Waltzing Matilda

Waltzing Matilda is an Australian icon. It is quite likely that more Australians know the words to this song than the national anthem. There is probably no other song that is more easily recognised by a populace: young or old: ocker or a newly arrived immigrant.
Lyrics:
[G] Once a jolly [D] swagman [Em] camped by a [C] billabong,

[G] Under the [Em] shade of a [Am] coolibah [D] tree,

[G] And he sang as he [D] watched and [Em] waited ’til his [C] billy boiled

[G] ‘Who’ll come [Em] a-waltzing, [Am] Ma- [D]tilda, with [G] me?’

[G] Waltzing [Em] Matilda, [C] Waltzing [Am] Matilda

[G] Who’ll come [Em] a-waltzing, [Am] Matilda, with [D] me

[G] And he sang as he [D] watched and [Em] waited ’til his [C] billy boiled,

[G] ‘Who’ll come [Em] a-waltzing, [Am] Ma- [D]tilda, with [G] me?’

Swagman – a drifter, a hobo, an itinerant shearer who carried all his belongings wrapped up in a blanket or cloth called a swag.

Billabong – a waterhole near a river

Coolibah – a eucalyptus tree

Billy- a tin can with a wire handle used to boil water in

Along came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong,

Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,

And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag,

‘You’ll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me’.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda

Who’ll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me

And he sang as he watched and waited ’til his billy boiled,

‘Who’ll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me?’.

Jumbuck – a sheep

Tucker Bag – a bag for keeping food in

Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,

Down came the troopers, one, two, three,

‘Whose is that jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker bag?’

‘You’ll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me’.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda

Who’ll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me

And he sang as he watched and waited ’til his billy boiled,

‘Who’ll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me?’.

Squatter – a wealthy landowner.

Trooper – a policeman, a mounted militia-man.

Up jumped the swagman, leapt into the billabong,

‘You’ll never catch me alive,’ said he,

And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong,

‘Who’ll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me’.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda

Who’ll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me

And he sang as he watched and waited ’til his billy boiled,

‘Who’ll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me?’