Assignment #6 My favorite song

This week we are learning how to use song to learn English.  I am going to introduce a song called "Waltzing Matilda" this song is a very famous ballad (song) in Australia. Most Australian think it is the unofficial national anthem. This ballad was written in 1906 by A B Patterson. This song was sang 94 years later in 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony and covered by Slim Dusty. When I was in Australia I asked many of my friend who has best cover of this ballad they say Slim Dusty.  Slim Dusty was a singer in Australia born in 1927 and pass away in 2003. Here is the the cover of Slim Dusty's Waltzing Matilda during 2000 Olympics.

This song has been covered each year after singing Australia national anthem on Australia's national day also on April 6th each year Waltzing Matilda Day in Winton, Queensland.

This song is the first song on the radio that I heard in Australia this is why I love this song so much.


This song is about a man's dairy in the bush. While waiting for a lady to go to "Waltzing Matilda" with him he caught a sheep and wants to share the sheep with him. He got by the bush police while waiting for the lady to come. The got throw in the river for catching wild animals and he (his ghost) wants the officer to come "Waltzing Matilda" with him instead.  

Here is the lyrics of Waltzing Matilda  

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 boil,
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 till his billy boil
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.

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.

.....................

Up rode the squatter mounted on his thorough-bred
Down came the troopers One Two Three
Whose that jolly jumbuck 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
Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.

......................

Up jumped the swagman sprang in to 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.

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.


Vocabulary from the lyrics 
Swagman : A very mustached bushman look for jobs
Tucker bag: a very large bag that contain swag-man's belongings
Glee: Great delight
Matilda : swag man's dream lady
Billabong :  A river's dead end.
Jumbuck : A sheep
Billy: cooking pot
Squatter : A farmer who has not the right to farm on a piece of land
Troopers: Policeman