Do you understand the words to the Australia song, Waltzing Matilda?
Some history about Waltzing Matilda
Contents
Advance Australia Fair is the official national anthem of Australia. It was composed by the Scottish composer Peter Dodds McCormick, and was first performed in 1878.
A Referendum to decide on what would be Australia’s National Anthem
In the 1977 referendum, the Australian voters were asked on which song they would prefer to be used to mark occasions where a particularly Australian national identity was desired. The choices were:Advance Australia Fair or Waltzing Matilda.
The vote went to Advance Australia Fair but … Waltzing Matilda had ,and has a lot of merit AND was written by the renowned Australian poet Banjo Patterson
Do you understand all of the Aussie words in Waltzing Matilda?
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a Coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boil,
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 till his billy boil
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 watched and waited till his billy boil
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Up rode the squatter mounted on his thorough-bred
Down came the troopers One Two Three
Whose 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,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boil
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
Up jumped the swagman sprang in to the billabong
You’ll never catch me alive said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You’ll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.
and the chorus again…
Maybe if you listen it will help; performed by our own late Slim Dusty.
If you have any troubles with the Aussie words (mate), let me know and I will interpret. Do you understand Waltzing Matilda?
Love Waltzing Matilda and how most Australians would like it to be the real anthem of Oz… better than boring Advance Australia Fair! Thanks for hosting Weekend Travel Inspiration together – here’s to many more weeks!
Interesting, I didn’t know the words and even living just across the ditch, don’t understand them all, nor how Waltzing Matilda would actually be a national anthem. It was fun to listen too however. Fun post.
I do wonder how many young Australians would understand the words too; but it does capture the Aussie spirit so well.
Definitely some words in there that I’m not familiar with! Interesting story.
It’s a great song and one that should be our national anthem. Let me know if I can help you with any of the words
I’ve enjoyed listening to the waltzing matilda clip. Btw what’s a billabong?
Slim Dusty was an iconic Australian that’s for sure. A billabong is where a river has bent, and a bit has cut off and becomes a watering hole (thanks Gordon for technical answer, I would have just gone with a water hole)
Paula, I love it! But alas no…it’s pretty much all “Greek” to me!
Corinne, next week i might right it in plain english. That would be fun. Probably still will be greek though.
Ooo! I love this song. Every now and again I find it popping into my head. I think we studied it in high school. Maybe. I don’t know. I pick up information and fail to correctly categorize where it came from. All I know is I love this song!
It is lovely and it is so very uniquely Autralian, as is I still call Australia home 🙂
Yes, I’m an Aussie who loves and understands the words. 🙂
Thanks Jan – it is pretty representative of us, I think
So nice to see such a great memory from home – I agree with Lyn THIS should be our Anthem.
I want it to be; I find Advance Australia Fair tedious and seriously, who says ‘girt by sea’.
Interesting…
Thanks 🙂
Advance Australia Fair may be our official anthem but it is Waltzing Matilda which makes you stop and think of home whenever you hear it. Occasionally we have heard buskers playing it overseas and it always inspires a lot of pride and a little bit of homesickness.
I agree, and We still call Australia, home gets me every time.