If England wants a hand, well, here it is

This 1915 recording of If England wants a Hand, Well, Here It Is is sung by Harrison Latimer. The lyrics were by Englishman Charles Vaude (1882 - 1942), a major figure in Australian vaudeville. He established arguably Australia's most popular patter act, Vaude and Verne, with Bill Verne (Will Warrington) during the 1910s and 1920s. The tune was written by Joe Slater (1872 - 1926), a music publisher and prolific songwriter who first established himself as a singer in Sydney during the early 1890s. He found his greatest musical success during WW I writing patriotic ballads like this one. If England Wants a Hand, Well, Here It Is was used on the soundtrack of the 1981 Australian feature film Gallipoli.

If England Wants a Hand, Well, Here it is - lyrics

The name and fame of old England

Is threatened by foes today

Our liberty, our destiny,

Is in danger, so they say

Comes a message o’er the ocean

A message to our sunny land

England calls Australia’s soldiers

We must answer her command

If England wants a Hand, well, here it is

If England wants a Hand, well, here it is

They’ll show the enemy they’re as hard as nails

The boys of Victoria and New South Wales

South Australia and the West, my lads

Queensland and Tazzy know their biz

So, by the dear old Motherland

They will proudly take their stand

If England wants a Hand, well, here it is

The bugles are loudly calling

The drums they are calling too

So rally round the flag, my lads

Show the world we’re Britons too

Down with tyrants, now, forever

Keep our dear old flag unfurled

Show our foes the British Empire

Is a big thing in this world

If England wants a Hand, well, here it is

If England wants a Hand, well, here it is

They’ll show the enemy they’re as hard as nails

The boys of Victoria and New South Wales

South Australia and the West, my lads

Queensland and Tazzy know their biz

So, by the dear old Motherland

They will proudly take their stand

If England wants a Hand, well, here it is