>From JDG
> >
> > Can't everyone just see Jeroen singing Lee Greenwood right now, waving
> > a small Stars-n-Stripes?
>
> > Sorry, that image was just too funny to not share..... ;-)
>
Totally off topic, I just think it's funny the difference between the USA's
"alternate national anthem" - God Bless America - and Australia's alternate
national anthem - Waltzing Matilda.
Australia's national song is about a homeless sheep stealer who'd rather die
than be brought to justice by the establishment and the law.
Of course, it could be the language is almost incomprehensible to anyone
else (for an annotated version, explaining the Australianisms that make up
most of the song, see http://www.ozramp.net.au/~senani/waltz.htm )
Definitely better known to all Aussies than our national anthem - noone
knows more than the first one or two verses of Advance Australia Fair. And
the main advantage of Advance Australia Fair is that it can be sung to other
tunes: the theme from Gilligan's Island being a prime example.
Maybe that also says something about Australians, or do Americans try
fitting Star Spangled Banner into other tunes too?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Waltzing Matilda
- Andrew Barton (Banjo) Patterson [1864-1941]
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
"Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me?"
(Chorus)
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled,
"Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me?"
Along came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong,
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee,
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag,
"You'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me".
(Chorus)
Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred,
Down came the troopers, one, two, three,
"Whose is that jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?"
"You'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me".
(Chorus)
Up jumped the swagman, leapt into the billabong,
"You'll never catch me alive," said he,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong,
"Who'll come a-waltzing, Matilda, with me".
(Chorus)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
