June Tabor-The Band Played Waltzing Matilida

[danvers0549]

To all my australian & new zealand & Irish& Indian & Ghurka friends - this song is just a SAD tribute to you all - YOU made a tremendous contribution to our freedom - Without you we would not be here

[HopeWithPandora]

A song to strum one's heartstrings... and a voice that can melt even the most frozen...

[ToniMorgan1000]

Beautifully sung

[theprintmaking]

Wow



[MagicJickJack]

One of the most powerful anti war songs I have ever heard, stunningly sung!

[erniebeggs]

So Great that you forget there are no instruments except for THAT voice.other great versions by Liam Clancy ,The Pogues.Do people really listen to the message in anti-war songs?

[TheWesteros]

Genuinely enough to bring tears to one's eyes - I was lucky enough to see JT live - she is incomparable.

[EDDIEJAMES238]

Powerful stuff for all those who served or are serving, anywhere.

[Shtove]

Wonderful singer, but this doesn't give me the chills like the Makem & Clancy version. Has to be sung by a man?

[infradig8]

Devastating song ...wont be played at any ANZAC rememberence

[88888Adriana]

ANZAC day comes and goes.........We must NEVER forget those that died for us to give us our freedom every day of our lives...we are free because of those that died.

This song..That June sings without music haunts me....What can be wrong with humankind, that leaders still let power go to their heads to ruin the world??

Mother Nature is bad enough at the moment

Rabbit...you know who you are..This song..changed my life...I thank you :)

Lest we forget...........no matter what day it is

[tSp289]

@88888Adriana Never forget them, of course. But also we should not glorify war. Not every soldier dies for a good cause, and that is what this song is about.

If we are too eager to wave our flags and go to fight then it devalues the sacrifices that have been made in the past and are still made today. We should only go to war when we have a damn good reason, and we should not think that because good people are fighting for a cause that it is just. Soldiers do as they are told.

[pkohnwaitrose]

To celebrate ANZAC day, remembering the young who lost their lives and

dreams in that terrible period of history and who still face the might of

the war machine today.

[rockinroy555]

Watch, listen and weep. Salutes to those brave heroes of Suvla Bay! Very few songs about the Great War for shame.

[MagicJickJack]

Superb. The simplicity of her wonderful, unaccompanied voice is perfect for the pathos of this great song.

[XXXPaulJXXX]

The Pogues did an excellent version of this song.

[rdvqc]

To quote John Munro from his book "The Emigrant and the Exile" -

"Years later when Eric and I spoke of June's version we agreed that it was and remains the best interpretation ever recorded.".

This from the 2 folks that have probaby sung this song the most - most often together.

[lorsujan]

So hauntingly true - and we never learn.

[poetryandbeyond]

June Tabor sings the finest version of this great song.

[funfinder27]

Is ther any GREAT song this woman can't make her own-PLease may these talents be brought to New Zealand !!!

[PoitinCZ]

Ah. The tradegy is it ,never ends.

[waldo2358]

This should be played at recruiting stations everywhere. So should Slaughterhouse-Five be required reading.  Tears either way.

I've heard many versions of this, but June's is by far the finest.

[danvers0549]

To whovere.

This is apretty lovely mix..Thanks

Please more of the wonderful JT (& silly sisters)

[danvers0549]

To whovere.

This is apretty lovely mix..Thanks

[diggerjbg]

This never fails to bring tears to my eyes, June is without doubt one of our best singers.

[ysbaddaden2003]

It's seems so often it's the old soldiers who hate war the most.

[redcrowdemon]

Wonderful - and perceptive comments. Thanks...

May I also put in a small word here for the Pogue's punk-folk take on the song from their 'Rum, Sodomy and the Lash' album of '85... I agree that JT's version is a definitive and tear-jerking landmark, but when Shane sings it I actually believe he was there at Suvla Bay (albeit too pissed to even pick up his rifle..)

[regenhopser23]

the best version ever!!!!

[Flixbentley]

Remember seeing her do this at Redcar Folk Festival ...... reduced me to tears

[Cotdail]

Christ almighty. Wow.

[gubsak55]

When ever I visit the killing fields of Verdun this song by Eric Bogle springs to mind just as his No Man's Land or Harvey Andrew Hello Hans. June's sad voice is ideal to the song. Perfect!

[silverbonn]

Thanks for posting this... (Joan Baez' & the Pogues being the only other versions I knew). FYI: a "Matilda" is Aussie for a backpack or a bedroll or, even MORE aussie slang, a "swag." This song & "The Great Mandela" are, imho, the two greatest ANTI-war songs made...(But, evidently, not "great" enuff for us to learn the Lesson!) Again, many thanks...

[Lisnageeragh]

@silverbonn The late Liam Clancy made a good recording

[piers4954]

@Lisnageeragh The Gaburlunzie version is also up there with the best

[Lisnageeragh]

@piers4954 Thank you! Hadn't heard their version ..very good indeed ...probbly better than Clancy who , like so many of the rish in the various revivals , falls towards too much acting and perhaps loses the musical balance somewhat.