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AUSTRALIAN SONGS
Waltzing Matilda
Written at the old Dagworth Homestead, Queensland
in January 1895.
Waltzing Matilda
sung by Slim Dusty
This YouTube version is from the Sydney 2000 Olympics. A lovely reminder of why Slim Dusty is considered an Australian music legend. He is truly missed.
There are four main versions of Waltzing Matilda. The original by Banjo Paterson was written in 1895.
In 1903 Marie Cowan altered the lyrics to help sell Billy Tea. An advertisement for the tea was on the back cover of the sheet music (see images at the bottom of this page).
The following is the altered version by Marie Cowan.
Altered text is highlighted.
Listen to the music
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a
Coolabah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited till 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 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 in glee
And he said as he shoved that jumbuck in his tuckerbag
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 till his billy boiled
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Up rode the squatter mounted on his thoroughbred
Down came troopers one two three
Whose that jumbuck you've got in the tucker bag
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 till his billy boiled
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong
You'll never catch me a live said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
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