Waltzing Matilda Tabs

Well, once jolly swagmen* went humping their swags
and stuffed jolly jumbucks* down in their tucker bags
These days, jolly junkies go on house-breaking jags
and steal to buy the poison they need
While the swaggie, he just wanted a feed

And who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?
Hey Banjo*, this country's not what it used to be
We've changed all your words, and re-written your score
And it's "Waltzing Matilda" no more.

Once Henry and Mary, on a warm afternoon
rowed down Reedy River to the broad bright lagoon
The song of the river is a long vanished tune
since they built the uranium mine
and what's left is just toxic slime

And who'll come a-walting Matilda with me?
Oh, Henry, this country's not what it used to be
Days pass with a whimper, and not with a roar
And it's "Waltzing Matilda" no more.

Well, we cut down the trees, and the land we reclaimed
We ploughed and we planted, then we ploughed it again
and again and again, and again and again
So that now on a hot windy day
We can watch our topsoil blow away

And who'll come a-walting Matilda with me?
The desert is marching down to the sea
On the day that it stretches
from shore to shining shore
We'll go waltzing Matilda no more

Saturday night outside a King's Cross hotel
There stands our future, and it's halfway to hell
Kids with hard drugs and young bodies to sell
Hey Australia, what progress we've made!
We've come a long way, since Diamond day

And who'll come a-walting Matilda with me?
Hey Anzac*, is this what you fought to keep free?
A land fit for heroes, or junkies and whores?
And it's "Waltzing Matilda" no more.

And who'll come a-walting Matilda with me?
This country could still be what we want it to be
Perhaps one day soon, the dream will be restored
And we'll go Waltzing Matilda once more
We'll go Waltzing Matilda once more