Said the soldier to the Surgeon, 'I've got noises in me head
And a kind o' filled up feeling after every time I'm fed;
I can sleep all night on picket, but I can't sleep in my bed.'
And the Surgeon said,
'That's Lead!'
Said the soldier to the surgeon, 'Do you think they'll send me back?
For I really ain't adapted to be carrying a pack
Though I've humped a case of whisky half a mile upon my back.'
And the Surgeon said,
'That's Lead!'
'And my legs have swelled up cruel, I can hardly walk at all,
But when the Taubes come over you should see me start to crawl;
When we're sprinting for the dugout, I can easy beat 'em all.'
And the Surgeon said,
'That's Lead.'
So they sent him to the trenches where he landed safe and sound,
And he drew his ammunition, just about two fifty round:
'Oh, Sergeant, what's this heavy stuff I've got to hump around?'
And the Sergeant said,
'That's Lead!'
I am busy working to bring Banjo Paterson's "Swinging the Lead" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Banjo Paterson's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Swinging the Lead" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.