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Who'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me? Swagies
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Versions > The mainstream, popular version

Changes in the song’s character

The use of 'Waltzing Matilda' to advertise Billy Tea changed elements of the words and music in the published version by Marie Cowan. The imagery proved a perfect association for the brand of tea that became an Australia icon. (view image) Advertisements for Billy Tea appeared on the back cover of the music and the word ‘billy’ was repeatedly used to replace the phrase ‘leading the waterbag’ in the text of the song:

Original verse 1, line 3-4:

And he sang as he looked at the old billy boiling,
Who’ll come a–waltzing Matilda with me.

Chorus:

Who’ll come a–waltzing Matilda my darling,
Who’ll come a–waltzing Matilda with me
Waltzing Matilda and leading a waterbag
Who’ll come a–waltzing Matilda with me

Replaced in Cowan version with verse 1, lines 3-4:

And he sang as he watched and waited till his ‘billy’ boiled,
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

Chorus, repeating the ‘billy’ line for maximum effect:

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

The desire to advertise the invigorating qualities of drinking Billy Tea was probably responsible for the swagman becoming a ‘jolly swagman’ in the opening line of the song. The bravado of the line in the last verse ‘“You’ll never catch me alive,” said he’—in defiance of the troopers—replaces the sad and haunting suicide of the swagman in the original ‘drowning himself by the coolibah tree’.

The notable changes to the music evident in the Cowan version are:

  • The alteration of the words, subtly shifting the musical accentuation and slightly smoothing out the tune with passing notes
  • The four-square metrical style of the tune, rather than the more lyrical, lilting, whimsical style of the Macpherson version
  • The rising melody line and repeated high notes of the ‘coolibah tree’
  • ‘corrections’ to the rhythmic notation and text alignment
  • Addition of a formal piano accompaniment and harmonisation.

The Harry Nathan manuscript >

 

 

Comparisons of different tributary tunes for 'Waltzing Matilda'

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Word document

view versions of lyrics

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