National Library of Australia
Who'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me? Swagies
Origins Versions Unofficial Anthem Living Traditions Meanings Search
Origins > Origins of Christina Macpherson tune

‘Go to the Devil and Shake Yourself’

Though this song is always designated as an original composition by James Barr, it is possible that the tune well was derived from an old Irish ballad, perhaps ‘Ga’ng to the De’il’. In a letter to Harold White, then National Librarian, of 3 March 1969, W.R.F. Bolton of Cobb and Co Ltd, Toowoomba, wrote:

When looking through some old Sydney May papers which he left with me some years ago, I found the rather unusual point that the first publication of Craigielea, was not recorded in the ‘Scots Miniature Musical Museum’ in 1818, but in a periodical called The Nightingale. The Librarian at the National Library of Scotland suggested that perhaps Tannahill himself adopted the music of ‘Ga’ng to the De’il and Shake Yourself’ an old Irish ballad and slowed it down to suit the words of ‘Craigielea’. We have been lucky enough to obtain a copy of ‘Ga’ng to the De’il’ and on hearing it played have no doubt that it is the same as the music of ‘Waltzing Matilda’.

Thomas Bulch arrangement >

 

 

'In the Men's Hut'

CLICK TO ENLARGE

 

  Comments | Help | References