When I was in grade school, one of the songs we were taught was Waltzing Matilda. Fast forward 40 years, until I was staying at a motel for an extended stay. The motel served appetizers from 4:00 to 6:00 in a common room, and the long term residents became loose "family" We were joined by a family from Australia, who had daughters, 6 and 10. I asked them if they had ever gone waltzing Matilda. They looked at me like I was crazy. So I told them about about the song from Australia, and then sang it for me. The parents were laughing their heads off.
Aussies were On a roll the day Tommy came into this world that’s for sure. Absolute delight of a man and Australians should be proud he’s one of yours. (Although as a Scot I do feel duty bound to find a way to claim him as a Scot 😂) Best wishes from Scotland
Dean Clark mmm yes. I just has another listen to this and it is a slightly mournful rendition that has one thinking of the words and the attitudes behind then.
Trivia- The Scottish ballad "Thou bonnie wood of Craigie-lea" was the basis for the Australian national song "Waltzing Matilda". The original tune was composed in Scotland in about 1808 by James Barr. Thomas Gleadhill wrote a version in about 1850. In 1895 Christina McPherson, on a sheep station in outback Queensland, wrote the version which has been used for Waltzing Matilda, the poet "Banjo" Patterson sitting with her composing the words of the song. The popular version sung since the early 1900s has a modified tune and words.
Me too. I was 6 years old when I first heard this tune on the Voice of America radio broadcas 5hat my father always tuned to every morning. I thought it was an American folk song. My school teacher taught me of the lyrics, that was when I learned that it was an Australian classic. The melody and the tune still evoke the good memories of my childhood. I always sing along with it at every ANZAC days as they march with this tune. Weird, I still follow the ANZAC Day and this song deep inside the rainforest in the jungle of Borneo 😃
A beautiful, immortal Australian folk song. Reminds me of my friend Beth Heydon. I cannot contact her anymore since she moved out of her house in Sydney. I have been looking for her. I hope one day I will find her.
Wonderful. Beautifully sung. I love this Australian classic since my childhood. Strange, I first heard this tune on the 'Voice of America' radio broadcast back in the late 1970s. A foreign teacher from Canada taught me the lyrics, which remember until today. I still sing this classic even today, and tue memories of the old days comes streaming in. Beautiful song.
Very beautiful and moving version of this timeless melody. I can hear very strongly James Taylor in Tommy's performance both on guitar and vocals, who of course Tommy has named as a big influence on him.
Does anyone, by chance, have a link to this concert in its entirety? I watched it years ago with my dad, who has since passed. I would love to see this whole concert again. Please help!
