The Waltzing Matilda Song

Australian Fun Facts - Waltzing Matilda

• The Waltzing Matilda Song is probably Australia's most widely known bush ballad and sometimes referred to as the country's unofficial national anthem.
• Humping the bluey is another term for carrying the swag or waltzing the Matilda.
• Derived from an old Teutonic female name meaning mighty battle maid, Matilda has been used as a slang term to mean a defacto wife who accompanied a wanderer. The Australian Swaggie carried a swag and it was regarded as his sleeping partner - believe it or not.
• The Swagman is an old Australian term that describes a roaming worker who moved from farm to farm looking for that odd job or two. He carried his swag, his blanket that stored his precious possessions and wore a wide brimmed hat that had corks hanging from it to chase off the flies.
• The bush lyrics were written by Banjo Patterson in 1895.
• The ownership of this rousing bush ballad is still held in great dispute. For a full run down and update on this on going battle I refer you to the National Library of Australia.
• German immigrants told the story that the German soldiers referred to their greatcoats as Matilda. These coats kept them warm not unlike the warmth of a woman. These early immigrants who then went off on the waltz would wrap their belongings up in their coats and referred to this bundle as a Matilda - believe it or not
• It was lawful in Australia for a marooned and hungry traveler to kill and consume a farmer's sheep, however it had to be eaten there on the property. The hide was usually hung across the fence to let the farmer know someone had eaten one of his sheep - believe it or not
  

The Waltzing Matilda Song Lyrics

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."

Banjo Patterson

There is a Waltzing Matilda Center in:
Winton, Queensland
50 Elderslie Street
Winton Qld 4735

Find out at this center why the Waltzing Matilda song is as relevant to Australians today as it was over 110 years ago and for now enjoy this rendition of the "Waltzing Matilda Song" sung by another Australian Legend - Slim Dusty.

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