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And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda Lyrics by Wickety Wak

Wak About Australia

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[Verse 1]
When I was a young man, I carried a pack
Lived the free life of a rover
Murray's green basin to the dusty outback
I waltzed my Matilda all over
Then in 1915, the country said, "Son
It's time to stop roving, 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 a ship pulled away from the quay
And amidst all the cheers, the flag-waving and tears
We set off for Gallipoli
[Verse 2]
How well I remember that terrible day
How our blood stained thе sand in the water
And how in that hell that thеy called Suvla Bay
We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
Johnny Turk, he was waiting, he'd pinned himself well
He showered us with bullets and rained us with shell
And in five minutes flat, well, he'd blown us to hell
He nearly blew us right back to Australia
[Chorus]
And the band played "Waltzing Matilda"
As we stopped to bury our slain
We buried ours, the Turks buried theirs
And we started all over again
[Verse 3]
So those who were left just tried to survive
In a mad world of blood, death and fire
And for ten miserable weeks, I kept myself alive
As 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
I saw what it had done and I wished I was dead
And I knew there were worse things than dyin'
[Chorus]
For I'll go no more waltzing Matilda
All around the green bush far and free
'Cause to hunt a tent peg, a man needs both legs
No more waltzing Matilda for me
[Verse 4]
They collected the crippled, the wounded, the maimed
And shipped us all back to Australia
The legless, the armless, the blind and insane
The brave wounded heroes of Suvla
As our ship pulled into Circular Quay
I looked at the place where my legs used to be
I thanked Christ there was nobody waiting for me
To mourn and to grieve and to pity
[Chorus]
And the band played "Waltzing Matilda"
As they carried us down the gangway
Nobody cheered, they just stood there and stared
And turned all their faces away
[Verse 5]
So now, every April, I sit on my porch
And watch the parade pass before me
I see my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reviving old dreams of past glory
The old men march slowly, old bones stiff and sore
Tired old men from a forgotten war
And the young people ask, "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question
[Chorus]
And the band plays "Waltzing Matilda"
The old men answer the call
Year after year, more old men disappear
Soon no one will march there at all
Credits
Wickety Wak

Wickety Wak

About “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda” by Wickety Wak

Read the complete lyrics to "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" by Wickety Wak from the album "Wak About Australia". 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 In English, Cover, Australia.

"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" is performed by Wickety Wak. from the album "Wak About Australia" 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 Wickety Wak 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 Wickety Wak. 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 "Wak About Australia".

Visit the Wickety Wak artist page at /artist/wickety-wak for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.