THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA - Michael McGlynn cover - for my Grandfather

This is for my Grandfather Harold Hansen. Shot clean through the chest at Gallipoli, placed on a pile of dead bodies yet somehow survived and lived to the age of 91. Remarkable.
I've never been able to sing this song or even listen to it without crying - to me it's the most devastating song ever written. Somehow I got through it just now - there's a first for everything I suppose.
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Now 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 you stopped rambling, there's work to be done
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
And they marched me away to the war
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As the ship pulled away from the quay
And amidst all the tears, the flag waving and cheers
We sailed off for Gallipoli
And how well I remember that terrible day
How our blood stained the sand and the water
And of how in that hell that they call Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
Johnny Turk, he was waiting, he primed himself well
He showered us with bullets, and he rained us with shell
And in five minutes flat, we were all blown to hell
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 we started all over again
Oh those that were left well we tried to survive
In that mad world of blood, death and fire
And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive
Though around me the corpses piled higher
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head
And when I woke up in me hospital bed
And saw what it had done, well I wished I was dead
I never knew there was worse things than dying
For I'll go no more 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
So they gathered the crippled, the wounded, the maimed
And they shipped us back home to Australia
The legless, the armless, the blind, the insane
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla
And as the ship pulled into Circular Quay
I looked at the place where me legs used to be
And thank Christ there was nobody waiting for me
To grieve and to mourn and to pity
But the Band played Waltzing Matilda
As they carried us down the gangway
Oh nobody cheered, they just stood and stared
Then they turned all their faces away
Now every April I sit on me porch
And I watch the parades pass before me
I see my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reviving old dreams of past glories
And the old men march slowly, old bones stiff and sore
Those tired old heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question
But the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men still answer the call
But as year follows year more old men disappear
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?
by Eric Bogle

[@willhalliday907]

Beautiful song Michael. Your grandad would have been bloody proud of you digger. Miss you mightily Mikey.

[@WeDontWantYourWar]

RIP Michael

[@donnaccain]

RIP Michael. Thank you for the music x

[@anunachoir]

Echoing through many people's hearts. Thank you Michael for being here as long as you were.

[@expressyourselfandthrive8332]

Miss you to the stars and back KG. Rest easy 💔

[@Scoots1994]

I can't get through it dry eyed.

[@MichaelMcGlynnProductions]

I don’t know how I did it either

[@MrPeter924]

Great video great music song playing guitar so sounds great audio good show

[@justinduggan3743]

One of my favourite moments in life is being on stage with Eric Bogle as he sang this masterpiece…… you do it amazing justice!
The only words he ever got wrong were “ someday no one will march there at all” May he forever be wrong on that !

[@MichaelMcGlynnProductions]

Thanks mate and totally agreed xx

[@shikharchohan2273]

Dude, do a reaction video on playing god- polyphia. Would love to see your take