The Band Played Waltzing Matilda | LIVING ROOM

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
LIVING ROOM - The Pogues Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴When I was a young man I carried my pack
And I lived the free life of a rover
From the murrays green basin to the dusty outback
I waltzed my matilda all over
Then in nineteen fifteen my country said son
It's time to stop rambling 'cause 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 we sailed away from the quay
And amidst all the tears and the shouts and the
Cheers
We sailed off to Gallipoli

How well I remember that terrible day
When the blood stained the sand and the water
And how in that hell that they called suvla bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
Johnny Turk he was ready, he primed himself well
He showered us with bullets, he rained us with
Shells
And in five minutes flat he'd blown us all to hell
Nearly blew us right back to Australia
But the band played waltzing Matilda
As we stopped to bury our slain
And we buried ours and the Turks buried theirs
Then it started all over again

Now those who were living did their best to survive
In that mad world of blood, death and fire
And for seven long weeks I kept myself alive
While the corpses around me piled higher
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over tit
And when I woke up in my hospital bed
And saw what it had done, Christ I wished I was
Dead
Never knew there were worse things than dying
And no more I'll go waltzing Matilda
To the green bushes so far and near
For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs two legs
No more waltzing Matilda for me

So they collected the cripples, the wounded and
Maimed
And they shipped us back home to Australia
The legless, the armless, the blind and insane
Those proud wounded heroes of suvla
And as our ship pulled into circular quay
I looked at the place where me legs used to be
And thank Christ there was nobody waiting for me
To grieve and to mourn and to pity
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As they carried us down the gangway
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared
And they turned all their faces away

And now every April I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
I see my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reliving the or their dreams of past glory
i see the old men, all twisted and torn
The forgotten heroes of a forgotten war
And the young people ask me, "what are they
Marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question
And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men still answer to the call
But year after year their numbers get fewer
Some day no one will march there at all

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll go a-Waltzing Matilda with me?


Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" by The Pogues tell a poignant story of a young man who starts off as carefree and adventurous, traveling across the Australian landscape with his swag (pack) on his back, symbolizing his nomadic and easygoing lifestyle. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when he is sent off to war in 1915 during World War I.


The song describes the horrors of war, particularly the devastating Gallipoli Campaign in Turkey. The singer witnesses the brutality of the battlefield as his comrades are killed and wounded, and he himself suffers a severe injury that leaves him crippled. The reference to "the band played Waltzing Matilda" serves as a melancholic contrast to the chaos and tragedy of the war, highlighting the juxtaposition between the music and the grim reality of death and destruction.


As the singer returns home, he grapples with the physical and emotional scars of war, feeling detached and disillusioned with the hero's welcome he expected. The lyrics convey a sense of loss, both in terms of physical limbs and the loss of innocence and romanticized notions of war. The singer no longer feels the same connection to his homeland and the carefree days of his youth symbolized by waltzing with Matilda.


The final verses reflect on the passing of time and the fading memories of war veterans. The singer observes the annual parade of old comrades, recognizing the dwindling numbers and the younger generation's lack of understanding of the sacrifices made. The repetition of "Waltzing Matilda" in the chorus throughout the song serves as a haunting reminder of the past and the enduring legacy of war on individuals and society.


Overall, "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" captures the harrowing experiences of war and its long-lasting effects on those who serve, offering a poignant commentary on the cost of conflict and the inevitable passage of time on memory and remembrance.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was a young man I carried my pack
In my youth, I traveled with my belongings


And I lived the free life of a rover
And I enjoyed the freedom of a wanderer


From the murrays green basin to the dusty outback
From lush valleys to dry wilderness areas


I waltzed my matilda all over
I traveled extensively with my belongings


Then in nineteen fifteen my country said son
Then in 1915, my country called me


It's time to stop rambling 'cause there's work to be done
It's time to stop roaming and start working


So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
So they armed me for war


And they sent me away to the war
And they sent me off to fight


And the band played Waltzing Matilda
And music played as we departed


As we sailed away from the quay
As we sailed away from the dock


And amidst all the tears and the shouts and the cheers
And despite the mix of emotions


We sailed off to Gallipoli
We sailed towards Gallipoli


Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Eric Bogle

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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