'Paddy', the Sydney Street Poet

Abstract

The extensive literature of broadside ballads in English generally agrees that this form of verse and song has been virtually extinct since the beginning of the twentieth century. The reverse position is the correct one for Australia. There were several street balladists to be found in Melbourne and Sydney, at least, and this article claims premier position for the local and, for the time, topical verses of Patrick Francis Collins. 'Paddy'wrote many ballads about disasters, murders and war, but commented particularly on social affairs and politics from a labour perspective.