"WALTZING MATILDA WALTZ"<br />
- Eric Bogle<br />
<br />
Well, once jolly swagmen* went humping their swags<br />
And stuffed jolly jumbucks* down in their tucker bags<br />
These days, jolly junkies go on house-breaking jags<br />
And steal to buy the poison they need<br />
While the swaggie, he just wanted a feed<br />
<br />
And who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?<br />
Hey Banjo*, this country's not what it used to be<br />
We've changed all your words, and re-written your score<br />
And it's "Waltzing Matilda" no more.<br />
<br />
Once Henry and Mary, on a warm afternoon<br />
Rowed down Reedy River to the broad bright lagoon<br />
The song of the river is a long vanished tune<br />
Since they built the uranium mine<br />
And what's left is just toxic slime<br />
<br />
And who'll come a-walting Matilda with me?<br />
Oh, Henry, this country's not what it used to be<br />
Days pass with a whimper, and not with a roar<br />
And it's "Waltzing Matilda" no more.<br />
<br />
Well, we cut down the trees, and the land we reclaimed<br />
We ploughed and we planted, then we ploughed it again<br />
And again and again, and again and again<br />
So that now on a hot windy day<br />
We can watch our topsoil blow away<br />
<br />
And who'll come a-walting Matilda with me?<br />
The desert is marching down to the sea<br />
On the day that it stretches<br />
From shore to shining shore<br />
We'll go waltzing Matilda no more<br />
<br />
Saturday night outside a King's Cross hotel<br />
There stands our future, and it's halfway to hell<br />
Kids with hard drugs and young bodies to sell<br />
Hey Australia, what progress we've made!<br />
We've come a long way, since Diamond day<br />
<br />
And who'll come a-walting Matilda with me?<br />
Hey Anzac*, is this what you fought to keep free?<br />
A land fit for heroes, or junkies and whores?<br />
And it's "Waltzing Matilda" no more.<br />
<br />
And who'll come a-walting Matilda with me?<br />
This country could still be what we want it to be<br />
Perhaps one day soon, the dream will be restored<br />
And we'll go Waltzing Matilda once more<br />
We'll go Waltzing Matilda once more<br />
<br />
NOTES:<br />
<br />
ANZAC:<br />
The combined Australia/New Zealand armies that fought in both World Wars<br />
<br />
"Banjo" Patterson: <br />
Author of "The Man From Snowy River" and "Waltzing Matilda"<br />
<br />
Billabong:<br />
<br />
A watering hole, specifically the curved meander of a winding stream<br />
That has been isolated due to sand bar deposition<br />
<br />
Swagman:<br />
<br />
I believe in the US you refer to them as "hobos", though a swaggy is not<br />
Always someone financially down on their luck or On The Run. Some<br />
Swagmen are just fed up with city life and want to spend their time<br />
Exploring the country on foot, living off the land and the charity of<br />
Passers-by as best they can.<br />
<br />
Coolibah tree:<br />
<br />
The Eucalyptus Coolibah is a species of Eucalyptus tree commonly found<br />
In inland parts of the Australian continent.<br />
<br />
Billy:<br />
<br />
A billy is a tin, often an old used fruit tin or other steel container,<br />
Used to boil water to make tea. Often they have a piece of wire<br />
Across their top used as a handle, whereupon after the water is boiling,<br />
One holds the wire, places the desired amount of tea leaves in said<br />
Water, stands up, and swings the whole billy in a circular motion<br />
Vigorously in order to force the tea leaves to the bottom of the tin. A<br />
Rather nice touch is to crush a Coolibah leaf into the water too, giving<br />
The tea a hint of eucalyptus.<br />
<br />
Jumbuck;<br />
<br />
A sheep (usually refers to a ram)<br />
<br />
Tucker-bag;<br />
<br />
A knapsack. "Tucker" means "food".<br />
<br />
Squatter:<br />
<br />
In Australia in the 19th century, large swathes of outback land were<br />
Divided up and mostly allocated to "squatters" - often wealthy<br />
Land-owners from Britain, who could afford the prices the government was<br />
Asking. There were also freehold selections free for the taking (all you<br />
Had to do was sign on the dotted line) made available to anyone who<br />
Would try to exploit the land, but the freehold lots tended to be poorer<br />
Land where it was a battle to earn to living. Squatters became fairly<br />
Wealthy from their allocations even taking over freehold selections in<br />
The process of expanding their lots, reflected in the fact that this one<br />
Is riding on his thoroughbred horse.<br />
<br />
Troopers:<br />
<br />
The troopers are law enforcement. The squatter would have called<br />
Them in because the swagman has stolen a sheep from the squatter's property.<br />
<br />
<br />
Matilda:<br />
<br />
Given the lonely life of a swaggy, they tend to become quite<br />
Affectionate for things that are fairly important to their immediate<br />
Existence. In this case, AIUI "Matilda" is the swagman's sleeping gear -<br />
Typically a bedroll.<br />
<br />
Cockie:<br />
Small time family farmer/rancher in rural Australia, usually on marginal land