37. The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (Eric Bogle)

[its4it]

Nice version mate. Have you ever had any feedback from Eric Bogle regarding your version?

[raymondcrooke]

@its4it No, but so many people sing his songs that I don't think he'd have time to notice most of them.

[its4it]

@raymondcrooke Hey Raymond, do you respond to all the comments you get? Seems to me you really care about your fans.

[raymondcrooke]

@its4it As many as I can. Thanks for subscribing.

[55DepotStreet]

Could you tune that damn thing? All that talent and you can't tune six strings... Lord man, where is your ear?

[raymondcrooke]

@55DepotStreet That guitar could not be tuned. I don't use it any more.

[mtbmatt18]

Bravo! A beautiful song, done proper justice. 

[raymondcrooke]

@mtbmatt18 Thank you. It's one of my favourite songs.

[TheFlyslip]

I remember singing this song in primary school in the early 1980s. It still gets me in the heart every time I hear it.

[raymondcrooke]

@TheFlyslip It affects a lot of people that way.

[deanoqld]

At least the last line of the last verse never came to fruition. Even though we loose diggers, their children and their children's children still march. Our nation is a proud one, and honour them well I think.

[TinyFlix]

This song does a good job of not disrespecting the Turks.

The Turks let us visit Gallipoli every year.

The Australian have a statue of the Turkish leader on the beach facing back to Gallipoli.

Unlike the American sense of racism for the enemy, Australians and Turks respected each other even as they fought to kill each other.

The song also respects what a man feels when he returns broken from a war.

This is what it is to be a true soldier and this is how it is for a dumbstruck public

[raymondcrooke]

@TinyFlix Thanks for your perceptive comments on this great song.

[williefoley]

Great. Like it. Must learn the words.

[raymondcrooke]

@williefoley Thanks for watching. It's a great song.

[classican]

Excellent!!!!!

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks for your video response.

[cariboumech]

Very good cover, Enjoyed it.

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks for watching.

[lollies93]

after watching the movie Galloplli you understand where this was coming from

[hilly1690]

god bless the brave men who fought and died in Galloplli

[captstrang]

very nice mate, well played, touching stuff.

[raymondcrooke]

Thank you.

[lordroad]

And the Band played Waltzing Matilda remains one of the most powerful songs I've ever heard. Also one of my favorites. I'll never forget the first time I heard it. During a lecture at college. Audio was added over a very early and graphic world war 1 movie. Thank you for keeping this important song alive.

[raymondcrooke]

It has always been one of my favourites. A very powerful song which has special significance for Australians.

[wildchild1962]

Good one Raymond well sung, you inspired me to record my own version, you are singing well mate on this version, it's a hard song to sing. regards Trev

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks, Trev. Nice to know you actually like one of my songs. I look forward to hearing your rendition.

[wildchild1962]

No mate after trying to learn it I realise you have done a sterling job and credit where credit is due. I don't think I did as well but I tried.

[bjbjbjbjbj]

nice one ray

which chords are you using?

i got a version in 'a'

ie a,d e

[raymondcrooke]

You can find the chords on my website - see the information box. Click on "My Folk Songs" and you'll find Eric Bogle under "Singer Songwriters."

[SWSMD]

A great song and well sung. I have made it one of my favourites. Keep it up Raymond. God bless.

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks for your comment. It is indeed a great song.

[alpha153]

It will be sung on Saturday no doubt

LEST WE FORGET

[raymondcrooke]

I'm sure it will, and should continue to be sung for many years to come.

[BamaToon]

This is possibly the greatest anti-war song of all time. Written during the Vietnam era but about WW1, it brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. I'm a student of history, so this song has special meaning to me. My Aussie friend introduced me to it, and he says I can sing it better than he can now. I think he's full of shit, but there it is.

[raymondcrooke]

Thanks for your comment, and for putting this in your favourites. I think this is my favourite song of all time. Bogle gets his message across perfectly in these lyrics.

[Rochsolloch]

Written by a Scot born in Peebles.His songs are great.

I think it's sad reading sectarian comments on this site.

[jackbruzlad87]

dont worry about those other fuckwits mate it sounds good, keep at it.

as for you irish losers, how about you stop paying people out through your keyboard your embarassing that shit that you so proudly call "home"

irland has no songs about their pride because you are all fucks and no1 gives a shit about you all.

keep it up mate

[urabampot]

PS...tune that fuggin thing

[raymondcrooke]

That guitar was untunable. I don't use it any more.

(I seem to be repeating myself.)

As for your other comments, I don't know who you are talking to or what you are talking about. I am an Australian singing an Australian song about Australian war heroes. What does Ireland have to do with it?

[urabampot]

oh,and my moms from Wishaw,and my Dads from Larkhall you hateful orange bastard!!!...tell me i dont belong to them...you FUCK!!!...do somthing for your country...being born there isnt enuff!!!...Plastic Paddy...your a useless shit!!!...Fucking Englishman in Plaid skirt....SHAME!!!...free the stolen lands...you fuckin freeloader!!!

[urabampot]

you SOB!i am pisse,sry one sec,i have to turn your music off..ok..when the black slaves were taken from africa,and raped into the white race,did that make them any less african?..my bloody is 100% Irish you SOB,an i love my native land,even though i was born in Canada of my fathers own free will..how dare you insult my grndfathers you self-rightous bastard...wat have you done for Ireland recently?..how dre you insult my ancient family ...Irish is about blood,not soil you stupid SOB..how dare u!

[redearthblue]

I was about to post a comment apologising for my previous comment, and then I watched your clip again. If you do not want to grow, do not accept negative comments

[turdmaster880000]

What instruments do you play or songs do you sing reb? I'd love to hear some of your creative work.

[redearthblue]

Dude, it's like you are singing about buying spuds from a market, but i doubt you can do better.... never knew they were worse things than dying? You singing this song you fking chancer... try turning the dial down 25% and actually caring about the song

[brownycrevice]

Dude, tune your damn guitar! Shit effort.

[raymondcrooke]

That guitar was untunable. I don't use it any more.

[SirCoughsalot]

I love this song. Thanks for this one. Just a little thing I thought I'd throw in here, it might sound a bit better if it was a little slower. I dunno. Anyway, great job, great song.

[raymondcrooke]

Possibly. I sometimes do sing it a little slower when I do it live. But it's already seven minutes long! Thanks for your comment.

[ceolnaghra]

I gather eric wrote this song?, Liam Clancys version is so much better!!!

[krabby10]

OMG - cant be worse - guitar not in tune - happy singing...

[Bradspain]

Aus casualties 26,111, 1007 officers 25,104 OR. Of these, 362 officers and 7779 men were KIA, died of wounds o disease.

Not 50,000 killed but the ozzies were renowned for their sheer guts and determination and it was suggested that they got more of their fair share of the worst battles as the Generals new that they might succeed where the battleweary brits might not. NZ troops and Canadians were used similarly. Thats not to say the UK and Irish troops were less brave, just knackered.

[hiram13pm]

Some of us here in the US remember our REAL allies. God bless those men.

[spudseamus]

no i like the jolliness of a young man off on an adventure !! bring it back at the end --say at "i as meself the same question"

[mark160673]

am Scottish, Campbell by birth, Aussie by the grace of god, my great great grandfather was from wooloomooloo, he built a house there, and the heritage of Australia is to be recognised, the Anzacs especially.

[sullym11]

nice voice. but it should be less jolly. and tune up man! you've got a really nice version in the making! keep it up.

[kaizersaid]

Well done Raymond AND my sympathy goes out to the families of all those brave Australian soldiers that perished.

Bugandflea

[TrashPoet]

dont drop your Sympathy on one Part of the Drama.

Australian and Turkish Familys lost their Sons.

And i think no one of them knewed what they are fighting for.

We can just learn and make it better in Future.

[BamaToon]

I'm sitting here, a Yank who was not even alive at that time, and I'm in tears. I love this song. Gallipoli made the Australian army into a fighting force to be proud of, and I love them for it. I'm not even Aussie, and I wasn't alive at that time, but I feel the pride in me all the same. I love the ANZACS for what they did in Turkey those long bloody weeks...

[jmhendersonsr]

@BamaToon My oldest son, 23 this year, played a version of this song as we drove home to Northern Virginia from North Carolina. It was the first time I'd heard it, or realized that I was hearing it. I cried.

Being gracious and decent, he didn't shame me for my tears, and I know he understood them.

[geekaypee]

Thanks

Equally good. Bogle is great, and you are a superb interpreter.

"Soon no-one will march there at all"

Keep it alive!

I went to Villeurs Brettoneux on Anzac Day 2 yrs ago.

They remember.

Thanks

GP

[babybookworm003]

the message to this song is powerful

[MrEkshin]

He sounds sweet.

The material sounds better from Shane and the Pogues.

Shane sounds like an everyday grunt on the lines. Shane sounds like he was there. I can imagine it better.

These smoothly sung lyrics have no pathos. No power. It's almost silly.

Well, the world isn't fair, or I'd be dating Scarlett Johanson.

Peas. :)

[steplo01]

I have to agree, shane's version brings tears to my eyes...

I'm off to see the Pogues tonight, I hope they play it...

[liedestroyer9]

this life, beyond america has forgotten,

america, has it grown too late

to be what god intend?

[wtfiswrongwitya]

great song and great job of singing again raymond. one of the first songs of Eric bogle's that I heard. use to think it was the saddest song i ever heard. still up there. you make it easier to listen to tho cause i like your singing so much. thx for posting this. xx

[gezzad]

A brilliant song Pretty good voice but your guitar strings are flat and out of tune

[greyxwolf]

your tune sounds pretty good to me but i am just a nobody who likes your sound...men find faults in everything one shall attempt perfection is no road to happiness

[greyxwolf]

you ever see the movie maddog morgan based on true story.i will get it out today....have great week as cold november rain starts

[therealbeaker]

Tune that thing please.

[kayjay83]

Liam Clancy also does an excellent version of this song as well - the words are powerfull enuff wihtout alot of added comnent -

[rabg06]

i love eric bogle .. n am only 15 .. a like your version

[mmcs122]

Very lovely version. ;)

[buththay]

Great song,well done thanks for posting.

[coliban]

Thank you Eric.

You gave us on of the things, that are worth to merg in the heritage of mankind : A song.

(nevermind that your guitar is not in tune :-)))

Thank you

[raymondcrooke]

You're welcome, but I'm not Eric Bogle - just one of his fans. I'm sure his guitar would be in tune. :-)

[HaulAwayJoe]

Great song love it!

[IrishChief007]

great Bogle version is sick because its his song, however i like the pogues version better because shaynes voice captures the depressing mode of the song perfect

[JUSTIN83JUNE]

This is some serious shit mate, this aint no idol song. You better be serious about this because this is a national song for soldiers and citizens..

[FullFrontalGraphic]

Eric Bogle very kindly allowed me to use an edited excerpt of this song for my video "America, Leading the World", it's here on YouTube and the full resolution version is at archive dot org ... you can find it by googling "insane president amok" if you are interested. Even though the events of this song are factually incorrect, the song is true nonetheless. Eric Bogle's own version is still the best, though the song has been done by everyone.

[johnchallam]

This is NOT his song...it's a cover of an original that was sung by a 1980's legend of AUSTRALIAN ballads! The original was polished. It honestly made grown Australian service men and women cry and it is a travesty that this man is handing you the rights to a song that is owned by the ANZAC LEGEND. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do yourself the honour of finding the original and you will not only hear and see...you will FEEL the difference.

[raymondcrooke]

Are you saying this is not Eric Bogle's song or not my song? When I do my own songs, I put "original" in brackets. When I do covers I put the composer's name. FullFrontalGraphic is referring to Eric Bogle, not to me. Of course his is the definitive version.

[SUNDIAL69]

First heard this song a few months ago (thanks Mike Harding).I defy anyone to listen to it & not feel a lump in their throat.Well done for posting.

Only one winner in war...the undertaker.

[rethguals]

Good stuff

[rmd0911]

My grandfather was at Suvla Bay and was gassed on the Somme and this song and Willie McBride always bring a tear to my eye!!!!!!!!

[thejunkyardbear]

thanks for your posting

[lamerdavid]

i head this in a pub in Ireland my first time, one of the best songs for real. better live!

[captnwinky]

loved it right mix of sadness and madness

[womblelancs]

Eric Bogle is one of the best songwriters ever. However, I still prefer June Tabor's version of this song :o)

[pixiedust7659]

Although you don't have the lilt in your voice like Eric has, I really enjoyed it!

[sunarav]

love the song but by far my favorit version is by the pogues, the singer has such a great voice.

[fiddleandstrum]

Great Version of a great song. Thanks for posting. Check out my version, which is a little different. I have long been a fan of Eric Bogle's songwriting.

[Alenephoenix]

God Bless you for doing this video. This WAR in Iraq has such pointless killing. And there are always more Wars it seems. I've loved this song since I was a child, and am now 47!

[Nikaidoh66]

It's never pointless to kill a Mohamedan; if you're ever in Iraq see if you find my eye.

[JUSTIN83JUNE]

What, dont be lying now. I know alot of ppl in Iraq. ( alot ) so please tell me where u are ( tallil, as samawah ) dont fukn lie. Aussie soldiers that is..!! Im an EX Aussie soldier.

You better not be lying about this shit mate.