The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
The Clockwork Dolls Lyrics

When I was a young man I carried me pack
As a youth, I roamed free and carried a backpack

And I lived the free life of the rover
I enjoyed a nomadic lifestyle with no restrictions

From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback
I traveled from lush river valleys to dry, remote areas

I waltzed my Matilda all over
I traveled with my belongings, represented by 'Matilda'

Then in 1915 my country said: Son,
In 1915, my nation told me

It's time to stop rambling, there's work to be done
It's time to cease traveling and start serving

So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun
They provided me with military equipment

And they sent me away to the war
They dispatched me for combat duty

And the band played Waltzing Matilda
Despite the gravity of the situation, music played

When the ship pulled away from the quay
As the boat left the harbor

And amid all the tears, flag waving and cheers
Amidst grieving, patriotism, and celebration

We sailed off for Gallipoli
We embarked towards the Gallipoli Campaign

It well I remember that terrible day
I recall the day vividly

When our blood stained the sand and the water
When our blood saturated the land and the sea

And how in that hell they call Suvla Bay
In the regarded 'hell' of Suvla Bay

We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter
We were executed like lambs sent to slaughter

Johnny Turk, he was ready, he primed himself well
The Turks were prepared and armed themselves adequately

He rained us with bullets, and he showered us with shell
He fired bullets and shelled us with artillery

And in five minutes flat, we were all blown to hell
In just five minutes, we were annihilated

He nearly blew us back home to Australia
He almost sent us back to Australia as corpses

And the band played Waltzing Matilda
The band continued to play despite the violence

When we stopped to bury our slain
When we paused to inter our dead

Well we buried ours and the Turks buried theirs
Both sides buried their casualties

Then it started all over again
Then the conflict resumed

Oh those that were living just tried to survive
The survivors focused on staying alive

In that mad world of blood, death and fire
In the insane world of bloodshed and destruction

And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive
I managed to endure for ten exhausting weeks

While around me the corpses piled higher
While the number of dead surrounding me increased

Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head
A sizeable shell from the Turks blew me over

And when I awoke in me hospital bed
When I regained consciousness in a hospital bed

And saw what it had done, I wished I was dead
Upon seeing my injuries, I wanted to die

I never knew there was worse things than dying
I had not realized that living with severe injuries was worse than death

Oh no more I'll go Waltzing Matilda
I will no longer travel aimlessly

All around the green bush far and near
In various remote areas

For to hump tent and pegs, a man needs both legs
In order to carry camping equipment, one must have both legs

No more waltzing Matilda for me
I will no longer travel with my belongings

They collected the wounded, the crippled, the maimed
The injured, disabled, and mutilated were gathered

And they shipped us back home to Australia
We were transported back to Australia

The armless, the legless, the blind and the insane
Individuals without limbs, vision, and sanity

Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla
The heroes injured during the Suvla Bay campaign

And when the ship pulled into Circular Quay
When the vessel arrived at Circular Quay

I looked at the place where me legs used to be
I considered where my legs had once been

And thank Christ there was no one there waiting for me
I was grateful for not having anyone waiting for me

To grieve and to mourn and to pity
To mourn and pity my suffering

And the Band played Waltzing Matilda
Despite our unfortunate circumstances, we still heard music

When they carried us down the gangway
When we were transported down the gangway

Oh nobody cheered, they just stood there and stared
Nobody celebrated or showed support; they only observed

Then they turned all their faces away
Then they looked away

Now every April I sit on my porch
I now spend my Aprils sitting on my porch

And I watch the parade pass before me
I observe the parade that passes by

I see my old comrades, how proudly they march
I admire my former comrades as they march with pride

Renewing their dreams of past glories
Rekindling their aspirations of past achievements

I see the old men all tired, stiff and worn
I see the elderly men who are fatigued and weary

Those weary old heroes of a forgotten war
The exhausted veterans of a now neglected conflict

And the young people ask "What are they marching for?"
The young inquire, "What is the purpose of their march?"

And I ask myself the same question
I also ponder the same inquiry

And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
The music continues to play

And the old men still answer the call
The elderly veterans still respond to the summons

But year after year, their numbers get fewer
However, their quantity lessens annually

Someday, no one will march there at all
Eventually, no one will participate in the parade

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
Traveling with belongings

Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?
Who will join me on this journey?

And their ghosts may be heard as they march by the billabong
Their spirits may be detected while parading near the waterhole

So who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me?
So who shall accompany me on this trip?