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Waltzing Matilda ain’t DancingSep 06 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line not just a song but a National Icon I have been asked by countless people just what the song Waltzing Matilda is really all about. Well, actually I am sure I would have been if just about everyone overseas didn’t assume it was about a man taking a woman dancing. One thing at least can have really no doubt - when someone, somewhere thinks of Australia there is a very strong chance they will think of Waltzing Matilda, and even a reasonable chance they will now at least some of the words. We saw this demonstrated at the Sydney Olympics - and how different the response was compared to Australia’s National Anthem “Advance Australia Fair”. When the old British Anthem “God help.., er Save the Queen” was given the right royal flick about twenty years ago, many wanted Waltzing Matilda to be the new Anthem. But the true meaning of the song precluded that at the time. So, all right, what is it really about if it isn’t a pleasant night out dancing for two people. Well, would you believe sheep stealing? You better because that is exactly correct. And even more importantly, as you read on you will find this is no ordinary song - its very reason for existence goes far deeper than that. Waltzing Matilda is as much an integral part of the customs and culture of Australia as the Eureka Stockade or the Federation of the Nation in 1901. Sheep are still important to Australia, but are no longer the major industry - many other industries are in fact larger now. But back in the eighteen hundreds and until about the mid nineteen hundreds “Australia rode on the sheeps back”. In 1894 all hell broke loose when the shearers, nationwide, went on strike (refused to work). This set in motion a chain of events, the results of which still hold true today. If we first look at the words, I can then explain how it all fits together! Waltzing Matilda Once a jolly swagman camped by a Billabong Under the shade of a Coolabah tree And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled "Who'11 come a-waltzing Matilda with me?" Down come a jumbuck to drink at the water hole Up jumped a swagman and grabbed him in glee And he sang as he stowed him away in his tucker bag "You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me'". Up rode the Squatter a riding his thoroughbred Up rode the Trooper- one, two, three "Where's thisjolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?", "You'11 come a-waltzing Matiltda with me". But the swagman he up and 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?" A.B. Paterson Waltzing means walking, usually looking for a job. Your Matilda is your blanket, or at least a long heavy coat for warmth. A swag, being all your possessions rolled up in a blanket, would be carried - all this resulted in “swagmen” that went Waltzing Matilda – or, itinerant people looking for work. Very simple isn’t it? Now most of the swagmen of the late eighteen hundreds were shearers. They stuck together, through good times and bad and in so doing helped create the greatest of all Australian ethics, mateship. By their actions they also totally smashed the British class system, and thankfully we are still free of that today. Every Aussie is equal - no one ever looks down on occupations or up to money - that just isn’t the Australian way. Authority must work for us - we are never subservient to it. These are absolute basics of Australian Culture and they began when tens of thousands were out Watzing Matilda’s. So I trust you see at this point we are not talking about even singing, far less dancing. The political, social and cultural fabric of this country was woven essentially by the shearers, and it was inevitable that sooner or later a song would be written. . Banjo Paterson was easily the most famous writer, mostly of Poetry, at that time. Banjo had vision, and he could see a new and distinct nation developing. He decided to write a simple song reflecting the times, that being essentially of love and freedom. And he wrote the song in Australian so it would accurately reflect the new nation’s people and rapidly emerging culture. I thought it may be helpful if I gave a translation of all the Australian words; Swagman itinerant worker Billabong water hole, back water of a river etc. Billy a container for boiling water Jumbuck a sheep tucker bag all purpose carry bag, often containing food Squatter a farmer/rancher Trooper policeman Banjo Paterson wrote Waltzing Matilda in Queensland, on Dagworth Cattle Station in January 1895. He enlisted the musical assistance of Christina Macpherson. Ever since the song has been used as an unofficial National Anthem and has become synonymous with Australia world wide. It is now Australia’s official song, but not the official National Anthem. Personally I like things as they are, but many Australians would throw out “Advance Australia Fair” in a second if it meant Waltzing Matilda became the new Anthem. I am certain this little matter will reach boiling point at the next so called “Republic Referendum” likely in the next couple of years. That event in itself is interesting enough – Australia adopting officially the word Republic is a foregone conclusion, especially as we are a Republic now in every real way. The issue for Australians was first the breaking of the “British Grip”, which took place at the Eureka Stockade – then the swagmen who smashed English culture and molded a new identity for Australia followed closely by Federation, the actual founding of the Nation in 1901. So what’s next. The big issues now are exactly what form of Republic we want to be, which was largely resolved in the first referendum. That will be almost zero change, mainly just renaming certain positions. The National Anthem issue still lingers, as does the flag. So some interesting times ahead, as there have been in the past – and as for Waltzing Matilda? I hope it is now clear that this is not just a song but a National Icon, literally a foundation piece, of the Australian Nation.  |
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