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And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda Lyrics by The Pogues

The Very Best of the Pogues

1985

[Verse 1]
When I was a young man, I carried my pack
And I lived the free life of a rover
From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback
I waltzed my Matilda all over
[Verse 2]
Then in 1915, my country said, "Son
It's time to stop rambling, 'cause there's work to be done"
So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
And they sent me away to the war
[Chorus 1]
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we sailed away from the quay
And amidst all the tears and the shouts and the cheers
We sailed off for Gallipoli
[Verse 3]
How well I remember that terrible day
When the blood stained the sand and the water
And how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
[Verse 4]
Johnny Turk, he was ready, he primed himself well
He showered us with bullets and he rained us with shells
And in five minutes flat, he'd blown us all to hell
Nearly blew us right back to Australia
[Chorus]
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we stopped to bury our slain
And we buried ours and the Turks buried theirs
Then it started all over again
[Verse 5]
Now those who were living did their best to survive
In that mad world of death, blood, and fire
And for seven long weeks, I kept myself alive
While the corpses around me piled higher
[Verse 6]
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over tit
And when I awoke in my hospital bed
And saw what it had done, Christ, I wished I was dead
Never knew there were worse things than dying
[Chorus 3]
And no more I'll go waltzing Matilda
To the green bushes so far and near
For to hang tent and pegs, a man needs two legs
No more waltzing Matilda for me
[Verse 7]
So they collected the cripples, the wounded and maimed
And they shipped us back home to Australia
The legless, the armless, the blind and insane
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla
[Verse 8]
And as our ship pulled into Circular Quay
I looked at the place where me legs used to be
And thanked Christ there was nobody waiting for me
To grieve and to mourn and to pity
[Chorus 4]
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As they carried us down the gangway
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared
And they turned their faces away
[Verse 9]
And now every April, I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
I see my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reliving their dreams of past glory
[Verse 10]
I see the old men, all twisted and torn
The forgotten heroes of a forgotten war
And the young people ask me, "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question
[Chorus 5]
And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men still answer the call
But year after year, their numbers get fewer
Someday no one will march there at all
[Outro]
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll go a-waltzing Matilda with me?
Credits
The Pogues

The Pogues

About “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda” by The Pogues

Read the complete lyrics to "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" by The Pogues from the album "The Very Best of the Pogues" in 1985. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rock, Ballad, Folk Punk.

"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" is performed by The Pogues. from the album "The Very Best of the Pogues" in 1985 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda", explore more songs by The Pogues using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" is credited to The Pogues. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" appears on "The Very Best of the Pogues" in 1985.

Visit the The Pogues artist page at /artist/the-pogues for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.