Full Version: Andy ,the swagman
From: Peter [#1]
22 Dec 2005
To: ALL
Once a Jolly swagman camped by a billabong ,
Under the shade of a Coolabah tree,
and he sang and he watched and he waited till his Billy boiled,
will you come a waltzing matilda, with me.......
regards
Peter
EDITED: 22 Dec 2005 by PETER
From: JHayes55 [#2]
23 Dec 2005
To: Peter [#1] 23 Dec 2005
From: UncleSteve [#3]
23 Dec 2005
To: JHayes55 [#2] 23 Dec 2005
>.<
From: Peter [#4]
23 Dec 2005
To: ALL
'Banjo' (A.B.) Patterson, c. 1890
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
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 watched and waited 'til his billy boiled You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me
Down came a jumbuck to dri-ink at that billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he stuffed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag
You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me
Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred
Up rode 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
Up jumped the swagman and sprang into that billabong
"You'll never take me alive!", said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pa-ass by that billabong
You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me
The refrain is repeated after each verse. In each case, the third line of the refrain is the same as the third line of the preceding verse. And the last two lines of the last verse are performed in a hushed tone, before bursting back into the jollity of the refrain.
Billabong A waterhole.
Billy A can or small kettle used to boil water for tea.
Coolabah tree A type of native tree in Australia
Jumbuck A sheep. There are 20 times as many sheep as there are people in Australia.
Squatter At one time, squatters claimed (seized) land for themselves in addition to land that they had been granted. Eventually through the continuous occupation of the land, their claims were legitimised in the eyes of the law.
Swagman Someone who lives on the open road. A hobo. The term came from the canvas bag that they would carry their bedroll and/or belongings in.
Trooper In Australia's early days, there was no police force. The colony was protected by and policed by soldiers and even when a police force was eventually formed, they were still referred to as 'troopers'.
Tucker bag A bag for storing food in the bush.
:-)
regards
Peter
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#5]
23 Dec 2005
To: Peter [#4] 23 Dec 2005
Peter,
I heard Waltzing Matilda almost became your national anthem. Much better than God Save The Queen, or is it Advance Australia Fair?
From: Peter [#6]
23 Dec 2005
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#5] 23 Dec 2005
God Save the Queen, use to be our national anthem. A referendum was held and that was ditched, several songas were put forth, "Song of Australia", "Advance Australia Fair" , "Waltzing Matilada" and I think a couple of others...
Most liked Waltzing Matilda, but as everyone realised despite our passion for the song...Its about a criminal stealing someone elses property, then defying legal Justice and killing himself.......
So we went for the best of a bad bunch and used "Advance Australia Fair", most of the songs submitted were well known Australian songs, but not really stirring, some have suggested that Advance Australia be sung to the tune of Waltzing matilda, or perhaps other words be used that made more sense...but then it wouldnt be waltzing matilda...
regards
Peter
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#7]
30 Dec 2005
To: Peter [#4] 4 Jan 2006