Waltzing Matilda

There once was a swagman and he camped by a billabong,

He was down in the shade of a Coolibah tree.

And he sang as he watched and he waited while his billy boiled,

He sang, 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 he waited while his billy boiled,

Who’ll come a waltzing matilda with me ?

Down came a jumbuck for to drink at the billabong,

Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee.

And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tuckerbag,

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 tuckerbag,

You’ll come a’waltzing matilda with me.

Up rode the squatter, and he was mounted on his thoroughbred.

Down came the troopers, there was one, two and three..

Whose is that jumbuck that you’ve got in your tuckerbag ?

You’ll come a’waltzing matilda with me.

Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda.

You’ll come a’waltzing matilda with me.

Whose is that jumbuck that you’ve got in your tuckerbag ?

You’ll come a’waltzing matilda with me.

The swagman he upped, and he sprang into that billabong.

You’ll never take me alive, said he.

And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that 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 that billabong,

Who’ll come a’waltzing matilda with me ?

Waltzing Matilda: A. Paterson

With words by Banjo Paterson, this is probably Australia’s best known traditional folk song.  In this case the music is a Loaded Dog adaptation of the original tune.  The swagman is not “jolly”, and our version gives it a more bluesy, less jolly feel.  Despite being a chronicle of outback life in Queensland in the 1890’s the song is still sung with fervour by Australians on many occasions.  The vocals of Bob Rummery do ample justice to the words.