[Ozguy1945]

Australia's unofficial natiional anthem has been reworked by Tom Waites. It is the story of a swagman (drifter) who commits suicide rather than lose his freedom. Tuba player Matthew White eschews the normal boppy tempo for a much deeper pondering of the melody's meaning.

[CarmichaelPatriot]

That’s a minute I’ll never get back...

[amorphous]

Very nice, TY for posting. One of my fav songs.

Another version by my fav conductor, in OZ, at the end of the tour. Even Rieu is in tears...

3.3 Million veiws

André Rieu & his Johann Strauss Orchestra - Waltzing Matilda, live in Australia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UFmwArST-I

Cheers

[Rurudyne]

I wonder why we in Texas don’t wax lyrical about the fates of our poachers and rustlers? Maybe because we were dominated by cattlemen rather than sheepherders and a cow is a much more valuable animal? Which is odd in a way because a cow is, dairy aside, a one ... ah ... “use” critter where a single sheep can keep contributing its wool.

Whatever the prevailing circumstances, the man must have known the sheep belonged to someone else. Wild domesticated sheep just don’t happen. The song neither celebrates his death nor lionizes him. It seemingly presents the facts about a hard time.

[budj]

“...much deeper pondering...” indeed. Sounds like an elephant with bad gastro-intestinal problems.

[BeauBo]

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,[18]
“You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”

Chorus:
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[N 1] that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
“You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”

(Chorus)

Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred.
Down came the troopers, one, two, and three.
“Whose is that jumbuck[N 2] you’ve got in your tucker bag?
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”

(Chorus)

Up jumped the swagman and sprang into 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.”

(Chorus)

[TChad]

Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel playing a medley that starts and ends with an unusual Waltzing Matilda. Recorded in Raalte, The Netherlands, in 2007:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBmo6fQ0gYA>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBmo6fQ0gYA

[preacher]

L8r

[norwaypinesavage]

I remember the 1959 movie "On the Beach", an anti-nuclear propaganda piece that played "Waltzing Matilda", endlessly. It took years to get that tune out of my mind. I won't restart that by listening again.

I was only 13 at the time, but it had the opposite of its intended effect on me. I could easily see how many of the scenarios in the movie were totally devoid of reality, and it made me realize that the movie was pure propaganda. I have mistrusted Hollywood since.

The premise of the movie was that radiation fallout from a nuclear war in the northern hemisphere killed EVERYTHING in the northern hemisphere. People in Australia survived a bit longer, but also knew that they, too, would soon be dead.

[P.O.E.]

I remember seeing the movie “Walkabout” as a kid. Since then, have always had a soft spot for Australia. Almost moved there several times, but family is here in the states.