***Waltzing Matilda - Axxchor
from the album "Rum Sodomy & The Lash"
An alteration of a version by Eric Bogle. This version should match the
arpeggiated chords the banjo plays in the album version of "The Band Played
Waltzing Matilda" by The Pogues.
Waltzing Matilda - as perfomed by The Pogues
Intro: A A A
D (xx0232@1) AWhen (x02220@1)I was a young man, I carried my pack.
E (022100@1) AAnd (x02220@1)I lived the free life, of a rover.
E>From (022100@1)the Murray's green basin,
D (xx0232@1) ATo (x02220@1)the dusty outback,
E (022100@1) AI (x02220@1)waltzed my matilda all over.
E (022100@1) D (xx0232@1) AThen (x02220@1)in 1915, my country said "son"
E (022100@1)
"It's time to stop rambling,"
D (xx0232@1) A"Cos (x02220@1)there's work to be done."
DSo (xx0232@1)they gave me a tin hat,
A (x02220@1)
And they gave me a gun,
E (022100@1) AAnd (x02220@1)they sent me away to the war.
D (xx0232@1) AAnd (x02220@1)the band played Waltzing Matilda,
D (xx0232@1) EAs (022100@1)we sailed away from the quay.
DAnd (xx0232@1)amidst all the tears,
AAnd (x02220@1)the shouts and the cheers,
E (022100@1) AWe (x02220@1)sailed off for Galipoli
D (xx0232@1) AHow (x02220@1)well I remember that terrible day,
E (022100@1) Awhen (x02220@1)the blood stained the sand and the water.
E (022100@1)
And how in that hell
D (xx0232@1)Athat (x02220@1)they called Souvla Bay
E (022100@1) AWe (x02220@1)were butchered like lambs at the slaughter.
E (022100@1) D (xx0232@1) AJohnny (x02220@1)Turk, he was ready, He'd primed himself well.
E (022100@1)
He showered us with bullets,
D (xx0232@1) AAnd (x02220@1)he rained us with shells.
DAnd (xx0232@1)in five minutes flat,
Ahe'd (x02220@1)blown us all to hell.
E (022100@1) ANearly (x02220@1)blew us right back to Australia.
D (xx0232@1) AAnd (x02220@1)the band played Waltzing Matilda,
EAs (022100@1)we stopped to bury our slain.
DAnd (xx0232@1)we buried ours
Aand (x02220@1)the Turks buried theirs,
E (022100@1) AAnd (x02220@1)it started all over again.
D (xx0232@1) ANow (x02220@1)those who were living, Did their best to survive,
E (022100@1) AIn (x02220@1)that mad world of guts, blood, and fire.
E (022100@1)
And for seven long weeks,
D (xx0232@1) AI (x02220@1)kept myself alive,
E (022100@1) AAs (x02220@1)the corpses around me piled higher.
E (022100@1) D (xx0232@1) AThen (x02220@1)a big Turkish shell, Knocked me arse over tit.
E (022100@1)
And when I awoke
D (xx0232@1) Ain (x02220@1)my hospital bed,
DAnd (xx0232@1)saw what it had done,
AChrist (x02220@1)I wished I was dead.
E (022100@1) ANever (x02220@1)knew there were worse things than dying.
D (xx0232@1) AAnd (x02220@1)no more I'll go Waltzing Matilda,
ETo (022100@1)the green bushes so far and near.
DFor (xx0232@1)to hang tent and pegs
AA (x02220@1)man needs two legs.
E (022100@1) ANo (x02220@1)more Waltzing Matilda for me.
D (xx0232@1) ASo (x02220@1)they collected the crippled, The wounded and maimed,
E (022100@1) AAnd (x02220@1)they shipped us back home to Australia.
EThe (022100@1)legless, the armless,
D (xx0232@1)Athe (x02220@1)blind and insane.
E (022100@1) AThose (x02220@1)proud wounded heroes of Souvla
E (022100@1) D (xx0232@1) AAnd (x02220@1)as our ship pulled into Circular Quay
E (022100@1)
I looked at the place
D (xx0232@1) Awhere (x02220@1)my legs used to be.
DAnd (xx0232@1)thank Christ, there was nobody
Awaiting (x02220@1)for me,
E (022100@1) ATo (x02220@1)grieve and to mourn and to pity.
D (xx0232@1) AAnd (x02220@1)the band played Waltzing Matilda,
EAs (022100@1)they carried us down the gangway.
DBut (xx0232@1)nobody cheered,
AThey (x02220@1)just stood and stared,
E (022100@1) AAnd (x02220@1)they turned their faces away.
D (xx0232@1) AAnd (x02220@1)now every April, I sit on my porch,
E (022100@1) AAnd (x02220@1)I watch the parades pass before me.
E (022100@1)
I see my old comrades,
D (xx0232@1) AHow (x02220@1)proudly they march.
E (022100@1) AReliving (x02220@1)the dreams of past glory.
E (022100@1) D (xx0232@1) AI (x02220@1)see the old men, all twisted and torn.
E (022100@1)
The forgotten heroes
D (xx0232@1) Aof (x02220@1)a forgotten war.
DAnd (xx0232@1)the young people ask me,
AWhat (x02220@1)are they marching for?
E (022100@1) AAnd (x02220@1)I ask my self the same question.
D (xx0232@1) AAnd (x02220@1)the band plays Waltzing Matilda,
EAnd (022100@1)the old men still answer the call.
DBut (xx0232@1)year after year,
ATheir (x02220@1)numbers get fewer,
E (022100@1) ASomeday (x02220@1)no-one will march there at all.
A (x02220@1) DWaltzing (xx0232@1)Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
A (x02220@1) EWho'll (022100@1)come a waltzing matilda with me?
Outro: A (x02220@1)name="chord_x02220@1">A E (022100@1)name="chord_x02220@1">A
