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Waltzing Matilda

song by Paterson

Quick Summary

"Waltzing Matilda" is a renowned Australian bush ballad, often considered the country's unofficial national anthem. The lyrics were penned by Banjo Paterson in 1895 while he was visiting a station in Queensland.12

The song tells the story of a swagman, a type of itinerant worker or vagrant, who camps by a billabong (a watercourse or pool) and sings about Waltzing Matilda. The term "Waltzing Matilda" is believed to refer to a swagman walking with his swag, or bundle, on his back. The song is celebrated for its use of Australian bush slang and its depiction of a quintessential Australian character.2341

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