Waltzing Matilda
Oh there once was a swagman camped in the billabong,
Under the shade of a Coolibah tree,
And he sang as he looked at the old billy boiling,
Who’ll come a’waltzing Matilda with me
(Chorus)
Who’ll come a’waltzing Matilda my darling
Who’ll come a’waltzing Matilda with me
Waltzing Matilda and leading a water-bag
Who’ll come a’waltzing Matildta with me
2nd Verse
Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong,
Up jumped the swagman & grabbed him with glee,
And he said as he put him away in the tucker bag
“You’ll come a’waltzing Matilda with me”!—
Chorus
3rd Verse
Down came the squatter a’riding his thoroughbred,
Down came policemen, one, two and three,
“Whose is the jumbuck you’ve got in the tucker bag?
You’ll come a’waltzing Matilda with we.”
Chorus
4th verse
But the swagman he up & he jumped in the water-hole
Drowning himself by the Coolibah tree,
And his ghost may be heard as it sings by the billabong
Who’ll come a’waltzing Matilda with me.
Chorus
Andrew “Banjo” Paterson
The most poignant memories I have are of a somber Waltzing Matilda being played at the closing scene of “On the Beach”. I was eight years old, and home with the Mumps, and a local tv station played it as their afternoon movie. Scared Hell out of me.
That was when the Left liked Russia and wanted us to disarm. Now they hate Russia and nukes are just peachy. Ah, the Narrative. So flexible.