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1864–1941

Waltzing Matilda

Andrew Barton Paterson

Oh! there once was a swagman camped in the Billabong, Under the shade of a Coolabah tree; And he sang as he looked at his 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 water-bag — Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

Down came a jumbuck to drink at the water-hole, Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him in glee; And he sang as he put him away in his tucker-bag, “You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me!”

Down came the Squatter a-riding his thorough-bred; Down came Policemen — one, two, and 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 water-hole, Drowning himself by the Coolabah tree; And his ghost may be heard as it sings in the Billabong, “Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?”

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Waltzing Matilda · Andrew Barton Paterson · Poetry Cove