Waltzing Matilda

An Australian folk song about a swagman who steals a sheep and drowns himself to evade capture. Banjo Paterson wrote its lyrics in 1895.

Banjo Paterson: An Australian poet and journalist who wrote the lyrics to “Waltzing Matilda.” Paterson wrote the poem during a visit to Dagworth Station in 1895.
Swagman: An itinerant Australian worker who carries belongings rolled in a blanket or swag. The song’s central character travels on foot carrying his swag.
Waltzing Matilda (1903 version): A published version of the song issued by the Australian music publisher Angus & Robertson in 1903. Its lyrics and tune helped establish the song’s widely sung form.
Australian national identity: The shared symbols, stories, and values through which Australians understand national belonging. The song’s bush imagery has become part of how Australia represents itself.
Winton, Queensland: An outback town in Queensland associated with the composition of “Waltzing Matilda.” Winton’s local history and tourism are closely tied to the song’s origins.
Christina Macpherson: An Australian musician who composed the tune commonly associated with “Waltzing Matilda.” Macpherson adapted the melody after hearing a Scottish song at Dagworth Station.
Jumbuck: An Australian slang word for a sheep, especially in traditional bush usage. The swagman steals a jumbuck from a nearby sheep station.
Waltzing Matilda (Harry Morath version): A version of “Waltzing Matilda” arranged by Harry Morath for the Australian performance tradition. Morath’s arrangement helped popularize a distinctive concert-band treatment.
Unofficial national anthem: A song widely treated as a national emblem without formal status as a country’s official anthem. “Waltzing Matilda” is often called Australia’s unofficial national anthem.
Australian copyright law: The body of Australian law governing rights in creative works and their use. Copyright disputes over the song’s music shaped its commercial publication history.

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