The distraction my brain has invented for itself today is to sing “Waltzing Matilda” as I go about my chores. Some observations:
- “Billy boiled” and “billabong” are fun to say. Bit of a shame that Paterson couldn’t have worked a wallaby in there somewhere
- Of course “waltzing” here has nothing to do with the dance, but my brain keeps wanting the song to be in 3/4 time
- I can’t figure out if the swagman’s final act is of resistance or despair. Maybe both, in some Australian fashion?
@DyDave Would genuinely enjoy some insight into the last question, if you have some. Also maybe you can suggest a reason why the lines “Down came the squatter mounted on his thoroughbred/
Up came the troopers one, two, three” refuse to stick in my head?
(In case it’s not obvious I am not being snotty, I actually love the song, I just lack cultural context)
I think there's still some debate.
Some say the swaggie represents the shearers' union's struggle against rich landowners (squatters), but others say that Banjo was just writing a fun thing for his girlfriend. I reckon the truth's probs somewhere in between. 🤷♂️
I've always thought that drowning himself to avoid capture was an overreaction, so the theory that he represents the refusal of workers to capitulate kinda makes sense.
Can't help much with the non-stickiness sorry! 😊
I think probably the latter TBH. You don’t hear it much anymore. Every now and again, some bloke in an Akubra hat will bob up at a sporting event or something and play it, and people will sing along to the chorus, but it’s not a ubiquitous presence.
I remember learning it as a new immigrant in the early 80s when I was in 6th grade, and the kids all thought it was a bit silly. Just a way to get lots of Strayan slang into one song 😂
I think older generations might like it more.
@DyDave I think I’ve finally got all the verses down, thanks!
Am oddly cheered to hear that there’s no clear consensus regarding the swaggie’s final act. I enjoy a good folk mystery!
If you’ll permit another question: is there any way to characterize most Australians’ current attitude towards the song? I know it was popular enough at one point to rate as the “unofficial Australian national anthem” but is it still that popular? Or is it kind of dorky and old-fashioned?