A great Eric Bogle number, which like all Bogle material should be sung infrequently. Written a bit over 20 years ago, it's the first (and last) of his songs I've performed. But don't get me wrong, I'd prefer to declare 1999 a Lennon-McCartney free year if that was possible. Absence makes the heart...

AUSSIE BAR-B-Q

When the summer sun is shining on Australia's happy land
Around countless fires in strange attires you see many solemn bands
Of glum Australians watching as the lunch goes up in flames
By the smoke and the smell you can plainly tell that it's barbie time again.

CHORUS

When the steaks are burning fiercely when the smoke gets in your eyes
When the snags all taste like fried tooth paste and your mouth is full of flies
It's a national institution it's Australian through and through
So come on mate and grab your plate let's have a BBQ.

The Scots eat lots of haggis, the French eats snails and frogs
The Greeks go crackers over their moussaka and the Chinese love hot dogs
The Welshmen like to have a leek, the Irish like their stew
But you just can't beat that half cooked meat at an Aussie BBQ.

There's flies got to the margarine, the bread has gone rock hard
The kids are fighting and the mossies are biting, "Who forgot the Aerogard?"
There's bull-ants in the Esky and the beer is running out
And what you saw in Mum's coleslaw you just don't think about.

And when the barbie's over on your homeward you wend
With a queasy tummy on the family dunny many lonely hours you'll spend
You might find yourself reflecting as many often do
Come rain or shine that's the bloody last time that you'll have a BBQ.

Translations

snags - sausages
Aerogard - insect repellent
mossies - mosquitoes
Esky - portable ice-box
dunny - toilet

Regards
John