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Complete poem, also known as “Bertha” , written by Henry Lawson (1867-1922) about his daughter “Bertha Louisa Lawson”, born in 1900. Lawson’s wife was also called Bertha. The poem was published in 1902, so Barta was only 2 years old when this was written.
Tune by Chris Kempster. (1933 – 2004)
Strings by Mikhail Bugaev.

lyrics

Barta (1902)
by Henry Lawson ( 1867 – 1922 )
------------------------------------
[V.1]
Wide solemn eyes that question me,
Wee hand that pats my head —
Where only two have stroked before,
And both of them are dead.
'Ah, poo-ah Daddy mine,' she says,
With wondrous sympathy —

Ah, baby girl,
you don't know how
You break the heart in me ! (x2)
--------------------------------------------
[V.2]
Let friends and kinsfolk work their worst,
And the world say what it will,
Your baby arms go round my neck —
I'm your own Daddy still !
And you kiss me and I kiss you,
Fresh kisses frank and free —

Ah, baby girl,
you don't know how
You break the heart in me ! (x2)
-------------------------------------------
[V.3]
I dreamed when I was good that when
The snow showed in my hair,
A household angel in her teens
Would flit about my chair,
To comfort me as I grew old;
But that shall never be —

Ah, baby girl,
you don't know how
You break the heart in me ! (x2)
---------------------------------------------
[V.4]
But one shall love me while I live
And soothe my troubled head,
And never hear an unkind word
Of me when I am dead.
Her eyes shall light to hear my name
Howe'er disgraced it be —

Ah, baby girl,
you don't know how
You break the heart in me ! (x2)
--------------------------------------------
Ah, baby girl,
you don't know how
You help the heart in me !
==========================

credits

from Henry Lawson (the poet in song) Vol​.​3, track released April 10, 2021
Tune by Chris Kempster. (1933 – 2004)
Strings by Mikhail Bugaev.

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The Queensland Tiger

The Queensland Tiger covers traditional Australian ballads mainly from 19C.: e.g. Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson, Breaker Morant, Charles Thatcher, etc…. true to the original works.
website : www.thequeenslandtiger.com or Youtube channel : The Queensland Tiger ... more

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