The title was Australian slang for travelling on foot waltzing with one's belongings in a "matilda" (swag) slung over one's back.
Not dancin' wif no sheep mate ... listen to the words.
He stole the sheep (jumbuck) and woz gettin' bailed up by the constabulary before he could cook it up ... so he jumped into the billabong.
Just for those who may not know the story/words here they are as wrote by Banjo Paterson, reputedly in 1895 -
Oh there once was a swagman camped by a billabong Under the shade of a Coolabah 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 Coolabah tree And his ghost can be heard as it sings in the billabong Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Monday 25th of December 2017 07:32:57 PM
Aus-Kiwi said
07:51 PM Dec 25, 2017
He was dancing tho . Lol .
rockylizard said
07:56 PM Dec 25, 2017
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
He was dancing tho . Lol .
Gday...
NAH maaaate .... the waltzin' thing got nuffin to do wif slip slidin' all over some dance floor .... the waltzing is carrying one's 'matilda' - a swag - whilst walking down a road ... in Straya one is 'waltzing' when ya is walkin' along in a care-free way.
I think the introduction of a sheep into the tale has confused the kiwi in ya ... they don't hold the same status here in Straya.
cheers - John
Aus-Kiwi said
08:47 PM Dec 25, 2017
Lol yes they do !! Ahaha
Dickodownunder said
09:59 PM Dec 25, 2017
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Lol yes they do !! Ahaha
Well, not with this aussie....
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 25th of December 2017 10:02:51 PM
Here is a great version of Waltzing Matilda that you may not have heard before, but It has been doing the round for a while.
In any case I always enjoy it. Hope that you do too.
Wouldn't it be great if we could insert a verse of our National Anthem, sung in an Aboriginal language. Just like that mob across the ditch.
Love the Jumbuck bit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=WgLtzD6JxcA&vq=medium
Gday...
Here ya go Cupie - Yugambeh Language
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd1EJVdmUO0
Dharawal language -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OI4LfQxnTc
Cheers - John
Gday...
The title was Australian slang for travelling on foot waltzing with one's belongings in a "matilda" (swag) slung over one's back.
Not dancin' wif no sheep mate ... listen to the words.
He stole the sheep (jumbuck) and woz gettin' bailed up by the constabulary before he could cook it up ... so he jumped into the billabong.
Just for those who may not know the story/words here they are as wrote by Banjo Paterson, reputedly in 1895 -
Oh there once was a swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a Coolabah 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 Coolabah tree
And his ghost can be heard as it sings in the billabong
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Monday 25th of December 2017 07:32:57 PM
Gday...
I think the introduction of a sheep into the tale has confused the kiwi in ya
... they don't hold the same status here in Straya. 
cheers - John
Well, not with this aussie....
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 25th of December 2017 10:02:51 PM