Ordinary man Lyrics

Fight for the rights of the ordinary man

Fight for our rights, we'll do everything we can

Doing our best for all the rest of the ordinary people

Yes we'll make a stand for the ordinary man

At Eureka diggings back in 1854

Many of the workers were unhappy with the law

The mining fees were crippling

Dissent was everywhere

The Joes took half the license fines

The system was unfair

Fight for the rights of the ordinary man

Fight for our rights, we'll do everything we can

Doing our best for all the rest of the ordinary people

Yes we'll make a stand for the ordinary man

Hundreds took the licenses and threw them on the fire

Next day some arrests were made with tensions rising higher

The miners gathered timber and overturned some drays

And built themselves a Stockade which they manned for several days

Soldiers came from Melbourne but the miners were resigned

Armed themselves with guns or used whatever they could find

Lalor said prepare my boys, the writings on the wall

So underneath the southern Cross they promised that they'd all

Go and

Fight for the rights of the ordinary man

Fight for our rights, we'll do everything we can

Doing our best for all the rest of the ordinary people

Yes we'll make a stand for the ordinary man

Early in the morning as the sun began to rise

The infantry and cavalry were mounting a surprise

Before the miners knew it, the fighting had begun

Woken from the sleeping by the firing of a gun

They fought bravely but despite the efforts that they'd made

Soon the police and mounted soldiers broke through their Stockade

Casualties were many, their tents were set ablaze

Some escaped but some returned to fight in other ways

Fight for the rights of the ordinary man

Fight for our rights, we'll do everything we can

Doing our best for all the rest of the ordinary people

Yes we'll make a stand for the ordinary man

Finally came to victory they'd all been waiting for

All remaining prisoners were released and furthermore

License fees abolished, the miners right was won

Martial law went out the door they showed what could be done

If you

Fight for the rights of the ordinary man

Fight for our rights, we'll do everything we can

Doing our best for all the rest of the ordinary people

Yes we'll make a stand for the ordinary man