from The Guardian article -

SONS OF AUSTRALIA written by prolific English music hall composer Felix McGlennon in 1900, during the Second Boer War.

lyrics & audio

VERSE 1

Sons of Australia
Hear the Mother calling
Calling to her boys who’re
Scattered far and wide
Sons of Australia
Hear those insults galling
She who bore you wants her offspring
Standing by her side
Bred for fighting, built to stay
Never yielding, never knew the way
When they defied our Mother
Threatened with their guns
Did they think that such a grand Old Mother had no sons?

CHORUS
Did they think that England stood alone?
Have they heard how to her side we’ve flown?
Sons of Australia
Strike for your Empire Grand,
Fight as your Mother taught you to,
For the dear old land


VERSE 2

Sons of Australia
Are your pulses thrilling?
Thrilling at the chance to thrash
Your Empire’s foes
Sons of Australia
How your ranks are filling
As you think of Motherland
Your hearts’ blood quicker flows
Pluck and muscle, blood and brain
Born of heroes linked in Empire’s chain
Proud of your grand old birthright
Glorious and free
Mighty Monarch of the Nation’s ruler of the sea

CHORUS
Did they think that England stood alone?
Have they heard how to her side we’ve flown?
Sons of Australia
Strike for your Empire Grand,
Fight as your Mother taught you to,
For the dear old land

VERSE 3 (not included in this recording)

Sons of Australia
Read your Empire’s story
How your Father’s built it
Shall that Empire wane?
Sons of Australia
Ne’ver must fade their glory
Vow what gallant sires have fought for
Their sons will maintain
Heav’n hath willed it
Tis decreed world wide
Rulers we the grand old breed
We who have fought for freedom
Scorning all things base
Must fulfil our destiny
To be the ruling race