The Band Played Waltzing Matilda Lyrics - Singles - Dubliners

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, Eric Bogle 

When I was a young man I carried me pack 

And I lived the free life of the rover 

From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback 

I waltzed my Matilda all over 

Then in 1915 my country said: Son, 

It's time to stop rambling, 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 

When the ship pulled away from the quay 

And amid all the tears, flag waving and cheers 

We sailed off for Gallipoli 

It well I remember that terrible day 

When our blood stained the sand and the water 

And how in that hell they call Suvla Bay 

We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter 

Johnny Turk, he was ready, he primed himself well 

He rained us with bullets, and he showered us with shell 

And in five minutes flat, we were all blown to hell 

He nearly blew us back home to Australia 

And the band played Waltzing Matilda 

When we stopped to bury our slain 

Well we buried ours and the Turks buried theirs 

Then it started all over again 

Oh those that were living just tried to survive 

In that mad world of blood, death and fire 

And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive 

While around me the corpses piled higher 

Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head 

And when I awoke in me hospital bed 

And saw what it had done, I wished I was dead 

I never knew there was worse things than dying 

Oh no more I'll go Waltzing Matilda 

All around the green bush far and near 

For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs both 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 and the insane 

Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla 

And when the ship pulled into Circular Quay 

I looked at the place where me legs used to be 

And thank Christ there was no one there waiting for me 

To grieve and to mourn and to pity 

And the Band played Waltzing Matilda 

When they carried us down the gangway 

Oh nobody cheered, they just stood there and stared 

Then they turned all their faces away 

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 

Renewing their dreams of past glories 

I see the old men all tired, stiff and worn 

Those weary old heroes of a forgotten war 

And the young people ask "What are they marching 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, their numbers get fewer 

Someday, no one will march there at all 

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda 

Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me? 

And their ghosts may be heard as they march by the billabong 

So who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?