True Blue – English Lyrics

• By: John Williamson
• Album: The Big Red

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the heart of Australia through John Williamson's "True Blue," a song brimming with Aussie slang and cultural pride. Learn about mateship, resilience, and the unique spirit of the land, all while improving your English and understanding Australian culture. This iconic song offers a fun and insightful way to connect with the values that define a nation.

[English]

Hey, true blue

Don't say you've gone

Say you've knocked off for a smoko

And you'll be back later on

Hey, true blue

Hey, true blue

Give it to me straight

Face to face

Are you really disappearing?

Just another dying race

Hey, true blue

(You can sing with me)

True blue

Is it me and you?

Is it mum and dad?

Is it a cockatoo?

Is it standing by your mate

When he's in a fight?

Or will she be right?

True blue, I'm asking you

Hey, true blue

Can you bear the load?

Will you tie it up with wire

Just to keep the show on the road?

Hey, true blue

Hey, true blue

Now be fair dinkum

Is your heart still there?

If they sell us out like sponge cake

Do you really care?

Hey, true blue

(Here's where you really join in)

True blue (is it me and you?)

Is it me and you? (Mum and dad)

Is it mum and dad? (Cockatoo)

Is it a cockatoo? (Standing by your mate)

Is it standing by your mate?

When she's in a fight

Or will she be right?

True blue (last chance)

I'm asking you

True blue

Is it me and you?

Is it mum and dad?

Is it a kangaroo?

Is it standing by your mate

When he's in a fight?

Or will she be right?

True blue

True blue

Thank you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
disappear /ˌdɪsəˈpɪər/ B2	verb - to cease to be visible
knock /nɒk/ (UK), /nɑːk/ (US) A2	verb - to strike something noisily to attract attention noun - the act of knocking
smoko /ˈsmoʊkoʊ/ B1	noun - a short rest or break, especially for smoking
disappear /ˌdɪsəˈpɪər/ B2	verb - to cease to be visible
race /reɪs/ B1	noun - a competition of speed
disappear /ˌdɪsəˈpɪər/ B2	verb - to cease to be visible
stand /stænd/ A2	verb - to be in an upright position
fighting /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ B2	noun - the act of engaging in a battle or physical altercation
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood; the center of emotion or affection
load /loʊd/ B1	noun - something carried or to be carried verb - to put a load on something
dinkum /ˈdɪŋkəm/ C1	adjective - genuine, honest, true (Australian slang)
care /keər/ (UK), /kɛər/ (US) A2	verb - to feel concern or interest noun - the effort to do something properly
mate /meɪt/ A2	noun - a friend or companion

Key Grammar Structures

• Give it to me straight

  ➔ Imperative sentence with an indirect object pronoun

  ➔ The phrase uses the imperative form "Give" to make a request, with "it" as the object and "to me" indicating the recipient.

• Are you really disappearing?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence in present continuous tense, expressing doubt or surprise

  ➔ The auxiliary verb "Are" with "you" forms a question in present continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action or state.

• Is it me and you?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence in simple present tense, with inversion of subject and verb

  ➔ The sentence uses inversion of "it is" to form a question, typical in English for yes-no questions.

• Will she be right?

  ➔ Future simple tense with modal "will" to inquire about future state or condition

  ➔ The modal "will" indicates a prediction or future possibility, and "be right" refers to being okay or fine.

• Or will she be right?

  ➔ Question structure with "or" introducing an alternative, using future simple tense

  ➔ The question offers an alternative choice about the future state, utilizing "or" to connect two possible outcomes.