Waltz That Matilda
There's an old Australian ballad
that's recognised as 'us'.
'Twas writ by Banjo Patterson.
Why's it causing such a fuss?
They say we may not sing it now
at sport or public function,
yet most of us still sing it proud
without a slight compunction.
It's just a song about a bloke
down on his luck and 'stoney'.
So what, he stole the 'cocky's' sheep?
It was probably fly-blown and bony!
When the 'cocky' came down on his fancy horse
with a bunch of mounted cops,
the hobo thinks he's done for
and into the lake he hops.
The lake of course, is now haunted
by the ghost of this indigent bloke
and he calls the sheep to hop in too...
He thinks it's a fine old joke!
Glossary:
stoney...broke, busted, skint.
cocky...farmer
By cherryk
© 2003 cherryk
(All rights reserved)
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