I Still Call Australia Home

Peter Allen wrote and performed ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ in 1980 for the first time!

The song tells of the longing of an expatriate for his homeland.

Allen, who had been married to Liza Minnelli, had lived in the US for a number of years.

He had started his performing career in the early 1960’s with the Allen Brothers, a popular cabaret act, before being discovered by Mark Herron, the husband of Judy Garland.

‘I Still Call Australia Home’ has divided opinion within Australia, with many regarding it as ‘too schmaltzy’, while others regard it as a moving tribute to the country.

Qantas has claimed the song as its own, changing the names of some of the cities as their routes changed over the years.

I have included two versions here, one sung by Peter Allen himself, and the other by the called the Qantas Children’s Choir

Peter Allen was born February 10, 1944, and died June 18, 1992.

The Boy from Oz, a musical based on Allen’s life, opened in Australia in 1998.

The show was an outstanding success, and in 2003 opened on Broadway. The Boy from Oz was the first Australian musical ever performed there.

Allen was played by Hugh Jackman who won a Tony Award for his portrayal in 2004. More About Peter Allen

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I trust that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed posting it. I’ve written in response to someone who recently took it for granted that I was a US citizen.

While I have a great respect for America, and have many friends from that nation, I’m Australian through and through!

As a result of the misunderstanding, I’ve decided to present posts that show something of my own country.

The Song Lyrics…

I’ve been to cities that never close down,
from New York to Rio and old London town.
But no matter how far or how wide I roam,
I still call Australia home.

I’m always travelIing, I love being free,
and so I keep leav’n the sun and the sea.
But my heart lies wait’n over the foam,
I still call Australia home.

All the sons and daughters spinning ’round the world,
away from their family and friends.
But as the world gets older and colder,
it’s good to know where your journey ends.

But someday we’ll all be together once more,
when all of the ships come back to the shore.
I’ll realise something I’ve always known,
I still call Australia home.

But no matter how far or wide I roam,
I still call Australia I still call Australia, I still call Australia home.
But no matter how far or wide I roam,
I still call Australia I still call Australia, I still call Australia home.