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For heavens sake dont listen to my raucous version of this wonderful song if you have just watched the lovely wistful versions by the likes of Liam Clancy or the writer himself, Eric Bogle!
My interpretation is of an old Aussie veteran of the Gallipoli landings, singing away, somewhat ruefully, on his sunlit porch.
The first part of the song captures the youthful exuberance and innocence of young men, from all walks of life, setting off to war, as if on a great adventure.
Then comes the reality and carnage and finally the cynical old sod resigned to live with his shattered body and remember his lost youth and friends..
What happened at Gallipoli?..In 1915 the First World war had reached stalemate in Europe, with both armies facing each other in trenches that stretched from the English Channel to the Swiss border.
The Allied leaders saw what they thought was a weak point and decided to try and go round the enemy lines via the Dardenelles and the Black Sea.
A massive naval bombardment was supposed to destroy the enemy positions and the Australian and New Zealand infantry(Anzacs) had their first action in the war as they were landed, at the foot of steep cliffs, in Suvla Bay on April 25th.
Unfortunately, Turkish troops were too deeply entrenched on the high ground and thousands of men were killed on both sides before the allies were withdrawn in early 1916. ANZAC Day is celebrated on 25th April each year.
Gallipoli casualties:
UK: died - 21,244, wounded -- 52,230
France: died - 10,000, wounded - 17,000
Australia: died -- 7,594, wounded -- 20,000
New Zealand: died -- 2,701, wounded -- 4,546
India: died -- 1,358, wounded -- 3,421
Newfoundland: died - 49, wounded -- 93
Ottoman Empire: died -- 55,801, wounded -- 140,000
Total (both sides): died -- 99,893, wounded -- 237,037.
LYRIC......
1)Now when I was a young man I carried me pack
And I lived the free life of the rover.
From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback,
Well, I waltzed my Matilda all over.
Then in 1915, my country said, "Son,
It's time you stop ramblin', there's work to be done."
So they gave me a tin hat, and they gave me a gun,
And they marched me away to the war. And the band played "Waltzing Matilda,"
As the ship pulled away from the quay,
And amidst all the cheers, the flag waving, and tears,
We sailed off for Gallipoli.
2)And how well I remember that terrible day,
When our blood stained the sand and the water;
And of how in that hell that they call Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter.
Johnny Turk, he was waitin', he primed himself well;
He showered us with bullets, and he rained us with shell --
And in five minutes flat, he'd blown us to hell,
Nearly blew us right back to Australia.
But the band played "Waltzing Matilda,"
And we stopped to bury our slain,
Well, we buried ours, and the Turks buried theirs,
Then we started all over again.
3)And those that were left, well, we tried to survive
In that mad world of blood, death and fire.
And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive
Though around me the corpses piled higher.
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head,
And when I woke up in me hospital bed
And saw what it had done, well, I wished I was dead --
Never knew there was worse things than dying.
There'll be no more "Waltzing Matilda,"
All around the green bush far and free --
To hump tents and pegs, a man needs some legs,
No more "Waltzing Matilda" for me.
4)So they gathered the crippled, the wounded, the maimed,
And they shipped us back home to Australia.
The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane,
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla.
And as our ship sailed into Circular Quay,
I looked at the place where me legs used to be,
And thanked Christ there was nobody waiting for me,
To grieve, to mourn and to pity.
But the band played "Waltzing Matilda,"
As they carried us down the gangway,
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared,
And some turned their faces away
5)And so now every April, I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me.
And I see my old comrades, how proudly they march,
Reviving old dreams of past glory,
But the old men march slowly, old bones stiff and sore,
They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask "What are they marching for?"
And I ask meself the same question.
But the band plays "Waltzing Matilda,"
And the old men still answer the call,
But as year follows year, more old men disappear
Someday, no one will march there at all.
Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda.
Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
And their ghosts may be heard as they march by the billabong,
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?
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The Band Played Waltzing Matilda - Liam Clancy [21/21]by IrishandFolkmusic30,042 views
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