Carol of the birds
Out on the plains the Brolgas are dancing
Lifting their feet like war horses prancing:
Up to the sun the woodlarks go winging
Faint in the dawn light echoes their singing
Orana! Orana! Orana! to Christmas Day.
Down where the tree ferns grow by the river
There where the waters sparkle and quiver,
Deep in the gullies Bellbirds are chiming,
Softly and sweetly their lyric notes rhyming.
Orana! Orana! Orana! to Christmas Day.
Friarbirds sip the nectar of flowers,
Currawongs chat in wattle tree bowers;
In the blue ranges Lorikeets calling—
Carols of bushbirds rising and falling
Orana! Orana! Orana! to Christmas Day.
Words—John Wheeler, Chappell & Co Ltd, London & Sydney