Song Australia
Aussie Aussie Aussie
I am a fair dinkum Aussie
We all are fair dinkum Aussie
Oi, Oi, Oi
Captain Cook’s Aboriginal trace
Changed the whole continent’s face
Black, brown, white, human race
Buddies, mates, our southern place
Harbour Bridge, Opera, face to face
Nation stops on Melbourne Cup race
Oi, Oi, Oi
G’day, Yassou, Konichiwa, Namaste
Buon giorno, Ni hao, Salaam, Cómo estás
Kebab, Pasta, Sushi, Chicken Masala
Every taste of multicultural gala
Positive thoughts, no ill-will rumour
Understand Aussie sense of humour
Oi, Oi, Oi
Gums, grevillea, foxtail palm land
Our kangaroo, koala, cockatoo’s land
All round ocean, Uluru’s red land
Wild flower corals, golden beachy sand
Didgeridoo, dragon, Scottish band
Proudly walking hand in hand
Oi, Oi, Oi
Open heart, compassion, foreign aid
Salute Anzacs, Australia Day parade
Enjoy barby, freedom, not afraid
Our footy, swimmers, cricket brigade
All the champions of every Olympiad
Boparai, we are nation A-grade
Oi, Oi, Oi
‘Manjit (the singing cabbie) goes international’
Stefan Armbruster
[ABC]
August 7, 2006Brisbane’s famous singing taxi driver has hit the international stage with an appearance on the BBC World Service‘s Outlook program.
Many taxi users in Brisbane have already had the pleasure of a live performance by Indian-Australian Manjit Boparai, who is not afraid to belt out a few numbers to his captive audience.
Top of his hit parade is the patriotic, Punjabi-flavoured Song Australia in which he reveals his passion for his adopted country…
He emigrated from India in 1988 and took up taxi driving after moving to Brisbane in the mid-1990s.
Manjit’s hours behind the wheel have already paid off with an SBS Inside Australia feature and appearances on ABC radio in Brisbane.
He is also the subject of an Australian Film Commission-funded documentary due to go into production soon.
If you happen to pull Manjit for a ride, also check out his photo collection – including one of him with the PM – and just try and get away without buying a CD.
Keep your eyes peeled for the SBS-funded, Bollywood-style video which he says will feature Cathy Freeman.
He told the BBC that he hopes to get out of cabbing by the end of the year.
YEAH! I LOVE BALLS!