Celebrating The Things That Make Australia Unique
by Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson (1864 - 1941)
Written at old Dagworth Homestead, Queensland in January 1895
There are four main versions of Waltzing Matilda. The original by Banjo Paterson was written in 1895. In 1903 Marie Cowan altered the lyrics to help sell Billy Tea. An advertisement for the tea was on the back cover of the sheet music (see images at the bottom of this page).
The following is the altered version by Marie Cowan.
We've highlighted the altered text.
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a 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 at that billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him in glee
And he said as he shoved that jumbuck in his tuckerbag
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 rode the squatter mounted on his thoroughbred
Down came troopers one two three
Whose that jumbuck you've got in the 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 sprang into the billabong
You'll never catch me a live said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
 
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