The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Eric Bogle
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Now when I was a young man I carried me pack And I lived the free life of the rover. From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback, Well, I waltzed my Matilda all over. Then in 1915, my country said, "Son, It's time you stop ramblin', there's work to be done." So they gave me a tin hat, and they gave me a gun, And they marched me away to the war. And the band played "Waltzing Matilda," As the ship pulled away from the quay, And amidst all the cheers, the flag waving, and tears, We sailed off for Gallipoli. And how well I remember that terrible day, How our blood stained the sand and the water; And of how in that hell that they call Suvla Bay We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter. Johnny Turk, he was waitin', he primed himself well; He showered us with bullets, and he rained us with shell -- And in five minutes flat, he'd blown us all to hell, Nearly blew us right back to Australia. But the band played "Waltzing Matilda," When we stopped to bury our slain, Well, we buried ours, and the Turks buried theirs, Then we started all over again. And those that were left, well, we tried to survive In that mad world of blood, death and fire. And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive Though around me the corpses piled higher. Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head, And when I woke up in me hospital bed And saw what it had done, well, I wished I was dead -- Never knew there was worse things than dying. For I'll go no more "Waltzing Matilda," All around the green bush far and free -- To hump tents and pegs, a man needs both legs, No more "Waltzing Matilda" for me. So they gathered the crippled, the wounded, the maimed, And they shipped us back home to Australia. The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane, Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla. And as our ship sailed into Circular Quay, I looked at the place where me legs used to be, And thanked Christ there was nobody waiting for me, To grieve, to mourn and to pity. But the band played "Waltzing Matilda," As they carried us down the gangway, But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared, Then they turned all their faces away. And so now every April, I sit on my porch And I watch the parade pass before me. And I see my old comrades, how proudly they march, Reviving old dreams of past glory, And the old men march slowly, all bones stiff and sore, They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war And the young people ask "What are they marching for?" And I ask meself the same question. But the band plays "Waltzing Matilda," And the old men still answer the call, But as year follows year, more old men disappear Someday, no one will march there at all. Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda. Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me? And their ghosts may be heard as they march by that billabong, Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?
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11 facts about this song
Song Creation"The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" was written by Scottish-born singer-songwriter Eric Bogle in 1971.
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Song InspirationThe song was inspired by Bogle's experiences while backpacking in Australia. He was taken aback by the country's attitude towards war and its effects on its citizens.
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Historical ReferenceIt refers to the Battle of Gallipoli during World War I, which involves the tragic death of many Australian soldiers. The event has a significant place in Australian history.
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Core ThemeThe song is a commentary about the futility of war, distinctly showcasing the horror and gruesome reality of war through storytelling.
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Cultural Significance"The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" has become one of the most popular anti-war songs, contributing significantly to Australia's national consciousness regarding its involvement in wars.
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Melody Tie-inThe lyrics are set to the melody of "Waltzing Matilda", a very popular Australian folk song.
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Covered VersionsThe song has been covered by many artists, including famous ones like The Pogues and John Williamson, helping it reach a larger and diverse audience worldwide.
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LegacyIn 2007, Bogle's song was classified by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia as a work of national significance in the 'Sounds of Australia' registry.
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Song LengthThe original song is relatively long, with some versions lasting over eight minutes.
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Lyrics InterpretationThe lyrics are presented as a monologue from the perspective of a young Australian man who was forced to leave his homeland to fight in the battle of Gallipoli. After being maimed in the battle, he questions the patriotic rhetoric that led him to such a fate.
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ReceptionDespite its anti-war message, the song is widely accepted and appreciated for its evocative storytelling, becoming a symbol of Australia's loss during World War I.
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Citation
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"The Band Played Waltzing Matilda Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/3883241/Eric+Bogle/The+Band+Played+Waltzing+Matilda>.
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