Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda

Subject: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: RonU
Date: 28 Jan 98 - 09:41 PM

According to Dennis at the "The Waltzing Matilda Story" site, Banjo Paterson wrote the words, put to the tune "The Craigielee March" for the well known "Waltzing Matilda". I'm surprised that Craigielee isn't in the database. Has anyone seen it elsewhere ? The site, noted above, is fascinating, showing the original manuscript for the song "Waltzing Matilday" and, among other things, it doesn't refer to any Jolly Swagman as we have been taught to believe. Did someone rewrite Banjo Paterson's original or what? Just curious. RonU

---

Click for lyrics in the Digital Tradition

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 29 Jan 98 - 01:29 AM

G'day,
A comprehensive answer to all this will take time but I'll start with Craigielee sometime soon.

Both the current versions have different words from Banjo's original, certainly as a result of the "folk process". The Queensland version is closer to the original.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jan 98 - 02:31 AM

I suppose we should provide a link to The Waltzing Matilda Story. Interesting site.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: THOU BONNIE WOOD O' CRAIGIELEA
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 29 Jan 98 - 07:15 AM

Words by Robert Tannahill
Music by James Barr
Chords by Alan Foster

      C          G         C      Am
The broom, the brier, the birken bush
       C                       G
Bloom bonnie o'er thy flow'ry lea
    C                  Em       F
And a' the sweets that ane can wish
      C                   G         C
Frae Nature's hand are strewed on thee.

          C               Am
    Thou bonnie wood o' Craigielea
          C      Am             G
    Thou bonnie wood o' Craigielea
           C         F          Am     C
    Near thee I've spent life's early day
                Em     G         C
    And won my Mary's heart in thee.

 
Far ben thy dark green plantin's shade
The cushat croodles am'rously
The mavis down thy bughted glade
Gars echo ring frae ev'ry tree.

Awa' ye thoughtless murd'ring gang
Wha tear the nestlings ere they flee
They'll sing you yet a canty sang
Then oh! in pity let them be.

When winter blaws in sleety showers
Frae off the Norlan' hills sae hie
He lightly skiffs thy bonnie bow'rs
As laith to harm a flow'r in thee.

Though fate should drag me south the line
Or o'er the wide Atlantic sea
The happy hours I'll ever min'
That I in youth hae spent in thee.

Next installment will be the original Christina McPherson tune to Waltzing Matilda.

Stay tuned!

Subject: Tune Add: THOU BONNIE WOOD O' CRAIGIELEA
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 29 Jan 98 - 07:18 AM

The tune to Craigielea:-

---

Click to play

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net

ABC format:

X:1
T:Thou Bonnie Wood O' Craigielea
M:2/4
Q:1/4=60
K:C
EF|G3AG2E2|c3BA2G2|G3AAGFE|E2D2D2EF|G2E2F3G|
A2B2c3A|G2C2G3E|DCDEC2CD|E3FD3E|C2E2A,2C2|
G,C3E2C2|G2FED3E|C3DE2C2|G2E2A2c2|G2C2G3E|
DCDEC2||

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Jerry Friedman
Date: 29 Jan 98 - 01:46 PM

Hey, an early bird-conservation song! Now what's a cushat? (Bird, stream?)

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From:
Date: 29 Jan 98 - 07:47 PM

I know I heard Waltzing Matilda sung in a movie to a different tune than that which is commonly heard. Can't tell you the name of the movie, but it was set in Australia. Doesn't narrow it down much, I know. A very animated gentleman was singing the song on stage.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Phideaux
Date: 30 Jan 98 - 02:57 PM

There was a thread here on Waltzing Matilda several months ago, but I can't find it now.

However,go to http://www.waltzingmatilda.com/

There you will find more about WM than you probably want to know. I bought the CD and tape they offer, and it was money well spent.

The CD has 5 versions of WM (one instrumental) and the liner notes discuss all the versions.

Bob Schwarer

Subject: Lyr Add: WALTZING MATILDA (parody by Bill Gresham)
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Jan 98 - 03:11 PM

a bunch of stuff I found in 2 hours of searching 'Waltzing Matilda' sites and related words....(I was looking for a picture of a coolabah tree to illustrate the internal 'joke' or error, in the song mentioned at the bottom...coolabah trees are lousy shade trees!!)

---------------------------------------------------------

A Coolabah tree was pointed out as we drove zipping by. The interesting thing about this Eucalypt is that the leaves turn to place themselves parallel with the sun's rays, thus having minimum heating, and leaving very little shadow. The song says, "Once a jolly swagman sat beside the billabong, under the shade of a Coolabah tree. It must have been a very little shade. Like in Oh Susanna!,--- it rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry, sun so hot I froze to death, Susanna, don't you cry. I didn't know the Waltzing Matilda song had double meanings, but It does.

--------------------------------------------------

he Combo Water Hole is one such patch of muddy water. Its legend is etched into the history of Australia. Banjo Paterson has immortalised the story of a swagman, a jumbuck, a squatter and the law in such a way that myth and truth merge together and become indistinguishable from each other.

Folklore has it that Banjo was told the story of the suicide of a Samuel Hoffmeister beside the Diamantina 20 kms upstream of the Combo Water Hole in September 1894. Hoffmeister had reportedly been one of the striking shearers involved in the burning down of the Dagworth Station shearing shed. This story, combined with others that Paterson heard, inspired him to write "Waltzing Matilda" at Dagworth in 1895.

---------------------------------------------------

waltzing matilda

Matilda was a mock-romantic word for a swag, and to waltz matilda was to hit the road with a swag on your back. Very few non-Australians seem to understand this, and hence regard the song as gibberish or cute, something like 'Jabberwocky' set to music. "'Twas brillig and the slithy toves ..." indeed.

The term is thought to come from a German expression. Auf die Walz gehen means to take to the road, and Mathilde is a girl's name, applied to one's bed-roll.

So the poem (doggerel? folk song?) can be interpreted as yet another Aussie complaint about them in authority. We're one of the most urbanised nations in the world, who sort-of yearn for the wide open spaces (there's so much of it out there!), and the freedom that goes with it (or at least seems to go with it, to those that don't live there). So Waltzing Matilda strikes a chord (so to speak), generation after generation, for the same reason that Crocodile Dundee was as popular here as anywhere else - we know we're not like that; but it's fun pretending for a while that we are.

---------------------------------------------------------

WALTZING MATILDA

BALI VERSION

Once an Aussie tourist sunbaked on Kuta beach,
Far from the shade of the coconut trees,
and she sang as watched and waited for the sun to set,
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?

Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda.
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?
and she sang as she watched and waited for the sun to set,
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?

Down came a hippie bloke selling dope on Kuta beach
Up jumped the tourist and grabbed some with glee,
And she sang as she shoved that ganja in her Qantas bag,
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda.
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?
and she sang as watched and waited for the sun to set,
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?

Down came the coppers mounted on their Honda bikes
Down came their sniffer dogs, one, two, three.
Where's that jolly ganja you've got in your Qantas bag,
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda.
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?
and she sang as watched and waited for the sun to set,
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?

Up jumped the tourist and sprang into the raging surf,
You'll never catch me alive said she,
And her ghost can't be heard if you pass by that rowdy beach, (sing softly)
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me? (sing loudly)

Original words by Banjo Paterson. Parody by Bill Gresham

---------------------------------------------

And, in Esperanto....

Valse Matilda

Gaja vagabondo kampis apud bilabong

kie la Coolabah ombris por li

kaj li kantis atende gxis bolos en la billipot

Vi vagas valsa Matilda kun mi

Venis sxafido por trinki en la bilabong

kaptis vagulo kun gxoj` plena kri`

kaj li kantis sxovante la sxafon al la mangxosak`

Vi vagas valsa Matilda kun mi

Aperis farmisto sur pursanga al cxeval

Venis gxendarmo unu, du, tri

"Kies bela sxafo, tiu en la mangxosak"

Vi vagas valsa Matilda kun mi

Tuj la vagoulo saltis al la bilabong

"Vi vane kaptas vi min," diris li.

Kaj fantomon vi auxdos pasante cxe la bilabong.

Vi vagas valsa Matilda kun mi.

A.B. Paterson

Trad. En Esperanto: Ralph Harry

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bruce O.
Date: 30 Jan 98 - 04:20 PM

Bill, D., note you have the tune in Graham's 'Songs of Scotland' iii, p. 126-7.
I don't know if the tune was composed before Tannaill died in 1810, but James Barr's tune is in the above, 1853, and was commented on by R. A. Smith as quoted in 1838.
Barr is there said to have been a professional musician in Kilbarchan, who later went abroad.
There has been much discussion of Tannahill's songs and their tunes on the Scots-L list in the last two weeks.

Subject: Tune Add: WALTZING MATILDA
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 30 Jan 98 - 08:31 PM

G'day,
Forgot to mention that the Craigielea tune above is as originally published i.e. chorus first.

Here is the Christina McPherson tune for Matilda.

Notes:
1. Christina wrote out a couple of bars incorrectly, having 5 beats instead of 4. I have changed the timing of these 2 bars to 4 beats, leaving the actual notes unchanged.

2. The tune as sung by Dennis O'Keeffe on his CD unfortunately is completely different at this point. In fact the first line of the chorus has basically been replaced with the equivalent part of the tune as we know it today. This arrangement by Magoffin/Berryman.

3. With imagination you can see (hear) the connection to Craigielea. The differences could be explained by (a) The band probably played a variation, in fact they called it "The Craigielea March", (b) Christina may have unconsciously changed the tune in the months between hearing it and the birth of Matilda, (c) It was then adapted to the words, although Banjo said, "I put words to the tune and called it "Waltzing Matilda"'.

4. More imagination links this tune to the two tunes currently in use - evolution by the Folk Process.

Them's my thoughts - take 'em or leave 'em.

---

Click to play

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net

ABC format:

X:1
T:Waltzing Matilda
M:4/4
Q:1/4=69
K:D
A,D|F2FGE2EF|D2FDB,2DD|A,2DDF2DD|A2GFE2DE|
F2FGE2EF|D2FDB,2DD|A,2DFA2GF|E2DEF2D2|A2ABA2FF|
d2dBA2F2|A2ABB2AA|F2F2E2E2|F2FGE2EF|D2FDB,2DD|
A,2DFA2GF|E2DEF2D2||

Next: Banjo's original words.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 30 Jan 98 - 08:53 PM

Bill D,
Your comments are spot on. I don't reckon there's much doubt that "Frenchie" Hoffmeister's suicide (by gun) on 2 September 1894 was Banjo's inspiration. Note that Banjo's words were "camped IN the billabong". More on this later.

Note that the CD referred to by Phideaux is the one I just referred to by Dennis O'Keeffe and is definitely worth having.

The link provided by Joe and Phideaux is well worth a visit.

BTW it's because of Waltzing Matilda that I started signing on here as Alan of Australia. See the "Folk songs to ditch" thread of a few months ago.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: Lyr Add: WALTZING MATILDA (Banjo Paterson)
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 31 Jan 98 - 06:48 AM

WALTZING MATILDA

Banjo Paterson's original words

Oh there once was a swagman camped in the billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree
And he sang as he looked at the old billy boiling
Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda with me.

Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda my darling
Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda with me
Waltzing Matilda and leading a waterbag
Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda with me.

Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee
And he said as he put him away in the tucker bag
You'll come a'waltzing Matilda with me.

Down came the squatter a'riding his thoroughbred
Down came policeman, one, two, three
Whose is the jumbuck you've got in the tucker bag
You'll come a'waltzing Matilda with me.

But the swagman, he up and he jumped in the waterhole
Drowning himself by the coolibah tree
And his ghost may be heard as it sings by the billabong
Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda with me.

Note that the swagman was not jolly in this version and he camped IN the billabong. Unless it was the wet season the billabong would only have had water in the "deep end" and the rest of the area would have been very suitable for camping, providing the best shade - even a coolibah tree provides some shade. He also led his waterbag i.e. it dangled behind him as he walked.

Next: The Queensland version.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: Lyr Add: WALTZING MATILDA - Queensland Version
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 01 Feb 98 - 01:07 AM

G'day,
Here are the words to the Qld version. As you can see these words are almost identical to Banjo's original.

WALTZING MATILDA Queensland Version

          C          Am      F           G7
 Oh there once was a swagman camped in a billabong
  C         Am         Dm       G7
 Under the shade of a coolibah tree
         C          Em           Am         Dm G7
 And he sang as he looked at his old billy boiling
  C             Am         Dm G7      C
 Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.
 
 
 Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda my darling
 Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
 Waltzing Matilda and leading a waterbag
 Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.
 
 Down came a jumbuck to drink at the waterhole
 Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee
 And he sang as he stowed him away in his tucker bag
 You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.
 
 Down came the squatter a'riding his thoroughbred
 Down came policeman, one, two, three
 Whose is the jumbuck you've got in the tucker bag
 You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.
 
 
 But the swagman, he up and he jumped in the waterhole
 Drowning himself by the coolibah tree
 And his ghost may be heard as it sings in the billabong
 Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.
 

Subject: Tune Add: WALTZING MATILDA Queensland Version
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 01 Feb 98 - 01:09 AM

Here is the tune as it is usually played, my sheet music has a bit less ornamentation.

---

Click to play

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net

ABC format:

X:1
T:Waltzing Matilda, Queensland Version
M:4/4
Q:1/4=120
K:C
ED|C2CCc2cB|AGABAGED|C2CCc2cc|A2BAG2AB|c2dcB2GG|
AGABAGED|C2CCc2cc|D2EDC4|C2CCc2cB|AGABAGED|
C2CCc2cc|A2BAG2AB|c2dcB2GG|AGABAGED|C2CCc2cc|
D2EDC2||

Next: The Cowan version.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Feb 98 - 03:11 AM

Keep it coming, Alan. This is fascinating.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: mandola man
Date: 01 Feb 98 - 07:58 AM

I must admit I have not read all the information in the Waltzing Matilda site, and the reference to the Hoffmeister suicide as a framework for the song is also new to me.

However I came to believe, during my time in Oz, that the song has a totally different meaning to the superficial one it portrays. Dave de Hugard did a sort of rambling monologue on the subject at one of his festival performances, and asked the question why should a squatter (a man who would have owned a piece of land bigger than several English counties put together) take an interest in a man stealing one sheep. There are other anomilies that I will not detail here, and some of which have been noted above.

I think its an allegory on the 1891 sheep shearers strike, and any other messages hidden in it, including the shade joke identified above, are meant to make the listener say "is there something else in this"

There is a song called the ballad of 1891, which deals with the subject more directly.

regards alan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Phideaux
Date: 01 Feb 98 - 11:41 AM

Did Hoffmeister commit suicide, or was he "helped"?

Bob Schwarer

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Feb 98 - 12:03 PM

ummmmm..Alan, why do I see the Queensland version in a strange, almost unreadable font? In 'view source', it says 'font=courier', and that ain't courier!

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: RonU
Date: 01 Feb 98 - 10:35 PM

Whilst we are talking about Banjo Paterson, is it possible that he may have written "Only The Two Of Us", that I mentioned and posted last week? Some of the boys at the Pub yesterday evening thought that to be the case but, they had less than thin evidence.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Feb 98 - 12:28 AM

Hmmm. I wonder why you have a problem, BillD. It looks OK on my MS Internet Explorer. I figure he had to get a font that would accommodate the chords. Didn't work on your browser, eh? I wonder why.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 02 Feb 98 - 08:14 AM

Bill,
The font I specified was 'monospace'. This is a generic font which should translate to a monospace font e.g. courier. This allowed me to place chords above the appropriate words. It worked on three systems at least, my system at home, at work (both win95b MSIE 3.0) and Alison's (win95b MSIE 4.0).

Your message has given me two surprises:
1. Mudcat seems to have changed 'monospace' to 'courier'.
2. Your system seems to have translated 'courier' into some other font. Presumably it's a font installed on your system. Do you have courier installed?

Other users: What have you found? How was it laid out on your system? In the end though, I suppose it's no good doing something fancy unless ALL users can benefit.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 02 Feb 98 - 08:45 AM

Looking at the source I see that 'Craigielea' is still monospace. Maybe it was me that typed 'courier'. Surprise number 3.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Jerry Friedman
Date: 02 Feb 98 - 12:39 PM

It came out fine for me on Netscape Navigator.

For those of you waiting in suspense for the answer to my question on the Scots part of this thread, cushat=woodpigeon.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Feb 98 - 06:25 PM

Alan...yes, I have courier installed...and I have NO font 'installed' that is remotely close to what it shows...I do have a couple in 'storage' that have a 'bit' of that look...In the 'view source', it still says 'font face=courier'..although the word 'courier' itself is in a light blue color instead of black. Have no idea what happened...never saw it do anything like this before..I think I will send you a screen capture of how it appeared on my screen...

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Feb 98 - 03:12 AM

Hmmm. I haven't seen a "Monospace" font anywhere but in the Writings of Alan. Must be one of those exotic Australian fonts, or something, right up there with the poison purple octopusses. Maybe Mudcat substituted a font it recognized. Maybe Mudcat has a mind of its own.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 03 Feb 98 - 04:23 AM

Joe,
You won't find a 'monospace' font anywhere, but if your browser sees <font face=monospace> in the source it will translate it to the most appropriate font i.e. courier on most systems. I have checked and can confirm that it was me who specified 'courier' for the Qld version when I really meant 'monospace'. Mudcat is blameless as usual.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: WALTZING MATILDA
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 11 Feb 98 - 05:18 AM

G'day,
From Two Hundred And Twenty Popular Scottish Songs:-

THOU BONNIE WOOD O' CRAIGIELEA

G'day,
Here is the most widely known version of Waltzing Matilda, ARRANGED by Marie Cowan in 1903 for Jimmy Inglis, to be used in a Billy Tea promotion. Inglis had heard the song being sung by Boer war veterans in Sydney pubs.

This is not quite the same as the version in the DT, but it's the way we sing it here.

WALTZING MATILDA

 D             A      Bm          G
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
D                          A7   D
Under the shade of a coolibah tree
                   A           Bm              G
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
 D                        A7         D
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

    D                 G
   Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
    D             G          D         A
   You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
           D          A7          Bm              G
   And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
    D                        A7         D
   You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

Down came the jumbuck to drink at the billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tuckerbag
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.
   Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
   You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
   And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tuckerbag
   You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

Up rode the squatter mounted on his thoroughbred
Down came the troopers, one, two, three
Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tuckerbag
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.
   Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
   You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
   Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tuckerbag
   You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

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.
   Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
   You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
   And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
   You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

Subject: Tune Add: WALTZING MATILDA
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 11 Feb 98 - 05:20 AM

And here is the tune. Again it is rather different from the variation in the DT (which I've never heard).

MIDI file: MATILDA.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: Waltzing Matilda
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Key: D
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0000 1 66 087 0238 0 66 087 0002 1 66 086 0238 0 66 086 0002 1 66 091 0238 0 66 091 0002 1 66 088 0238 0 66 088 0002 1 64 113 0478 0 64 113 0002 1 64 108 0478 0 64 108 0002 1 62 104 0238 0 62 104 0002 1 64 088 0238 0 64 088 0002 1 66 088 0238 0 66 088 0002 1 62 088 0238 0 62 088 0002 1 59 094 0238 0 59 094 0002 1 61 080 0238 0 61 080 0002 1 62 094 0478 0 62 094 0002 1 57 094 0478 0 57 094 0002 1 62 086 0238 0 62 086 0002 1 66 088 0238 0 66 088 0002 1 69 091 0478 0 69 091 0002 1 69 097 0238 0 69 097 0002 1 69 088 0238 0 69 088 0002 1 69 097 0238 0 69 097 0002 1 69 088 0238 0 69 088 0002 1 69 101 0478 0 69 101 0002 1 69 108 0478 0 69 108 0002 1 62 079 0238 0 62 079 0002 1 64 086 0238 0 64 086 0002 1 66 097 0478 0 66 097 0002 1 66 097 0238 0 66 097 0002 1 66 097 0238 0 66 097 0002 1 64 113 0478 0 64 113 0002 1 64 104 0478 0 64 104 0002 1 62 108 0238 0 62 108 0002 1 64 091 0238 0 64 091 0002 1 66 088 0238 0 66 088 0002 1 62 097 0238 0 62 097 0002 1 59 088 0238 0 59 088 0002 1 61 076 0238 0 61 076 0002 1 62 088 0478 0 62 088 0002 1 57 097 0478 0 57 097 0002 1 62 097 0238 0 62 097 0002 1 66 088 0238 0 66 088 0002 1 69 101 0478 0 69 101 0002 1 67 094 0238 0 67 094 0002 1 66 088 0238 0 66 088 0002 1 64 104 0478 0 64 104 0002 1 64 094 0238 0 64 094 0002 1 64 101 0238 0 64 101 0002 1 62 113 0958 0 62 113 0002 1 69 117 0478 0 69 117 0002 1 69 101 0238 0 69 101 0002 1 69 091 0238 0 69 091 0002 1 69 108 0478 0 69 108 0002 1 66 097 0478 0 66 097 0002 1 74 104 0478 0 74 104 0002 1 74 101 0238 0 74 101 0002 1 74 101 0238 0 74 101 0002 1 73 080 0478 0 73 080 0002 1 71 086 0478 0 71 086 0002 1 69 108 0478 0 69 108 0002 1 69 104 0238 0 69 104 0002 1 69 101 0238 0 69 101 0002 1 71 097 0478 0 71 097 0002 1 69 088 0238 0 69 088 0002 1 69 088 0238 0 69 088 0002 1 69 108 0478 0 69 108 0002 1 67 088 0238 0 67 088 0002 1 66 088 0238 0 66 088 0002 1 64 113 0478 0 64 113 0002 1 62 094 0238 0 62 094 0002 1 64 097 0238 0 64 097 0002 1 66 101 0478 0 66 101 0002 1 66 101 0238 0 66 101 0002 1 66 094 0238 0 66 094 0002 1 64 113 0478 0 64 113 0002 1 64 101 0478 0 64 101 0002 1 62 104 0238 0 62 104 0002 1 64 104 0238 0 64 104 0002 1 66 097 0238 0 66 097 0002 1 62 094 0238 0 62 094 0002 1 59 104 0238 0 59 104 0002 1 61 087 0238 0 61 087 0002 1 62 097 0478 0 62 097 0002 1 57 104 0478 0 57 104 0002 1 62 094 0238 0 62 094 0002 1 66 094 0238 0 66 094 0002 1 69 097 0478 0 69 097 0002 1 67 097 0238 0 67 097 0002 1 66 088 0238 0 66 088 0002 1 64 113 0478 0 64 113 0002 1 64 109 0223 0 64 109 0017 1 64 108 0238 0 64 108 0002 1 62 108 0958 0 62 108
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the January 15 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Waltzing Matilda
M:4/4
Q:1/4=100
K:D
FFFFE2E2|DEFDB,CD2|A,2DFA2AA|AAA2A2DE|F2FFE2E2|
DEFDB,CD2|A,2DFA2GF|E2EED4|A2AAA2F2|d2ddc2B2|
A2AAB2AA|A2GFE2DE|F2FFE2E2|DEFDB,CD2|A,2DFA2GF|
E2EED4||

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Feb 98 - 05:31 AM

Don't think that I've heard the "Waltzing Matilda" tune that's in the database, either. Can anybody tell us anything about it? The Queensland version and the one Alan just posted are the tunes I'm familiar with.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 23 Feb 98 - 07:42 AM

G'day,
There's a song called The Bold Fusilier which uses the Cowan version of the Matilda tune. It has been suggested that Paterson simply rewrote this song. Here is what Richard Magoffin says about it:-

There is an English song which pretends to come from the time of the Duke of Marlborough, "The Bold (or Gay) Fusilier", but it is really a parody of "Waltzing Matilda" from the Boer war, which was attended by the fusiliers, by Banjo Paterson, and many other Australians who sang our song. (Also, although irrelevant here, by Marlborough's descendant Sir Winston Churchill - A of A).

There is no record anywhere of the existence of this song prior to 1900 by way of any manuscript.

The British Museum wrote in 1968 that they had never found any trace of the song. The British Folk Song and Dance Society had received many requests but, likewise, found no record.

The Mayor of Rochester and the editor of the Fusilier's magazine were challenged some years ago to present pre-Matilda evidence for their song. They were not able to do so, while insisting that hearsay evidence in England was sufficient. English folklore authority, Vaughan Williams, considered that the earlier existence of the song was very doubtful because its language was not appropriate to the early eighteenth century period it pretended to represent.

There are two versions of this in the DT:-
MARCHING THROUGH ROCHESTER and
COME BE A SOLDIER FOR MARLBORO AND ME
These are attributed to Peter Coe. Both are significantly different from the version on Peter and Chris Coe's "Open The Door And Let Us In" album whose sleeve notes say of "The Gay Fusilier": A recruiting song set at the turn of the 18th century. Peter found the first verse and directions for the tune (said to be originally English) in a magazine, but after searching unsuccessfully for the rest of the song, he wrote the additional verses himself.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: BSeed
Date: 25 Aug 98 - 08:40 PM

Alison, thanks for refreshing this thread. I've only been in Mudcat about a month, so this is new to me. --seed

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Ferret
Date: 12 Nov 98 - 11:19 AM

What a bonza thread!

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 12 Nov 98 - 01:10 PM

Just re-reading the entire thread--- If you really want to sing Jabberwocky
It goes to Beethoven's Ode To Joy.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Wotcha
Date: 22 Aug 99 - 12:17 PM

Tim J:

I remember the 1950s movie, "On the Beach" [film version of Neville Shute's book) had a brief snatch of Waltzing Matilda sung to a slightly different tune (it sounded folkier than the popular renditions one normally hears). The movie featured Gregory Peck and Fred Astaire (in a rare non dancing role) ... Oh you can carry on with the music discussion now...

Cheers, Brian

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Helen
Date: 23 Aug 99 - 07:36 AM

Wotcha,

Was it the Queensland version of the tune, mentioned by Alan? I have always preferred that version - it sort of "swings" more than the well known version.

Helen

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 03:11 AM

G'day all,

I know it is nearly impossible to describe a tune in words (unless you are a piper and trained to their coded note-speech (~cantara?) but the distinguishing point about the Queensland (or Buderim) version of Waltzing Matilda is the octave jump from the first bar to the second.

This is quite distinctive (although scarcely unique) and occurs in the first, second and fourth lines and is the sort of thing that Wotcha may just remember.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 05:08 AM

I have Email from Pete Coe on the subject and am seeking his consent to post part of it. Very interesting!

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GeorgeH
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 08:32 AM

I seem to recall Pete Coe's account of this was aired on uk.m.f. some little while back so a DejaNews search might turn something up - although I expect Richard Bridge will shortly forward the definitive version here.

And while Pete Coe is "in the frame" - his current working outfit, Ryburn Three Step, have received very enthusiastic receptions to their work at Sidmouth this year and last year; look out for them, they are a real treat. AND it seems the magnificent New Victory Band album is likely to be re-released on CD (unfortunately most of Pete & co's past recordings are lost in the black hole called Celtic Music of Harrogate . . )

G.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 09:52 AM

G'day,
Just thought I'd paste this from one of my earlier posts in this thread:-

Peter and Chris Coe's "Open The Door And Let Us In" album whose sleeve notes say of "The Gay Fusilier": A recruiting song set at the turn of the 18th century. Peter found the first verse and directions for the tune (said to be originally English) in a magazine, but after searching unsuccessfully for the rest of the song, he wrote the additional verses himself.

However there appears to be no sign of this song before the Boer war, which was strongly represented by Aussies. If it did exist before then it could easily have picked up the Matilda tune at that time. (See earlier posts).

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Len Wallace
Date: 24 Aug 99 - 08:14 PM

Seems to me that Sing Out magazine had a piece about the origins of the song, where it came from about one or two issues back. You may want to check with them. I recall the Waltzing Matilda was written to commemorate a strike.

len wallace

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Warren in Bateau Bay
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 02:58 AM

Good idea for all to check publication(s) by Richard Maclaughlin on origins and explanations of the allegory of WM. Note: It was announced today that RM was awarded an OAM for his services Australian folklore. In short, Paterson was really writing about the plight and freedoms of the Australian people in allegory form - same tactic as the writers of many of the common nursery rhymes of today. I was surprised that there was no references to RM here.

Subject: Lyr Add: AND THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA
From: sledge
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 03:40 AM

A cracking song that uses Waltzing Matilda as its base is "AND THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA" written by Eric Bogle. This song really is a masterpiece that's been recorded by many artists.

AND THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA
(written by Eric Bogle)

When I was a young man I carried my pack
And I lived the free life of a rover
From the Murrays green basin to the dusty outback
I waltzed my Matilda all over
Then in nineteen fifteen my country said Son
It's time to stop rambling 'cause there's work to be done
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
And they sent me away to the war
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we sailed away from the quay
And amidst all the tears and the shouts and the cheers
We sailed off to Gallipoli

How well I remember that terrible day
How the blood stained the sand and the water
And how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
Johnny Turk he was ready, he primed himself well
He chased us with bullets, he rained us with shells
And in five minutes flat he'd blown us all to hell
Nearly blew us right back to Australia
But the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we stopped to bury our slain
We buried ours and the Turks buried theirs
Then we started all over again

Now those that were left, well we tried to survive
In a mad world of blood, death and fire
And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive
But around me the corpses piled higher
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over tit
And when I woke up in my hospital bed
And saw what it had done, I wished I was dead
Never knew there were worse things than dying
For no more I'll go waltzing Matilda
All around the green bush far and near
For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs two legs
No more waltzing Matilda for me

So they collected the cripples, the wounded, the maimed
And they shipped us back home to Australia
The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla
And as our ship pulled into Circular Quay
I looked at the place where my legs used to be
And thank Christ there was nobody waiting for me
To grieve and to mourn and to pity
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As they carried us down the gangway
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared
Then turned all their faces away

And now every April I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
And I watch my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reliving old dreams of past glory
And the old men march slowly, all bent, stiff and sore
The forgotten heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask, "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question
And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men answer to the call
But year after year their numbers get fewer
Some day no one will march there at all

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll go a waltzing Matilda with me
And their ghosts may be heard as you pass the Billabong
Who'll go a waltzing Matilda with me?

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 5-Jun-02.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Callie
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 09:03 AM

I heard a very interesting verion of the song in Kiama on the weekend, as performed by Tursacan. Inspired by Christina McPherson's 5/4 bar, they perform the whole song in 5/4, and surprisingly it WORKS REALLY WELL!

I've also - somewhere - heard an absolutely appalling parody of Waltzing My Timor, which starts off "once a jolly digger camped by the Kokoda trail". The Kokoda trail is in PNG, not Timor, and the song just gets WORSE from there!)

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Chicky
Date: 12 Jun 00 - 08:33 PM

Yeh - that 5/4 version was fab. And it's great to hear all the stuff they do in 7/8 as well!

Nobody has yet mentioned the Tom Waits song Tom Traubert's Blues, which has references to Waltzing Matilda.

And then there's the best version I've ever heard - the (very irreverent) variations on Waltzing Matilda by the Brodsky Quartet.

Cheers
- Chicky

Subject: Lyr Add: LIVING W/HILDA (Waltzing Matilda parody)
From:
Date: 13 Jun 00 - 04:16 PM

Okay, I hate to do this to you all, but how about this version....

Once a horned Viking sat beside a gray fjord,
Under the head of the noon day sun,
And he sang as he beat his tiny head against a tree,
Living with Hilda is no longer fun.

Living with Hilda, living with Hilda,
Living with Hilda is driving me mad,
And he sang as he beat his tiny head against a tree,
Rattling the brains that he no longer had.

Once she was beauteous, flaxen-haired and raven-eyed,
Now that the flower of her youth has gone.
Now it takes 3 years just to walk around her girth,
I'm no prize either, but don't put me on.

(Chorus again)

I am NOT the author, just the poster. I am not aware of the author; the song was heard at a Society for Creative Anachronism event many, many years ago.

Just had to throw it in there...

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 13-Jan-02.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From:
Date: 23 Feb 01 - 07:47 PM

I just discovered this ancient thread on various aspects of 'Waltzing Matilda'. (It was the *sole* link that MetaCrawler turned up for 'The Gay Fusilier' - apart from gay sites, of course). Thanks to Alan from Australia for providing precisely the answers I needed, which naturally originated with Richard Magoffin.

One of the postings in this thread back in '98 raided my 'Waltzing Matilda' site - "the original and most authoritative site", trust me (:-)} - without giving the URL, which I thought was poor form.

Enhancements to my site are always very welcome!! http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/WM/

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,chrisj
Date: 16 Oct 01 - 10:04 PM

In the 'resurrection' of this thread earlier this week (which I hadn't read before) I saw a passing reference to the Kokoda Trail, scene of Australia's hour of greatest danger in World War II. Makes me wonder if there are any songs dealing with it?

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,BOAB
Date: 17 Oct 01 - 02:43 AM

Atreasure chest of a thread! Amodest contribution---'way back, somebody asked "what's a cushat?" It's the Scots for "woodpigeon", or as often called "a cushat-doo".

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Alison Cone
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 09:22 PM

Hello Chicky and Callie -

Nice to know someone out there remembers Tursacan - we haven't had a gig in a while. Our drummer, Mark Campbell, is a fan of 5/4, 7/8 and occasionally 11 beat rhythms, so he'd be delighted to know you liked our versions! He decided that Christina McPherson's 5/4 bar was not a mistake, but the rest of the song in 4/4 was. We kinda like the way it pumps along in 5/4.

Cheers, -AC

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,ponyalex
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 12:59 PM

well i never would have gessed that there were so many people who were intrested in the walzing matilda song!I herd it many years ago as a child on a we sing tape!*****

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Hrothgar
Date: 30 Jun 02 - 05:02 AM

Ron U

Just came into this thread. "There's only the two of us her" is attributed to Ted Harrington and Slim Dusty by Jim Haynes in his book "An Australain Heritage of Verse" (ABC Books, Sydney, 2001. ISBN 0 7333 0898 8).

I'm not sure if this means that E J Harrington wrote the words, and Slim later put them to music. Harrington did write some interesting stuff. I'll have to check the "Mad Dog" Morgan thread to see whether Harrinton's poem about Morgan gets a mention.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: rich-joy
Date: 30 Jun 02 - 08:26 AM

Just for the record, my fave version of "Waltzing Matilda" is by The Mills Sisters of (dear old) Darwin, in Australia's Northern Territory, where (I think) they sing it in their (Aboriginal) Larrakeyah (or Finniss River, was it??) language!!!

NOW, can anyone post those lyrics???

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Jun 02 - 08:52 AM

G'day Hrothgar,

Presumably Slim Dusty has sung a version of Ted Harrington's There's Only The Two Of Us Here ... and may have put a tune to it. The poem is certainly by Ted Harrington. (I was just chasing Ted's My Old Black Billy for someone in another forum.)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 09:47 PM

Adding the Australian National University website. Much information on Matilda. Waltzing Matilda

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 11:44 PM

G'day Dicho,

Thanks for the link to Roger Clarke's latest Waltzing Matilda site. (You may have noticed that he posted in this thread- about 18 months ago.)

I do see that a line within the text that suggests the (non-musician) Clarke is still listening to 'cloth-eared' academics that can't see the relationship between the original Craigielea and Christina's tune for Waltzing Matilda.

If anyone is interested, I have a music file with all the successive steps in order, in the same key (D) and the progression is obvious ... as it is from the dots ... if you can read!

If anyone wants a copy, they can PM me and I can give them a PDF or GIFF image of the dots and/or a MIDI of the tunes.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 08:09 PM

Perhaps I am one of the "cloth-eared" ones. To me, there is enough difference between Christina MacPherson's tune and that of Craigielea to justify calling her the composer. I guess that this argument could go on and on. I base my argument on the original score for "Waltzing Matilda" as published here: MacPherson score

Now compare this with the music for the "Queensland version" at the Univ. Queensland site, which seems to be the sheet music published in 1903: Queensland score

Alan of Australia posted the midi file for Craigielea, 29 Jan 98 in thread 3857. Chords and lyrics are also given: Craigielea

Now the Cowan score is different from both of those given above. Alan gives the midi, etc. in the same 3857 thread.
Here is the sheet music from the Univ. Queensland site: Cowan

OK, since like Clarke I have "cloth ears" I am going to turn tail and let the Aussies argue it out (retire to position of interested unaligned observer, behind barricade).

Since my typing and computer skills are rudimentary, here are the three links as I read them:
http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/WM/Score.html (Original score).
Queensland vers.: http://www.uq.edu.au/~mlwham/banjo/waltzing_matilda.html
Cowan vers.: http://www.uq.edu.au/~mlwham/banjo/waltzing_matilda_2.html

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 08:13 PM

Sorry for the unnecessary link to this thread. Sign me a few bricks short....

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 08:37 PM

The links I posted work fine for me in Netscape, but access is restricted using IE.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From:
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 11:23 AM

> Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda > From: GUEST,chrisj > Date: 16-Oct-01 - 10:04 PM > > In the 'resurrection' of this thread earlier this week > (which I hadn't read before) I saw a passing reference > to the Kokoda Trail, scene of Australia's hour of > greatest danger in World War II. Makes me wonder if > there are any songs dealing with it?

No songs that I jnow of, but here's a poem. It owes a lot to "Verdun" by the Countess of Noailles:

KOKODA Silence embraces the greatest name in our memory. Endless jungle along the Kokoda. Here our men came, one by one, Day by day, hour by hour, step by step, to stand with proud and stoic love. They fell in the grim ordeal.

Kokoda, their eternal and weeping widow bows down, her forested ridges a shroud on the corpse.

Pass by, and silence your empty praises of the hills which were shadowed with the wings of angels flashing from wounds in the bodies of men. Blood has flowed here so profusely that no other human voice has the right to add its vain and feeble lament to its rising incense.

See, in these gashed and bloodied hillsides, the power of love of "Patriotism" For which the bravest hearts have ben put beneath the soil. Here, each knew he came to die; the greatest sacrifice, made for all.

The Earth opened and received them: it is made Man.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Jim McLean
Date: 27 Jul 02 - 12:06 PM

See Review: Waltzing Matilda

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Virginia in Canada
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 09:57 PM

We were discussing this recently. Waltzing Matilda is the most hauntingly beautiful tune written. Why, who knows why? Maybe because the lyrics speak of the common man and his stuggle to just get by and also his ultimate humourous defiance.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 11:27 PM

G'day Dicho (... if you're still out there 11 months later!),

Your problem in 'comparing' the tunes seems to arise at the point where you say:

"Now compare this with the music for the "Queensland version" at the Univ. Queensland site, which seems to be the sheet music published in 1903: Queensland score ..." (My bolding).

The "Queensland version" is not the 1903 published version ... it is a completely independent (folk?) setting of Banjo Paterson's published words ... and only found in the 1950s.

The progression of tune versions in the Craigielea line is:

1805: W Barr's setting of Craigielea
1893: Bulch's quickstep arrangement of Craigielea tune (Her husband claimed her composition only after her deat in 1939.)
1903: Marie Cowan's version, which she only ever claimed to 'arrange'.

If you listen to, or read, the appropriate section of Craigielea, followed by the two further steps, you will hear/see that each varies little from the other. I can supply a 2-page set of tunes showing these (plus the dodgy 'Berriman' "cut & paste") as well as a MIDI file of each played in the same key and tempo.

Virginia,

It is interesting that Waltzing Matilda survives all criticism ... and shameless parodies ... and still says something about Australians. Perhaps we are too close to say just what that is!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 27 Jun 03 - 07:55 AM

G'day again,

In the cold light of the evening (vs the heated rush of a lunchtime peek at the 'Cat) I realise that list should have read:

The progression of tune versions in the Craigielea line is:

1805: W Barr's setting of Craigielea
1893: Bulch's quickstep arrangement of Craigielea tune
1903: Marie Cowan's version, which she only ever claimed to 'arrange'. (Her husband claimed her composition only after her death in 1939.)

Sorry 'bout that,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Lee
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 01:35 PM

Does anyone know who sang the song in the movie On the Beach and is there a copy available somewhere?
Thanks.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Messmate
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 02:58 PM

I may have been looking in the wrong places but I have not yet seen any reference to either of two parodies of Waltzing Matilda often sung in Australia. Reading through the thread I see reference to the Kuta so I thought I could deal with them here; both were sung to the Cowan tune.

The first purports to be an English original to the Australian but the last verse gives the game away. I'll omit the choruses as they're predictable to anyone who knows the original.

Waltzing a bulldog
Once a jolly vagabond sat down by a lily pond
under the shade of an old oak tree
and he sang as he sat and waited 'til his billy boiled
who'll come a-waltzing a bulldog with me.

Down came a hedgehog to drink at the lily pond
up jumped the vagabond and grabbed him with glee
and he sang as he shoved that hedgehog in his haversac
you'll come a-waltzing a bulldog with me.

Down came the constables riding on his bicycle
up rode the magistrates one two three
where's that jolly hedgehog you've got in your haversac?
You'll come a-waltzing a bulldog with me.

Up jumped the vagabond and sprang into the lily pond
you'll never take me alive said he
but he's sitting now in jail 'cause you can't drown in a lily pond
who'll come a-waltzing a bulldog with me.

I first heard this in Melbourne in mid-1967 and, years later, was told it had been written by John Dengate. Some yearls later I was describing this provenance to somebody and was told that John Dengate had written it in 1967 while on board a passenger ship from Australia to Britain. While I've never asked John to confirm such details this would suggest the parody had made a rather swift return to Australia. Perhaps Bob Bolton could shed light on this.

The other parody was occasionally performed by Richard Leitch, a wonderful reciter in Melbourne during the 1970s. He recited it; even Screech, as he was known, would admit he wasn't much of a singer. It was known as "Wolgang Brunhilde" and the text was largely a mock-German rendition of the text as per Cowan.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 06:29 PM

G'day Messmate,

I've (seemingly always) heard variants of the Waltzing A Bulldog parody around the folk scene ... but never specifically associated them with John Dengate. There's no reason why he couldn't have done it ... but I think he's always had targets he thought better needed a stir along.

I'll ask him, when I get a chance, but I've always thought this was just a good-natured Pommie stir arising from hearing Waltzing Matilda once or twice too often.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 09:56 PM

G'day again,

The word from chez Dengate is that John did not write the parody, although I can remember him throwing a verse or two into a performance. I wasn't back in the Sydney scene between late 1965 and Easter 1970, so I don't have any firsthand experience of that particular parody's first appearance ... but I always seemed to find it around the Pommy (that's local for English - in case anyone else is trying to follow this) end of folk clubs, &c.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Patart
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 02:28 AM

I've heard a wonderful rewriting of the song by Don (i don't know his last name, from Sydney, you know him Bob: from the bush music club) that inludes the Samuel Hoffmeister conection and the reasons for his suicide. the song sure deserves to be here.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 03:19 AM

G'day Patart,

That's by Don Brian, who plays whistle with the Backblocks Musicians - who would normally be gathering here, in just under an hour, for a practice / session ... but we're not having a session tonight as we are all off to our friends' orchard down in the Southern Highlands tomorrow for an all-day session ... and, we hope, a relief from Sydney's increasingly sub-tropical summer!

I don't know of that song has being posted to Mudcat - and it's not in the DT ... or the links above, but I'll ask Don if he has any objection. It should be sung to the original Christina McPherson excerpt from the Craigielea, rather than Marie Cowan's popularist arrangement ... but it works to either.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Patart
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 03:28 AM

Bob, I think he calls it Waltzing the Union. If that's Daryl's orchard, say hello from Patrick for me. cheers   Pat

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Bob Bolton
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 05:31 AM

G'day Patart,

(Damn ... Mudcat has taken its accustomed 21.15 (Sydney time) dive to the deep muddy ... again ... while I was answering the 'phone! Anyway - this MAY work.)

Don must have thought that title (which I believe I have heard him use ...) took too much more explaining! This is what he just e-mailed me (after he rang me ... about tomorrow - and I pinned him down for a copy of the song!).

BT: No, it's not Daryl's orchard. This is David Johnson & Ann Pidcock's The Laurels, an old orchard at Penrose (halfway between Sydney and Canberra) where David organically grows traditional and heritage species.

Anyway ... the song:

An Alternative Waltzing Matilda
(born out of the need to explain the story of the original)
Words: © Don Brian
Tune: (Ideally) Christina MacPherson's original tune

There once was a shearer by the name of Samuel Hoffmeister
He burnt the Dagworth woolshed in Queensland's back country.
And he sang as he fanned, the flames for the union
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?
CHORUS
Who'll join the union, the union my darling
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?
And he sang as he fanned, the flames for the union
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

Down came the jumbuck, a symbol of the industry
Owned by the landlords, the rich squattocracy.
And the workers who'd lost to the scabs on the shearing board
Saw the opportunity and grabbed it with glee.
CHORUS
Who'll join the union, …

Down came McPherson, mounted on his thoroughbred
Guarded by the army, troopers and judiciary
"Are you the shearer who just burned down my shearing shed?"
You will not take control of this industry from me."
CHORUS
Who'll join the union, …

But he died like a dog on the banks of that waterhole
Killed with his own gun , where no one else could see.
But his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

The Chorus may be changed to reflect verses if desired or use the original
Sung to an approximation of Christina MacPherson's original tune (her remembered version of Craigielea).

Don suggests the song occasionally needs a bit if squeezing to fit the tune ... and he will vary pace for emphasis ...

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Patart
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 11:34 PM

Thanks Bob,this is the one that I should be singing, these stories of our past need to be told. cheers   p@

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 12:55 AM

G'day Patart,

I mentioned the original tune - as did Don in his e-mailed text. That is Christina MacPherson's 1895 notation of what she played to Paterson on the borrowed autoharp. This is somewhat sprightlier (more of a proper Schottische than a "barn dance" tune) compared to the Marie Cowan arrangement popularised by Inglis Tea Company's distribution of words and music (both modified) of Waltzing Matilda.

That original tune is not in the DT, but if you are interested in hearing it / playing it / singing it - I can email a simple MIDI file and/or the 'sheet music' from my music program ... if I have a suitable e-mail address (as we can't attach to a PM). If you wish, you can PM to me an address and I'll send them off.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 11:09 AM

Another mention of Kokoda is in Eric Bogles " All the fine Young Men", an anti-war song commissioned by the Australian government. There's something you wouldn't get nowadays.

Subject: RE: Tune Post - Original Waltzing Matilda tune
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 05:30 AM

G'day Patart,

I shall e-mail the whole range of permutations of the tune direct to you, along with the 'dots', in a sheet music form from my music program. However, I'll pop in the tune in the old "Alan in Australia" MIDItext format ("No longer supported by Mudcat"!).

If anyone stills runs this program (presumably on an older PC) the tune is in there. Otherwise, the BC readers/formatters can grab that from the bottom of the data ... and do most of what a real music program does.

Christina MacPherson's original tune to Waltzing Matilda:

MIDI file: WM-CMACP.mid

Timebase: 240

TimeSig: 2/4 24 8

Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)

Start

0240 1 57 080 0096 0 57 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 66 080 0192 0 66 064 0048 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 59 080 0096 0 59 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 57 080 0192 0 57 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 66 080 0192 0 66 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 66 080 0192 0 66 064 0048 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 59 080 0096 0 59 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 57 080 0192 0 57 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 64 080 0144 0 64 064 0036 1 62 080 0048 0 62 064 0012 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 62 080 0384 0 62 064 0096 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 69 080 0144 0 69 064 0036 1 71 080 0048 0 71 064 0012 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 66 080 0144 0 66 064 0036 1 66 080 0048 0 66 064 0012 1 74 080 0192 0 74 064 0048 1 74 080 0144 0 74 064 0036 1 71 080 0048 0 71 064 0012 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 66 080 0192 0 66 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 71 080 0096 0 71 064 0024 1 71 080 0192 0 71 064 0048 1 69 080 0096 0 69 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 66 080 0288 0 66 064 0072 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 66 080 0192 0 66 064 0048 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 64 080 0192 0 64 064 0048 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 59 080 0096 0 59 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 57 080 0192 0 57 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0096 0 67 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 64 080 0144 0 64 064 0036 1 62 080 0048 0 62 064 0012 1 64 080 0096 0 64 064 0024 1 66 080 0096 0 66 064 0024 1 62 080 0384 0 62 064

End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1

T:

M:4/4

Q:1/4=100

K:C

A,3D^F2^FG|E2E^FD2^FD|B,DD2A,2DD|^F2DDA2G^F|

E2DE^F2^FG|E2E^FD2^FD|B,DD2A,2D^F|A2G^FE3/2D/2E^F|

D4A2A3/2B/2|A2^F3/2^F/2d2d3/2B/2|A2^F2A2AB|

B2AG^F3^F|E2E2^F2^FG|E2E^FD2^FD|B,DD2A,2D^F|

A2G^FE3/2D/2E^F|D13/4||

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 30 Jan 05 - 02:08 PM

Being the big creep (thread, that is) that I am, here is an aside note. In February of 2004 John Williamson did a concert in Springfield, Missouri---in the heart of the USA. Near the end of an absolutely wonderful show he sang "Waltzing Matilda" and was joined lustily on the chorus by his American audience. I think he was very surprised by the incongruity of an American audience joining him in the singing of the quintessential Australian song.
   And I enjoyed his show more than I can convey in words!

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 08:36 AM

During my visit to Australia last year, I heard a song on a Greyline Tour that was about how to say hello in different ways. I know it has a phrase in it about the yanks say it =====. I cannot locate the song or artist, and I would like to purchase t he CD. Does anyone know the artist or song?

Thanks

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 11:49 PM

G'day GUEST,

There's a song out there called G'Day (or, maybe Gudday ... or even Gudday, Gudday!), which is from our point of view - and contrasting with what people from all round the place might say.

It's not in my repertoire ... but searching on the various spelling of G'day or Gudday + Song & Australia might bring it up in a 'smart search'. I thought I had it on a cassette or CD - but have not yet excavated to the necessary stratum.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: Lyr Add: SAY G'DAY YOU AUSSIE CHILDREN
From: JennyO
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 04:48 AM

While Googling, I found this song, which is along those lines, although I suspect it isn't the one GUEST is looking for - no mention of the Yanks. Still, it's interesting, so I thought I'd post it anyway.

SAY G'DAY YOU AUSSIE CHILDREN

by Ted Egan

An old man came back from the Dreamtime
He'd been there for thousands of years
He'd learnt every language, he knew everything
And he wanted most of all to hear some children laugh and sing.
So off he went to Ernabella
And he met a funny little fella
And he knew just what this little boy would say
When the boy said "Niente bella"
The man said, "What'd I tell ya!
That's how the first Australians say "G'day"

Chorus:

Say g'day you Aussie children
Say g'day you Aussie kids
G'day, g'day, g'day, g'day, g'day, g'day

Now when he got to town, his face took on a frown
'Cos all the kids seemed to talk in a different way
For a while he hesitated, then he smiled when he translated
The kids had simply said to him "G'day!
"Comme sta? Ti kanis? Yak sher mash? Hola, Nasilsin,
Comment ça va? Konnichi wah? Koko si,
Wie geht's, Shalom, Marharbah, Labadiena, Hodz vodz? Apa kabar.
You've come from different places, but you've all got lovely faces
So there's really not much more for me to say
You're welcome to the country, but keep it looking good
And don't forget to smile and say "G'day."

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 05:54 AM

G'day JennyO,

I think Ted has done more than one "G'day" song ... but, most likely, the one our GUEST seeks is the Slim Dusty track referred to in most of the search hits from the terms I suggested above.

It's on Slim's CD of the same name - available at:
Slim Dusty: G'Day, G'day .

This CD has 12 Tracks, and runs 38:50 min.

Slim Dusty
G'day, G'day
Track Listing: CD 1:
1. G'Day, G'Day
2. Good Old Feef Of Flathead
3. Christmas, When I Was Big As You
4. A Girl From The Land
5. I Can Still Hear Dad Swearing
6. Breakaway
7. How's Your Memory
8. Sittin' On The Old Front Verandah
9. The Johnsonsville Dance
10. Bloody Bonzer Mate
11. The Boss
12. Up The Old Nulla Road

I don't think there are any sound clips, so I can't check. I might find the words elsewhere, but this is something to go on.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Catherine
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 09:02 AM

i was wondering if u no the lyrics to a slim dusty/Kasey Chambers song called "You'll come a waltzing matilda no more."
i've been searching for a loooooong time with no luck.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 12:00 AM

G'day,

Catherine: I don't know that one ... but I'll rattle a few cages that might! There have been a number of songs that set out to rejig Waltzing Matilda for a very different modern Australia - and some work quite well.

Business Arising: I knew I had responded to a thread after a "G'Day" song ... and I have found (and typed out) Slim's one - and it probably is the one our "GUEST" of 07 Jul 05 - 08:36 AM wanted. I knew I would have "Traced" the thread ... but, by the time I had come across a Slim Dusty compilation CD with the wanted song ... I forgot that it was this (already, and separately-) traced thread.

I'll post the words from home ... some hours hence.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 12:30 AM

G'day agin Catherine,

Actually, a passing post-prandial ponder produced this:


"We cut down the trees and the land we reclaimed
We ploughed and we planted and
we ploughed once again
And again and again and again and again
So now on a hot windy day,
we watch our topsoil blown away.
So who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me,
The desert is marching down to the sea
The day that it stretches from shore to far shore
We'll go Waltzing Matilda no more."

Slim Dusty, Matilda No More, from 'Looking Forward Looking Back', 2000.

That comes from reducing the "Search" criteria until it starts to match entries. I'll pursue it ... tonight. The credit seems to suggest it is Slim's own words ... but it's dangerous accepting secondary references.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 01:03 AM

Err ... G'day again, Catherine ...

I did duck into the official Slim Dusty web site at:
Slim Dusty Site.

This had only two listings for the track you want:

Album Title LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK
Looking Forward Looking Back, Never Was At All, There's A Rainbow Over The Rock, Matilda No More, The Bloke Who Serves The Beer, Paddy William, Clean Up Our Own Backyard, Old Time Country Songs, A Bad Day's Fishing, Port Augusta, Good Heavens Above, Hooks & Ride, Keela Valley Coals, Memories And Dreams, Looking Forward Looking Back (reprise)
Catalogue Number 27160 2 TC, 27160 2 CD
First released July 13, 2000

Album Title SIDE BY SIDE (THE DUSTY COLLABORATIONS)
Track listing: Two Singers (One Song); The Biggest Disappointment; A Fire Of Gidgee Coal; Matilda No More; We're Just A Couple Of Boys From The Bush; Charleville; When The Rain Tumbles Down In July; Lights On The Hill; When The Currawongs Come Down; Duncan; Sunset Years Of Life; Country Revival; Pub With No Beer; Riding Through The Valley In The Spring; Christmas, When I Was Big As You; I Love To Have A Dance With Dorothy
Catalogue Number ?? CD ? TC
First released November 2002; only available as a bonus disc with re-release of Travellin' Still... Always Will or for a limited period from this website.

It would appear that Slim recorded the track, on his own, in 2000 ... then did a duo (presumably with Kasey Chambers) in 2002. I don't have either CD ... and I can't see anywhere likely to have posted Slim's lyrics (... yet ... ).

Regards,

Bob

Subject: Lyr Add: G'DAY, G'DAY (from Slim Dusty)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 06:31 AM

G'day again to our GUEST of 07 Jul 05 - 08:36 AM,

I finally located a compilation CD with what I presume to be the song you were chasing (OK ... back in June ...):

G'day, G'day
(Rob Fairbairn) Image Music

G'day, g'day, How're you goin'?
What do you know? Well, strike a light!
G'day, g'day, and how're you goin'?
You say g'day, g'day, g'day, and you'll be right.

Isn't it great to be an Aussie,
Taking a walk along the street?
Looking in shops - or buying a paper
Stopping and having a yarn to people that you meet.

Down at the track (?) - or at a party
Whenever you're stuck for what to say:
If you want to be dinki-di, why don't you give it a try
Look 'em straight in the eye and say …

G'day, g'day, How're you goin'?
What do you know? Well, strike a light!
G'day, g'day, and how're you goin'?
You say g'day, g'day, g'day, and you'll be right.

Now, when Italians meet they all go crazy,
The blokes they like to hug each other too.
The Yanks invented "Hi" and "See you later",
While the Pommy will shake your hand and say "How do yo do?".

Now watch out for a Frenchman or he'll kiss you,
The Spaniards go for holla and olé
In the land of the cockatoo, or catching a didgeridu,
When you meet an Aussie … ten to one, here's what he'll say:

G'day, g'day, How're you goin'?
What do you know? Well, strike a light!
G'day, g'day, and how're you goin'?
You say g'day, g'day, g'day, and you'll be right.

It's a greeting that you'll hear across Australia,
From Geraldton to Gove and Gundagai
It's as dinkum as the dingo and the dahlia,
And you spell it with a G-apostrophe-D-A-Y …

G'day, g'day, How're you goin'?
What do you know? Well, strike a light!
G'day, g'day, and how're you goin'?
You say g'day, g'day, g'day, and you'll be right.

(Chorus)
G'day, g'day, How are you goin'?
What do you know? Well, strike a light!
G'day, g'day, how're you goin'?
You say g'day,g'day, g'day …
… You say g'day,g'day, g'day, and she'll be right.

As sung by Slim Dusty

This seems to have been on 5 record albums over the years 1988 to 1998. I have only bothered to give the track listings for the first - named for it:G'day, G'day and the most recent: The Very Best Of Slim Dusty from which I have the words.

I imagine this last album should be still available … compilations seem to have a good life expectancy.

Album Title G'day G'day
Track Listing G'day G'day, Good Old Feed Of Flathead, "Christmas, When I Was Big As You", A Girl From The Land, I Can Still Hear Dad Swearing, Breakaway, How's Your Memory?, Sittin' On The Old Front Veranda, The Johnsonville Dance, Bloody Bonzer Mate, The Boss, Up The Old Nulla Road.
Catalogue Number 7801874 Tc, 7801872 Cd
First Released November 1988


Album Title A Land He Calls His Own
Catalogue Number 8525214 Tc, 8525212 Cd
First Released September 1991

Album Title Live Into The 90s
Catalogue Number 7990254 Tc, 7990252 Cd
First Released February 1992


Album Title The Anniversary Album No. 2
Catalogue Number 7896104 Tc, 7896102 Cd
First Released October 1993

Album Title The Very Best Of Slim Dusty
Track Listing Pub With No Beer, Lights On The Hill, The Biggest Disappointment, Three Rivers Hotel, Ringer From The Top End, Where Country Is, Leave Him In The Longyard, Plains Of Peppimenarti, Duncan, Charleville, Indian Pacific, Sweeney, G'day G'day, Walk A Country Mile, When The Rain Tumbles Down In July, I'm Going Back Again To Yarrawonga, Old Time Country Halls, Camooweal, We've Done Us Proud, Country Revival, Cunnamulla Feller, By A Fire Of Gidgee Coal, Losin' My Blues Tonight, Wobbly Boot
Catalogue Number 7243 5 84235 2 5 CD Capitol Records / Slim Dusty Records
First Released November, 1998

I hope you do get a chance to look back here (and I hope this is the one you wanted) ...

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,LYRICS to Country Revival
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 04:00 AM

can any one help me with the lyrics of the Slim Dusty song Country revival I cannot find the words anywhere at all

Thank you to any one who can help me
Bleggy

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 11:33 PM

G'day Bleggy,

I think the odds are a lot better if you start a new, separate, thread - headed up with the (optional) "Lyric Request" header. A lot of 'Catters will always check to see if there's any way they can help.

Tacking onto the end of a fairly specialised (albeit "Australian") thread like this won't be likely to attract the right Aussie Country/Slim Dusty fan.

I don't have hte words you need, but I'll start a "Lyric Request" thread for you ... and hope someone else will help out!

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 06:57 AM

G'day again,

Just in case our GUEST, Bleggy is only checking back to this thread ... to see if anyone has the lyrics requested ... I have posted my best effort from Slim's "Best Of ..." CD
here: Lyr Req: Country Revival (Slim Dusty).

I might be wrong on a few words - it's seems like a 'live show' recording and some words are a bit muffled ... but it's pretty close!

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,CAPT K
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 02:16 PM

Have heard a version of Waltzing Mathilda recently sung very slowly and hauntingly by a very deep, gravelly voiced male (black?) singer. Have had no luck locating. Any ideas who this might be??

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Rowan
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 12:17 AM

It might have been Tom Waits; his rendition is well known but I can't give any directions to a disc.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 09:44 PM

Someone sang Waltzing Matilda at the AFL Grand Fianl at the MCG about 20 years ago. His version was slow and he had a gravelly voice. I can't recall his name. I think he was a Vietnam Vet, a cocky from central Victoria, and I heard him sing at the Maindample pub in about 1993.

---

Please remember to put a consistent poster name in the "from" box when you post a message. Anonymous messages risk deletion.
Thanks.
-Joe Offer, Forum Moderator-

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Phil
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 09:56 PM

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Phil
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 11:49 PM

I think the singer at the MCG and Maindample pub was Noel Watson

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Mike Claridge
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 06:14 PM

Have heard a version of Waltzing Mathilda recently sung very slowly and hauntingly by a very deep, gravelly voiced male (black?) singer. Have had no luck locating. Any ideas who this might be??

The singer is Noel Watson (certainly not black) his version was picked up by a television chanel and used on a bicentennial program back in 1988 , and made number 16 on the pop charts.
Noel had been performing since childhood in many bands including , The Thunderbirds , Tamlas and Saltbush ...... He performed his version of Matilda at many venues including the AFL grand final and countless TV shows.
Today Noel lives a quiet life in Central Vic after some health issues and rarely performs.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Aug 07 - 09:32 PM

'Banjo, Jim & Me' by Noel Watson & Jim Brown

track 12 - Waltzing Matilda (vocals by Noel Watson)

c. 1998 The Massive Recording Co Pty Ltd
Goat Shed Productions Pty Ltd
PO Box 1294 Crows Nest NSW 2065. ph. [phone]

the company is no longer in the phone books, so maybe it is possible to get a copy thru a second-hand dealer.

Subject: ADD Parody: Waltzin Matilda No More
From: GUEST,ping
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 10:08 AM

WALTZING MATILDA NO MORE

Once jolly swagmen went humpin there swags,
and stuffed jolly jumbucks in there tuckerbags,
these days jolly junkies go on bag snatchin jags,
and steal to buy the poison they need,
the old swaggie just wanted a feed..

And who'll come a waltzing matilda with me ?
oh banjo this countries not what it used to be,
weve changed all your words and re-written your score,
now its waltzing matilda no more..

Once henry and mary on a warm afternoon,
rowwed down a reedy river to the broad bride lagoon,
the song of the river is a long vanished tune,
since they built the uranium mine,
whats left now is just toxic slime..

and who'll come a waltzing matilda with me ?
oh henry this countries not what it used to be,
days pass with a whimper and not with a roar,
and its waltzing matilda no more..

we cut down the tree's and the land we re-claimed,
we plowed and we planted and we plowed once again,
and again and again and again and again,
so now on a hot windy day we can watch our topsoil blown away..

and who'll come a waltzing matilda with me ?
the desert is marching down to the sea,
on the day that it stretches from shore to far shore,
we'll go waltzing matilda no more..

saturday night outside a kings cross hotel,
kids with hard drugs and soft bodies to sell,
Australia these children are half way to hell,
is this the best deal you can give?
well i find that hard to beleive..

and who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?
hey anzac is this what you fought to keep free?
a land fit for hero's or homeless and poor,
and its waltzing matilda no more..

and who'll come a waltzing matilda with me ?
this country could still be what we want it to be,
with care and compassion the dream will restore ,
and we'll go waltzing matilda once more,
we'll go waltzing matilda once more...


hope this helps anyone who like me has been searching

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Paul Kirsmer
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 04:15 PM

I once heard an excellent version of THE GAY FUSILIER on a CD. But I have been unable to locate it. Any assistance would be appreciated. I would of course be willing to purchase the CD if that is possible.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 07:30 PM

I 'Collected' (Stole) a Bulldog version from a lass who sang it at Uxbridge Folk Club Summer of 69 . Her version was defianetly in 4/4 and had the chorus 'Walking A Bulldog ' She sais she had just come back from OZ where she hd got it !

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 07:32 PM

And 100 !!!

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Dave Illingworth
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 11:51 AM

I used to sing a Matilda parody "Waltzing a Bulldog" in South Australia in early 1960s and don't recall any one else singing it.
I don't claim sole authorship - the original Matilda spawned a lot of parodies, and WALKING A BULLDOG sung by one Tom Lewis (1989) is possibly mere coincidence (after all the song is dead easy to parody). It would be nice to think, however, that my version did get passed on. I sang it in various coffee bars in Adelaide, and won a talent competition with it in Bega, NSW, in 1963. I sang it in a very posh English accent, which Aussies (especially in rural areas) always found very amusing. I first heard it sung again at the Faversham (Kent)Folk Club c1978 - the singer was uncertain where he had first heard it.

Thanks to Albert and Dr.Price for nice words about Pigfoot. Our Pontardawe gig went very well.
Good to see Leadfingers still hanging on in there.

                                     Dave Illingworth

Subject: ADD Parody: Waltzing a Bulldog (Dave Illingworth)
From: Dave Illingworth
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 02:27 PM

Further to my previous message of today (and after reading the very interesting "Matilda" correspondenc - I am new to Mudcat),
I print (for what they are worth) the words of parody I was singing
in Aussie c1963 (South Australia and on hitch-hiking travels through Victoria and NSW). I called it "WALTZING a bulldog", as opposed to "WALKING a bulldog".

Waltzing a Bulldog
(Dave Illingworth)

Once a jolly business man sat beside a lily pond
Under the shade of an old oak tree
And he sang as he watched and waited while his kettle boiled
You'll come a waltzing a bulldog with me

Waltzing a bulldog etc

Up came a bulldog to drink down by the lily pond
Up jumped the business man and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he stuffed that bulldog in his briefcase
You'll etc

Up came the sergeant mounted on his bicycle
Up rode the constables one, two, three
Where's that jolly bulldog you've got in your briefcase
You'll etc

Up jumped the business man and jumped into the lily pond
You'll never catch me alive said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the lily pond
You'll etc

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 07:15 AM

Another parody is one I came across when studying philosophy in New Zealand in the early 1970s. It was a detailed synopsis of St Anselm's two Ontological Arguments for the existence of God. I don't know where I've put the purple-roneo copy I had and I can only remember the beginning and (sort of) the chorus:

Once a jolly friar found himself an argument,
And he couldn't get it out of his mind,
He thought that he could prove the existence of the Deity
Just from the way that the words are defined.

Thus spake Saint Anselm, thus spake Saint Anselm,
Thus spake Saint Anselm with weighty intent,
That's what he said in his proof so ontological,
If only we could understand what the hell he meant.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Dave Illingworth
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 05:23 AM

Inspired my much of the above, my old mate Dusty Miller (see also
"Canal Catters" thread) has just written a new Matilda parody called
"Firing up the Bolinder". Many Canal Catters will know what a Bolinder is.
Dusty is no stranger to adapting Australian songs to suit a canal theme. On the DPN+1 CD "The Unknown Boatman", Dusty successfully adapted two songs from the repertoire of the late great Slim Dusty.
The title song is adapted from "Paddy William" amd "There lies a workhorse" became "There lies an old motor". We are proud that Slim kindly gave his blessing to the two rewrites a year before he died.

Subject: Yahoo! execs! stick! it! to! the! man!
From: GUEST,grotroreigmat
Date: 18 Jun 08 - 11:13 AM

More by this author Jerry Yang celebrates his first year as CEO of Yahoo! today, but with so many execs choosing to exit stage left, it's not exactly an anniversary he'll want to shout about.

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Rowan
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 11:15 PM

Those interested in early recordings and this song in particular may be interested to learn that the National Film and Sound Archive in Australia has been conducting a survey of recorded "Sounds of Australia" and the ealiest known recording of Waltzing Matilda, sung in this case by John Collinson in 1927, has been added to the list at #8

The ordering of the numbers at the link is by chronological precedence (the first 10 starts with The Hen Convention of 1896 and includes Percy Grainger's 1919 setting of Country Gardens and Peter Dawson singing The Road to Gundagai) but the list can be sorted by vartious filters.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: GUEST,Danny Rylance in the U.K.
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 09:09 AM

I am a fan of Noel Watson and i have a disc of him singing waltzing matilda, would be happy bto send a copy to you or e-mail you the song.let me know if you want it, my email address is [e-mail]
noel did sing this at the afl cup final and for my money its the best version ever
cheers

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 12:00 PM

To add to a bit of thread-drift from way way back. B Greenhaus remarked that you could sing Jabberwocky to Ode To Joy. Also, I find, to tune of any ballad: have just tried it out: to both the Young Laboo & the Matty Groves variants of Little Musgrave; to both the Bert Lloyd & the Matthew Hodgart versions of Bitter Withy; to Queen Eleanor's Confession; & to Young Johnston & the Young Colonel which I sing on my own Brewhouse record Butter&Cheese&All [BH 8904] — & it goes fine to all. Indeed, as we all know, any ballad tune will do for any ballad: the association of particular tunes to particular ballads always seems a bit arbitrary to me. But anyhow, it was ballad-metre that Carroll used for Jabberwocky: so there you go...

Subject: RE: Craigielee/Waltzing Matilda
From: Rain Dog
Date: 23 Nov 18 - 07:56 AM

Article from the BBC site about John Collinson who was the first person to record Waltzing Matilda

The British soldier who first recorded Waltzing Matilda

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This thread has been ravaged by spammers. Please ask a moderator to reopen it if you wish to post. ---mudelf