Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your
contribution is not tax-deductible.)
PayPal Acct: 
Feedback: 
Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):
| [ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4], 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ] |
| Subject: Waltzing Matilda | |
Author: Ed Harris (Venezia) | [ Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
] Date Posted: 22:24:39 12/06/04 Mon In reply to: Jim (Canada) 's message, "Some songs" on 18:32:23 12/06/04 Mon I was interested to learn recently that the great Australian marching song, probably the best marching song that any empire ever had, "Waltzing Matilda", was in fact derived from a late-17th / early-18th Century army recruiting song in the South of England. It was during the War of the Spanish Succession in the early years of the century and went something like: "A gay fusilier was marching down through Rochester, Bound for the War in the Low Country, And he cried as he tramped through the dear streets of Rochester, 'Who'll be a soldier for Marlborough with me? 'Who'll be a soldier, who'llbe a soldier, who'll be a soldier For Marlborough with me?' And he cried as he tramped through the dear streets of Rochester, 'Who'll come a-soldiering for Marlborough with me?'" When A.B. 'The Banjo' Patterson first performed his new version with the 'Waltzing Matilda' words in the North Gregory Hotel at Winton in Queensland (I believe that a plaque on the pub there marks the spot), he seemed completely unaware that he was putting new words to an ancient 17th Century tune, and in fact stolidly denied the fact that he had ever heard the original. It seems to me something of an epic coincidence that he should have written, on his own, a song exactly identical to a very popular tune of the previous century. Further evidence, I should think, of our inextrcably linked heritage, and also of the fact that one should never trust a folk-singer. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> Subject: I had no idea about that | |
|
Author: Ian (convict land) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:12:17 12/06/04 Mon I can't quite fathom how people could seriously suggest that a folk song about a suicidal sheep stealer should be a contender for the role of national anthem. Even in Australia. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> Subject: "and his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong" | |
|
Author: Ed Harris (Venezia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:17:11 12/06/04 Mon What exactly is the story behind Waltzing Wotsit? I know that there's some popsy called Matilda involved, but beyond that I'm in the dark. Mind you, the version which they play on Tony Hancock's "Emigration" episode is most stirring... [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: the story | |
|
Author: Ian (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:49:45 12/06/04 Mon 1. bloke steals sheep, stuffs it out of sight in large bag and puts billy on to make tea 2. owner of sheep appears with three members of the constabulary 3. bloke drowns himself in billabong rather than be taken alive 4. ghost reputed to make periodic appearances at billabong God knows what Matilda has to do with it all, but she doesn't make an appearance in the tale. No actual waltzing occurs either (at least not in the Viennese sense of the term) [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Bonza, mate... | |
|
Author: Ed Harris (Venezia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:55:02 12/06/04 Mon Sounds great. Remind me to become a sheep-rustler one of these days. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Matilda | |
|
Author: Dave (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 19:49:34 12/18/04 Sat I am reliably informed (by my father) that Matilda was a euphemism for the product of the swagman's poaching... [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: "the story" | |
|
Author: Andrew (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 07:18:33 12/23/04 Thu I actually believe, or so I was told, that to Waltz ones Matilda was to hike, or walk around. Sort of like to be nomadic. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Waltzing Matilda | |
|
Author: David (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 07:08:29 12/19/04 Sun I agree with you, I cringe every time I hear it. Having said that, the present Australian anthem is hardly desirable, as one letter in the SMH recently put it, no anthem with the word "girt" in it deserves any respect! Why they replaced God Save the Queen with that disgraceful anthem is beyond me, although the prospect of Waltzing Matilda is far worse. I would probably prefer the satire sung by English cricket tourists "We shagged Matilda"! [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: more letters | |
|
Author: Ian (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 13:35:40 12/19/04 Sun My father had a letter published in the SMH on the same topic: "To call that maudlin song an anthem is ridiculous." [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Back in the UK? | |
|
Author: Jim (Canada) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 14:18:41 12/21/04 Tue How about a modern twist - taking an old 1950's rock 'n roll song 'Back in the USA' by Chuck Berry and redoing it as 'Back in the UK' Here is 'Back in the USA': Oh well oh well I feel so good today We just touched ground on an international runway Jet-propelled back home from overseas to the USA New York, Los Angeles Oh how I yearn for you Detroit, Chicago, Chattanooga, Baton Rouge God I long to be at my home back in old St Lou Did I miss the skyscrapers Did I miss the long freeway From the coast of California To the shores of the Delaware Bay You can bet your life I did Till I got back to the USA Looking hard for a drive-in Searching for a corner cafe Where hamburgers sizzle on an open grill night and day Yeah, and the jukebox jumping with records back in the USA I'm so glad I'm living in the USA Yes I'm so glad I'm living in the USA Anything you want we got it right here in the USA Ah we're so glad we're living in the USA Yes we're so glad we're living in the USA Anything you want we got it right here in the USA Ah we're so glad We're so glad Ah we're so glad We're so glad Here is my attempt to rewrite it as 'Back in the UK': Oh well oh well I feel so good today We just touched ground on an international runway Jet-propelled back home from overseas to the UK London, Edinburgh, Oh how I yearn for you Cardiff, Belfast, Manchester, Birmingham God I long to be at my home back on Yorkshire moors Did I miss the countryside Did I miss the fast motorway From the Highlands of Scotland To the shores of Portsmouth's Bay You can bet your life I did Till I got back to the UK Looking hard for a pub Searching for a fish 'n chip shop Watching the football on telly all night and day Yeah, and the jukebox jumping with records back in the UK I'm so glad I'm living in the UK Yes I'm so glad I'm living in the UK Anything you want we got it right here in the UK Ah we're so glad we're living in the UK Yes we're so glad we're living in the UK Anything you want we got it right here in the UK Ah we're so glad We're so glad Ah we're so glad We're so glad I am open to improvements on this! [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Improvements? | |
|
Author: Johnny Lennon and Paul McCartney [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 15:58:57 12/21/04 Tue Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC Didn't get to bed last night On the way the paper bag was on my knee Man, I had a dreadful flight I'm back in the USSR You don't know how lucky you are, boy Back in the USSR, yeah Been away so long I hardly knew the place Gee, it's good to be back home Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case Honey disconnect the phone I'm back in the USSR You don't know how lucky you are, boy Back in the US Back in the US Back in the USSR Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out They leave the west behind And Moscow girls make me sing and shout They Georgia's always on my my my my my my my my my mind Oh, come on Hu Hey Hu, hey, ah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah I'm back in the USSR You don't know how lucky you are, boys Back in the USSR Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out They leave the west behind And Moscow girls make me sing and shout They Georgia's always on my my my my my my my my my mind Oh, show me round your snow peaked mountain way down south Take me to you daddy's farm Let me hear you balalaika's ringing out Come and keep your comrade warm I'm back in the USSR Hey, You don't know how lucky you are, boy Back in the USSR Oh, let me tell you honey Chuck Berry can't hold a candle to the Beatles... plus, this version is far more rock and roll. Can someone please come up with Brit lyrics for this? [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: How's this? | |
|
Author: Jim (Canada) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 16:49:08 12/21/04 Tue Flew in from Miami Beach, USA Didn't get to bed last night On the way the paper bag was on my knee Man, I had a dreadful flight I'm back in the UK You know I’m back home to stay, boy Back in the UK, yeah Been away so long I hardly knew the place Gee, it's good to be back home Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case Honey disconnect the phone I'm back in the UK You know I’m back home to stay, boy Back in the UK Back in the UK Back in the UK Well the English girls really knock me out They leave America behind And Scottish girls make me sing and shout Lady Kirk’s always on my my my my my my my my my mind Oh, come on Hu Hey Hu, hey, ah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah I'm back in the UK You know I’m back home to stay, boys Back in the UK Well the English girls really knock me out They leave America behind And Scottish girls make me sing and shout Lady Kirk’s always on my my my my my my my my my mind Oh, show me round your moors and dales way up north Take me to you daddy's farm Let me hear a piper near the Firth of Forth Come and keep your fellow Brit warm I'm back in the UK You know I’m back home to stay, boy Back in the UK Oh, let me tell you honey [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: a distinct improvement | |
|
Author: Ian (Australia) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 16:49:30 12/21/04 Tue Okay, appallingly bad taste, but here we go: ============================================ Imagine no John Lennon It's easy if you try No geeky "Instant Karma" No whining "Jealous Guy" Imagine that rich wanker Bleeding on the ground Oh oh o o oh You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope you'll join us at the Dakota And don't forget to bring your gun. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Dear oh dear - how could you? | |
|
Author: Dave (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 17:33:35 12/21/04 Tue [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Reminds me... | |
|
Author: Ed Harris (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 12:39:31 12/23/04 Thu ... of a joke which I read once. A migrant worker from Bratislava or somewhere like that was working in one of those awful Beatles-themed places down in Liverpool. He had to listen to Beatles music all day every day, week in, week out, until he developed a determination to find the Beatles and shoot them... until he realised that someone already had. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Don't you mean? | |
|
Author: Dave (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:50:56 12/23/04 Thu Up in Liverpool... [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Nope. | |
|
Author: Ed Harris (London) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 13:01:12 01/06/05 Thu One is only 'up' when one is in Town. Everywhere else is 'down', regardless of geography. It's a Londoner thing! [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |