'Waltzing Matilda' - The Missing Words Quiz

Answer:

The lyrics to 'Waltzing Matilda' were written by Andrew Barton ('Banjo') Paterson, arguably Australia's best known bush poet, during the depression era of the 1890s in Australia. The music was composed by Christina Macpherson, who adapted it from an Scottish song named 'Craigelee'.

And now for the translation of the words, from Australian to English! A swagman was a man that spent his time on the road, trying to find work on the farms and stations around the country. His swag, a roll of blankets holding his worldly possessions, was known as a Matilda. There is much discussion as to the origin of that word, but it may have German roots. Waltzing was a slang term for walking, therefore 'waltzing matilda' simply means 'walking with a swag on your back'.

A billabong is another term for an oxbow lake, a pond of water cut off from a river, and a coolibah is a type of eucalyptus tree. A jumbuck is a sheep, with the word coming from an aboriginal term for fluffy clouds. Sheep were only introduced to Australia in the 18th century.

A billy is simply a can used to boil water over a fire, and a tucker bag holds food (tucker). A squatter was a farmer, who claimed land somewhat illegally. Many became rich off that land, leading to the more modern term - squatocracy.

In a plebiscite in 1977, the song was actually considered as an option for a new national anthem, and garnered 28% of the vote, losing to 'Advance Australia Fair, but surpassing 'God Save the Queen' by a considerable margin! Just imagine- a song about a hobo stealing a sheep and then committing suicide as a national identity- ludicrous, eh! However, it is still one of the best-known and recorded songs in Australia, and is still considered an 'unofficial' anthem.

I hope you enjoyed my quiz!