A Political Lullaby

Hushaby, my Bendigo

A newspaper article says that "considerable interest centres in the Prime Minister's personal intentions regarding the next elections. He is wavering. Although Mr Hughes is "nursing" Bendigo with special care, he has studiously refrained from stating definitely that he intends to be a candidate for that seat when the elections are held."

Hushaby, my Bendigo,
    Do not fret and fuss,
If I nurse you over long
    I may miss the bus.
Do not cry and pipe your eye,
    Bendigo, my baby;
I'd love you if it paid me to:
    But Billy is no gaby.

Remember how I loved you, child,
    In days when you were worth it;
If you yet have some love for me,
    I wish you would unearth it.
Just show me plain that once again
    You care as once you used to.
-Ask me to love you still, my child,
    And—I might be induced to.

Remember who is nursing you,
    It's Billy, baby. Billy!
So cease your cries and wipe your
    eyes;
Shut up! And don't be silly!
You may regret it if you let
    Some other man adopt you;
And it might hurt, you little flirt,
    If suddenly I dropped you.

Hushaby, my Bendigo,
    Cease your silly pulling.
I would ne'er desert you, child,
    Billy's only fooling.
(What a foolish child it is—
    Silly little fretter.
I'll adopt some other kid
    If it pays me better.)