St Thornbill's

["Wendy" <>]

For  Ricki
and all Birders,

Wendy M

CAROL OF THE BIRDS

Words by JOHN Wheeler
Music by William G. James

Out on the plains the Brolgas are dancing,
Lifting their feet like war-horses prancing:
Up to the sun the wood-larks go wing-ing
Faint in the dawn-light echoes their singing

*Orana! Orana! Orana! To Christmas Day.

Down where the tree-ferns grow by the river,
There where the waters sparkle and quiver,
Deep in the gullies Bell-birds are chiming,
Softly and sweetly their lyric notes rhyming

Orana! Orana! Orana! To Christmas Day.

Friar-birds sip the nectar of  flowers
Currawongs chant in wattle-tree bowers;
In the blue ranges Lorikeets calling
Carol of bushbirds rising and falling

Orana! Orana! Orana! To Christmas Day.



* ORANA - Aboriginal word meaning "Welcome"


>From The Famous Australian Christmas Carols, First Set
Copyright 1948