin' fer a smoke,
   An' go cartin' round a firestick all the day.

                    CHORUS

   Then its ho, fer Federation!
      An' me drink is water pure,
   An' its bully fer the nation!
      We're a happy people sure.
   Then its shun the cup thet cheers,
   An' its dash away yer tears,
   An' its give three bloomin' cheers
            Fer Federation!

"C.J.D."
The Critic, 19 October 1901, p27

Note:
This poem was originally published without a title.