I have a 1936 copy of The Oxford Choral Songs featuring Waltzing Matilda. Words and melody reprinted by permission of Messrs. Allan & Co. Prop.Ltd, Melbourne.The origin of the song and music is described by one Thomas Wood in his book "Cobber", as follows: "Yes, "Banjo" Paterson used to stay with old Robert McPherson out at Dagworth Station, years ago.They were driving into Winton (Queensland) one day, in the buggy, along with McPherson's sister and Jack Lawton, the drover. He's told me a tale, many a time. On the way they passed a man carrying swag. "That's what we call 'Waltzing Matilda' in these parts, said McPherson; and "Banjo" Paterson was so struck with the phase that he got a piece of paper and wrote verses there and then. When they go to Winton, his sister, who was a bit of a musician, wrote the tune: and they sang it all night" The tune was attributed to Maria Cowan, the words A.B.Patterson

Swagman= a man on tramp carring his swag, which means bundle wrapped up in a blanket; billabong = a water-hole in the dried-up bed of a river; jumbuck = a sheep, squatter = a sheep-farmer on a large scale