The rest of the story...."The ballad of Waltzing Matilda"

To be continued.........

The Lyrics

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong

Under the shade of a coolibah tree,

And he sang as he watched and waited till his 'Billy' boiled,

'You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.'

Chorus:

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 with glee,

And he sang as he shoved

that jumbuck in his tucker bag,

'You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.'

(Chorus)

Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred.

Down came the troopers, one, two, and three.

'Whose is that jumbuck

you've got in your tucker bag?

You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.'

(Chorus)

Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong.

'You'll never catch me alive!' said he

And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong:

'You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.'

(Chorus)

Waltzing: Travel while learning a trade. It comes from the German term 'auf der walz' as German apprentices would travel to gain trade experience
Matilda: A blanket to keep warm at night. Matilda is an old name meaning 'mighty battle maid'. It was given as a nickname to women who slept with soldiers during the Thirty Years' War and eventually blankets
Waltzing Matilda: Travelling in search of work while carrying all of your belongings on your back
Billy: A tin can used to boil water
Billabong: A stagnant pool of water made after a flood or when a river changes course
Jumbuck: A sheep. It is likely to be a contraction of 'jumping buck'
Swag: A bundle of personal belongings, often wrapped in a blanket
Swagman: A travelling worker who would carry his belongings in a swag
Squatter: A wealthy landowner. Squatters were ex-convicts or settlers who staked land without legal claim
Trooper: A police officer, often mounted on horse
Tucker bag: A satchel for storing food (tucker)

UKATANI