So, that song is basically about a hobo who steals a sheep, gets caught and decides to commit suicide rather than surrending. And it has nothing to do with kangaroos. We learn something new every day! :D
The first time I heard this song was at this year's Veterans Day Band Concert at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. It was actually part of a song called, "Eagle, Globe, & Anchor", composed by my college band director, but performed by the Placentia Community Band, which is directed by my director's husband. (Don't worry about the details of that. :P )
My director was commissioned to write "Eagle, Globe, & Anchor" as part of some previous U.S. military celebration, as "Waltzing Matilda" is also the official song of the U.S. 1st Marine Division, which they picked up while spending some time in Australia during World War II.
But they never explained "Matilda" itself, so this was most enlightening. Thanks for the lesson, Mr. Eagle! :D
The fellow who wrote that song is pictured on our $10 note. The version that Rolf is singing is the 'advertisement' version, the real lyrics say "Drowned in the Billabong" - but is changed to make it sound nicer.
It's very well accepted that the song was written with heavy influence of the political situation at the time (around 1900 I think) - there was a shearer's strike, and this song found instant success as it played on the concept of the battler (poor Aussie) not respecting rich landowners. It kinda stuck, as Australia has a solid socialist streak, with our liking of government looking after things, and personal wealth having a negative connotation.
It's fair to say that most Aussies know the words to WM, but few know our national anthem.
As for the translation, you only needed to ask! ;)
I feel inspired. I should record some of Banjo's monologues and post them! They rock.
Oh! I am so glad you chimed in on this! You gave even more detail about the origin and background of this ^V^ Personally I love the music, and um, well, when I was a little kid I thought a lot of those strange words were magical references to imaginary beasts (like in the Lewis Carroll stuff), so I built my own imaginary mystique of a world around it. My Dad also bought me a billy-boil tin when I was a tyke, which additionally fueled my enjoyment of the lore :>
Cool. Did you make billy tea? You can tell the 'tourist' version to the real billy tea tins... As you need to swing it around your head (to settle the tea leaves), any 'proper' tin has the wire handle twisted around through holes in the metalwork... lest the handle and tin depart company due to centrifugal force!
heh! Pretty sure I did... ^V^ It was just a tourist model though, most likely... I was just a kid, and a real tin woulda probably knocked me over :D It had lotsa stuff with it, little quotes and drawings n stuff... I still have it I think, somewhere...
While being Australian I don't like the song very much due to its' moral viewpoint. Also why Ned Kelly is seen as some sort of people's hero when he was just a straight crim.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-12-27 05:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-28 06:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-27 07:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-28 06:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-27 10:28 pm (UTC)The first time I heard this song was at this year's Veterans Day Band Concert at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. It was actually part of a song called, "Eagle, Globe, & Anchor", composed by my college band director, but performed by the Placentia Community Band, which is directed by my director's husband. (Don't worry about the details of that. :P )
My director was commissioned to write "Eagle, Globe, & Anchor" as part of some previous U.S. military celebration, as "Waltzing Matilda" is also the official song of the U.S. 1st Marine Division, which they picked up while spending some time in Australia during World War II.
But they never explained "Matilda" itself, so this was most enlightening. Thanks for the lesson, Mr. Eagle! :D
no subject
Date: 2008-12-28 06:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-28 10:13 am (UTC)It's very well accepted that the song was written with heavy influence of the political situation at the time (around 1900 I think) - there was a shearer's strike, and this song found instant success as it played on the concept of the battler (poor Aussie) not respecting rich landowners. It kinda stuck, as Australia has a solid socialist streak, with our liking of government looking after things, and personal wealth having a negative connotation.
It's fair to say that most Aussies know the words to WM, but few know our national anthem.
As for the translation, you only needed to ask! ;)
I feel inspired. I should record some of Banjo's monologues and post them! They rock.
*wags*
Date: 2008-12-28 12:21 pm (UTC)You gave even more detail about the origin and background of this ^V^
Personally I love the music, and um, well, when I was a little kid I thought a lot of those strange words were magical references to imaginary beasts (like in the Lewis Carroll stuff), so I built my own imaginary mystique of a world around it. My Dad also bought me a billy-boil tin when I was a tyke, which additionally fueled my enjoyment of the lore :>
Re: *wags*
Date: 2008-12-28 01:07 pm (UTC)Re: jumbuck
Date: 2008-12-29 08:07 am (UTC)It was just a tourist model though, most likely... I was just a kid, and a real tin woulda probably knocked me over :D
It had lotsa stuff with it, little quotes and drawings n stuff... I still have it I think, somewhere...
no subject
Date: 2008-12-28 10:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-28 12:22 pm (UTC)Sorry to hear he wasn't very legitimate by afterthought... maybe my imagination is kinder to the song than the reality :D