The Pogues - And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (LIVE!)

[MrLian81]

To Peterlawler1, the beautiful thing about music is that people can take any song and make it mean anything they want. It's not for you to decide. Try not to be so pompous, if it's possibe.

[jak649]

Liam Clancy does an incredible version of this song

[shesgonesailing]

Well Done, I tip my glass to the Pogues! Very old song , and they did it with respect!

[billywhizztransit]

@alexis It's an anti war song written by Eric Bogle who also wrote The Green Fields of France. The Dubliners also did this song but in my eyes The Pogues do the definite version of this.

[AlexisHarrington]

This song is heartbreaking and so true. They didn't teach me much about WWI in school and it wasn't until I did some research for a book I wrote that I learned what a horrible, bloody, pointless mess it was. A tragic, nightmarish event that should never happened and thanks to everyone, including Shane and the boys, for letting the story be heard.

[bluegibby7]

Are u still believing in that fairy tale u r grand father told about a united Ireland ( with tears in eyes )may I add as big Ian said never , never , never ,

[LeTallec1980]

FUCK eNGLAND FREEDOM TO NORTH IRELAND!!!!

[sandgropper6]

One name ERIC BOGLE..It has heart and soul..A rememberance song to those who died in ww1.This song can be called on by Brits and all nations of that former empire but mostly written for Aussies and Kiwis ( not for getting there were poms there as well my grandfater was there with them)after there Turkish effort at Gallipoli.

[mara66M]

Godbless all who fought and died in D gr8 war,D war 2 end all war's D slaughter of gallipoli,D western front,D trenchs,D kids who were 15yrs old many lied about there age 2 fight for King and Kaiser,and country,We must never forget them,D shellshocked that were shot for cowardice When they were such hero's,N so innocent. Godbless them all.

[crafty9990]

@mara66M Thats both one of the best and worst replies I've ever seen on YouTube. the sentiment is there and you know what your talking about but the use of text speak cheapened it something shocking!

[mara66M]

@crafty9990 yeah i do agree with you when i see it now, i shoud've wrote reply in full words and left out the numbers given the nature of the subject, my Dad loved this song and would've agreed with you,He played it all the time before his death from cancer,His uncle's fought in that terrible conflict. Thank you for your reply.

[kidragakas]

"this is a sad one... It's about dead Australians..."

Gee mr. Blunt... Sensitivity?

[nightfireadam]

I have to admit, their studio version is better and he did miss a verse! :| also the audio was out of sync with the video especially after all that production! Didn't they know how to sync audio with video? surely it can't be that fucking hard! 1 of my pet hates. Good song though. Could've done it sober though out of respect to Eric Bogle and the many people who lost their lives!

[peterlawler1]

Forget Green Day or any other band that covered this.This is not an anti war song. It is an Australian song about our young men in WW1, telling it like it was. I know most of you don't understand, but read the lyrics, it is about the Gallipoli campaign and the returned servicemen that attended the ANZAC day marches and how inspiring and futile this all was. I don't mind that other people find solace in the lyrics, but it is ours and you shouldn't take it for your own agendas

[TourTheLoire]

@peterlawler1 "Conceived in 1971, the song was meant to be an anti-Vietnam War protest. Ironically, Vietnam veterans would later adopt it more than any other vets."

From an interview with Eric Bogle. So yes, an anti war song.

[gaconnochie]

@peterlawler1 The song was written by a Scot who emigrated to Australia when he was 25 years old and he wrote it within his first two years of living there. It was on his first album "Now I'm Easy" as was his other famous anti-war song "No Man's Land". So yes it is an Aussie song but it is not exclusively an Aussie song. In my opinion just looking at the lyrics, and taking into account some of his other songs, and his last verse, it is obviously an anti-war song. Pro-soldier but anti-war.

[bobdevo]

@peterlawler1 : Not an antiwar song? Are ya daft man, that's exactly what it is

[johnnysligo]

missed a verse ya dick

[Nytowl7]

Worst version of this song ever, John Williamson's version is the best.

[FionaGillen1]

I like Green Day but they shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence with "punk" and "The Pogues" and I think they might agree.

[hanshotfirst1138]

God, Shane is so young. And sober too. Such a sad remind of what kind of a destructive spiral he hit later on, but what a genius he was, and his towering legacy can he heard in so many bands today and he's left us some of the best music ever.

[dsmith6289]

Yes war sucks but some times not fighting is worse. Like when the aggressor does not feel you are not Muslim enough so therefor you must die!

[niallwhite1969]

Damn, Shane is so young in this one

[chris68able]

this is terrible no questions about it.

[kwinny09]

the truth hard as it may coming from a belfaster growing up in oz rock on shawn and th pouges

[xr6lad]

LOL - don't know whats scarier - the audience needs an explanation or the singer saying almost half heartedly ' this is about dead australians' - all class...

[anmvamp]

@xr6lad the singer? dude, its shane macgowan, get a clue.

[TheBuns643]

@anmvamp

[TheBuns643]

@anmvamp your a sad boy

[anmvamp]

@TheBuns643 cuz im not retarded? ok

[youthgoes]

One of my favorites by the Pogues...really illustrates the tough times that the Aussie boys faced at Gallipolli during WWI! R.I.P. ANZAC, and down with pointless wars.

[joshuarosenblatt]

why the fuck are we discussing Green Day?

[HudsonRiverBoy]

Incredible song by a brilliant band. I like the Pogues version better than any other. It's too bad they cut out the most heart-wrenching verse in this performance though.

[jimfredmaxken]

Written by a Scott/Aussie about Australian troops at Galipolli in WWl.

[phil2003ashleigh]

Echo arena Liverpool 2009. The Pogues proved their sublimity yet again.  Shane bladdered yet again sang like 25 years ago. Professional, inspirational and ****ing magnificent as ever.

[TheJamesenoch]

@lejandko

Written by a Scot...Eric Bogle

[lejandko]

Written by an Aussie...

[1826marty]

RIP MATILDA I LOVE YOU< give em HELL in VALHALLA

[welshperson123]

i love shane and his voice, fair play to him..

[69johnholmes]

McGowan a genius? Stretching things slightly!

[StripeyTinca]

The emotions this song provokes are as relevent today as the subject matter that it covers from ninety or so years ago. It's the content of the song that counts and as long as it is played in a respectful manner it doesn't matter who sings it. Ok, can I get down from way soap box now?

[bartonim]

One of the worst sacrifices in any war. As a Canadian, I can relate--we lost so many lives in both wars, too, but this was truly a sad, sad event for Aussies and Kiwis. My most heartfelt to you all.

[MartinRaetzJr]

I hear it the first time now and I'm impressed. Graet music.

[bawjaws777]

should be poignant in light of the fkn UK government apologising for sending hundreds of thousands of wee children to the other side of the world and telling them they were orphans.................not so funny now.

[bawjaws777]

heaven.  shane is a poet................

[parksy010101]

Didn't write it, lard.

[niettevragen]

Come one people ! they are both fine artists and their style is different cause the way people express them selfs is different than others. I love both versions. I heard Pogues version first 2 years ago. Now i heard Liams version. and it is heardbreaking. Who is better and who not is a personal question, so enjoy them both ;)

[fliphendry]

Mikecollins please don't write The Pogues off as 'pisspots', Shane MacGowan is one of the greatest lyricists of all time and should not be written off as a mear piss-head. I agree that the Liam Clancy version is better, however for me the definitive version of this song is by The Dubliners, sung by the later Ronnie Drew.

[Northstander]

@fliphendry Spot on, MacGowan will probably only be appreciated after he is no more, as is often the way with the greatest artists in any discipline.

[mohollywood]

going to find the Tabor version, just to compare... this is the first version I ever heard, back in 1990. I've got to give kudos to Eric who wrote it, but Liam, is the man, puts shivers up my neck. Great tune, period.

[mikecollinsRR]

Eric Bogle wrote it & Liam Clancy's version is much better than these pisspots

[daychris76]

written by Eric Bogle...

[manbearpigno1]

this song is so good don't think the pogues wrote in fact i know they didn't but they make it their own

[MrGlynny]

Do they BOLLIX - search for Liam Clancy - then yee'll know.

[mangofrank35]

remember having to learn this song in lower primary school (probably John Williams' version?) - love this one; sounds really irish.

[mikeyfish100]

Saw them the other night in San Fran at the Regency ballroom, brought an American mate, and we danced, they were very, very good, shane was drinking water, I believe, well probably not, but..you know...LOL

[dac186]

Agreed. I've listened to other renditions, and The Pogues' is my favorite. This here, is this a live version, or is the album or single version put over the video?

[doublemartiny]

Apologies Eric but the Pogues do this song best. Shane has an edge.

[surreal12]

... but one HAS to know the song in the first place! Otherwise it sounds like a bloodly SLOW durge ...

Love Eric. love Pogues, but June Tabor knocks the bollocks off the latter .. QED: June rules. big lov x!

[ShaniaMacFree]

When I hear that song I get always the creeps cause I hate fuckin war but I love the Pogues

[bmcgeown101]

mo chara Shane meet you some time for de session O MURCHU slan

[hinamauka]

Love Shane. Too bad he doesn't drink. LOL.

[wuzcloopin]

Good ol Shane

[powerbarz]

Green day can shove their holiday up their arse, this is an anit war song the way it should be!!

[hanshotfirst1138]

@powerbarz Maybe if Green Day listened to this and some Dylan they'd know how it's done.

[DaChiefXD]

@powerbarz I completely agree. I personally love both Green Day and the Pogues, and I saw Green Day (they did a damn well job). But between holiday, yeah its a anti war song. But this. Well this isn't just a mess of power chords. This has heart.

[hanshotfirst1138]

@powerbarz This REAL punk rock, people who've lived the lifestyle and means it and not just use it to sell records.

[powerbarz]

Have u never heard of the Pogues till now like? :O

[torrentine]

the name of the band covering this song is quite funny... pogues, can be a cognate for potg's aka person's other than grunts lmaoooo

[nseagoon71]

Pogue Mahone = "kiss my arse" in Gaelic

[robbz88]

up te republic

[cyrilish]

simply one of the best version

[splitbabyniblet]

greatest anti-war song ever...

[cunningsophie]

@splitbabyniblet I agree-long may it be played.

[kipperhouse]

Saw Eric Bogle, the composer, last night in concert. He finished with this one. Hardly a dry eye in the house. One of the finest songwrwiters of modern times. He's doing his final tour of the UK this Summer, so see him if you can.

[liam4384]

what a fucking drunk great genius!

[CPunk1703]

America was there to bail out the mess of Europe

[stu106]

They Americans were completely untrained and usless for the entire first year they were there. They didn't bail anyone out.. Infact they had to be trained by experiacned Bitrish and Canadian soldiers. Even had to borrow steal helmets. Not to bash Americans, they did definatly play a part in ww1. But your comment its unimformed and stupid.

[tomvar53]

Not to be mean, Stu, but your spelling of the English language is embarrassing? Perhaps you are from Quebec? I agree the US troops had to go through a learning curve, but so did the continental soldiers at the beginning of the war. We also had to borrow French machine guns that often jammed in combat and airplanes.

[stu106]

I was quite drunk when I wrote that comment. I wasn't trying to offend, just correcting.

[nettiegirl56]

so many forget there were kiwis there to...my grandfather a runner of messages down the trenches..just 19... how he lived to come home and be a father to his family God only knows...all I know is he never talked of it.

[kikibooooo]

my great grandfater fought in the somme and verdun..and the odd time he did mention the war or his the medals he won he would wake up screaming in the midlle of the night...the war took a toll on him ...its horiific thing

[TheEvoNut]

It's about dead Australians.

It sure f..cking is.

[LeeByung245]

What year was this recorded/performed?

[tomvar53]

Shane still has some teeth, so I would estimate the mid-80s.

[SkyShaw]

Probably, yeah. Plus I think around the early to mid 90's is when he started to swell up, probably from edema.

[LaZafra1]

gallipoli was tragic indeed, just like this video

[dabluz1125]

If the movie Galipoli is true, then the men knew the campaign was going to be suicide before they even started. The commanders made them go anyway.....

[drummiedan]

A great piece of film...must be very rare!

[stat1791]

I first heard this song done by Liam Clancy along time ago and I have always loved it---somthing about the rawness of this version makes it much more immediate.

[ArchieMoore]

Mark Latham wrote a piece about the ANZAC myth today in the Financial Review. Quite a few people are recognising this NEW ANZAC day for what it really is!

[foldedjono]

Hawke wrote an email to Kevin Rudd about Galipolli. Whilst he said that the sacrifice that our brave men made at Galipolli he also outlined that Galipolli campaign in general was a disaster and the War wasnt really our war and he said that as Australians we should equally be celebrating the war in PNG and Kokoda Trail campaign. Was pretty interesting. ANZAC day highlighted the true spirit of the Australian soldier.

[alexmonia]

The History Channel has been screening this song along with a montage of pictures of Gallipoli and WW1.

I should upload it on youtube because it goes so well so tragically.

[langevin16]

please do I am sorry  I missed it.

[BigDrunken]

I love that song!!!

[DeksiosGiaPanta]

cool times

[klejscman]

MORON !!!!!!!!!!!

[ih8flys]

fuck yeah australia

[vetosm123]

What sort of retard makes a comment like this?

[theflockofravens]

This song is breath taking...Irish Punk Invasion is unbelievable...

[keyboardrebel1916]

Magic! simply the definitive version! no question about it...

[tmlafrance]

This is a tremendous version of a wonderful song. I salute our ANZAC brothers who still remember what it takes to protect freedom.

MAJ Terry LaFrance

45th IBCT

OIF 08

[andyparse]

i salute you my friend. rip all who have fallen.

[MustangAliFerSure]

Oops sorry Natholi that was a response to Viscious.

[MustangAliFerSure]

Only thing not right Natholi is Shane still has teeth here! lol - but he gives it due respect and I'm glad of that - the song and the message it conveys deserves that.

[DontSprayMeBro]

their backpacks were called matildas. to waltz matida (carry your pack) you needed legs.

("for to hump tent and pegs, a man needs two legs")

[deepwatertree]

good one Brother ;)

[zooyorkd]

Thank You.

[Natholi]

It still rings true... although it was an anti-war song it still radiated the courage those men displayed... and ho Aussies are still displaying that similar courage... another VC to add to the ranks! Fucking Waltsing Matilda!

[Vicious4737]

First time I've heard this live, and I love it, just a shame Shane didn't sing all the verses... And somethings not right about it, I think Shane is too sober....

[AKL1980]

As a young Los Angelean Yank with Irish blood who's lived in Oz, this song really moves me, especially as a history, film and rock n' roll buff. Hope that's alright and not seen as cheesy nostalgia or some form of anglophilia. Is "Aussiephile" a word? Either way, good on ya Shane!

[celtic02170]

gifted

[bentleius]

It is about Gallipoli, but it was written as a metaphor for Australia's pointless involvement in the Vietnam War

[johnno75]

Stunning song. Another Eric Bogle special. One of Scotland's finest song writers. The stuff he wrote about The Great War is so descriptive and a great protest against wars and empires.

[Cannook]

Always liked this song . It's played alot on Nov. 11th . Remembrance Day . GrandFather introduced me to this song.

Diana, Canada .

[DanVath]

Wow, Shane actually looked sober.

[LHSMonst3r]

This might be an Aussie song, but I think Pogues does it justice... And for the record, this song is about the battle of Gallipoli where both british and aussie soldiers suffered and died side by side... Great song and great version

[AlexTheMightyOne]

its an aussie song by an aussie who was originally from scotland

[hanjobb]

this is the best. every word is spat out with emotion and it is an australian song but he sings it with the pain ans sorry suffered by the oppressed irish during the rising

[chouchou2903]

vraiment genial

[addtamx]

Gotta say, I love Shane and the Pogues, but this is an Aussie song and Slim Dusty really does it so much better.

And I'm not an Aussie BTW.

[quiff56]

this song is so fucking sad,but i love it.

[Boomer8080]

This is really good. Cheers.

[Natholi]

Aye Rhinoglen :o)

[RhinoGen]

The experience of the Australians as recounted in this song can be said to have been mirrored in my country, Canada. Both nations have a remarkably similiar history and cultural mix.

[PILGARLIC42]

Absolute cracker from the bold shane...great post...ty.....sean.

[Natholi]

Shane MacGowan berathed this song.. I love his version...

[widgit007]

No offence, this song does deserve better. Good on them for exposing it to people who might not otherwise have encountered it though.

[pattywolford]

This boy looks bored, almost apologetic for singing it. This song deserves better.

[heffo67]

As far as I'm concerned it's the saddest song ever written. Brings a tear to my eye everytime I've heard it sang. The cost of War.

[Natholi]

We haved learned we ARE Australian mate

[Natholi]

-d the on have... sorry.

[mrjameson2007]

A fine story...so sad so true. And have anyone learned a thing?