Old Bush Songs–Edited by A.B.Paterson 1905

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939)  Sat 17 Feb 1906  Page 20.

"The Old Songs, Composed and Sung in the Bushranging, Digging, and Overlanding Days," edited by A.B. Paterson (Angus and Robertson, Sydney).—

   Mr. "Banjo" Paterson expresses the object of this volume as "to gather together all the old bush. songs that are worth remembering," and in his preface adds, "Apart from other considerations, there are many Australians-who will be reminded by these songs of the life .of the shearing sheds, the roar of the diggings, townships, and the camp fires of the overlanders. The diggings are all deep sinking now, the shearing is done by contract, and the cattle are sent by rail to market, while newspapers travel all over Australia ; so there will be no more bush ballads composed and sung, as these were composed and sung, as records of the early days of the nation. In their very roughness, in their absolute lack of any mention of home ties,- or of the domestic affections, they proclaim their genuineness. . "Attempts to ascertain the names of the authors have produced contradictory statements, and no doubt some of the songs were begun by one man and finished or improved by another, or several others." In the volume the older generation of Australia will meet many old friends such as "The Old Bullock Dray." "Paddy Malone in Australia," "The Old Bark Hut," and " The Wild Colonial Boy."