Waltzing Matilda

Some discussions and observations on Australia's well-known national song, Waltzing Matilda.

* We have suggested that the jolly swagman who went Waltzing Matilda was named Andy...as in ''Andy sang as he watched, Andy waited till his billy boiled...''

* 'It's well known he was a Mexican, as in "Juan's a jolly swagman...''

* Reflecting the origins of the poem, the Swagman really must have been a German rather than someone of Spanish extraction. So his name would have been Hans ("Hans a jolly swagman ...").

* Wrong! says Robert Leong, ''My great-grandfather's third cousin came to Australia to build the railroads and go gold prospecting, and all his descendants know that Wong's The Jolly Swagman...''

* Mrs L. Jackson wrote: ''I am surprised you don't know it was an English royal, travelling incognito, as in One's a Jolly Swagman.''

* Swagman's relatives hit back - Mr Wesley Bone wanted to stop the publicising of his namesake, Wes, the Jolly Jumbuck. "Hasn't he suffered enough?"

* The swagman's brother - 'Is there some family connection between Juan, The Jolly Swagman and Raul Britannia?

* What about Wal? Hardly anybody in the story says anything without immediately pausing and requesting Wal, sing 'Matilda'.