Y'all Have A Nice Day (was Waltzing Matilda)

Few Australians know that 'Waltzing Matilda' is owned by an American company. The writer Banjo Patterson will be turning in his grave....he only got 5 pounds for the song.




John Harley Weston is an award winning Australian based singer-songwriter. (John is originally from Scotland - the birthplace of Banjo Patterson's father - but has lived in Australia since 1997).

In 2009 an Australian movie producer asked John if he could use his version of 'Waltzing Matilda'. John was happy to offer the song for a small fee because many well known Australian musicians are to appear on the movie soundtrack. Unfortunately, the New York publishing house that own the copyright of the original song want $10,000. Too steep for a small film production.

If you broadcast 'Waltzing Matilda' in Australia there's no copyright issue. Their laws state that the song is in the public domain...70 years after the death of the author. In America they have different laws. How can that be?

So, John's written a new version of what the song may sound like after a few years of American ownership. All the Australianisms are gone and the song has become a pale immitation. John says, 'This is a bit of a dig at U.S. publishing laws. I've got nothing against America - a lot of my 'favorite' friends and musicians hail from there but come on.....enough is enough....give Australia back 'Waltzing Matilda'. Here's the new lyrics....




Y'ALL HAVE A NICE DAY (Was Waltzing Matilda)
By John Harley Weston (all rights reserved 2008)............

Once a jolly pilgrim,
Camped in a trailer park,
Under the shade of an American oak tree,
And he sang as he watched his U.S. bank account growing,
You'll come a' Waltzing Matilda with me................

Now muffins and pancakes,
Are all were really good for,
The Empire State Building and Golden Gate Bridge,
We aint got no classics to sing around our BBQs,
I guess well have to steal old Banjos tricks....................




So y'all have a nice day,
Y'all have a nice day,
Cause well have a g'day with your royalties,
And he sang as he heard Australian hearts a-breaking,
Uncle Sam's a-Waltzing Matilda with me......................

Well I guess we've got Yankee,
Do...oo...oodle Da...andy,
Maybe we should stick an emu feather in ours hats,
And tell all our Aussie mates or better still our buddies,
Next were coming for your cricket bats..................

So y'all have a nice day,
Y'all have a nice day,
Cause well have a g'day with your royalties,
And he sang as he watched his U.S. bank account growing,
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me...........

Well, what about that brown stuff,
I think they call it Vegemite,
No wait a minute, we already own that,
The Barrier Reef and Uluru, Ned Kelly and the kangaroo,
It wont be long before were wearing Akubra hats..........

Well y'all have a nice day,
Y'all have a nice day,
Cause were redistributing your royalties,
And they sang as they watched their U.S. bank accounts growing,
Uncle Sam is Waltzing Matilda with me......................


Ok, enough is enough. If you wish to print or recite this poem in North America you'll require an expensive license from John Harley Weston. Perhaps we can do a swap for the real version.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Waltzing Matilda
• John Harley Weston
• Y'all have a nice day
• Banjo Patterson
• comedy songs
• funny songs
• AB Patterson
• vegemite
• akubra
• Uluru
• ayres rock
• Australia
• Australian songs
• Australian music
• Australia Day
• Uncle Sam

[letitflythrower]

Hey, So im an American, and even though your making fun of us, ill give it to you that this is very creative, but "mate" you stero-type the "yanks" too much, i think all you know about americans is what you see on the news, which is bogus, but will i enjoyed your song.

[johnharleyweston]

Thanks for your comment 'letitflythrower'. I've been to the US many times and I know there's a lot more to it than my ditty suggests but stereo-types are the best way to get a point across. Right now I'm throwing some prawns on the barbeque, dodging kangaroos, wrestling crocodiles and I'm wearing a kilt - because I'm a proud Scotsman 'downunder' if you know what I mean...ha. Tongue in cheeky.

[johnharleyweston]

This video is a dig at the US publishing laws which seem to outreach Australian laws in relation to copyright ownership of the Australian song 'Waltzing Matlida'. I hope this Americanised version makes us all realise the importance of keeping a hold of our heritage.

[catherine4763]

when are they going to give this singer songwriter more radio play his new album is fantastic welcome back to reality

[StumptownBoy]

Hi John,

I'm from the States and I thought this was an absolute riot.

I'm sorry to hear what happened with the publishing company. Big brother likes to make it difficult for the little guy to do business, even within America.

BTW, we're not just good for muffins and pancakes.

Here, we all cook plenty of hot dogs and hamburgers on our $500+ barbecues, and we're known throughout the world for the birth of the $5 cup of coffee!

Keep fighting the good fight.

Cheers, mate!

[0Natashaizere]

{ smiles } hugs & xx

[pennypen]

Ahh! ;) Awesome John!!! 

That still ticks me off! That song right doesn't belong in the US. Those greedy sons a b's!

[christopherhmong]

I second Stumptownboy.

[valois5]

Suddenly I feel no shame when I'm downloading the latest Hollywood movies ;-)

[tezwoman]

we have given them Vegemite, Victa Lawnmowers and now those yanks are taking away our Matilda!!

Stand up Australia!!!