Paul Kelly
A Bastard Like Me (For Charlie Perkins)
[Verse 1]
I was born in the bush
Near old Alice Springs
As far as you get from the sea
My mother was a fighter
My daddy was too
He never knew a bastard like me
My brothers and sisters scattered like the wind
From the desert and the hills to the sea
Much too young, many died
But I have survived
So lucky a bastard like me

[Refrain]
So lucky a bastard like me
I have survived a hell of a ride
Nobody knows a bastard like me

[Verse 2]
Call me a stray
A dog every day
Call me a mongrel half-breed
And mongrels are strong
So if you take me on
Better watch out for a bastard like me
[Refrain]
Ohhhh
You better watch out for a bastard like me
I fought all the way
I fight every day
You can't stop a bastard like me

[Verse 3]
I've taken my licks
I've taken my kicks
I am a man of degrees
I wear the scars
I earned them so hard
Every day in the lucky country

[Refrain]
Ohhhh
Every day in the lucky country
I've taken my licks
I've kicked against the bricks
Oh try and stop a bastard like me