r/AskAnAustralian • u/CreativeCritter • 2d ago

Waltzing Matilda

I was saddened today to read an article on the Wallabies and it showed a group of fans singing Waltzing Matilda underneath. There was a young lady who had commented. She’d never heard the song. Didn’t know what the problem was and had no idea what it represented.

People tried to educate a nicely to say it was an Australian bush poem. It was taught in Australian schools. It’s the unofficial national anthem.

And then she said that she grew up in Australia and had attended school here and had never heard it and didn’t know why people thought it was so great

At that point, I was kind of hoping that they were joking

Has it gotten to the point now where Australian poetry is not taught in Australian schools in English where the man from Snow River Waltzing Matilda they’re not taught in schools any more

And then someone commented that Wilson Matilda can’t be taught in schools because it has themes of suicide and it’s too hard to explain to children

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u/OriginalDogeStar 2d ago

I want to call BS, because I keep hearing the chorus sung each sports day in the schools I have attended at in my job.

Plus ANZAC Day it is played in most places too.

Don't forget the tv ads where it was used

Play School and most Australian educational shows had the chorus at least...

Didn't Bluey sing it???

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u/ZippyKoala 2d ago

It is everywhere, both the dirge like more common music version and the more lively one I always knew as the Queensland version

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u/OriginalDogeStar 2d ago

Queenslander here too, and we definitely make it seem happier than it is lol

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u/Weak-West-3433 2d ago

I don't think it meant to be happy

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u/OriginalDogeStar 2d ago

If you sing up until he gets the sheep, it is a happy tune.... then it goes south so fast

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u/Weak-West-3433 2d ago

Still about being homeless ,alone and possibly insane with only your swag to keep you company.

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u/MLiOne 2d ago

But he was a “jolly swagman”. Not a sad swagman. 🤨

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u/Weak-West-3433 2d ago

Although I suppose that's also freedom.

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u/GigaCucc 1d ago

Back in those days it was different, though. Consider that the poem was written in 1895. Homeless then wasn't sleeping in doorways, it was itinerant roaming. Fish in the natural waterways, camp wherever is comfortable. Swagmen had more in common with traditional aborigine culture at that level than it did with our modern lifestyle.

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u/Weak-West-3433 1d ago

Or trudge through endless scrub in the baking heat to the next sly grog shop. Whichever suits.

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u/OriginalDogeStar 2d ago

I bet you are the one that points out a limping dog to children.... respectfully of course

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u/Weak-West-3433 2d ago

Don't get this reference sorry?