History of Australia (1851–1900) drovers, stockmen and shearers were popular during the 19th century. Convict and bushranger verses often railed against government tyranny. Classic bush songs on such themes include: The Wild Colonial Boy, Click Go The Shears, The Dying Stockman and Moreton Bay. For much of its history, Australia's bush music belonged to an oral and folkloric tradition, and was only later published in print in volumes such as Banjo Paterson's "Old Bush Songs", in the 1890s. The lyrics of Waltzing Matilda, often regarded as Australia's unofficial National anthem, and a quintessential early Australian country music song were composed by the poet Banjo
The Fox (folk song) The Fox (folk song) The Fox is a traditional folk song (Roud 131) from England. It is also the subject of at least two picture books, "The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night: an old song", illustrated by Peter Spier and "Fox Went out on a Chilly Night", by Wendy Watson. The earliest version of the song was a Middle English poem, dating from the 15th century, found in the British Museum. Typical lyrics are as follows: In Joseph Ritson's "Gammer Gurton's Garland" (1810), the song is recorded (under the name "Dame Widdle Waddle") thus: The cover of the