Waltzing Matilda
Waltzing Matilda ist Australiens bekanntestes Volkslied und wurde oft als offizielle Nationalhymne vorgeschlagen.Es erzählt die Geschichte von einem "Swagman", der ein Schaf stiehlt und sich ertränkt, als die Gesetzeshüter eintreffen. Deshalb hat das Lied keine Chance, zu offiziellen Ehren zu gelangen. Trotzdem singen es viele Australier mit großer Hingabe.
Siehe auch: Liste der Nationalhymnen.
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
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 watched and waited 'til his billy boiled You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me
Down came a jumbuck to dri-ink at that billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he stuffed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag
You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me
Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred
Up rode the troopers, one, two, three
"Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?"
You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me
Up jumped the swagman and sprang into that billabong
"You'll never take me alive!", said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pa-ass by that billabong
You'll come a-waltzing matilda with me
The refrain is repeated after each verse. In each case, the third line of the refrain is the same as the third line of the preceding verse. And the last two lines of the last verse are performed in a hushed tone, before bursting back into the jollity of the refrain.