Flowerdale Johnny

I came to live in Flowerdale,

‘Twas just a place to hang my hat,
Then I met some folk around the place,
And got involved in this and that.

I went and joined the CFA,

And fought fires round Flowerdale,
And then got sent to Corryong;
Johnny Newchum told the tale.

Then I went away to Gippsland,

And there more action saw;
No longer Johnny Newchum:
Johnny-been-before.

Then Flowerdale was torn to bits,

In flame and fiery roar,
And we lived in the ash and the sorrow,
And I don’t want to go there no more.

We picked ourselves and eachother up,

And started to build anew.
Some weasels tried to slow us down;
We were many against their few.

I kept on going off to work,

Thinking I was right,
And then I met the Blue Dog,
But Flowerdale held me tight.

So Flowerdale kept on going,

And kept on kicking goals,
Despite the piles of paperwork
We’d like to turn to coals.

Now Johnny has been part of this,

Since day-bloody-one,
And Johnny and his mates hung in
To see the job was done.

So, I’m Johnny-won’t-be leaving

And I’m Johnny-staying-here;
In fact, I’m Flowerdale Johnny,
And I think I’d like a beer.