Waltzing Matilda - Song Page
Background
Many songs tell stories. This is a beautiful story song from Australia about essentially a hobo - a person traveling by foot with all of their belongings in a small sack. Kids will enjoy learning the terms used in the song and imagining themselves traveling with all of their belongings hung over their shoulder.
Children love to sing the chorus on this song, "Waltzing Matilda, Matilda my darling, you'll come a waltzing Matilda with me". This line repeats every chorus but then repeats the last 2 lines of the verse. This song is also a soothing accompaniment to rest time. Here are some definitions that will help you to understand the story: Waltzing Matilda: Traveling by foot while carrying all of one's belongings Swagman: Traveling farm worker Billabong: Lake formed by a river bend Coolabah Tree: Type of tree that grows in Australian wetlands Billy: Tin can with lid and wire handle Jumpbuck: Sheep Tucker Bag: Sack for carrying food Squatter: Ranch owner Trooper: Outback policeman UNITS: This song is a great accompaniment to lessons on Australia and multicultural studies. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THE SONG: Jon Pousette-Dart - lead vocs and acoustic guitar Alice Backer - backup vocs Billy Roues - mandolin Steven Roues - vocs and acoustic bass Kenny Margolis - vocs and accordion Boris Kinberg - percussion Jeffrey Friedberg - vocs Bill Rankin - drums |
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Lessons, Lyrics & More
"Waltzing Matilda" - guitar LessonActivity SuggestionsTeach children the chorus and have them sing along with the recording
Alternate Activity: Assign roles to children and act out the song. |
guitar chords
A little hit from "down under". Try this beautiful story song as kids are in a more relaxed and contemplative mood. LyricsOnce a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolabah tree He sang and he watched and Waited 'til his billy boiled You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me Chorus: Waltzing Matilda, Matilda my darling You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me He sang and he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me Down came a jumpbuck to drink at the billabong and up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee he laughed as he stowed the jumpbuck in his tuckerbag You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me Chorus: Waltzing Matilda, Matilda my darling You'll come a waltzing Matilda with mehe laughed as he stowed the jumpbuck in his tuckerbag You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me Up road the squatter mounted on his thoroughbred Up road the troopers 1, 2, 3 Where's that jolly jumpbuck you've got in your tuckerbag You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me Chorus: Waltzing Matilda, Matilda my darling You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me Where's that jolly jumpbuck you've got in your tuckerbag You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me Up jumped the swagman and jumped into the billabong you'll never take me alive said he his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me Chorus: Waltzing Matilda, Matilda my darling You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me |
