Poem

A Mate Can Do No Wrong

by Henry Lawson · 1915

We learnt the creed at Hungerford,    We learnt the creed at Bourke;We learnt it in the good times,    And learnt it out of work.We learnt it by the harbour-side    And on the billabong:“No matter what a mate may do,    A mate can do no wrong!”
He’s like a king in this respect    (No matter what they do),And, king-like, shares in storm and shine    The Throne of Life with you.We learnt it when we were in gaol,    And put it in a song:“No matter what a mate may do,    A mate can do no wrong!”
They’ll say he said a bitter word    When he’s away or dead.We’re loyal to his memory,    No matter what he said.And we should never hesitate,    But strike out good and strong,And jolt the slanderer on the jaw—    A mate can do no wrong!
Sources, publication & text notesReference details
Canonical recordPOEM-000188
Copy-textLawson — My Army, O, My Army! and Other Songs (1915); selected digital copy-text retained exactly; first-edition scan controls manifestation and meaningful layout under D-180/D-208
Source recordSRC-000071
Rights determinationRGT-000422
Text statusCANONICAL TEXT READY
TranscriptionDIPLOMATIC_D208_D180

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