For instance, tonight I was surprised to find out that there is a second, less-comfortable arrangement of Peter Allen's song "I Still Call Australia Home". Even worse, I have to SING it. It starts off with an odd rhythm, puts the word "roam" on a B flat (instead of the D us Aussies are used to) , and generally is rather uncomfortable--so much so that I was left cringing at it. It also leaves out the coda.
I also was surprised to find out that few people apparently know the second verse to Waltzing Matilda. And that nobody knows the proper version.
The actual lyrics are:
The tune to the Queensland Version chorus is derived from "Scotland the Brave". I'm fully aware that the one played on Play School is just the first verse and chorus, but seriously, I knew the second verse by Grade 2 and the rest by at least Grade 7. Aside from the finer points of the later verses, which I learned from my mother tonight (I kept singing "Up jumped the jumbuck"). Fortunately, we'll have an audience singing along with us who should know the second verse. At least, they should have had it pounded into their heads at 7 years old. This is as bad as people not knowing the final verse of Advance Australia Fair.Oh, there once was a swagman camped by a billabong (a swagman is a kind of rural bum)
Under the shade of a coolibah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited 'till his billy boiled
"Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?"
Chorus:
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda my darling?
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?
Waltzing Matilda and leading a water-bag
Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?
(NOTE: The more common lyrics here say "Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me? And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled, who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me." The tune is different too. The original lyrics are now known as the "Queensland Version")
Down came a jumbuck to drink at the water-hole (a jumbuck is a sheep)
Up jumped the Swagman and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker-bag
"Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
(chorus)
Down came the squatter, a-riding on his thoroughbred
Down came the troopers, one, two and three
"Where's the jolly jumbuck you got in your tucker-bag?
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with we."
(chorus)
Up jumped the Swagman and drowned in the water-hole
"You'll never take me alive," said he
And his voice can be heard as it sings around the billabong
"Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?"