Waltzing Matilda Songtext
von Rolf Harris

Waltzing Matilda is a song about an Australian hobo, I guess you′d call him
He wanders through the bushland of Australia
And he takes all his meagre belongings wrapped up in an old blanket
Which is strung across his shoulders with an old piece of twine
And this is called his swag, hence the name swagman

Now affectionately or otherwise, he refers to this swag as Matilda
It's like his only companion, as he wanders through the bush tracks
He finds himself talking to it as if it′s a real person
So the term Waltzing Matilda is nothing to do with dancing at all
It means, in fact, carrying this thing on your back
Through the long lonely stretches of the Australian bush

Couple of other terms quickly
Pay attention because I will be asking questions afterwards about this
Couple of other terms
A billabong is a pool of deep water, a billy is a little tin can they boil the tea in
A jumbuck is a sheep, tucker bag is a bag for carrying tucker
Food bag is tucker, tucker is food, it's a food bag, sorta like a knapsack
Um, what else? The squatter is the big land owner
That's enough, let′s get on with the song


Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited ′til 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 'til his billy boiled
"You′ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me"

Then down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his 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 shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me"

Then down came the squatter mounted on his thoroughbred
Down came the troopers, one, two, three
Right-o, where's that jolly jumbuck that you′ve got in your tucker bag?
You′ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me


Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
Right-o, where′s that jolly jumbuck that you've got in your tucker bag?
You′ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me

So up jumped the swagman, and he sprang into that billabong
Have to have that bit
"You'll never take me alive," said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
"You′ll come a-wal..."

Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me"