Waltzing Matilda

Words & Music:

Traditional Australian

C             G       Am          F

Once, a jolly swagman camped by a billabong

C         Em         G

Under the shade of a collibah tree.

       C          G       Am              F

And he sang as he sat and waited 'til his billy boiled,

C                          G           C

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

 

CHORUS:

C                 F                 C                         G           G7

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, you'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me.

       C          G       Am              F

And he sang as he sat and waited 'til his billy boiled,

C                          G           C

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

 

Down came a jumbuck to drink by the billabong

Up jumped the Swagman, grabbed him with glee.

And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tuckerbag,

"You'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me!"

 

CHORUS:

 

Down came the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred

Up came the troopers -- one, two, three.

"Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tuckerbag?"

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

 

CHORUS:

 

Up jumped the Swagman, 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:

 

TRANSLATIONS FROM AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH TO AMERICAN ENGLISH:

            Swagman  =  hobo

            Billabong  =  waterhole

            Jumbuck  =  sheep

            Tuckerbag  =  knapsack

            Squatters =  rancher