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Mar 05 2009

Banjo Paterson and Waltzing Matilda

Published by telscafe at 6:16 am under Biography, Poetry, Writers & Poets Edit This

Banjo Paterson, Australian Bush Poet, Wikimedia Commons

~Banjo Paterson, Australian Bush Poet~  

Australian songwriter, poet, author and journalist Andrew Barton Paterson (1864-1941) is known simply as “Banjo” Paterson. He was born in the township of Narrambla, New South Wales, Australia. He was a lawyer but famous for writing bush poetry. Banjo Paterson wrote many ballads and poems mainly about the Australian rural areas and the outback. Another known poem he wrote is “The Man from the Snowy River.”    

Today, he is best remembered for the lyrics of a loved Australian song “Waltzing Matilda.”   The lyrics starts with…  

“Oh there once was a swagman camped in the billabong,
Under the shade of a Coolibah tree,
And he sang as he looked at the old billy boiling,
Who’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me?”

The phrase to “waltz Matilda” means to travel around with a swag, the swagman’s bundle of cloth or blanket in which he places his belongings. Oh, and a “swagman” is a person who travels around the countryside, looking for work carrying his swag.

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4 Responses to “Banjo Paterson and Waltzing Matilda”

  1. # icybcon 05 Mar 2009 at 10:56 am edit this

    I love reading a short biography of authors, and learning from your post every time!

    Tel–I also have an award waiting for you at my blog!

  2. # telscafeon 05 Mar 2009 at 4:25 pm edit this

    Thanks Icy. Nice to hear from you.

  3. # icybcon 05 Mar 2009 at 6:45 pm edit this

    Hi Tel,

    I’m sorry you didn’t see the award post…I forgot to hit the publish button! You can see the award now!

    I come to read your post most of the time, just didn’t leave comment though..I’ll do better :-)

  4. # telscafeon 06 Mar 2009 at 6:02 am edit this

    That’s ok Icy. I know your Today site which I visit the moment I get the chance. So, I found the award you mentioned. I”m still wondering how you’re getting all those beautiful flowers and friends’ banners.
    Thanks again.

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