Waltzing Matilda

"Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's most widely known bush ballad, a country folk song, and has been referred to as "the unofficial national anthem of Australia".

The title is Australian slang for travelling by foot with one's goods in a "Matilda" (bag) slung over one's back. The song narrates the story of an itinerant worker, or swagman, making a drink of tea at a bush camp and capturing a sheep to eat. When the sheep's ostensible owner arrives with three police officers to arrest the worker for the theft (a crime punishable by hanging), the worker commits suicide by drowning himself in the nearby watering hole, and then goes on to haunt the site.

The original lyrics were written in 1887 by poet and nationalist Banjo Paterson. It was first published as sheet music in 1903. Extensive folklore surrounds the song and the process of its creation, to the extent that the song has its own museum, the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton, Queensland.


Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolabah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,
Down came the troopers, one, two, three,
"Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?"
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
"Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?",
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong,
"You'll never take me alive", said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me."
"Oh, You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me."

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Waltzing
• Matilda
• Australian
• Folk
• Song
• Bush
• Ballad
• Qantas
• Music
• Dinosaurs
• Sheep
• Opals
• Cattle
• Jolly
• Swagman
• Bilabong
• Jumbuck
• Tuckerbag
• Banjo
• Paterson
• tourism
• Winton
• Queensland

[SuperCulloden]

I prefer the traditional version we were taught in school all those years ago in Scotland ... to me, THAT melody was Australia.

While touring the Eastern United States and Canada three years ago, it was my pleasure to meet a good number of Australians doing the same thing, they said that Australia was changing: perhaps the "New and impoved" melody heard here was part of the change that they were not too excited about.

However, the video showing the town and surrounding area was really great.

[OzPix]

@SuperCulloden Thanks for your interesting comment, but I think this can be said for much of the world today, everything is changing, and unfortunately not always for the best. Glad you enjoyed our video.

[beebutterfly09]

Great history and an excellent animations!!

Thank you.

[OzPix]

@beebutterfly09 Thanks very much, pleased you enjoyed it

[EVELYNEMIL]

This is great!!.

[OzPix]

@EVELYNEMIL Thanks glad you liked it

[OzPix]

@sherrywine1941 Thanks Sherry, glad you liked it and ty bigeeezy for share

[sherrywine1941]

Loved it !! Great song..Great video. Proud to say I own a few of those opals.

2 thumbs up.

Thanks to bigeeezy for sharing this.

Sherry

[OzPix]

@piratessadeimari Thank you for the nice comments, so pleased you are enjoying our movies.

[piratessadeimari]

Dear Robar, as always, congratulations!

Thanks for make us discover customs and traditions in Australia!

Greetings from Italy