Invercargill March - Lyrics

Lyrics

In the 1920s, lyrics were written to the tune by an Australian postmaster, Frank Baker Murn. Murn's wife Edith Murn was a recording artist for the Mastertouch piano roll company in Sydney, and since policy was to print words on the rolls for sing-a-longs wherever possible, Murn often obliged by writing lyrics when none were available. Invercargill radio announcer John O’Connor recorded these words but they were impossible to sing by others due to not fitting in with the Band music. There were also other known lyrics as well. International Military Music Society member and former Invercargill resident Gavin Marriott re wrote some of Frank Baker Murn's words to reflect Invercargill and Alex more and to make the song fit into the Band music. These lyrics have been approved by Alex's family and are now the official lyrics, handed over to the Invercargill City Council for the tune's centenary in 2009.

Though I've sailed overseas from Invercargill
Theres a yearning strong that calls me back to Southland
Where in childhood days, I used to play and be
part of a local music family.

Joyous hours playing with the Garrison Band
Concerts and contesting all around New Zealand
And marching down to Dee Street, in the southernmost town.

The memories, of childhood, and playing tunes, I loved to learn
Someday I will return, to mountains high and green leafed fern
Oreti Beach, Waihopai, an Oyster feed, from Foveaux Strait
I cannot wait to see, who greets me, at Bluff port gate.

Invercargill is, the only place that I adore
And my old band pals, I long to see them all once more
Soon my ship will be, returning from the deep blue sea
To my dear old home, the gem of all the Southern Seas (x2).