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And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (Early Version) Lyrics by The Pogues

Red Roses for Me [Reissue]

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[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, 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]
And the band played Waltzing Matilda
As we sailed away from the quay
And amidst all the tears, the shouts and the cheers
We sailed off for Gallipoli
[Verse 3]
Now those who were living did their best to survivе
In that mad world of death, blood and fire
And for sevеn long weeks, I kept myself alive
Though the corpses around me grew higher
[Verse 4]
Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over tits
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 2]
And no more I'll go waltzing Matilda
To the green bushes so far and near
For the hang tents and pegs, a man needs two legs
No more waltzing Matilda for me
[Verse 5]
And now I'm an old man, I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
I see my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reliving the dreams of past glory
[Verse 6]
I see the old men, all tattered 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 3]
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 (Early Version)” by The Pogues

Read the complete lyrics to "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (Early Version)" by The Pogues from the album "Red Roses for Me [Reissue]". 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, Folk Punk, Folk.

"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (Early Version)" is performed by The Pogues. from the album "Red Roses for Me [Reissue]" 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 (Early Version)", 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 (Early Version)" 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 (Early Version)" appears on "Red Roses for Me [Reissue]".

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