Banjo Paterson's Waltzing Matilda

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"Waltzing Matilda" written by Banjo Paterson in 1895 and first published as sheet music in 1903, is Australia's best-known bush ballad, and has been described as the country's "unofficial national anthem". The title is Australian slang for ‘travelling on with one's belongings in a "Matilda" (swag) slung over one's back.’
The narrative song ‘Waltzing Matilda’ tells the story of a swagman living in the Australian outback during 1895-1900’s, the story tells:
In verse 1- A swagman is resting under a eucalyptus tree on the banks of a watering hole (Billabong). He is singing to pass the time. He has a fire lit and is boiling something in a tin can. (Most likely tea)
In verse 2- While there, the swagman notices a sheep wandering by, he catches …show more content…

They question the swagman as to what he is carrying in him tucker bag.
In verse 4- Terrified, the swagman leaps up and jumps into the watering hole and drowns, after saying “you’ll never catch me alive!”. The swagman killed himself to get away from the authorities, they say you can still hear him singing as you pass the watering hole …show more content…

It wasn’t just the Australians hoping for gold, there were thousands upon thousands of immigrants from overseas landing in Australia in the hopes of becoming rich. With the increased and rising population, it was getting harder for people to obtain employment and have enough money to support themselves and their families.
-The Bush rangers: Were originally escaped convicts in the early years of the British settlement who had escaped from authorities and his in the Australian outback, never getting caught.
-Booms, depressions, and trade unions: Rapid economic growth due to the gold rushes, White Australian Policy, stopped non-whites from entering Australia, Federation-countries joining together in agreement
-The Great Shearers Strike: In 1891 there began the ‘Australia’s Great Sheep Shearer’s Strike’ bringing the colony closer to civil war, (After England gave Australia ‘self-governance’). In 1894, the shearers at Dagworth Station went on strike again, firing rifles and pistols in the air, the strike turned very violent. Over 100 sheep were killed and the woolshed was set on

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