Waltzing Matilda is the bush ballad A.B. “Banjo” Paterson wrote in Queensland in 1895 — one t in Paterson, whatever the live title says. Christina Macpherson’s tune met his swagman-and-jumbuck verses in Dagworth station country near Winton, in the hangover of the shearers’ strikes. It was never the official national anthem. It has always been the song you hum when the anthem feels too stiff.
Keep the lyrics — they’re the reason the post exists — but park the facts above them. The 1977 national-song plebiscite put Waltzing Matilda second to Advance Australia Fair. From 1976 to 1984 it was one of the songs that could stand in at non-regal occasions; the Hawke proclamation of 19 April 1984 settled the anthem question in Fair’s favour. Sydney didn’t write it, but Sydney still sings it. Caption this as Patersons Queensland ballad, not a Circular Quay sea shanty.
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 boiled:
"Who'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 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 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 shoved 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, and three.
"Whose[N 1] is that [N 2] 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",
"Whose is that jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."
Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the 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
"You'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?"
