It was the man from Ironbark who struck the Sydney town,
He wandered over street and park, he wandered up and down.
He loitered here he loitered there, till he was like to drop,
Until at last in sheer despair he sought a barber's shop.
"Ere! shave my beard and whiskers off, I'll be a man of mark,
I'll go and do the Sydney toff up home in Ironbark."
The barber man was small and flash, as barbers mostly are,
He wore a strike-your-fancy sash he smoked a huge cigar;
He was a humorist of note and keen at repartee,
He laid the odds and kept a "tote", whatever that may be,
And when he saw our friend arrive, he whispered, "Here's a lark!
Just watch me catch him all alive, this man from Ironbark."
There were some gilded youths that sat along the barber's wall.
Their eyes were dull, their heads were flat, they had no brains at all;
To them the barber passed the wink his dexter eyelid shut,
"I'll make this bloomin' yokel think his bloomin' throat is cut."
And as he soaped and rubbed it in he made a rude remark:
"I s'pose the flats is pretty green up there in Ironbark."
A grunt was all reply he got; he shaved the bushman's chin,
Then made the water boiling hot and dipped the razor in.
He raised his hand, his brow grew black, he paused awhile to gloat,
Then slashed the red-hot razor-back across his victim's throat;
Upon the newly-shaven skin it made a livid mark
No doubt, it fairly took him in — the man from Ironbark.
He fetched a wild up-country yell might wake the dead to hear,
And though his throat, he knew full well, was cut from ear to ear,
He struggled gamely to his feet, and faced the murd'rous foe:
"You've done for me! you dog, I'm beat! One hit before I go!
I only wish I had a knife, you blessed murdering shark!
But you'll remember all your life the man from Ironbark."
He lifted up his hairy paw, with one tremendous clout
He landed on the barber's jaw, and knocked the barber out.
He set to work with nail and tooth, he made the place a wreck;
He grabbed the nearest gilded youth, and tried to break his neck.
And all the while his throat he held to save his vital spark,
And "Murder! Bloody murder!" yelled the man from Ironbark.
A peeler man who heard the din came in to see the show;
He tried to run the bushman in, but he refused to go.
And when at last the barber spoke, and said "'Twas all in fun'
T’was just a little harmless joke, a trifle overdone."
"A joke!" he cried, "By George, that's fine; a lively sort of lark;
I'd like to catch that murdering swine some night in Ironbark."
And now while round the shearing floor the list'ning shearers gape,
He tells the story o'er and o'er, and brags of his escape.
"Them barber chaps what keeps a tote, By George, I've had enough,
One tried to cut my bloomin' throat, but thank the Lord it's tough."
And whether he's believed or no, there's one thing to remark,
That flowing beards are all the go way up in Ironbark.
In a published book
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AB Patterson's " The Man from Ironbark
I have always loved this poem but this is the first time I have actually read it and understood the whole story. It certainly told the story of those times and good old Aussie humour comes to the fore. -
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For guest Sylvia and others
MOD MESSAGE
In Britain Sir Robert Peel, as Home Secretary was responsible for setting up the metropolitan Police Force which was copied throughout England. These took over from the Bow Street runners and similar organisations in many places.
Their nickname in England was originally Peelers and this would have been known to the Australians settlers (forced and otherwise) hence the use of the term peeler man in this poem.
Jim
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Haircut & Shave in Cairo!
From guest Hilary (contact)
Oh, a funny story to tell you from Cairo from our son - 'Last night I went to the barbers for a haircut in preparation to attend the Dawn Service at Heliopolis this morning. After the hair cut the barber asked if I wanted a shave. As I was fairly stubbly I said yes. So he went to work with the cut throat razor - funny thing was, on the TV on the wall was an Islamic service and they were reading from the Koran. There were English subtitles under it, so I got to see what they were saying. When it got to the part about the infidels being ungodly and the enemy of the Muslim and how because of their wicked ways they would be cast into the hell-fires, I became decidedly uneasy about a Muslim standing over me with a straight blade razor at my throat!! Got the chuckles actually! Anyway, survived it and the shave was great!!!! Brought to my mind the great poem Dad used to recite 'The Man from Ironbark' -
great poetry & aussie humour
From guest Peter Bardsley (contact)
At 66 I'm getting a new enjoyment from Banjos fine poetry possibly kindled by Slim Dusty & friends that sang on the country music show on ABC.on sunday--- I dont suppose he wrote Ironbark Jim --- I"d love to get the words but cant find them at all -
I like the man from ironbark.
From guest Brendon March (contact)
well the man from ironbark is a really good poem because i at school was learning the poem and i was doing stanza 3 and we all had to dress for the poem and i did a really good job for that and i got a B+ for my assesment. -
Song Versions
From guest Leon Knight (contact)
I have heard a fabulous sung version of this on vinyl by a pair of musicians from Melbourne (approx 25 years ago), lots of other great Aussie humorous poems on it also set to music, including a magical rendition of the Man from Snowy River - if it was re-released on CD it would be sensational..!! -
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Quite a few people have recorded songs whoch were originally poems.
There was a group called 'Waltzing Matilda' about 1975 who did a 2 record (now on cd) of many Paterson and Lawson poems - brilliant songs whoch began their life as a brilliant idea from our 2 most famous colonial poets. Barry Humphries did a one-man Banjo Paterson show and he 'was' Paterson - brilliant rendition of Banjo's poetry. It's great that their poetry, words and thoughts live on.
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the man from iron bark
From guest brian (contact)
for anyone interested, this poem has been made into a song, and sung by slim dusty (now sadly deceased), he of great australian fame. very nicely sung too. -
creator of new words
From guest Lorraine Humohris-North (contact)
Lorraine humphris-north again Please excep ny spelling in my below comments, I am a creator of new words, tha sounds better then a bad speller does it not -
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for guest Lorraine
You are able to edit your comments if you need to make changes to spelling etc.
Von - Oldpoetry Team
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Old Poetry
From guest Lorraine Humohris-North (contact)
My name is Lorraine Hupmphris-North. I am writting tour site. I guessed I would not have bothered excet for the ABC Radio I was listing to about how the are of being able to recite a poem is becaming a thibg of the past. I had forgotten what a great poem "The Man from Ironbark " was then I got myself lost in your web site. Before I knew it was lunch time -
The Man From Ironbark
From guest Lucielle (contact)
It is a great poem!! I had 2 do it for a school play and it was easy 2 learn!!! -
Saudi friends Joe and Bill
From guest joseph collier (contact)
My Australian mate, Bill Monger, recited this stuff, to me. one night, in Saudi Arabia, on the beach at Haql, near Tabuk - far from everywhere. It lifted my heart then and made me laugh and, over the many years since, I`ve often remembered and tried to recall and recite it, poorly and mostly to unwelcoming ears, but it still always makes me smile and, reading it tonight, alone from adult company, with my wife working night duty and, with my three children sound asleep upstairs, it has, again, made me laugh and feel somehow at home and connected, however distantly, with my best friend. If you read this Bill, know that I love you - but not in a gay way! Your friend. Joe. Aberdeen. 21st February 2009 -
it rox
From guest mikaela zammataro-suter (contact)
my name mikaela zammataro-suter. i am 10 years old i am in year 5 my teachers name is mrs moberg she rox. the man from ironbark rox -
From guest Rita (contact)
It still makes me laugh, it did when I was eleven and still, now that I`m much older. What a great heirloom to pass onto the next generations. -
AWESOME IT ROCKS
From guest KATY HAWKINS (contact)
HI MY NAME IS KATY HAWKINS. I AM 10 YEARS OLD.I AM IN YEAR 5 MY TEACHER NAME IS MRS MOBERG. SHE ROCKS AND SO DOES BAnJO PATTERSON FOR WRITING. my best friend is rachel me and rach think the book rocks. -
Flowing Beards are all the go way up in Ironbark – and is it any wonder .with Larrikins like the barber in town Poor man must have been in fear for his life. I just love this. Von.
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A tune was attached to this poem some years ago by Wallis & Matilda and it's just great - so easy to remember as a song. it has a wonderful larrakin nature to it and I can really imagine this happening back in the mining towns when they had to make their own amusement.
As per usual of course (and I know I'm slight biased toward this man) it has his usual flair and style, perfect metre as always and just so hard to beat.
Wonderful Banjo, simply wonderful!
Von -
Great
From guest Sara (contact)
Hi, I think the man from Ironbark is great i enjoy it sooooooooooooo much -
Man from Ironbark
From guest Nicholas Chapple (contact)
When my family and I went to a place called Winton, we got to meet Milton Taylor, who got my dad up to the Man from Ironbark. It was hilarious because my dad kept speaking out of turn. -
One of my favourites
I remember reading this as a child and it has stayed as one of my favourites. Paterson is also one of my favourite poets. -
True Blue, Mate
this is an aussie poem at its best. and when read with the accent, it just gets better.
I Say: Go The Aussie Poets!!
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A personal favourite of mine - the visual pictures make me laugh
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