Written by Marie Cowan/Luigi Creatore/Paterson/Hugo Peretti/Jimmie Rodgers/Traditional
verse 1 C G Am F Once a jolly swagman camped beside a billabong (Hobo, travelling contractor) (a lakeshore) C Am G G7 Under the shade of coolibah tree (a kind of tree they don’t have here) C G Am F And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled (billy=coffee. No Starbucks in the outback) C G C You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me (his bedroll and dancing partner)verse 2 C G Am F Down came a jumbuck to dri-ink at that billabong (sheep) C Am G G7 Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee (apparent free lunch) C G Am F And he sang as he stuffed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag (that’s a bag for your tucker) C Am G C You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me Chorus verse 3 C G Am F Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred (man who owns the sheep) (fancy name for horse) C Am G G7 Up rode the troopers, one, two, three (the cops, guns drawn) C G Am F "Who’s that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?" (oops no free lunch) C Am G C You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with meC F Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda C Am F G You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me C G Am F *And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled C Am G C You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with meverse 4: C G Am F Up jumped the swagman and sprang into that billabong (splash) C Am F G "You'll never take me alive!", said he (he can’t swim) C G Am F And his ghost may be heard as you stroll beside that billabong C Am G C You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me Chorus Extra Chorus Ending C G Am F And that’s why this song will never be Australia’s national anthem C Am G C You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with meC F Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda C Am F G You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me C G Am F "Who’s that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?" C Am G C You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me