‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ BY ERIC BOGLE
When I was a young man, I carried me pack And I lived the free life of the rover From the Murray’s green basin to the dusty outback Well, I waltzed my Matilda all over Then in 1915, my country said ‘Son It’s time you stopped rambling, there’s work to be done’ So they gave me a tin hat, and they gave me a gun And they marched me away to the war
This is the refrain.
And the band played Waltzing Matilda As the ship pulled away from the quay And amidst all the cheers, the fl ag-waving and tears We sailed off for Gallipoli
‘Waltzing with Matilda’ is an Australian phrase
for travelling around the country on foot with a backpack (a Matilda). It often described young men who travelled from place to place in search of casual work.
