THANK YOU!! He did it justice - Aussie slang is not an easy task to decipher, and there’s many different interpretations of this song in particular! Ol Slim would’ve been proud to think that THE Johnny (and June) Cash would one day be singing his song ❤ Everyone needs to chill and enjoy instead of stressing the tiny details 🙄
U571 ...these guys were the prize guys of entertainment. ..they were proper people who adored the audience. ...that was US. .today oh forget it...talent will survive today .
I’m an Indian American and I love this song. I read Bill Bryson’s commentary on it but later listened to it and love the Aussie spirit. Cheers to you Aussies!
Jumbuck is an Australian term for a male sheep. A Billy is a tallish pot with a handle to boil water in....Johnny legend of a man, thank you for singing an old Aussie traditional..
How hard is teapot n sheep??? Hell, this American can't understand half of what you Aussies say, but hot damn, a hobos rotating mutton...I knew that!!!
Little did Johnny know that one day this would be put on the internet for the world to catch him out on his ruse... (In his defence. I have a habit of talking a bit of bollocks myself when I don't think anyone knows any better)
The man was a legend. As an Aussie iknow a few things were a little off but our American mates would have got the gyst of the story. We should encourage others to enjoy our culture and not be too precious about it
As a 10 year old in Los Angeles, I fell in love with Waltzing Matilda while watching the 1959 post-apocalyptic science fiction drama film "On the Beach". To this day, I am still touched when I listen to that majestic film score of Waltzing Matilda. Even when I hear Waltzing Matilda performed on You tube, this Aussie folk ballad will stay with me for days.
"Waltzing Matilda" was adopted by the 1st Marine Division from when they were based in Australia after fighting at Guadalcanal. It's an official divisional tune. They also wear the Southern Cross constellation on their shoulder patch, because that's off the Australian flag. All their camps, when based in a war zone, are called "Matilda". Btw, a jumbuck is a sheep, not a small deer. :)
Nah, stop simping over the legends, no doubt johnny was amazing in his era, but his voice wasn't special, he had a very natural american ol folks voice, but in comparingson to people like Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Heck, even Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin, see those men had amazing voices
@@lennon7978 you have a narrow view of the voice as an instrument. Very few people sound like johnny, he has a very distinct oldschool narrators voice that not anyone can pull off. Its not all about hitting highs and lows, its about atmospheres, feelings, spirit, aesthetics. Its art and there are many brushes.
@@lennon7978a very disrespectful comment. Cash had one of the best baritone ranges in our history. He’s up there with the likes of Elvis. If you know anything about music you will know how special and rare a baritone range is. And all the more rare is that he was able to bring his voice to the masses. I think this man deserves all the respect and plaudits he gets.
Hearing Cash’s golden voice sing my nation’s cultural anthem is damn near enough to make me cry. I’m glad other cultures can appreciate the beauty of this song ❤
Firstly, water is boiled in a billy and this is to make tea- always with a gum leaf added, a jumbuck is a sheep. Coolibah- is a common mispronounciation of Eucalyptus coolabah and coolibah is the spelling Banjo Patterson used when he first wrote the poem. I have always pronounced it coolabah. The title "Waltzing Matilda" was Australian slang for travelling on foot with one's belongings in a (swag) slung over one's back. ... The song narrates the story of an itinerant worker, or "swagman", making a drink of billy tea at a bush camp and capturing a stray jumbuck (sheep) to eat. When the jumbuck's owner, a squatter (landowner), and three troopers (mounted policemen) pursue the swagman for theft, he declares "You'll never catch me alive!" and drowns himself in a nearby billabong (watering hole), to avoid being captured after which his ghost haunts the site. The song strikes a chord with Australians because it is deeply imbedded in our psyche to defy authority and which the song is clearly about. That being said, I wish Johnny had sung the whole aong because the part Australian's get all teary and proud about is when the Swagman drowns himself rather than be captured by the enemy (police) "And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong: "You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."
The song Waltzing Matilda was adopted as the official song of the 1st Marine Division after its members fought alongside Australian servicemen in the Pacific Theatre. It was actually played for George Washington’s birthday in February 1943! With the surrender of Japan, the band returned to the United States and the song has stayed with the Division ever since.
When I was a kid in country Australia, my parents would let me stay up late on that one night of the week that Johnny’s show was on TV. He was very popular here. I have heaps of his songs on my phone.
Wow,Thank U Johnny ! Old Aussie of 73 here & never new This Great man Sang our Song ? First time in my Life hearing this from him,& my, did he do a fine job ! God Bless U Sir ,Legendary ! This made me become very Emotional & grateful at the Same time ! Genuine & beautiful ! I Come from in the Country of New South Wales ,( Australia),So we have much in Common with Country folk of America ! i think Country Singers, Relay that message very well of both our great Nations with great Respect ! Thank U again ,was beautiful ,sending love to all from DOWNUNDER AUSTRALIA! 🙏🇺🇸♥️🇦🇺☘️🙏
I performed this song as a set piece in the Kenya national music festival year 1994 at KICC Amphitheatre emerging one of the best performers. Up to date i love this Australian cultural anthem .... Waltzing Matilda.
I'm 27 the youngest of 10 kids and they all listened to 2pac and so on while I listened to country with my mother and father, I can't believe I haven't seen this. Love it and still missing ol johnny cash !
A Billy is short for Billican here in the Uk which is probably the same in OZ, which is a small saucepan with a wire handle that folds down when not in use. They usually are supplied in threes which fit one inside eachother to save room. The biggest one is used for boiling water to wash up after cooking. Anyway great song great singer.
I am Chinese Australian who has lived in this country for more than 20 years. Every time I listen to this song, I consider myself more Australian than Chinese. It is such a great song and symbol of Australian spirit.
Johnny, thank you. What a treat even all these years later to hear you sing a very treasured song still taught in our school curriculum today. Also thank you for the Adelaide shout out! 🥰
Song for the day. "Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's most widely known bush ballad. A folk song, the song has been referred to as "the unofficial national anthem of Australia". The title is Australian slang for travelling by foot with one's goods (waltzing, derived from the German auf der Walz) in a "Matilda" (bag) slung over one's back. The song narrates the story of an itinerant worker, or "swagman", making a drink of tea at a bush camp and capturing a sheep to eat. When the sheep's owner arrives with three police officers to arrest the worker for the theft, the worker commits suicide by drowning himself in the nearby watering hole, after which his ghost haunts the site. The original lyrics were written in 1895 by poet and nationalist Banjo Paterson. It was first published as sheet music in 1903. Extensive folklore surrounds the song and the process of its creation, to the extent that the song has its own museum, the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton, Queensland. In 2012, to remind Australians of the song's significance, Winton organized the inaugural Waltzing Matilda Day to be held on 6 April, the anniversary of its first performance. The song was first recorded in 1926 as performed by John Collinson and Russell Callow.] In 2008, this recording of "Waltzing Matilda" was added to the Sounds of Australia registry in the National Film and Sound Archive which says that there are more recordings of "Waltzing Matilda" than any other Australian song. The Australian poet Banjo Paterson wrote the words to "Waltzing Matilda" in January 1895 while staying at a bush station in western Queensland, the Dagworth Homestead near Winton owned by the Macpherson family. The words were written to a tune recited by 21 year-old Christina Macpherson, one of the family members at the station. Macpherson had been taken with "The Craigielee March" which she heard played by a military band while attending the Warrnambool steeplechase horse racing in Victoria during 1894, and played it back by ear at Dagworth. Paterson decided that the music would be a good piece to set lyrics to, and produced the original version during the rest of his stay at the station and in Winton Glossary The lyrics contain many distinctively Australian English words, some now rarely used outside of the song. These include: waltzing - derived from the German term auf der Walz, which means to travel while working as a craftsman and learn new techniques from other masters before returning home after three years and one day, a custom which is still in use today among carpenters. Matilda - a romantic term for a swagman's bundle. See below, "Waltzing Matilda". Waltzing Matilda - from the above terms, "to waltz Matilda" is to travel with a swag, that is, with all one's belongings on one's back wrapped in a blanket or cloth swagman - a man who travelled the country looking for work. The swagman's "swag" was a bed roll that bundled his belongings. billabong - an oxbow lake (a cut-off river bend) found alongside a meandering river. coolibah tree- a kind of eucalyptus tree which grows near billabongs. jumbuck - a sheep. billy - a can for boiling water in, usually 2--3 pints. tucker bag - a bag for carrying food ("tucker"). troopers - policemen Squatter - Australian squatters started as early farmers who raised livestock on land which they did not legally have the right to use; in many cases they later gained legal use of the land even though they did not have full possession, and became wealthy thanks to these large land holdings. The squatter's claim to the land may be as uncertain as the swagman's claim to the jumbuck.
Actually, as an Australian I can say it was just called a Swag, Matilda is just a girls name. The reason it's called Waltzing Matilda is because it shows the lonely life of which everything he ever needs and he has in his life is in that bag. So he affectionately calls her Matilda. The Waltzing is true but many think he got up with the heavy bag and Waltzed with it like his beloved Matilda. It shows the loneliness of swagmen.
We're a little late in getting into this thread aussiefirie but like Greta Little I did some interpretation that in my case I guess was off the mark. I had already read or heard everything that kitsus mitsus posted EXCEPT for "billy" being slang for a small tin pot. I had always thought the meaning of "waiting 'till his billy boiled" was that the swagman was boiling "mutton" from a goat. Thus, even though the swagman had at least some meat, a future meal of real mutton was too tempting when compared with his fare of billy-goat which led him to grab the jumbuck. I see I was wrong, but still it would have been quaint way of describing his meal.
Wow. I really was surprised to see this. Wouldn’t have thought he would know this song. He did a great job with the help of his lovely wife June. Thanks John from an Aussie
@@monique8641 Get over your problem with Johnny Cash. His baritone voice is rare and a gift. If you can’t appreciate it then please research vocal ranges. Johnny Cash was almost unparalleled - few people including Elvis could compete. As for the rendition of Waltzing Matilda lots of people have done it. Including the icon that is Kylie Minogue. Check it out ruclips.net/video/3_a2W0dEj_Y/видео.html Slim was brilliant and many others. But this does not diminish Johnny Cash’s legacy or his talent.
Ah, this brings back memories. We used to sing this at my old Montessori school. I had not a care in the world for the entirety of my first through third grade years. I remember when I used to be an active wholesome innocent chid who liked school. Literally my school was the incarnation of a wholesome dreamland. The students would randomly brake out in song and we would just play all day everyday and hug trees. Good times.
Being an Aussie I love this by Johnny Cash...but he got a couple of the descriptions wrong 😊 A billy is what the Swaggie boils his water in for his tea...and a Jumbuck is a Sheep...good try though Johnny 😁🖒❤🇦🇺
I never knew Johnny cash sang irish music i just learned famous country legend love singing irish music great job becuse i love irish music and county music and good rocknroll. Oct 2020
I saw this on tv the other day, and this song has been stuck in my head ever since. Well done, Mr. Cash. This is the same episode that Mr. Merle Ronald Haggard guest starred on. Both of my favorite classic country singers on the same show. Doesn't get any better.
A "Matilda" is the actual kit of all supplies needed to be camping long term in the outback.... so, to go "Waltzing Matilda" is when you are literally moving from one camping spot to another. Also, as others have already pointed out, a jumbuck is a sheep. That is why the troopers went after him in the first place.... for having 'stolen' someone's livestock.
Actually, a 'billy' is the tin can used to boil tea or whatever in over an open fire...often a tin can was saved and refurbished with a wire handle to be used as a tea billy
Actual Aussie slang translation Swagman- early Australian pioneer type person who travelled the land Billabong - waterhole Billy-small pot for boiling water over a campfire usually for tea and coffe Jumbuck-sheep
And the Matilda is German for swag, the waltzing Matilda came about from swagmen using them as dancing partners out bush to entertain themselves whilst out droving as there were no women.
Came from Halk Arenasi presented by Ugur Dundar (Turkish TV Programmer) shown on Halk TV dated March 23rd 2018... He talked about Eric Bogle and asked the audience to go to RUclips and search for this video. Here I am... and its amazing to listen this from Johnny Cash whom I listened when I was growing up in Turkey / Istanbul.
@@monique8641you are on quite a mission aren’t you? Multiple posts rubbishing this wonderful attempt by Cash to highlight this wonderful song. His baritone pitch is not to be underestimated. He hits low notes most of us would be gasping to replicate with ease.
You're right. 'Waltzing Matilda' means to wander all over our land on foot. Back in the day men walked everywhere from farm to farm looking for work of any kind.
To add to Steve, a Matilda was a kind of swag, which is a sleeping mat. Also to take all of your possessions with you. Cash does miss translate a wee bit though. Swaggies aren't necessarily hobos, a billy isn't a stew but rather a small kind of camping pot, a jumbuck is a male sheep.
Would loved to sit by a camp fire sipping Pappy Van Winkle and listing to Slim Dusty, Woody Guthrie and Johnney Cash sing about Ned Kelly and Pretty Boy Floyd.
A jumbuck is actually a sheep, something Australia had plenty of them when AB (Banjo) Patterson wrote the song & it was said that Australia rode on the sheep back, meaning most of our revenue was earned by exporting wool & meat.
LOL...some of his defintions were a bit off the mark....it was great to hear Johnny singing our song....thanks for posting it..Cheers from Down Under...
Johnny Cash added his Johnny Cash flair and it's just as nice as any other version. When you think about it America and Australia have similarities in their stories. Both were harsh landscapes occupied by indigenous people for thousands of years long before white man came. From snow capped mountains to deep forests to hot dry deserts the British (and others) arrived for different reasons, displaced the natives as they went. New settlers pioneered the land, there was a gold rush, bushrangers and cowboys, swagmen, vagabonds, whatever, then industrialization, now we've both lost our identity to vacuous woke bullshit and are more divided than ever after we made so much progress. White Aussies aren't racist against Aboriginals, we grew up playing in each other's backyards. I don't know what it's like in America but if I learned anything from watching King of the Hill, Bobby and Hank, John Redcorn and Joseph the Indians. They are great mates just as well. It tells the same story. Now cut the crap and enjoy the song.
Best billies were the old milk tins with wire for a handle and to mix the tea or coffee you would spin the billy in a full circle without spilling a drop of it
I'm nearly 50, life fan of The man in Black. As an Aussie Hot Shot Fireman ( we are called RAFT here..down under ) Mr Cash, sir a jumbuck is a sheep, not a kangawallafox that you described. From a man who comes home sooty, Vale Mr J Cash
Having grown up with Johnny Cash & being Australia Day here, I had to watch John doing this.. LOL His sentiment was wonderful, and all Aussies of my vintage know of Col Joye. Mostly, John's translation was pretty close, but I have to correct him a little... a "jumbuck" is Australian slang for a sheep, well I suppose it is little fuzzy animal, but most people are already scared of our "critters", I just wanted you all to know. Col may have been "pulling Johnny's leg" (another Aussie term for telling someone an exaggerated story) when he told him that 😂 RIP John, you will be forever missed. ❤
The song is about a craftsman on his traditional journey (Waltz) for at least 3 years and 1 day. It is an old germanic tradition that is still practiced in german speaking Europe but got forgotten on the British isles, just the term "journeyman" stayed. This tradition is almost a1000 years old, where young craftsman , such as carpenters, joiners, Stone masons etc. Go on a journey after their 3 years of apprenticeship. For at least 3 years and 1 day they are not allowed to come closer to their homes than 30 miles. During this time, they have to travel to work and work to travel. No bus no train, just your feet and your thumbs. No phone and no contact to home. They have to wear the traditional garbs of their trait. The title of the song "Waltzing Matilda" is actually "Rottwelsch" the language of this traveling folk and means "wandering the roads" Matilda is the slang word for Road in Rottwelsch which is a mix between Yiddish, Gypsy language and old german thug slang. A saying under those journey man is "The journeyman love Matilda and Matilda loves the journeyman" This tradition was also practiced in Australia but got forgotten. Just this song is left. IF you want to learn more about it, here is a Video of a journeyman in english: ruclips.net/video/ZKmpAfyFoxQ/видео.html
As an Aussie, it doesn't matter if the words aren't 100% its the sentiment that counts and the great man got that 100% correct.
American here. I miss Johnny Cash.
@@rustyrelicsfarm2406Englishman here. So do I.
No slim Dusty but he definitely gave me goose bumps still
THANK YOU!! He did it justice - Aussie slang is not an easy task to decipher, and there’s many different interpretations of this song in particular! Ol Slim would’ve been proud to think that THE Johnny (and June) Cash would one day be singing his song ❤ Everyone needs to chill and enjoy instead of stressing the tiny details 🙄
Johnny Cash toured all over sang local folk songs in German etal. Truly a world troubadour..
I’m Aussie and love this song. Johnny Cash was a remarkable performer. What a legend.
U571 ...these guys were the prize guys of entertainment. ..they were proper people who adored the audience. ...that was US. .today oh forget it...talent will survive today .
i am Australian to
you must locking the Pogue version.
I gotcha mate, from Melbourne, Australia.
I hear ya, proud Brisbane girl watching THE MAN sing our song 🥹🇦🇺
I’m an Indian American and I love this song. I read Bill Bryson’s commentary on it but later listened to it and love the Aussie spirit. Cheers to you Aussies!
Jumbuck is an Australian term for a male sheep. A Billy is a tallish pot with a handle to boil water in....Johnny legend of a man, thank you for singing an old Aussie traditional..
It’s from the Scottish Billy Can for making tea.
I do like the idea of Australia, of all the weird animals that living there, also having something that's half deer and half jackrabbit.
Honestly the only time I have ever heard that word is in this song. It's not part of the local vernacular.
It's funny that Johnny Cash gave a Jumbuck the same definition as the fabled American Jakalope.. 🤣
He did very well attempting to translate from Australian.. Much of our language and slang has no matching words outside of Australia. Lol..
He got billy and jumbuck completely wrong
How hard is teapot n sheep???
Hell, this American can't understand half of what you Aussies say, but hot damn, a hobos rotating mutton...I knew that!!!
You can cook a stew in ya billy..
Little did Johnny know that one day this would be put on the internet for the world to catch him out on his ruse... (In his defence. I have a habit of talking a bit of bollocks myself when I don't think anyone knows any better)
@@stevenwebb3634 he tried that’s what matters
From the UK ,God bless you Aussies !.
Lord bless you too, mate. 😊
The man was a legend. As an Aussie iknow a few things were a little off but our American mates would have got the gyst of the story. We should encourage others to enjoy our culture and not be too precious about it
This Song has been stuck in my head for the past couple days. Working on memorizing the lyrics myself
Aukgd right
It's not really Australian culture anymore. It's a horribly outdated song
Previous??
Australian culture is weak these days but it's still alive if the Australian youth are willing to save it.
Thanks big fella ,,, from Australia,,, lol,,, jumbuck = sheep.
,,,,,Lol,,,,
Norman Fraser lol
Male sheep
Mathilda was his beloved wife and the bits he still had, was inside his tuckerbag. "Waltzing Mathilda"
@@johannahummel-jasper1411 that is most definitely not correct lol
As an Australian in an American life, this song means everything. Always has, since I heard it when I was a young kid. Be seein ya soon Queensland.
Saw him live in Launceston Tasmania, brilliant! 🇦🇺🇦🇺
As a 10 year old in Los Angeles, I fell in love with Waltzing Matilda while watching the 1959 post-apocalyptic science fiction drama film "On the Beach". To this day, I am still touched when I listen to that majestic film score of Waltzing Matilda. Even when I hear Waltzing Matilda performed on You tube, this Aussie folk ballad will stay with me for days.
"Waltzing Matilda" was adopted by the 1st Marine Division from when they were based in Australia after fighting at Guadalcanal. It's an official divisional tune. They also wear the Southern Cross constellation on their shoulder patch, because that's off the Australian flag. All their camps, when based in a war zone, are called "Matilda". Btw, a jumbuck is a sheep, not a small deer. :)
i gonna watch that movie nowish
look at that, ol' Johnny Cash being a teacher and bringing culture to the world.
He got some of the interpretations wrong and only sang half the song.
His voice has to be one of the greatest voices ever to hold a microphone.
So sultry, so manly.
What a guy
Nah, stop simping over the legends, no doubt johnny was amazing in his era, but his voice wasn't special, he had a very natural american ol folks voice, but in comparingson to people like Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Heck, even Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin, see those men had amazing voices
@@lennon7978 sorry I think you don’t know what the word Simping actually means.
The word you are looking for is admiring.
@@lennon7978 you have a narrow view of the voice as an instrument. Very few people sound like johnny, he has a very distinct oldschool narrators voice that not anyone can pull off.
Its not all about hitting highs and lows, its about atmospheres, feelings, spirit, aesthetics.
Its art and there are many brushes.
@@lennon7978a very disrespectful comment. Cash had one of the best baritone ranges in our history. He’s up there with the likes of Elvis. If you know anything about music you will know how special and rare a baritone range is. And all the more rare is that he was able to bring his voice to the masses. I think this man deserves all the respect and plaudits he gets.
This is why Johnny is the most important American singer, his love and appreciation of music of the world, old and new.
Hearing Cash’s golden voice sing my nation’s cultural anthem is damn near enough to make me cry. I’m glad other cultures can appreciate the beauty of this song ❤
That wonderful baritone voice combined with his vast musical talent was rounded off beautifully with the appearance of his soul mate.
As an Aussie and lover of Mr. Johnny Cash… This brought tears to my eyes. 🫶🏼
Firstly, water is boiled in a billy and this is to make tea- always with a gum leaf added, a jumbuck is a sheep. Coolibah- is a common mispronounciation of Eucalyptus coolabah and coolibah is the spelling Banjo Patterson used when he first wrote the poem. I have always pronounced it coolabah. The title "Waltzing Matilda" was Australian slang for travelling on foot with one's belongings in a (swag) slung over one's back. ... The song narrates the story of an itinerant worker, or "swagman", making a drink of billy tea at a bush camp and capturing a stray jumbuck (sheep) to eat. When the jumbuck's owner, a squatter (landowner), and three troopers (mounted policemen) pursue the swagman for theft, he declares "You'll never catch me alive!" and drowns himself in a nearby billabong (watering hole), to avoid being captured after which his ghost haunts the site. The song strikes a chord with Australians because it is deeply imbedded in our psyche to defy authority and which the song is clearly about. That being said, I wish Johnny had sung the whole aong because the part Australian's get all teary and proud about is when the Swagman drowns himself rather than be captured by the enemy (police) "And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong:
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."
I think Australia desperately needs a bit of anarchy at the moment. Especially Victoria.
EXACTLY cobber
I am falling in love with this Waltzing Matilda anthem the more I hear it!
Roccy T well go watch the ww2 soldiers singing it. Gives me chills
Not as good as slim though
@@hauben4x448 agree slim sang it better
The song Waltzing Matilda was adopted as the official song of the 1st Marine Division after its members fought alongside Australian servicemen in the Pacific Theatre. It was actually played for George Washington’s birthday in February 1943! With the surrender of Japan, the band returned to the United States and the song has stayed with the Division ever since.
@@carolepworth4807 Slim sang the whole song. This rendition is only half of it.
Quite simply.. one of the greatest songs ever written.. sung by one of the greatest musicians of all time = GOOD STUFF
I disagree. Slim dusty a true Australian gives you joy and tears at once
@@kyra.at. As an Aussie, Johnny Cash has done just as good of a job with the song as Slim did.
@@TheDemocrab Slim did it a little better wouldnt you agree? Gives out the aussie accent and voice.
❤️ you to all the Aussies out there.
Ever since I heard this song, my mouth has always watered for some succulent jumbuck.
When I was a kid in country Australia, my parents would let me stay up late on that one night of the week that Johnny’s show was on TV. He was very popular here. I have heaps of his songs on my phone.
Wow,Thank U Johnny !
Old Aussie of 73 here & never new This Great man Sang our Song ? First time in my Life hearing this from him,& my, did he do a fine job !
God Bless U Sir ,Legendary !
This made me become very Emotional & grateful at the Same time ! Genuine & beautiful !
I Come from in the Country of New South Wales ,( Australia),So we have much in Common with Country folk of America ! i think Country Singers, Relay that message very well of both our great Nations with great Respect !
Thank U again ,was beautiful ,sending love to all from DOWNUNDER AUSTRALIA!
🙏🇺🇸♥️🇦🇺☘️🙏
Great job on our song Johnny Cash.
You were the best, still are in your fans eyes.
Thankyou for the music
His show was so good, i wish we had talent like this on tv now instead of what we have now.
I performed this song as a set piece in the Kenya national music festival year 1994 at KICC Amphitheatre emerging one of the best performers. Up to date i love this Australian cultural anthem .... Waltzing Matilda.
I'm 27 the youngest of 10 kids and they all listened to 2pac and so on while I listened to country with my mother and father, I can't believe I haven't seen this. Love it and still missing ol johnny cash !
Surprised he left out the bits the American audience would like most: about defying authority and refusing to be taken alive.
+tSp289 actually that part 100% defines Australia (considering Australia was founded by those that defied Authority ;P )
imlay imlay Not really, it was partly populated by them, but founded by the same authority they defied.
Americans LOVE authority. Are you kidding? These are the people that vote Trump.
You're right, but for the wrong reason. These are the people that vote for the Clinton and Bush dynasties.
***** It's a political song.
A Billy is short for Billican here in the Uk which is probably the same in OZ, which is a small saucepan with a wire handle that folds down when not in use. They usually are supplied in threes which fit one inside eachother to save room. The biggest one is used for boiling water to wash up after cooking.
Anyway great song great singer.
Omg I never new that this existed I’m so glad found it
I am Chinese Australian who has lived in this country for more than 20 years. Every time I listen to this song, I consider myself more Australian than Chinese. It is such a great song and symbol of Australian spirit.
You are still Chinese, not Australian
Johnny, thank you. What a treat even all these years later to hear you sing a very treasured song still taught in our school curriculum today. Also thank you for the Adelaide shout out! 🥰
Often when I search a favorite song a favorite artist has recorded it. A small part of the good luck and blessings I've seen in this life.
Love it ! Love the Aussies!!! Great culture. Hope they never change!
Song for the day. "Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's most widely known bush ballad. A folk song, the song has been referred to as "the unofficial national anthem of Australia".
The title is Australian slang for travelling by foot with one's goods (waltzing, derived from the German auf der Walz) in a "Matilda" (bag) slung over one's back. The song narrates the story of an itinerant worker, or "swagman", making a drink of tea at a bush camp and capturing a sheep to eat. When the sheep's owner arrives with three police officers to arrest the worker for the theft, the worker commits suicide by drowning himself in the nearby watering hole, after which his ghost haunts the site.
The original lyrics were written in 1895 by poet and nationalist Banjo Paterson. It was first published as sheet music in 1903. Extensive folklore surrounds the song and the process of its creation, to the extent that the song has its own museum, the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton, Queensland. In 2012, to remind Australians of the song's significance, Winton organized the inaugural Waltzing Matilda Day to be held on 6 April, the anniversary of its first performance.
The song was first recorded in 1926 as performed by John Collinson and Russell Callow.] In 2008, this recording of "Waltzing Matilda" was added to the Sounds of Australia registry in the National Film and Sound Archive which says that there are more recordings of "Waltzing Matilda" than any other Australian song. The Australian poet Banjo Paterson wrote the words to "Waltzing Matilda" in January 1895 while staying at a bush station in western Queensland, the Dagworth Homestead near Winton owned by the Macpherson family. The words were written to a tune recited by 21 year-old Christina Macpherson, one of the family members at the station. Macpherson had been taken with "The Craigielee March" which she heard played by a military band while attending the Warrnambool steeplechase horse racing in Victoria during 1894, and played it back by ear at Dagworth. Paterson decided that the music would be a good piece to set lyrics to, and produced the original version during the rest of his stay at the station and in Winton
Glossary
The lyrics contain many distinctively Australian English words, some now rarely used outside of the song. These include:
waltzing - derived from the German term auf der Walz, which means to travel while working as a craftsman and learn new techniques from other masters before returning home after three years and one day, a custom which is still in use today among carpenters.
Matilda - a romantic term for a swagman's bundle. See below, "Waltzing Matilda".
Waltzing Matilda - from the above terms, "to waltz Matilda" is to travel with a swag, that is, with all one's belongings on one's back wrapped in a blanket or cloth
swagman - a man who travelled the country looking for work. The swagman's "swag" was a bed roll that bundled his belongings.
billabong - an oxbow lake (a cut-off river bend) found alongside a meandering river.
coolibah tree- a kind of eucalyptus tree which grows near billabongs.
jumbuck - a sheep.
billy - a can for boiling water in, usually 2--3 pints.
tucker bag - a bag for carrying food ("tucker").
troopers - policemen
Squatter - Australian squatters started as early farmers who raised livestock on land which they did not legally have the right to use; in many cases they later gained legal use of the land even though they did not have full possession, and became wealthy thanks to these large land holdings. The squatter's claim to the land may be as uncertain as the swagman's claim to the jumbuck.
thanks. very interesting translation into today's language.
Actually, as an Australian I can say it was just called a Swag, Matilda is just a girls name. The reason it's called Waltzing Matilda is because it shows the lonely life of which everything he ever needs and he has in his life is in that bag. So he affectionately calls her Matilda. The Waltzing is true but many think he got up with the heavy bag and Waltzed with it like his beloved Matilda. It shows the loneliness of swagmen.
Greta Little today they're called swags, but back then they were called a matilda
We're a little late in getting into this thread aussiefirie but like Greta Little I did some interpretation that in my case I guess was off the mark. I had already read or heard everything that kitsus mitsus posted EXCEPT for "billy" being slang for a small tin pot. I had always thought the meaning of "waiting 'till his billy boiled" was that the swagman was boiling "mutton" from a goat. Thus, even though the swagman had at least some meat, a future meal of real mutton was too tempting when compared with his fare of billy-goat which led him to grab the jumbuck. I see I was wrong, but still it would have been quaint way of describing his meal.
kitsus mitsus thank u for saying that the right way.. at lease people can fully understand the peom and turned into a song etc us aussies..
This is an amazing version of an Australian classic thank you to the electronic Ash and Jayda cash for covering this song
Wow. I really was surprised to see this. Wouldn’t have thought he would know this song. He did a great job with the help of his lovely wife June. Thanks John from an Aussie
This has to be one of the best songs ever. Sung by a great artist.
He only sang half the song.
@@monique8641 Get over your problem with Johnny Cash. His baritone voice is rare and a gift. If you can’t appreciate it then please research vocal ranges. Johnny Cash was almost unparalleled - few people including Elvis could compete. As for the rendition of Waltzing Matilda lots of people have done it. Including the icon that is Kylie Minogue. Check it out ruclips.net/video/3_a2W0dEj_Y/видео.html
Slim was brilliant and many others. But this does not diminish Johnny Cash’s legacy or his talent.
Ah, this brings back memories. We used to sing this at my old Montessori school. I had not a care in the world for the entirety of my first through third grade years. I remember when I used to be an active wholesome innocent chid who liked school. Literally my school was the incarnation of a wholesome dreamland. The students would randomly brake out in song and we would just play all day everyday and hug trees. Good times.
4 an american he sang this very well.from Australian thank you Mr cash for singing our song.😘
Being an Aussie I love this by Johnny Cash...but he got a couple of the descriptions wrong 😊
A billy is what the Swaggie boils his water in for his tea...and a Jumbuck is a Sheep...good try though Johnny 😁🖒❤🇦🇺
Being an Aussie myself I have to say... THIS ROX!!
That ain't Aussie. This is Aussie - "farkin bewdy"
I never knew Johnny cash sang irish music i just learned famous country legend love singing irish music great job becuse i love irish music and county music and good rocknroll. Oct 2020
It's an Aussie song, not irish
not an irish song it is a true blue aussie song
Best Country ever 🇦🇺
I saw this on tv the other day, and this song has been stuck in my head ever since. Well done, Mr. Cash. This is the same episode that Mr. Merle Ronald Haggard guest starred on. Both of my favorite classic country singers on the same show. Doesn't get any better.
A "Matilda" is the actual kit of all supplies needed to be camping long term in the outback.... so, to go "Waltzing Matilda" is when you are literally moving from one camping spot to another.
Also, as others have already pointed out, a jumbuck is a sheep.
That is why the troopers went after him in the first place.... for having 'stolen' someone's livestock.
Stealing? How was he supposed to know it wasn't just a wild sheep?
@@Ggdivhjkjl Haha, a wild sheep. I wonder if he tried to tell the troopers that.
Matilda was a german root word for blanket over the decades in Aust .Tramping along or sleeping in said blanket was called 'waltzing maitlda"
R.I.P u bloody legend imma Aussie we have some good singers but man nothing will beat u Johnny cash
Actually, a 'billy' is the tin can used to boil tea or whatever in over an open fire...often a tin can was saved and refurbished with a wire handle to be used as a tea billy
Actual Aussie slang translation
Swagman- early Australian pioneer type person who travelled the land
Billabong - waterhole
Billy-small pot for boiling water over a campfire usually for tea and coffe
Jumbuck-sheep
And the Matilda is German for swag, the waltzing Matilda came about from swagmen using them as dancing partners out bush to entertain themselves whilst out droving as there were no women.
Thanks Karen, pretty sure this is just done for humour & entertainment.
Oh man... This brought a tear to this Aussie's eyes... This is just awesome
JOHNNY CASH 🌠💖🕺🌟🤩
Great!🎼🎵🎸🎤📀🎧💯👍👏
From Hong Kong🙋♀️🌏💝🌺🥰
Johnny Cash❤rest in peace
Came from Halk Arenasi presented by Ugur Dundar (Turkish TV Programmer) shown on Halk TV dated March 23rd 2018... He talked about Eric Bogle and asked the audience to go to RUclips and search for this video. Here I am... and its amazing to listen this from Johnny Cash whom I listened when I was growing up in Turkey / Istanbul.
I sang this as an 8 year old in elementary school in California and I still know every word as a 44 year old!
Thank You JOHNNY CASH! Great interpretation.
Even though he only sang half of the song - and couldn't get the translations right?
@@monique8641you are on quite a mission aren’t you? Multiple posts rubbishing this wonderful attempt by Cash to highlight this wonderful song. His baritone pitch is not to be underestimated. He hits low notes most of us would be gasping to replicate with ease.
Amo questa canzone!la versione di Johnny e molto bella!rip...in pace amore...😊😊😍😍😇😇💘💘💘🙏🙏
To think that such an iconic American singer would sing such a classic Aussie song
So beautiful, that they stayed together until the end 😍
And the man (in Black) played Waltzing Matilda. . . . . . . . .. . Fellow Aussies will get that one
As we stopped to bury our slain :(
ruclips.net/video/PFCekeoSTwg/видео.html
And the band played waltzing matilda
And Shel Silverstein wrote "Boy named Sue" and a lot of Dr Hooks songs.
Yep, gotcha 😉 Proud Brisbane girl watched this with so much pride! 🇦🇺❤️
Wow back then I didn't know anybody even heard of Australia.. Thank you Johnny 🥰
I gather “Waltzing Matilda” is not to be confused with “Tennessee Waltz”.
You're right. 'Waltzing Matilda' means to wander all over our land on foot. Back in the day men walked everywhere from farm to farm looking for work of any kind.
To add to Steve, a Matilda was a kind of swag, which is a sleeping mat. Also to take all of your possessions with you. Cash does miss translate a wee bit though. Swaggies aren't necessarily hobos, a billy isn't a stew but rather a small kind of camping pot, a jumbuck is a male sheep.
One of my favorite singers sing waltzing Matilda! YESSS!!!!
Super beautiful song!
What a lovely version. Johnny & June just doin it! Thankyou
Would loved to sit by a camp fire sipping Pappy Van Winkle and listing to Slim Dusty, Woody Guthrie and Johnney Cash sing about Ned Kelly and Pretty Boy Floyd.
He did a song about our mate Ned Kelly too.. a true folk singer who obviously had an interest in Australian history and our bush ballads 😁
Love Johnny Cash.... RIP from Australia mate.
A jumbuck is actually a sheep, something Australia had plenty of them when AB (Banjo) Patterson wrote the song & it was said that Australia rode on the sheep back, meaning most of our revenue was earned by exporting wool & meat.
LOL...some of his defintions were a bit off the mark....it was great to hear Johnny singing our song....thanks for posting it..Cheers from Down Under...
Johnny Cash added his Johnny Cash flair and it's just as nice as any other version. When you think about it America and Australia have similarities in their stories. Both were harsh landscapes occupied by indigenous people for thousands of years long before white man came. From snow capped mountains to deep forests to hot dry deserts the British (and others) arrived for different reasons, displaced the natives as they went. New settlers pioneered the land, there was a gold rush, bushrangers and cowboys, swagmen, vagabonds, whatever, then industrialization, now we've both lost our identity to vacuous woke bullshit and are more divided than ever after we made so much progress. White Aussies aren't racist against Aboriginals, we grew up playing in each other's backyards. I don't know what it's like in America but if I learned anything from watching King of the Hill, Bobby and Hank, John Redcorn and Joseph the Indians. They are great mates just as well. It tells the same story. Now cut the crap and enjoy the song.
exactly man. this american completely agrees. always felt s kinship with you aussies
This is so great. The great JC never disappoints
I know this song and I am Australian overthere......melody beautiful easy to remember.......
2;28mins Johnny Cash, "a jump buck is halfway bt a jackrabbit and a deer" bloody flamin hilarious! 😅. R I P. 💐💐Johnny Cash.💐 🌴🇫🇯🌺🇦🇺🌹😎
Usually we don’t like Americans doing Australian things but we would like to accept this man with great gratitude
I don't accept his explanation of Waltzing Matilda and don't understand why he only sang half of the song.
You did us proud Johnny.
Loved that man
neville jackson v d b h askew b qq bq www n3 look w uhh+g yup u î:bhai.
The best version ever!
Love JC and love that he did this. Have to add though, that the explanations he gives of the Aussie slang are not correct.
This is sheer perfection.
Sorry no fan of song but love Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash
Thanks Australia for sharing
A billy is a where you boil your water
It is what you boil your water in. For swaggies and the roamers of the Great Depression it was often a jam tin with a wire handle on the top.
Frank B that’s how my pop still makes them. Makes fun of me for paying 10 bucks. Gotta get a stainless one as mine is rusted to the shithouse
Best billies were the old milk tins with wire for a handle and to mix the tea or coffee you would spin the billy in a full circle without spilling a drop of it
poitty1978 the more you know
Billycan
I'm nearly 50, life fan of The man in Black. As an Aussie Hot Shot Fireman ( we are called RAFT here..down under ) Mr Cash, sir a jumbuck is a sheep, not a kangawallafox that you described. From a man who comes home sooty, Vale Mr J Cash
Einfach nur klasse. Heute mit einer großen Lupe kaum noch zu finden.
One mistake a jumpbuck is a shred not a deer but still gotta love Jonny cash
Thanks you legend for this song
From Australia to you thanks mate
*sheep*
Been there in Australia. Nice people. Cold beer and pretty shielas . I was in the navy.
A great and proud people the Anzacs that fought well at Gallipoli, so did the Sikh's.
🥀✝️ Lest We Forget
"little deer?" No, a Jumbuck is a mature sheep.
he didn't say it was a deer. He said it was an animal the size of something between a little jack rabbit and a little deer. So he's right, really
Its a ram or a sheep
its a subspecies of sheep, its smaller than a sheep, so he is right, bigger than a jackrabbit and smaller than a small deer
@@nutebarlow1751 it's a sheep. It isn't a subspecies of anything. Australian slang for a sheep.
God bless austraila.
Johnny Cash down under 👍🏻!!!! There's no too countries so similar but different. We are brothers an sisters in arms!
And all I wanted all my life was a TV set a truck and a wife and a front row seat to hear old Jonny sing
Having grown up with Johnny Cash & being Australia Day here, I had to watch John doing this.. LOL His sentiment was wonderful, and all Aussies of my vintage know of Col Joye. Mostly, John's translation was pretty close, but I have to correct him a little... a "jumbuck" is Australian slang for a sheep, well I suppose it is little fuzzy animal, but most people are already scared of our "critters", I just wanted you all to know. Col may have been "pulling Johnny's leg" (another Aussie term for telling someone an exaggerated story) when he told him that 😂 RIP John, you will be forever missed. ❤
Matilda is the goldiggers' blanket, which they used as a dance couple when they spent many nights alone in the outback.
A matilda is a swag, (a canvas bedroll)
Well... Good. But the squatter and the rest of the story is missing.
GRANDIOS ❤❤
kudos for trying mr cash, and i am a bloody huge fan, but no justice was done to this iconic australian folk song.
The song is about a craftsman on his traditional journey (Waltz) for at least 3 years and 1 day. It is an old germanic tradition that is still practiced in german speaking Europe but got forgotten on the British isles, just the term "journeyman" stayed. This tradition is almost a1000 years old, where young craftsman , such as carpenters, joiners, Stone masons etc. Go on a journey after their 3 years of apprenticeship. For at least 3 years and 1 day they are not allowed to come closer to their homes than 30 miles. During this time, they have to travel to work and work to travel. No bus no train, just your feet and your thumbs. No phone and no contact to home. They have to wear the traditional garbs of their trait.
The title of the song "Waltzing Matilda" is actually "Rottwelsch" the language of this traveling folk and means "wandering the roads" Matilda is the slang word for Road in Rottwelsch which is a mix between Yiddish, Gypsy language and old german thug slang.
A saying under those journey man is "The journeyman love Matilda and Matilda loves the journeyman"
This tradition was also practiced in Australia but got forgotten. Just this song is left.
IF you want to learn more about it, here is a Video of a journeyman in english:
ruclips.net/video/ZKmpAfyFoxQ/видео.html
Wonderful,, thank you for sharing.
Im Aussie and i love this
Awesome, thanks Johnny.
Love Johnny Cash 🇦🇺