Monday, May 28, 2007

Waltzing Matilda - Australia

Australia - Waltzing Matilda
Did you know that Waltzing Matilda was written in 1895 by A.B. "Banjo" Paterson? He wrote of an incident that occurred at the Combo Waterhole on the Diamantina River, which forms the boundary between the Winton and McKinlay Shires. The ballad is now known throughout the world and was first sung in public in Winton, North-Western Queensland. An explanation of some of the expressions used in the ballad are:Swagman - Itinerant, Billabong - waterhole, Coolibah Tree -type of gum tree, Jumbuck - young sheep, Tuckerbag - knapsack or bag, Squatter - Property Owner, Troopers - Mounted Police -

I love this card!!! - my kids and I would sing it when they were young and we were studying Australia! - postmarked in 2007 with Australian Koala $1.25 stamp

Here are the lyrics if you're interested...

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
"Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?"

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
"Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?"

Down came a jumbuck to drink from the billabong,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he stowed 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 stowed 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, leapt into the billabong,
"You'll never catch me alive," said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong,
"Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?"

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong,
"Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?"

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