If you know me, you know I have been thinking a lot about Australia recently.

I have fallen in love with the songs of Eric Bogle, who is probably the best folk singer who isn't that well known in this country, and one of his songs -- a criticism of what has happened in his country in recent decades -- could easily be adapted to the U.S.

"Well, once jolly swagmen went humping their swags and stuffed jolly jumbucks down in their tucker bags. These days, jolly junkies go on house-breaking jags and steal to buy the poison they need while the swaggie, he just wanted a feed."

And who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?
Hey Banjo*, this country's not what it used to be
We've changed all your words, and re-written your score
And it's "Waltzing Matilda" no more.

Once Henry and Mary, on a warm afternoon
Rowed down Reedy River to the broad bright lagoon
The song of the river is a long vanished tune
Since they built the uranium mine
And what's left is just toxic slime

And who'll come a-walting Matilda with me?
Oh, Henry, this country's not what it used to be
Days pass with a whimper, and not with a roar
And it's "Waltzing Matilda" no more.

Well, we cut down the trees, and the land we reclaimed
We ploughed and we planted, then we ploughed it again
And again and again, and again and again
So that now on a hot windy day
We can watch our topsoil blow away

And who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
The desert is marching down to the sea
On the day that it stretches
From shore to shining shore
We'll go waltzing Matilda no more

Saturday night outside a King's Cross hotel
There stands our future, and it's halfway to hell
Kids with hard drugs and young bodies to sell
Hey Australia, what progress we've made!
We've come a long way, since Diamond day

And who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
Hey Anzac*, is this what you fought to keep free?
A land fit for heroes, or junkies and whores?
And it's "Waltzing Matilda" no more.

And who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
This country could still be what we want it to be
Perhaps one day soon, the dream will be restored
And we'll go Waltzing Matilda once more
We'll go Waltzing Matilda once more