And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (Early Version)

[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?