I Am, You are, We are Australian

"I am Australian" was released in late 1980s by Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton. It is a song that celebrates unity in diversity, recognising differences in ethnic background and remembrance of its history. It recognises significant events and icons in Australia's culture, history and spirit and many reflects and 'Australian identity' within the iconography of the song, which in itself is an Australian icon. This song was written very recently, thus contains many parts of Australian society which older poems and folk songs do not mention, such as women in society and aboriginal culture. This song contains no prejudice and promotes a patriotic Australian uniqueness internationally to the rest of the world, but more importantly, ourselves, of whom we can identify ourselves with these Australian qualities and culture.

The first stanza of this song starts off with the Dreamtime and the introduction of an Aboriginal as he watches the arrival of the first ships on the shores of their land. It is very mystical and chaste, whilst the second verse is spoken through the thoughts of a convict as he arrives at this new colony and becomes a freeman, reflecting how Australian began as a convict settlement more than 100 years ago. This is the very start of Australian history, where throughout the rest of the song, we go through a transition of Australian events continuing with the gold rush era, to the depression. "The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road," refers to Australia's beginning as a small convict colony, and growing up as a nation. This third stanza ends with the line, "I'm a bushie, I'm a battler, I am Australian" identifying the true Australian spirit with pride.

The content of the chorus represents pride in our unity as a nation and also our diverse multiculturalism. The chorus is really what brings the nationalistic emotion of which this song portrays. Here cultural differences are acknowledged, but they are submerged into national identity. Also, during