W (part 1): Waltzing Matilda

Waltzing Matilda is an unofficial Australian anthem. But there's more than meets the eye. The song is not about a girl named Matilda and it has nothing to do with her dancing.

However let's just start with its author. We have already mentioned A.B. "Banjo" Paterson when we talked about bush poets and the poem "The Man From Snowy River". Watch this clip to learn more about this famous Australian poet:




Now let's listen to the actual song. Here it is in its original form (or at least one of its existing lyrics versions):



Lyrics and glossary.

But what do the lyrics mean?

CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO

ABOUT THE VIDEO CLIP

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Waltzing Matilda is an episode of the series National Treasures produced in 2004.

Waltzing Matilda
Most Australians know that Banjo Paterson wrote the lyrics to Waltzing Matilda but who wrote the music? And what does it have to do with a rather oddly titled song called Go to the Devil and Shake Yourself? Warren Brown tracks down the original handwritten score at the National Library of Australia, where curator Robyn Holmes reveals the story behind the chance collaboration that created our national song.

National Treasures
Take a road-trip of discovery with the irrepressible Warren Brown – political cartoonist, columnist and history “tragic” – as he reveals a fascinating mix of national treasures drawn from public and private collections across Australia. On its own, each treasure is a priceless snapshot of an historic moment. Together, they illustrate the vitality and uniqueness of the Australian experience.

National Treasures is a Film Australia National Interest Program. Produced with the assistance of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

And finally we have a modern rendition of the song in the style of Eminem ;-)



And here you can look up the "updated" lyrics.