Songs and the conscription conflict in World War I

Music was an important part of cultural life in Australia during World War I. Brass bands played at recruiting events and marched enlisted soldiers off to war. Where a full band could not be found, a simple drum and fife band might suffice. The National Anthem (God Save the King at this time) was sung at public events and in schools, to inspire patriotism. Its shortened version was often played at the beginning of concerts, or at the cinema, as a mark of loyalty and respect. It was customary (even obligatory) to stand for the anthem.

At a popular level there were songs for all occasions - stirring songs to encourage patriotism ('Australia Will be there'), sentimental songs to console those at home ('Keep the Home Fires Burning', 'Send Me Away with a Smile'), even a few humorous songs like 'Oh it's a  Lovely War', carefully composed to avoid the censor and first performed on the vaudeville stage.  People heard these songs in the music halls, or if they were lucky, on the new phonographs, but most probably learned them around the piano in their own and others' homes. There was a strong trade in sheet music during the war.

Songs associated with the conscription debates

We know a little about the songs sung at conscription meetings, although more about those sung by the 'No' side, than the 'Yes'. That is because the details of 'No' meetings and demonstrations were often recorded by plain-clothes policemen in the audience, looking for proof of sedition. Their laboriously hand-written notes are preserved in the archives and they include references to the songs they heard.

Newspaper accounts sometimes mentioned that songs were sung at pro-conscription meetings.  They included the stirring song of loyalty to Empire 'For auld lang syne, Australia will be there', written for the AIF in 1914 by Walter William (Skipper) Francis and performed for the King in 1915. Pro-conscriptionists sometimes disrupted anti meetings by singing this song loudly, along with 'Boys of the bull dog breed'.

Supporters of the 'No' campaign had access to a range of socialist songs, imported into Australia with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). They included 'Solidarity Forever' and the 'Red Flag', songs that continued to serve the labour movement for many decades. The IWW or Wobblies made great use of song to stir their supporters and to unite them in the workers' cause.

Amongst women of the anti-conscription movement the most effective song of the war was undoubtedly the American anti-war song 'I didn't raise my son to be a soldier'. It was often sung at the start of meetings of the Women's Peace Army by socialist feminist singer Cecilia John.  Her fine contralto voice stirred listeners so effectively that government banned the singing of this song for the duration of the war. Those who persisted in singing it could be arrested - and were.

The recordings - The Victorian Trade Union Choir

The Victorian Trade Union Choir very kindly recorded some of these songs for the exhibition A Nation Divided: The Great War and Conscription. The recordings can be accessed here.

The lyrics as recorded are reproduced below.