Once a jolly swagman

"Waltzing Matilda"

Once a jolly swagman
Camped beside the billabong,
Under the shade
Of the coolibah tree.
And he sang as he watched
And waited 'till 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 'till his billy boiled,
You'll come a-waltzing,
Matilda, with me.

Down came a jumbuck
To drink beside the billabong.
Up jumped the swagman
And seized him with glee.
And he sang as he talked to
The jumbuck in his tucker bag,
"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 'till his billy boiled,
You'll come a-waltzing,
Matilda, with me.

Down came the stockman,
Riding on his thoroughbred;
Down came the troopers,
One, two, three.
Saying, "Where's the jolly jumbuck
You've got in your tucker bag?"
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 'till his billy boiled,
You'll come a-waltzing,
Matilda, with me.

Up jumped the swagman
And plunged into the billabong.
"You'll never take me
Alive!" cried he.
And his ghost may be heard
As you ride along the billabong,
"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 'till his billy boiled,
You'll come a-waltzing,
Matilda, with me.

A. B. 'Banjo' Paterson - Christina R. Macpherson

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