From Jindabyne tunnel and ‘round Island Bend
Us boys come to Cooma, our money to spend
And we’ll buy you’s one beer there if you happen to see
Four Italians, three Germans, two Yugoslavs and me
We may not be diggers but we’ll have you know
We’re digging thee tunnels up here in the snow
It’s dark in that tunnel and the work she is rough
By the time it is payday we’ve all had enough
So we rush in to Cooma to have us one spree
Four miners, three fitters, two chippies and me
We pull up in Sharp Street by the Alpine Hotel
If you’ve been to Cooma you’ll know the place well
Before we get inside our order rings out
Four vinos, three schnappses, two slivovitz, one stout
Well I guess a we got a noisy no a harm did we mean
Singing “O Solo Mio” and “Lilly Marlene”
Some Aussies went a crooked, they didn’t agree
With four singing, three marching, two dancing and me
We may not be diggers but we’ll have you know
We’re digging your tunnels up here in the snow
The barman stood up then with a snarl on his face,
Saying (Upper class English accent)
“You Europeans, you’re a flipping disgrace,
Stop drinking those queer drinks if you want to stay here
Become integrated drink our Aussie beer.
So we switched on to schooners and to the bar’s cheers
Sang “Waltzing Matilda” and “Click Go The Shears”
For hours and hours without any cease
‘Till the sudden arrival of the Cooma Police
We may not be diggers but we’ll have you know
We’re digging thee tunnels up here in the snow
We may not be diggers but we’ll have you know
We’re regular swingers up here in the snow
In a furious moment the whole bar was cleared
And no sign remained of those Ausie that cheered
So the coppers lock us in, unfair you’ll agree
Four Italians, three Germans, two Yugoslavs and me
Now we’re back in that tunnel as broke as can be
For it cost us a fortune to bail ourselves free
But before you start laughing let me make it clear
It was worth it Australia for the sake of your beer
We may not be diggers but we’ll have you know
We dig digger beer up here in the snow

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