I'm Fair Dinkum

(album: The Smell Of Gum Leaves - 1984)

I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am
I've loved the smell of gum leaves, since I was in a pram
Some places may be greener, but I don't give a damn
'Cause I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am

Now I was in the doctor's just the other day
He told me take an aspirin, the pain would go away
So I pulled out my chequebook, 'cause sickness doesn't pay
I said, "Are you fair dinkum?" what did the doctor say?

He said, "Ah so I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am
I've loved the smell of gum leaves, since I was in a pram
Some places may be greener, but I don't give a damn
'Cause I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am"

I said, "Well can you recommend a nice little Chinese restaurant?"

Then I whistled down a taxi cab and headed for the east
A bad case of the munchies, I was ready for a feast
The driver said "Indian?" I said, "Oh well, I'd rather not"
He said, "Why don't you come around to my place
My curry's rather hot"

I said, "Are you fair dinkum?"

He said, "Oh I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am
I've loved the smell of gum leaves, since I was in a pram
Some places may be greener, but I don't give a damn
'Cause I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am"

Well, I tipped the nice cabbie so he wouldn't make a fuss
I shot out like a bullet and I grabbed a Bondi bus
I said, "Take me to the waves mate, I'm dying for a dip"
He said "Now you be very careful and watch you don't slip

"Oh, are you fair dinkum?"

He said, "Ah by gum I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am
I've loved the smell of gum leaves, since I was in a pram
Some places may be greener, but I don't give a damn
'Cause I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am"

Well everybody's claiming Australia as their own
I'm no aborigine, so I won't point the bone
It shows good taste mate, so I shouldn't moan
If you got a problem, get Al Grassby on the phone

Yeah, we're Fair Dinkum, bloody oath we are
We all love Koalas and singing round the bar
And con somebody's missus to drive the flaming car
Yeah, we're Fair Dinkum, bloody oath we are

Now give me a home where life is what you make
Where I can walk about, just for walking's sake
Where I can tell our leaders to go jump in the lake
But I'll never knock Australia, you make no mistake

I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am
I've loved the smell of gum leaves, since I was in a pram
Some places may be greener, but I don't give a damn
'Cause I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am

I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am
I've loved the smell of gum leaves, since I was in a pram
Some places may be greener, but I don't give a damn
'Cause I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am