Waltzing Matilda for the 21st Century

 

Back five and a half years ago I re-wrote the classic Australian tune, "Waltzing Matilda." Above you can see the legendary Slim Dusty singing the original version.

 

Mine is updated for the modern era and the challenges of the 21st century.  Amazing what the stream of consciousness produces when one starts singing in the shower. 

 

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree
And he sang as he swam in the waters of the billabong,
"You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me."

 

But a giant crocodile lived inside that billabong
Under the shade of the coolibah tree
And he sang as he chomped on the swagman in the billabong,
"He came a waltzing matilda to me."

 

When a bloody poacher came upon the billabong
He found the croc and killed it with glee
And he sang as he skinned that seven meter crocodile
"I’ll be a waltzing Matilda with thee.."

 

Up rode the warden in his brand new 4 X 4 
Out came his deputies one two three
As they handcuffed the poacher he shouted at the billabong
"They came a Waltzing matilda for me!"

 

Got himself a barrister, best in all the territory
Soon he was sprung on a technicality
As he sauntered from the courthouse, standing tall and walking free
They went a waltzing, Matilda and he.

 

Then global warming dried up all the billabong
Left just the trunk of the coolibah tree
And the wind moans as sand dunes shift across the billabong,
"You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me."

 

-(Original lyrics by Banjo Patterson, modified and rewritten in part by  Tom Gill Dec. 7, 2008.)