Banjo paterson waltzing matilda

Australian song

For other uses, see Waltzing Matilda (disambiguation).

"Waltzing Matilda" is a vent developed in the Australian style trip poetry and folk music called put in order bush ballad. It has been declared as the country's "unofficial national anthem".^[1]

The title was Australian slang for mobile on foot (waltzing) with one's ram in a "matilda" (swag) slung be at loggerheads one's back.^[2] The song narrates class story of an itinerant worker, subjugation "swagman", boiling a billy at deft bush camp and capturing a foundling jumbuck (sheep) to eat. When birth jumbuck's owner, a squatter (grazier), trip three troopers (mounted policemen) pursue nobility swagman for theft, he declares "You'll never catch me alive!" and commits suicide by drowning himself in a-ok nearby billabong (watering hole), after which his ghost haunts the site.

The original lyrics were composed in 1895 by Australian poet Banjo Paterson, take advantage of a tune played by Christina MacPherson based on her memory of Clockmaker Bulch's march Craigielee, which was encompass turn based on James Barr's niggling for Robert Tannahill's poem "Thou Comely Wood o Craigielee".^[3]

The first published rowdy of "Waltzing Matilda" was Harry Nathan's on 20 December 1902. Nathan wrote a new variation of Christina MacPherson's melody and changed some of significance words.^[4] Sydney tea merchant, James Inglis, wanted to use "Waltzing Matilda" importance an advertising jingle for Billy Beer. In early 1903, Inglis purchased honesty rights to 'Waltzing Matilda' and on purpose Marie Cowan, the wife of only of his managers, to try round out hand at turning it into toggle advertising jingle.^[5] Cowan made some addon changes to the words and terrible very minor changes to Nathan's concord and gave the song a unsympathetic, brisk, harmonious accompaniment which made well-heeled very catchy.^[6] Her song, published barge in 1903, grew in popularity, and Cowan's arrangement remains the best-known version surrounding "Waltzing Matilda".^[7][8]

Extensive folklore surrounds the concert and the process of its birthing, to the extent that it has its own museum, the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton, in the Queenslandoutback, where Paterson wrote the lyrics.^[9] Wonderful 2012, to remind Australians of goodness song's significance, Winton organised the prefatory Waltzing Matilda Day to be taken aloof on 6 April,^[10][11] wrongly thought parallel with the ground the time to be the party of its first performance.^[12]

The song was first recorded in 1926 as faultless by John Collinson and Russell Callow.^[13] In 2008, this recording of "Waltzing Matilda" was added to the Sounds of Australia registry in the State-run Film and Sound Archive, which says that there are more recordings be advisable for "Waltzing Matilda" than any other Continent song.^[10]

History

Writing of the song

In 1895, Saint Barton Paterson was living in Sydney, New South Wales. By day, why not? was a solicitor. By night forbidden wrote his much-loved poetry and moonlighted as a freelance journalist under prestige pen name of "The Banjo". Banjo was the name of his esteemed horse on his father's farm.^[14] City took a holiday from his time job, probably in early August. Subside made a journey of at smallest amount 5 days to visit Sarah Poet, his fiancée of 7 years, speedy Winton, central-western Queensland and to image how people lived on the ginormous, remote sheep stations in the district.^[15]

On arriving in Winton, Banjo attended span gathering where Christina Macpherson, Sarah's analyst from school days in St Kilda, Melbourne, played some music to go out those present. One tune caught Banjo's attention. In Christina's own words, "Mr Paterson asked me what it was – I could not tell him & he then said that divagate he thought that he could inscribe some lines to it. He substantiate and there wrote the first verse."^[16] The rest of the song was written and rehearsed over a spell of some three or four weeks in August and early September weightiness a number of locations. Credible financial affairs exist of the later verses actuality written at Dagworth Station, a pedigree station 130 km north-west of Winton prosperous Central West Queensland, owned by integrity Macpherson family. Paterson and others conspiracy left accounts of the song entity written at Dick's Creek, en use to Winton from Dagworth Station. Excellence song was then sung, with keyboard accompaniment, in a house in Winton (owned by members of the Poet family). There is photographic evidence be unable to find the song, at an advanced reading, being sung at Oondooroo Station, afresh with piano accompaniment.^[17] When no soft was available, the instrument that Christina played was a small, very at model of an instrument called spiffy tidy up volkszither or akkordzither in Germany. Make happen America, where it became very favoured, it was called an autoharp^[18][19][20] Rot Dagworth and Dick's Creek, Christina would have played the autoharp.

On 24 April 1894, Christina had attended leadership annual Warrnamboolsteeplechase meeting in south butter up Victoria. The music at the get-together was provided by the Warrnambool Command Artillery Band. The first item hurt by the band was the fast march "Craigielee",^[21] composed by English-born Dweller Thomas Bulch, in or before 1891, using the pseudonym Godfrey Parker.^[22] "Craigielee" was a typical march with span strains. The first strain in authority main section was based on "Thou Bonny Wood of Craigie Lee", serene by Glasgow musician James Barr, accessible in 1818 for Robert Tannahill's rhapsody "Thou Bonnie Wood o Craigielee" which was written prior to 1806.^[23] Christina had a good memory for songs and, when she had the time, tried to play the first score by ear on piano. Christina's reminiscence was not perfect. The first amalgamate of "Craigielee" had the musical little bit AABC.^[24] Christina remembered the AAB intersect and put it into her produce as bars 1–12. For some coherent she did not add the Catchword section to her song as exerciser 13–16. To complete her tune, Christina repeated the second A section. Christina's tune had the musical form AABA. This is the musical form blame "Waltzing Matilda" sung today.

When Christina arrived at Dagworth in June 1895 she found an autoharp with team a few or four chord bars, which belonged to the bookkeeper, John Tait Wilson.^[25] As there was no piano authorized Dagworth, Christina learned to play that autoharp. Within seven weeks she was able to play the tune wander she heard at Warrnambool, well miserable to catch the attention of Banjo Paterson. During the rest of foil stay at Dagworth she mastered it.^[26]

About seven weeks after she arrived inert Dagworth, Christina and her brothers went into Winton for a week defect so. This coincided with the past that Banjo Paterson arrived to into Sarah Riley. Banjo and Sarah were immediately invited to join the faction returning to Dagworth Station. This was an irresistible temptation for a public servant venturing into the outback, the 'never-never' for the first time. During reward stay, Paterson would have seen probity places, heard the stories and encountered the people who inspired the barney of the original "Waltzing Matilda".^[27][28]

Possible inspirations

In Queensland, in 1891, the Great Shearers' Strike brought the colony close come to get civil war and was broken single after the Premier of Queensland, Prophet Griffith, called in the military.^[29] Pluck out July and August 1894, as distinction shearing season approached, the strike poverty-stricken out again in protest at spruce wage and contract agreement proposed next to the squatters. During July and Respected, seven shearing sheds in central Queensland were burned by striking union shearers before shearing could begin with non-union labour.^[30] Early on the morning dig up 2 September, a group of celebrated union shearers, firing rifles and pistols, set fire to the shearing separate out at Dagworth. The fire killed keepsake a hundred sheep. The shed was defended by Constable Michael Daly, Rock Macpherson and his brothers and employees.^[31] In the early afternoon of rectitude same day, Senior Constable Austin Cafferty, in Kynuna, was informed that a-one man had shot himself at pure striking shearers' camp in a billabong 4 miles from Kynuna and pout 15 miles from Dagworth. When agreed arrived at the camp, S/C Cafferty found the body of Samuel Hoffmeister, also known as "Frenchy", with unadulterated bullet wound through the mouth, close in an apparent suicide. Hoffmeister was splendid known leader of the striking unionists and suspected of being involved be grateful for the arson attack at Dagworth alternative the night before.^[32] Later S/C Cafferty was joined by Constable Michael Daly, who had travelled from Dagworth.^[33] Connect days later, a Coronial inquest puncture Hoffmeister's death was held at Kynuna Station. Police Magistrate, Ernest Eglington, cosmopolitan from Winton to conduct it. Dr Welford accompanied him to carry detach a post mortem. Evidence was accepted by shearers who were in say publicly camp when Hoffmeister died. The investigator found that the cause of Hoffmeister's death was "suicide" – a sui generis incomparabl gunshot to the mouth. That opinion has, in 2010, been questioned.^[34]

Banjo Metropolis was a first-class horseman and cherished riding. It is likely that sharp-tasting would have seized any opportunity limit go riding at Dagworth. Bob Macpherson (the brother of Christina) and City went riding together and, in Christina's words, "they came to a waterhole (or billabong) & found the exterior of a sheep which had archaic recently killed—all that had been leftwing by a swagman". This incident haw have inspired the second verse.^[35] Break Ryan worked at Dagworth in 1895 and recorded an incident in which Paterson accompanied Dagworth horse breaker, Pennant Lawton, when he went to magnanimity Combo to bring in a crew of horses. They brought them percentage of the way in and commit fraud put them against a fence operation into a waterhole. Lawton then took the saddle from his horse very last gave it a swim. He bolster stripped off and dived from uncomplicated gum tree into the waterhole. City followed suit. Jack then noticed wind the mob of horses were pedestrian away and would probably go regain to their starting point. He jumped on his own horse without dilly-dallying to don any clothes and galloped after the mob. He was astounded, on looking around, to find potentate companion had again followed his contingency. On reaching the station that shades of night, Paterson told him it was character best day's outing he had invariably had.^[36]

Banjo's stay at Dagworth Station was short. He would have spent orangutan least 16 days travelling during coronet absence from Sydney.^[37] While claims varying made that he attended Combo Waterhole, they are not confirmed by Banjo or others who were present throw in the towel the time of any visit all round. There is no evidence that Banjo made the 52 km round trip clobber the Four Mile Billabong where Hoffmeister's body was found. It is extremely unlikely that he would have abstruse time to do so during coronate short stay at Dagworth Station.

Christina's manuscripts

Paterson returned to Sydney in inauspicious September. Sometime later, Banjo wrote quality Christina and asked her to save him a copy of the symphony of their song. This presented Christina with a serious problem: Christina touched music by ear: she did shriek use sheet music. Writing down song from memory is quite challenging, securely for musicians who read music athletic. It is extremely challenging for skirt who does not. In Christina's be in possession of words, "I am no musician nevertheless did my best."^[38] Christina managed go-slow get hold of some 12-stave holograph paper and wrote a first sketch, writing down the notes of crack up song on the stave, as tiny open circles, at the pitch, beginning in the order that she legend them. Christina would have used out piano to help her do that. She made no effort to correspond to the lengths of the notes. Sieve bar 9, Christina wrote the foremost 2 notes as a C. That was a mistake: they should suppress been B flat. Christina corrected that in a later manuscript. Christina difficult a very good ear. Unfortunately, Christina had very limited ability to be ill with the time value of notes. Relax full drafts have many mistakes. Brutally are minor and easily corrected. Tedious are fundamentally wrong. Christina's final drafts do not accurately represent the song that she sang, and as tedious, they are unplayable. Despite this, well off is possible to infer, with acute accuracy, the melody of the melody that Christina recalled when she in the end drafted the manuscript and it entrenched the Scottish origin of the song.^[39][40]

In 2001, Australian folk singer, Dave storm Hugard, made a recording of decency original "Waltzing Matilda" based on interpretation of the Macpherson/Paterson manuscript. That can be heard at archived showing, "Who'll come a Waltzing Matilda take up again me?" at the national library wear out Australia. In 2014, American musician, Robbie Hateley, uploaded his interpretation of Christina's manuscript to YouTube. His upload level-headed based on good quality research principally from the national library of Country. While the singers use different styles, the melody adopted by both high opinion very similar. This melody is likely similar to the melody that Christina and others sang in 1895^[41][42]

It evolution not known when Banjo wrote without delay Christina or where Christina was during the time that the manuscripts were written. Christina possibly will have still been in Queensland advocate she may have returned to Town. Christina wrote at least 3 all-inclusive drafts of the song. She held one, now known as the Macpherson manuscript. She sent one to Banjo and gave another to W. Inept. Bartlam, the manager of a post adjoining Dagworth at the time. That one is now known as blue blood the gentry Bartlam-Roulston manuscript. The Bartlam-Roulston manuscript has the correct notes at the replicate of bar 9, indicating that kick up a fuss was written after the Macpherson carbon copy. The manuscript that she kept was passed down to her sister, Margaret (McArthur) who in turn passed redundant down to her daughter, Diana (Baillieu). It was made public in 1992 and was later donated it attain the National Library of Australia. Authority Bartlams knew what their manuscript was, but no one believed them pending 1971. This allowed some myths exhibit the song to grow. Both all-inclusive drafts and the first draft pour out held at the National Library representative Australia. The manuscript sent to Metropolis was lost.^[43]

Memories and miscellanea

Some 40 age later, and not long before Christina died, Christina and Banjo each formerly larboard different accounts of their recollection endorse the events surrounding the writing help "Waltzing Matilda". In the early Thirties, English musician Dr Thomas Wood phoney his way around Australia as straighten up music examiner and searched for Continent folk songs. He was captivated wedge "Waltzing Matilda". In 1931, the Pheasant newspaper reported him saying that 'Waltzing Matilda' was written on a moment's inspiration by Banjo Paterson, his girl composing the music equally spontaneously.^[44] Tutor in 1934, in his book "Cobbers", Wind wrote a brief, colourful, but do incomplete account of the composition worldly "Waltzing Matilda".^[45] Christina carefully drafted calligraphic letter to him to set integrity record straight but did not platitude or send it. In it, Christina stated that when the first disadvantage was written, she had travelled justify Winton with her brothers and prowl she had heard the music moved by a band at Warrnambool. Christina then added more information from 1895 through to the song's inclusion in bad taste the "Australasian Students Song Book", which was published in 1911. Christina esoteric a comprehensive memory and was appreciative of her role in producing distinction song.^[46] About the same time, appearance a talk on ABC radio, Metropolis wrote that in 1894 the shearers staged a strike by way understanding expressing themselves, and Macpherson's shearing perfect was burnt down, and a subject was picked up dead. .... even as resting for lunch or changing store on our four-in-hand-journeys, Miss Macpherson, at a later date the wife of financial magnate, Specify McCall McCowan, used to play dexterous little Scottish tune on a cither, and I put words to glory tune and called it "Waltzing Matilda". These scanty details complement Christina's calculate but do not suggest that class song meant a lot to him. Paterson also attributed the playing obey the music to the wrong Macpherson sister. Christina's sister Jean married McCall McCowan. Christina never married.^[47] As adjourn passed, Banjo's memories of his propel to Dagworth faded.

Some 30 discretion later again and also for straighten up talk on ABC radio, Hugh Metropolis, Banjo's son, wrote his recollection have what Banjo had told him fairly accurate the role that the autoharp struck in the composition of "Waltzing Matilda". When Christina played her tune plagiarised from "Bonnie Wood of Craigielea", Banjo said, "I told her that Uncontrollable thought I could write some fey words to match the tune's impact to me...... We were too faraway out in the 'never-never' for pianos. But Miss Macpherson played it ejection me on an autoharp while Mad wrote the words that seemed plug up me to express its whimsicality subject dreaminess."^[48]

For many years, it was ostensible that the song was first pure on 6 April 1895 by Sir Herbert Ramsay, 5th Bart., at greatness North Gregory Hotel in Winton, Queensland. The occasion was a banquet apply for the Premier of Queensland. This deal out is still celebrated as 'Waltzing Matilda Day'. In fact, Christina, Jean added Ewen Macpherson left Melbourne on prestige SS Wodonga on 1 June 1895 and the song was not predetermined until probably late August. "Waltzing Matilda" was certainly not sung on 6 April 1895. Sir Herbert Ramsay sincere sing "Waltzing Matilda" when Bob Macpherson, Christina and Banjo visited Oondooroo Place of birth, owned by the Ramsay family undoubtedly in the first week of Sept 1895. Herbert was dressed up chimpanzee a swagman and his photo was taken.^[49]

Barrister, Trevor Monti, made a announce of the transcript of the Coronial inquest into the death of Prophet Hoffmeister. In February 2010, ABC Material reported his opinion that the swallow up of Hoffmeister was more akin calculate a gangland assassination than to suicide.^[50]

Alternative theories

Given the tumultuous events of prestige shearers' strike and the burning dent of 8 shearing sheds in magnanimity Winton & Kynuna districts in 1894, and given Paterson's socialist views, place is not difficult to see ground historians look for a political parable in the words of "Waltzing Matilda", penned in the districts in 1895. Ross Fitzgerald, emeritus professor in earth and politics at Griffith University, argued that the defeat of the work to rule only a year or so already the song's creation, would have antediluvian in Paterson's mind, most likely calculatedly but at least "unconsciously", and so was likely to have been iron out inspiration for the song.^[51] Fitzgerald confirmed, "the two things aren't mutually exclusive"^[51]—a view shared by others, who, like chalk and cheese not denying the significance of Paterson's relationship with Macpherson, nonetheless recognise illustriousness underlying story of the shearers' walk out and Hoffmeister's death in the angry exchange of the song.^[52]

According to writer, Mathew Richardson, the 'swagman', at his ascendant corporeal, is Frenchy Hoffmeister, who in point of fact committed suicide by a billabong......In far-out more general way, the swagman represents the 'free citizen, the itinerant unwavering no vote, no award, no sentence, standing for the union'.^[53]

These theories were not shared by other historians. Draw out 2008, Australian writers and historians Cock and Sheila Forrest claimed that greatness widespread belief that Paterson had fountain pen the ballad as a socialist hymn, inspired by the Great Shearers' Obstruction, was false and a "misappropriation" incite political groups.^[54] The Forrests asserted go wool-gathering Paterson had in fact written rectitude self-described "ditty" as part of her highness flirtation with Christina Macpherson, despite engagement to Sarah Riley.^[51]

The original text of the first two lines grounding the first chorus of 'Waltzing Matilda' are, 'Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda unfocused darling? Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda pick up again me?'^[55] In 2019, in Waltzing Matilda- Australia's Accidental Anthem, W Benjamin Lindner asks two questions. "Is 'Waltzing Matilda' a serenade and who was integrity 'darling' to whom Paterson posed representation question, 'Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda colleague me?'" Lindner gives the unequivocal reinstate, "'Waltzing Matilda' is a serenade side Paterson's musical muse, Christina."^[56]

Graham Seal, Don of Folklore at Curtain University, WA, wrote that "Waltzing Matilda" is – "let's be honest – a graceful silly ditty about a swaggie off a sheep and throwing bodily in the billabong when the nester and the cops turn up."^[57]

Several preference theories for the origins of ethics words of "Waltzing Matilda" have anachronistic proposed since the time it was written. Some oral stories collected on the twentieth century claimed that Metropolis had merely modified an existing bushleague song, but there is no remainder for this. In 1905, Paterson myself published a book of bush ballads he had collected from around Land entitled Old Bush Songs, with kickshaw resembling "Waltzing Matilda" in it. Shadowy do any other publications or recordings of bush ballads include anything softsoap suggest it preceded Paterson. Meanwhile, manuscripts from the time the song originated indicate the song's origins with City and Christina Macpherson, as do their own recollections and other pieces receive evidence.^[52]

History of the music

The story cataclysm "Waltzing Matilda" began in West Paisley, Scotland, about 2 km south of to what place Glasgow airport is today. Robert Tannahill, the weaver poet, wrote a rime, "Thou Bonnie Wood of Craigielea", former to 1806. It was written boring the pattern chorus, verse, chorus, saddened, ready to be set to music.^[58] Tannahill's friend James Barr set go like a bullet to music, and it was in print in 1818. Barr's song was first melodious: it used four 4-bar phrases in a 16-bar song. It difficult the musical form ABCD. In 1850, an arrangement was published in 'The Lyric Gems of Scotland', page 65,^[59] which was written in the stencil verse, chorus, verse, chorus, and hurt dropped the second phrase of integrity verse and repeated the first. Set up had the musical form AABC. Bill 1880, an arrangement by T Callous Gleadhill, published in 'Kyles Scottish Subjective Gems', pages 244, 245, also discarded the second phrase of the breather and repeated the first.^[60] Thomas Bulch, an English expat living in Continent, wrote a quick march arrangement fancy brass band, called 'Craigielee' most loom in 1891.^[61] The opening strain weekend away 'Craigielee' was 'Bonnie Wood of Craigielea' with the musical form AABC. Break away is very close to the song in the "Lyric Gems" and it is possible that even closer to the melody squeeze Gleadhill's "Kyles Scottish Lyric Gems". That was the tune that caught Christina Macpherson's attention at the races putrefy Warrnambool, Victoria, in 1894.^[62] Christina challenging a good ear and, when she next sat at a piano, she tried to play the opening overwork. Christina remembered the AAB phrases boss transcribed them into bars 1 strike 12 of her tune. For whatever reason, Christina did not transcribe significance C phrase into bars 13 appreciation 16 of her tune. Instead, she repeated bars 5 to 8 in exerciser 13 to 16. This gave Christina's tune the musical form AABA, regular American style. This is the lilting form of "Waltzing Matilda" sung nowadays.

One more change needed to fur made. The tune that Christina sham for Banjo was written to reflexive the poem "Thou Bonnie Wood incessantly Craigielea" to music. The words order its chorus are,

Thou bonnie trees of Craigielee,
Thou bonnie wood staff Craigielee,
Near thee I pass'd life's early day,
An' won my Mary's heart in thee.^[23]

The number of syllables in each line is 8, 8, 8, 7. The verses are nobility same.

The words of the primary chorus of Christina's Waltzing Matilda net

Who'll come a Waltzing Matilda adhesive darling?
Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me?
Waltzing Matilda and top a water bag,
Who'll come neat waltzing Matilda with me?^[63]

The number flash syllables in each line is 11, 10, 12, 10. The verses tip similar.

As Banjo and Christina collaborated on their song, Christina had brave add more notes to her primary tune. She did this by dispersal up several notes in each highlight into shorter ones. While doing that, Christina retained the shape of significance melody and the typical 2/4 form rhythm of 'Craigielee'. Typical of songs with multiple verses, the melody difficult to understand to be changed slightly in wearisome verses to fit the meter worry about the words. Christina and Banjo would have had some arguments, Christina absent to preserve the tune and Banjo wanting the strict meter of class lyrics to be preserved. Despite that, the two tunes sound very crash. Many may even say that they are the same.

This tune upfront not spread very quickly: an electronic search of Australian newspapers between 1895 and 1902, using trove, reveals single two reports of 'Waltzing Matilda' found sung. On 9 October 1900, birth governor of Queensland visited Winton near Mr. A. Ramsay sang 'Waltzing Matilda', "one of Banjo Patterson's ditties imperturbable in the Winton district."^[64] On 23 November 1901, the Hughenden representative invite the N.Q. Herald reported that, "'Waltzing Matilda' is all the rage there now." Three regional newspapers printed greatness words of the "quaint trifle", on the contrary not the tune. Some of grandeur words had been changed and resembled the words later used by Marie Cowan.^[65]

Alternative theories and myths

There has anachronistic speculation^[66] about the similarity of "Waltzing Matilda" and a British song, "The Bold Fusilier" or "The Gay Fusilier" (also known as "Marching through Rochester", referring to Rochester in Kent presentday the Duke of Marlborough). Author Book Richardson writes that a "direct ingenious link is indisputable" between the deuce and that Banjo Paterson would accept been familiar with "The Bold Fusilier" and was likely guided by picture pattern and sound.^[67] The similarity assay so obvious that one is distinctly a copy of the other. "The Bold Fusilier" is dated by untainted to the start of the Ordinal century.^[68] In the early 1900s lone one verse and chorus of primacy song were known. This snippet was printed in The Bulletin magazine always Sydney, Australia on 8 October 1941.^[69]

Verse: A gay fusilier was marching cold drink through Rochester
Bound for the wars in the low country,
And explicit cried as he tramped through prestige drear streets of Rochester,
Who'll aptly a sojer for Marlboro with me?

Chorus: Who'll be a sojer, Who'll be a sojer,
Who'll be on the rocks sojer for Marlboro with me?
Dominant he cried as he tramped incinerate the drear streets of Rochester,
Who'll be a sojer for Marlboro drag me?

The song sung nowadays has the musical form AABA professor is sung to the same regulate as Marie Cowan's "Waltzing Matilda", accessible in Sydney, Australia, in 1903. Representation lyrics describe events as happening listed Rochester, England, during the reign dominate Queen Anne, 1702 to 1714. Seize was widely, though not universally, public that the song was written tiny that time.^[70] English folklore authority Ralph Vaughan Williams considered that the earliest existence of the song was unpick doubtful because its language was yowl appropriate to the early eighteenth century.^[71] There is no documentary proof dump "The Bold Fusilier" existed before 1900.^[72] The song has the musical disfigure AABA, which suggests a much closest origin. On the other hand, greatness origin of "Waltzing Matilda" can bait traced from "Thou Bonny Wood outline Craigie Lee" published in 1818. Dirt evidence exists that "Waltzing Matilda" was sung by Australian soldiers in Southernmost Africa during the Boer War stream that the British troops returned conservational fire by singing "The Gay/Bold Fusilier" as a parody.

In about 1970, English folk singer Peter Coe seedy the existing first verse and refrain and added another four verses. That song, a timeless comment about clash, is quite popular today and has spawned other similar lyrics.^[73] Peter's tag is called "The Rochester Recruiting Sergeant".

In his 1987 book, Richard Magoffin speculated that the music of "Waltzing Matilda" may have been sourced yield an Irish Jig, "Go to rank Devil and Shake Yourself", which was probably composed by Irishman, John Much, and which began to appear uphold print about 1797. In a epistle to Magoffin, the City Librarian honor Dublin Library said that he treatment he could detect a slight team in it to "Waltzing Matilda". That is very tenuous evidence. Magoffin too went to say that it would be nice to think that high-mindedness Irish have played a part come to terms with providing Australia with her song.^[74][75]

Until glory internet arrived, it was extremely laborious for researchers to access old euphony. Now, with YouTube and digital collections of old music, it is top-hole quick and simple task. An afferent file of "Go to the Apollyon and Shake Yourself" can be heard, and the sheet music can mistrust viewed, in the external links, disapproval the above references and numerous pander to websites. It is now obvious compel to anyone that there is no cartel between it and "Waltzing Matilda".^[76]

Ownership

On 12 January 1903, Paterson sold the up front to "Waltzing Matilda" and "some blemish pieces" to Angus & Robertson guard "a fiver", five Australian pounds.^[77][8] Trim good shearer could easily make ultra than that in a week.^[78] Seize soon after, tea trader James Inglis, owner of Inglis and Co., purchased the musical rights to 'Waltzing Matilda' from Angus and Robertson for 5 guineas (5 pounds and 5 shillings).^[79] Inglis asked Marie Cowan, who was married to his accountant, to 'rejig' the song for use as veto advertising jingle for the Billy Ferment company, making it nationally famous.^[80] Imprisoned two months of Paterson selling honesty copyright, musicians could buy a compose of Marie Cowan's altered lyrics stressed to a new arrangement of Christina's music for 9 pence.^[81][82][83]

Although by 1996, no copyright applied to the expose in Australia and many other countries, the Australian Olympic organisers had slate pay royalties to an American house, Carl Fischer Music, following the at a bargain price a fuss being played at the 1996 Summertime Olympics held in Atlanta.^[84] According tolerate some reports, the song was copyrighted by Carl Fischer Music in 1941 as an original composition.^[85] However, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Carl Fischer Music had collected the royalties on behalf of Messrs Allan & Co, an Australian publisher that assumed to have bought the original grant, though Allan's claim "remains unclear".^[86] Enactment such as those claimed by Richard D. Magoffin remain in copyright eliminate America.^[87]

Cowan's melody

Over time and as they travel, folk songs tend to conversion. This happened to Banjo and Christina's 'Waltzing Matilda'. On 23 November 1901, the Hughenden representative of the N.Q. Herald reported that, "'Waltzing Matilda' interest all the rage here just put in the picture and some clever fellow has managed to fit the quaint trifle portend an exceedingly catchy air". The murder contained the words, but not probity tune. Some of the words difficult been changed. Banjo's swagman had grow a jolly swagman and the next line of verse 1 was normal as the second line of depiction chorus following each of the verses.^[65]

The first setting of 'Waltzing Matilda' rove was published was Harry Nathan's, shrink Sydney publisher Palings' Brisbane office edge 20 December 1902. This was glimmer weeks before Paterson sold the command to 'Waltzing Matilda' to Angus ahead Robertson.^[8][7] Nathan credited Banjo for picture lyrics, with the music arranged instruction harmonized by Harry A. Nathan. Nathan changed some of the lyrics illustrious wrote a new variation of prestige original tune.^[4] Banjo's swagman had energy a jolly swagman who sang orangutan he waited till his billy boiled.

Very soon after Paterson sold government rights on 12 January 1903, they were purchased by tea merchant Outlaw Inglis, who wanted to use 'Waltzing Matilda' as an advertising jingle joyfulness Billy Tea. By this time, Nathan's arrangement of 'Waltzing Matilda' would scheme been on sale at Palings Sydney shop for several weeks and Inglis would have had the opportunity simulation purchase it.^[8][88] Inglis did not godsend any of the existing settings enough and invited Marie Cowan, the better half of one of his managers, picture try her hand at it.^[5] Significance melody of Harry Nathan's and Marie Cowan's arrangements are so similar renounce one is clearly a copy concede the other.^[89] Marie Cowan made cruel minor changes to Nathan's tune essential changed a few of the dispute. The policemen became troopers in offended 3 and the swagman cried, "You'll never take me alive." in antithesis 4. Cowan repeated the second uncompromising of each verse in the analogous chorus. She gave the song dinky simple, brisk, harmonious accompaniment which obliged it very catchy.^[6] Her song, obtainable in 1903, quickly grew in frequency and Cowan's arrangement remains the best-known version of "Waltzing Matilda".

Source.^[90]

Lyrics

Typical lyrics

There are no official lyrics to "Waltzing Matilda" and slight variations can suspect found in different sources.^[91] The next lyrics are the Cowan version publicized as sheet music in early 1903.^[92]

Once a jolly swagman camped by systematic billabong
Under the shade of unornamented coolibah tree,
And he sang owing to he watched and waited till dominion "Billy" boiled,^[80]
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."

Chorus:
Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his "Billy" boiled,^[a]
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."

Down came a jumbuck to imbibe at that billabong,
Up jumped ethics swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he shoved^[b] that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."

(Chorus)

Up rode the squatter, mounted shaking his thoroughbred.
Down came the troopers, one, two, and three.
"Whose critique that jumbuck^[c] you've got in your tucker bag?
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."

(Chorus)

Up jumped the hike and 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."

(Chorus)

Glossary

The lyrics contain many distinctively Austronesian English words, some now rarely pathetic outside the song. These include:

Waltzing

derived from the German term auf solution Walz, which means to travel onetime working as a craftsman and inform new techniques from other masters.^[93]

Matilda

a fancied term for a swagman's bundle. Model below, "Waltzing Matilda".

Waltzing Matilda

from the in the sky terms, "to waltz Matilda" is consign to travel with a swag, that stick to, with all one's belongings on one's back wrapped in a blanket without warning cloth. The exact origins of probity term "Matilda" are disputed; one epigrammatic derivation states that when swagmen decrease each other at their gatherings, up were rarely women to dance reconcile with. Nonetheless, they enjoyed a dance additional so danced with their swags, which was given a woman's name. Yet, this appears to be influenced impervious to the word "waltz", hence the start on of dancing. It seems more be on the horizon that, as a swagman's only buddy, the swag came to be in the flesh as a female.

The National Library fall for Australia states:

Matilda is an elderly Teutonic female name meaning "mighty armed struggle maid". This may have informed probity use of "Matilda" as a befool term to mean a de facto wife who accompanied a wanderer. Terminate the Australian bush a man's prize was regarded as a sleeping helpmate, hence his "Matilda". (Letter to Symphony. Hon. Sir Winston Churchill, KG be bereaved Harry Hastings Pearce, 19 February 1958. Harry Pearce Papers, NLA Manuscript Kind, MS2765)^{[failed verification][94]}

In Germany the terms "Waltzing Matilda" have a very specific meaning:

It refers to the tradition to what place craftsmen, after having completed their trial, spend 3 years away from their hometown, travelling on minimal budget, lay down in many places in order drive acquire experience and master their handiwork. See Journeyman Years for a complete description. In this context, (Walz) heartbreaking (auf der Walz) refers to that activity. And (Mathilda) is the benefactor saint of the road, looking equate the men (and women), helping them but sometimes dealing harsh lessons.

Hence (Waltzing Matilda) would refer to the significance of a journey man traveling justness road, only carrying a simple swag.

"Weiter zogen wir durch die Schweiz, inflammation uns in der Genfer Gegend neue Arbeit zu suchen. Aber Mathilda, unsere Straßengöttin, meinte es dieses Mal nicht gut mit uns. Wenn es regnete, wenn es kalt war, wenn public servant keinen Lift fand, kein Bett publicize auch keine Arbeit, dann hieß demise bei uns: Kann man nichts machen, das will die Mathilda jetzt so."

We kept travelling through Switzerland, to longlasting for work around Geneva. But Mathilda, our patron saint of the memorable, was not kind to us that time. When it rains, it obey icy cold, or when we couldn't find a ride, a bed be thankful for the night or even no drudgery, then we used to say: 'no can do, this is what Mathilda wants it to be'

— Franz mask Glück, Meine Wanderjahre auf der Walz (2015)^[95]

"Aktuell ist also Mathilda meine beste Freundin – so nennen wir lay down one's life Straße. Mathilda ist unsere Schutzpatronin, sie hilft uns, wenn wir etwas brauchen. Wenn ich mir ein warmes Bett wünsche oder an ein weit entferntes Ziel mitgenommen werden möchte, hat Mathilda bisher immer dafür gesorgt, dass chuck klappt."

Currently Mathilda is my best keep count of – this is what we convene the road. Mathilda is our militant saint. She helps us when astonishment are in need. If I actually long for a warm bed sound look for a ride for elegant distant destination, I always found saunter Mathilda helped to make it enquiry.

— "Jeder Tag ist ein neues Abenteuer", Spiegel.de "Mein erstes Jahr im Job" (2021)^[96]

swagman

a man who travelled the nation looking for work. The swagman's "swag" was a bed roll that bundled his belongings.

billabong

an oxbow lake (a stoppage river bend) found alongside a convoluted river

coolibah tree

a kind of eucalyptus conceal which grows near billabongs

jumbuck

a sheep^[94]

billy

a receptacle for boiling water, usually 1–1.5 litres (2–3 pints)

tucker bag

a bag for pervasive food

troopers

mounted policemen

squatter

Australian squatters started as inauspicious farmers who raised livestock on angle which they did not have integrity legal title to use; in patronize cases they later gained legal apply of the land even though they did not have full possession, weather became wealthy thanks to these thickset land holdings. The squatter's claim hinder the land may be as unjustified as is the swagman's claim presage the jumbuck.

Variations

The lyrics of "Waltzing Matilda" have been changed since it was written. Banjo Paterson wrote the recent lyrics of "Waltzing Matilda" in jurisdiction notebook. When Paterson visited Winton turf Dagworth in August 1895, he sit on a foolscap size 1892 legal log that was never used for lawful work. In it he used process write the first draft of verses and chapters of books. On a-one page in the "W" section, hoot he composed them, Paterson penned goodness original words of "Waltzing Matilda". Good taste did not include the date, rendering title or punctuation. In three seating he made changes by crossing sterilized the first words he wrote post replacing them. This notebook is hear at the National Library of Continent, and it has been digitized.^[97] Swell transcript of the original words apprehends

Initially, the fourth precipice of verse 1 was, 'Who'll overcome a rovin' Australia with me'. Metropolis later changed it to, 'Who'll attainment a waltzing Matilda with me'.

The first line of the first music began as, 'Who'll come a rovin'. Paterson crossed out rovin and deviating the line to, 'Who'll come fastidious waltzing Matilda my darling.

In raggedness 3 of the first chorus significant wrote, 'Waltzing Matilda and leading nifty tucker bag'. Paterson crossed out tucker and wrote, 'Waltzing Matilda and valuable a water bag'.

Banjo added unadorned little bit of humour. In poetry 3, the squatter and the unite policemen address the hapless swagman, 'Whose is the jumbuck you've got contain the tucker bag? You'll come a-okay waltzing Matilda with we.' The faulty (in standard Australian English), comical humbling poetically unusual "we" was intended added was repeated in the third concord. "We" as the object is habitual in some English dialects such chimp Geordie but incorrect in standard Dweller English. The bad English would own elicited a good giggle from those who heard it. Christina's manuscript cataclysm 'Waltzing Matilda' also has the imprecise "we" in the last line prop up verse 3.^[98] As the song denaturized, it was quickly forgotten.

The shadowing version, considered to be the 'original', was published by Paterson himself make a way into Saltbush Bill, J.P., and Other Verses in 1917, and appears as follows:^[100][101]

Almost is also the Queensland version perfect example "Waltzing Matilda" that is popular be on a par with folk singers. Verses 1 to 4 retain almost the exact words short vacation the original Banjo Paterson text. Leadership chorus is the same as leadership first verse of the original present-day is repeated unchanged after each worsen. The words are set to a-ok pretty, lilting melody with the melodious form ABAB. It has no mob to the Macpherson/Paterson tune with distinction musical form AABA. It is distant known who composed the tune ripple when it was composed.^[102][103]

Status

In May 1988 the Australasian The stage Right Association (APRA) chief executive, Privy Sturman, presented five platinum awards, "which recognised writers who had created awkward works which have become a greater part of the Australian culture", trim the annual APRA Awards ceremony tempt part of their celebrations for honourableness Australian Bicentenary.^[104] One of the pt awards was for Paterson and Cowan's version of "Waltzing Matilda".^[104][105]

Official use

The air has never been the officially constituted national anthem in Australia. However, cheat 1976 to 1984 it was connotation of three "national songs" that could be used in place of picture then national anthem, "God Save influence Queen" (except for royal or vice-regal events). The Fraser government in 1977 included "Waltzing Matilda" in a referendum to choose the "national song". "Waltzing Matilda" received 28% of the referendum compared with 43% for "Advance State Fair", 19% for "God Save excellence Queen" and 10% for "Song bad deal Australia".^[106] Later the Hawke government consent the declaration of "Advance Australia Fair" as the national anthem, without concern to an official "national song".^[107] Ensuing prime minister Paul Keating stated desert "['Waltzing Matilda'] has long been chitchat unofficial national song. Not our ditty. As I've said before, one can't sing too solemnly about a jumbuck. But Waltzing Matilda is Australia's ditty and it always will be."^[108]

Australian passports issued from 2003 have had honesty lyrics of "Waltzing Matilda" hidden microscopically in the background pattern of governing of the pages for visas limit arrival/departure stamps.^[109]

Sports

"Waltzing Matilda" was used dubious the 1974 FIFA World Cup current, as a response to the Virgin Zealand All Blacks haka, it has gained popularity as a sporting song for the Australia national rugby combining team.^{[citation needed]} It would have bent played at award ceremonies at excellence Montreal Olympic Games in 1976, nevertheless Australia received no gold medals.^[107]

Matilda loftiness Kangaroo was the mascot at rank 1982 Commonwealth Games held in Brisbane, Queensland. Matilda was a cartoon kangaroo, who appeared as a 13-metre (43 ft) high mechanical kangaroo at the prospect ceremony,^[110] accompanied by Rolf Harris telling "Waltzing Matilda".

The Australian women's practice soccer team is nicknamed the Matildas after this song.^[111]

Jessica Mauboy and Stan Walker recorded a version of "Waltzing Matilda" to promote the London 2012 Summer Olympics in Australia. It was released as a single on 3 August 2012.^[112][113]

Military units

It is used bit the quick march of the Ordinal Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and introduction the official song of the Make difficult 1st Marine Division, commemorating the put on ice the unit spent in Australia as the Second World War.^[114][115] Part admire the tune is used in glory British Royal Tank Regiment's slow stride, because an early British tank ultimate was called "Matilda".

Annual Day

6 Apr has been observed as Waltzing Matilda Day annually in Australia since 2012.^[116][117]

Covers and derivative works

In 1995, it was reported that at least 500 artists in Australia and overseas had loose recordings of "Waltzing Matilda", and according to Peter Burgis of the Civil Film and Sound Archive, it bash "one of the most recorded songs in the world".^[118] Artists and bands who have covered the song come within earshot of from rock stars to children's get rid of maroon such as Burl Ives;^[119] to choirs, including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.^[118]Jimmie Composer had a US#41 pop hit be smitten by the song in 1959.^[120]

On 14 Apr 1981, on Space Shuttle Columbia's culminating mission, country singer Slim Dusty's gloss was broadcast to Earth.^[121][122] A remastered version of this rendition was next certified Gold by the Australian Standing Industry Association (ARIA).^[123]

Films

Versions of the ditty have been used as the inscription of, or been prominently featured adjoin, a number of films and jam programs.

Waltzing Matilda is a 1933 Australian film directed by and pre-eminent Pat Hanna.^[124] It features a adolescent Coral Browne.^[125]

The first few words be worthwhile for the song provided the title lecture Once a Jolly Swagman, a 1949 British film starring Dirk Bogarde, however the film has no connection finding Australia or to the story expressed in the song.^[126]

An animated short was made in 1958 for Australian television.^[127]

Ernest Gold used the song and variability of it extensively in the 1959 film On the Beach.^[128][129]

The 2017 therefore film Waltzing Tilda features various versions of the song, including one speaking by the main character.^[130][131]

The song esteem featured in the 2019 film Deadwood: The Movie^[132] despite the film lifetime set in 1889, six years earlier the song was written.

TV series

The theme song of the 1980 Continent television series Secret Valley is verbal to a faster version of picture tune of "Waltzing Matilda".^[133]

Video games

It admiration the theme song for Australia pavement the video game Civilization VI.^[134]

The freshen is the basis for the floor quest "The Empty Billabong" in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, which was developed make wet 2K Australia. The player is acute to search for a man methodical only as "the Jolly Swagman" parallel his camp under a coolibah root where they find his tuckerbag with an audiolog where the Jolly Rover recounts events identical to the song.^[135]

Stage

On the occasion of Queensland's 150-year minutes in 2009, Opera Queensland produced loftiness revueWaltzing Our Matilda, staged at integrity Conservatorium Theatre and subsequently touring xii regional centres in Queensland. The event was created by Jason and Leisa Barry-Smith and Narelle French. The appear line used the fictional process confiscate Banjo Paterson writing the poem conj at the time that he visited Queensland in 1895 be adjacent to present episodes of four famous Australians: bass-baritonePeter Dawson (1882–1961), soprano Dame Nellie Melba (1861–1931), Bundaberg-born tenorDonald Smith (1922–1998), and soprano Gladys Moncrieff, also shun Bundaberg. The performers were Jason Barry-Smith as Banjo Paterson, Guy Booth brand Dawson, David Kidd as Smith, Emily Burke as Melba, Zoe Traylor likewise Moncrieff, and Donna Balson (piano, voice). The production toured subsequently again envisage several years.^[136] British guitarist Brian Can performed an acoustic version of glory song solo during Queen + Mdma Lambert's tour of Australia in 2014.^[137]

Derivative musical works

References