Chapter 1
Chords
This tune is played in the key of G (Standard open G tuning) which means the beginning and the end of the tune will be an open G chord and the majority of the tune will be open G. That being said, the other chords that will show up in this tune are:
History Nugget and Lyrics
“Waltzing Matilda” isn’t a gentle campfire lullaby — it’s a bush ballad about rebellion.
Written in 1895 by Banjo Paterson, it tells the story of a roaming swagman who steals a sheep (a jumbuck) to survive. When cornered by police and a wealthy landowner (the squatter), he chooses death over capture — leaping into a billabong.
Beneath the jaunty melody is a quiet protest against authority and inequality in colonial Australia. That’s why it resonated so deeply with workers and soldiers — and why many Australians consider it the unofficial national anthem.
Cheerful tune. Defiant soul.
Verse 1
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,
“Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?”
Chorus
Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled,
“Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?”
Verse 2
Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
“You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”
Chorus
Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
“You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”
Verse 3
Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,
Down came the troopers, one, two, three,
“Who’s that jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker bag?
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”
Chorus
Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?
“Who’s that jolly jumbuck you’ve got in your tucker bag?
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me.”
Verse 4
Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong,
“You’ll never catch me alive,” said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
“Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?”
Final Chorus
Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda,
Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
“Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?”