And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda Lyrics

Lyric discussion by joeytheboy 

Cover art for And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda lyrics by Pogues, The

does anyone know where the phrase "waltzing matilda" comes from, that would be interesting to know.

btw. rum sodomy & the lash is a great album, is a shame that wildcats of killkenny has no lyrics because i'd love to tell everyone how great that one is.

Actually, like so many phrases ('ring a roses' for example*), it has a very dark meaning, originally referring to being hanged, dancing at the end of a rope.

But what it means to later song writers like here or Tom Traubert's Blues for instance, is what they want it to mean. They themselves might not be aware of its origins.

*Forgive me, in case anyone didn't know, that particular nursery rhyme goes back to the Black Death. The posey to ward off the smell of death, tishoo tishoo, sneezing was a symptom, and 'all fall down'. Well, that's obvious, innit?