On Fri, 5 Sep 2003 08:02:25 -0600, Feldman, Robert wrote:
>who stole two mainframe computers from the Australian Customs at the Sydney Airport.
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3083228.stm
Australia, which as we all know was colonised by convicts sentenced to
"transportation" from England, has a long tradition of celebrating this
heritage. Indeed the almost national anthem of Australia celebrates such
behaviour. I draw your attention to statement 1210 of the lyrics of this
Australian classic:
0000 Waltzing Matilda
0010 "Banjo" Paterson, 1893
0110 1. Once a jolly swagman sat beside the billabong,
0210 Under the shade of a coulibah tree,
0310 And he sang as he sat and waited till his billy boiled:
0410 Chorus:
0510 Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me
0610 Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda
0710 Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me
0810 And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabong
0910 Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me.
1010
1110 2. Down came a jumbuck to drink beside the billabong
1210 Up jumped the swagman and seized him with glee
1310 And he sang as he tucked the jumbuck in his tuckerbag
1410
1510 Chorus:
1610 You'll come a waltzing matilda with me
1710 Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda
1810 You'll come a waltzing matilda with me
1910 And he sang as he tucked the jumbuck in his tuckerbag
2010 You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.
2110
2210 3. Down came the stockman, riding on his thoroughbred,
2310 Down came the troopers, one, two, three.
2410 "Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tuckerbag?
2510
2610 Chorus:
2710 You'll come a waltzing matilda with me
2810 Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda
2910 You'll come a waltzing matilda with me
3010 Where's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tuckerbag?
3110 You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.
3210
3310 4. Up jumped the swagman and plunged into the billabong,
3410 "You'll never catch me alive," cried he
3510 And his ghost may be heard as you ride beside the billabong,
3610
3710 Chorus:
3810 Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me
3910 Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda
4010 Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me
4110 And his ghost may be heard as you ride beside the billabong,
4210 Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me.
And for the rest of you (play the music, and sing along):
http://www.contemplator.com/folk2/waltzmat.html
http://www.contemplator.com/folk2/msic-folk2/wmatilda.mid
Glossary:
Swagman:
A man who seeks casual work while traveling about carrying his swag.
Swag:
The pack or bundle containing the personal belongings of a swagman.
Billabong:
A dead-end channel extending from the main stream of a river.
Coulibah tree:
Native Gum tree of Australia.
Billy:
A metal pot or kettle used in camp cooking.
Jumbuck:
A sheep.
Tucker:
Food
Tuckerbag:
A bag for carrying food, used by a traveler in the bush or by a swagman
Waltzing:
A ballroom dance in triple time with a strong accent on the first beat.
Stockman:
A man who owns or raises livestock (Land owner)
Waltzing Matilda is, briefly, a song about a tramp who camps by a creek
and steals a sheep. Three policemen arrive; rather than submit to
capture, the tramp commits suicide by drowning himself in the
creek (see... the song is better :-)
Just thought you would like to know.
Philip Freidin
=================
Philip Freidin
philip_at_fliptronics.com
Received on Sat Sep 06 2003 - 04:41:00 BST