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Waltzing Matilda
Children's Folk Song Lyrics and Sound Clip
The Uncle Brothers

Once a jolly swagman camped by a Billabong
Under the shade of a Coolabah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
"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 till his billy boiled
"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?"

Down come a jumbuck to drink from that Billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him in 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
Who'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 came the squier mounted on his thoroughbred
Up came the Troopers- one, two, three
"Who's that 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?
"Who's that jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?"
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me"

But up jumped the swaggie as he sprang into that Billabong
You'll never catch me alive says he
And his ghost may be heard as you passed by that Billabong
"Who'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 passed by that Billabong
"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?"

 

FYI: Here's an explanation of Australian slang in the song

Billabong: A waterhole
Billy: A can or small kettle used to boil water for tea
Coolabah tree: A type of native tree in Australia
Jumbuck: A sheep. There are 20 times as many sheep as there are people in Australia
Squatter: At one time, squatters claimed (seized) land for themselves in
addition to land that they had been granted. Eventually through the continuous
occupation of the land, their claims were legitimized in the eyes of the law
Swagman: (Swaggie) Someone who lives on the open road. A hobo. The term
came from the canvas bag that they would carry their bedroll and/or belongings in
Trooper: In Australia's early days, there was no police force. The colony
was protected by and policed by soldiers and even when a police force was
eventually formed, they were still referred to as 'troopers'
Tucker bag: A bag for storing food in the bush