Waltzing Matilda

'Banjo' (A.B.) Patterson, c. 1890

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

Down came a jumbuck to dri-ink at that billabong

Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee

And he sang as he stuffed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag

You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me

Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred

Up rode the troopers, one, two, three

"Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?"

You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me

Up jumped the swagman and sprang into that billabong

"You'll never take me alive!", said he

And his ghost may be heard as you pa-ass by that billabong

You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me

The refrain is repeated after each verse. In each case, the third line of the refrain is the same as the third line of the preceding verse. And the last two lines of the last verse are performed in a hushed tone, before bursting back into the jollity of the refrain.

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Original Version: 11 February 1995

Last Amended: 11 February 1996

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