Dubliners - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda lyrics
rate meThe Band Played Waltzing Matilda, Eric Bogle<br />
<br />
When I was a young man I carried me pack<br />
And I lived the free life of the rover<br />
From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback<br />
I waltzed my Matilda all over<br />
Then in 1915 my country said: Son,<br />
It's time to stop rambling, there's work to be done<br />
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun<br />
And they sent me away to the war <br />
<br />
And the band played Waltzing Matilda<br />
When the ship pulled away from the quay<br />
And amid all the tears, flag waving and cheers<br />
We sailed off for Gallipoli <br />
<br />
It well I remember that terrible day<br />
When our blood stained the sand and the water<br />
And how in that hell they call Suvla Bay<br />
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter<br />
Johnny Turk, he was ready, he primed himself well<br />
He rained us with bullets, and he showered us with shell<br />
And in five minutes flat, we were all blown to hell<br />
He nearly blew us back home to Australia <br />
<br />
And the band played Waltzing Matilda<br />
When we stopped to bury our slain<br />
Well we buried ours and the Turks buried theirs<br />
Then it started all over again <br />
<br />
Oh those that were living just tried to survive<br />
In that mad world of blood, death and fire<br />
And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive<br />
While around me the corpses piled higher<br />
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head<br />
And when I awoke in me hospital bed<br />
And saw what it had done, I wished I was dead<br />
I never knew there was worse things than dying <br />
<br />
Oh no more I'll go Waltzing Matilda<br />
All around the green bush far and near<br />
For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs both legs<br />
No more waltzing Matilda for me <br />
<br />
They collected the wounded, the crippled, the maimed<br />
And they shipped us back home to Australia<br />
The armless, the legless, the blind and the insane<br />
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla<br />
And when the ship pulled into Circular Quay<br />
I looked at the place where me legs used to be<br />
And thank Christ there was no one there waiting for me<br />
To grieve and to mourn and to pity <br />
<br />
And the Band played Waltzing Matilda<br />
When they carried us down the gangway<br />
Oh nobody cheered, they just stood there and stared<br />
Then they turned all their faces away <br />
<br />
Now every April I sit on my porch<br />
And I watch the parade pass before me<br />
I see my old comrades, how proudly they march<br />
Renewing their dreams of past glories<br />
I see the old men all tired, stiff and worn<br />
Those weary old heroes of a forgotten war<br />
And the young people ask "What are they marching for?"<br />
And I ask myself the same question <br />
<br />
And the band plays Waltzing Matilda<br />
And the old men still answer the call<br />
But year after year, their numbers get fewer<br />
Someday, no one will march there at all <br />
<br />
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda<br />
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?<br />
And their ghosts may be heard as they march by the billabong<br />
So who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?
