And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Ernie Garner
Ok, it's not an Irish tune, BUT, a lot of the Irish bar performers do
it. Powerful song.
AND THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA
Now when I was a young man,
I carried me pack,
And I lived the free life of a rover.
From the Murry's green basin,
To the dusty outback,
I waltzed my Matilda all over.
And in 1915 my country said, "Son,
It's time to stop ramblin,
There's work to be done"
So they gave me a tin hat,
And they gave me a gun,
And they sent me away to the war.
And the band played 'Waltzing Matilda'
As the ship pulled away from the ky
And amid all the tears,
Flag wavin' and cheers,
We sailed off for Galipoli.
Well, I remember that terrible day when our blood,
Stained both the sand and the water.
And how in that hell that they called Souvla Bay.
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter.
Johny Turkey was ready,
Oh primed us with bullets,
And he showered us with shell.
And in five minutes flat,
We were all blown to hell,
Nearly blew us back home to Australia.
And the band played Waltzing matilda,
When we stopped to bury our slain,
And we buried ours,
And the turks buried theirs,
Then it started all over again.
Those who were living, just tried to survive,
In that mad world of blood, death and fire.
And for ten weary weeks, I kept myself alive,
Though around me the corpses piled higher.
Then a big Turkey shell knocked me arse over head,
And when I awoke in me hospital bed.
And saw what it had done, and I wished I were dead,
Never knew there were worse things than dyin'.
For no more I'll go Waltzing Matilda,
All around the green bush far and near,
For to hump tent and pegs,
A man needs legs,
No more Waltzing Matilda for me
They collected the wounded, the crippled, the maimed,
And they shipped us back home to Australia.
The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane,
Those proud wounded heroes of Souvla.
And when that ship pulled into circular key,
I looked at the place where my legs used to be,
And thanked Christ there was no one there,
Waiting for me,
To grieve and to mourn and to pity.
And the band played Waltzing Matilda,
As they carried us down the gangway.
Nobody cheered,
They just stood there and stared,
Then they turned all their faces away.
So now ev'ry April I sit on my porch,
And I watch the parade pass before me.
And I see my old comrades how proudly they march,
Renewing their dreams of past glory.
i see the old men, all tired, stiff and sore,
Old heroes of a forgotton war.
The young people ask
"What are they marchin' for"
And I ask myself the same question.
And the band plays Waltzing Matilda,
And the old men still answer the call,
But year after year,
The numbers get fewer,
Someday noone will march there at all.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
Who'll come a Waltzing with me?
And their ghosts may be heard,
As they march by the billabers,
Who'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me?