verse 1
C G Am F
Once a jolly swagman camped beside a billabong
(Hobo, travelling contractor) (a lakeshore)
C Am G G7
Under the shade of coolibah tree
(a kind of tree they don’t have here)
C G Am F
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
(billy=coffee. No Starbucks in the outback)
C G C
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
(his bedroll and dancing partner)
C F
Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda
C Am F G
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
C G Am F
*And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
C Am G C
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
verse 2
C G Am F
Down came a jumbuck to dri-ink at that billabong
(sheep)
C Am G G7
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee
(apparent free lunch)
C G Am F
And he sang as he stuffed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag
(that’s a bag for your tucker)
C Am G C
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
Chorus
verse 3
C G Am F
Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred
(man who owns the sheep) (fancy name for horse)
C Am G G7
Up rode the troopers, one, two, three (the cops, guns drawn)
C G Am F
"Who’s that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?"
(oops no free lunch)
C Am G C
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
C F
Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda
C Am F G
You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me
C G Am F
"Who’s that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?"
C Am G C
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
verse 4:
C G Am F
Up jumped the swagman and sprang into that billabong (splash)
C Am F G
"You'll never take me alive!", said he (he can’t swim)
C G Am F
And his ghost may be heard as you stroll beside that billabong
C Am G C
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
Chorus
Extra Chorus Ending
C G Am F
And that’s why this song will never be Australia’s national anthem
C Am G C
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me