Celebrating The Things That Make Australia Unique
by Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson (1864 - 1941)
Written at old Dagworth Homestead, Queensland in January 1895
 Waltzing Matilda has become one of the world's ten most recorded songs. The origins of the song, and the meaning of the lyrics have been argued over by many researchers and performers since it was written over 100 years ago.
Some feel that Waltzing Matilda was an early political protest song - a song of freedom. That the Great Shearers Strike of 1894 influenced Banjo Paterson to write this song. Others disagree.
There are four main versions of Waltzing Matilda. The original by Banjo Paterson (shown below) 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. Marie Cowan version.
Harry Nathan claimed that he wrote the music and edited lyrics in 1900, but he didn't apply for copyright until 1903. And finally there is an international version by Thomas Wood which is the most well-known outside of Australia.
At the bottom of this page is an explanation
of what the words in the poem mean.
Click here to listen to the music in a pop-up window
The following is the original version as written by Banjo Paterson.
Oh there once was a swagman camped in the billabong
Under the shade of a Coolibah tree
And he sang as he looked at the old billy boiling
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda my darling
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Waltzing Matilda leading a tucker bag
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Down came a jumbuck to drink at the water hole
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him in glee
And he said as he put him away in the tucker bag
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
You'll come a waltzing Matilda my darling
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Waltzing Matilda leading a tucker bag
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Down came the squatter a riding on his thoroughbred
Down came policemen one, two and three
Where is the jumbuck you've got in the tucker bag
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
You'll come a waltzing Matilda my darling
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Waltzing Matilda leading a tucker bag
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
But the swagman he ups and he jumps in the water hole
Drowning himself by the Coolibah tree
And his ghost can be heard as it sings in the billabong
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Note: when reading Paterson's hand written manuscript, it is difficult to determine the correct words for two parts of his poem:
- "leading a tucker bag" could also be "heaving a tucker bag" or "leading a water bag" or "heaving a water bag".
- "Where is the jumbuck" could also be "Whose is the jumbuck"
What the words mean
- Waltzing Matilda ~ to go walkabout carrying your swag
- Walkabout ~ walking in the bush for an extended period of time
- Swag ~ a pack or bundle containing the personal belongings of a swagman.
- Swagman ~ a drifter (person without a permanent place to live) who carried his swag as he travelled the country on foot looking for work. He was a common sight during the depression of the 1890's and 1930's.
- Squatter ~ a grazier or station (ranch) owner especially with a large landholding. Today squatter means a person illegally occupying a property.
- Billy ~ a tin can with a wire handle or a pot. To make tea, water was boiled in it and a handful of tea thrown in.
- Tucker bag ~ bag to carry your tucker (food)
- Jumbuck ~ sheep
- Coolibah ~ species of gum or eucalyptus tree; coolabah (alternate spelling)
- Billabong ~ a dead-end channel extending from the main stream of a
river filled with water only in the rainy season. Comes from Wiradhuri (Aboriginal language of southeast Australia) bila, river + -baÕ,
watercourse filled only after rain.
More Information
- Banjo Paterson information on our website
 Waltzing Matilda government site
Excellent website about the entire history of Waltzing Matilda.- Matilda Expo in Kynuna, Queensland
One of two known, handwritten, notated musical manuscripts of the song
and lyrics can be seen by the public at the Matilda Expo.
Note: all links to other websites open in a new window. When you're done browsing the other website, close that window. We'll be here waiting so you can continue your visit with us.
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