Waltzing Matilda

This song is a legend written by Banjo
(Andrew) Patterson. It later became a song.
It was sung by soldiers heading for battle,
and at celebrations and sporting events.

"One day a squatter (big land owner) came upon
a swagman (one who carries his swag in depression times)
cooking a stolen jumbuck (sheep) under a coolibah
(eucalyptus) tree. Fearing arrest, he jumped into a
billabong, probably drowning by accident.
His ghost has been waltzing ever since."

 

matilda: knapsack
tucker bag: for carrying food
billy: for boiling water
billabong: river or waterhole

 

Once a Jolly swagman camp'd by a billa-bong
Under the shade of a coo-li-bah tree And he sang as he watch'd and
Waited till his billy boiled, You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me

chorus:

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 stowed that jumpbuck 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
Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in ya tucker-bag?
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me

Up jumped the Swagman and sprang into the billabong
You'll never catch me alive said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me

alternating 3rd lines for choruses
- And he sang as he watched and waited til his billy boiled
- And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker-bag
- Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag
- And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong

Down came a jumbuck to drink at the water-hole
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as stowed him away in his tucker bag
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me

Down came the squatter a-riding his thoroughbred
Down came policeman - one, two, and three
Whose is the jumbuck you've got in the tucker bag
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

 

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