To carry a swag; to travel the road. A matilda is a swag, the roll or bundle of possessions carried by an itinerant worker or swagman.
The National Library of Australia states: Matilda is an old Teutonic female name meaning "mighty battle maid". This may have informed the use of "Matilda" as a slang term to mean a de facto wife who accompanied a wanderer. In the Australian bush a man's swag was regarded as a sleeping partner, hence his "Matilda".
In the song, the man lives in the bush and sleeps under the stars (which is where the name comes from; 'Waltzing' meaning to travel by foot, and the 'Matilda' is his swag or tent). He captures and kills a sheep - or a jumbuck - as the song puts it, and finds himself face to face with a 'squatter' or rich landowner.
The bush ballad, a country folk song, has been called "the unofficial national anthem of Australia". The title, Waltzing Matilda, is Australian slang for walking through the country looking for work, with one's goods in a "Matilda" (bag) carried over one's back.
Paterson's song quickly spread around the district and the country. It came to represent the independence of the itinerant bush workers and, consequently, the spirit of Australian independence and a growing sense of national identity.
Waltzing Matilda is Australia's most widely known traditional song. Banjo Paterson wrote the words during a visit to a Queensland property, Dagworth, in 1895. The words may refer to an incident the previous year, when striking shearers burned down the Dagworth shearing shed.
Back in 2021, the Matildas chose to use the Aboriginal flag for their pre-match team photo as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. Most other teams took a knee before the first whistle – the Matildas chose to make a bigger statement – driven by their two Indigenous teammates, Kyah Simon and Lydia Williams.
jumbuck. Jumbuck is an Australian word for a 'sheep'. It is best known from Banjo Paterson's use of it in Waltzing Matilda.
Danced with a step, slide, and step in 3/4 time, the waltz appeared to represent the new era's ideals of freedom, character, passion, and expressiveness. It was brought to the operatic stage in 1787.
A billy is a small metal can used for boiling water over an open fire. It's short for billycan. It almost always means to 'make tea' but if you are sitting around an open fire (camping for example) and someone says “I'll boil the billy” this can just mean “boil some water” for coffee, tea or washing up water.
Waltzing Matilda is certainly Australia's most popular folk song and bush ballad. Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, journalist, author and bush poet, wrote the lyrics during a visit on Dagworth station near Winton, Queensland, in 1895, while the tune is connected to Christina Macpherson who lived at the station.
(“Banjo”) Paterson, “Waltzing Matilda,” is the unofficial national anthem of Australia known the world over. Paterson's “Waltzing Matilda” became Australia's best-known song—part folk hymn and part national anthem.
There are versions in the popular styles of the 30s and 40s, jazz improvisations, classical and choral arrangements as well as those in the style of rock 'n' roll, broadway musicals, dance crazes such as the Twist, 80s big hair and lycra power ballads and some so truly strange that they defy categorisation.
Out of five names, the popular vote chose "Matildas", from the song "Waltzing Matilda". The players themselves did not approve of the name, and took years to use the moniker to describe the team. At the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden, Australia were grouped with the United States, China and Denmark.
Billabong is a term that derives from the language of the Wiradjuri people in south western New South Wales, and describes a pond or pool of water that is left behind when a river alters course or after floodwaters recede3.
Matilda Wormwood is a gifted girl with unpleasant parents. From a young age she can speak like an adult. Since her parents don't pay much attention to her, Matilda teaches herself to read. Before she has even been to elementary school, she has already read many books in the local library.
As the dance started gaining popularity, it was criticised on moral grounds due to its close-hold stance and fast turning movements. Religious leaders regarded it as vulgar and sinful. The dance was criticised to the point where people were threatened with death from waltzing.
The poem takes place sometime during the poet's childhood and features a boy who loves his father, but is afraid of him. The boy is waltzing with his father, who is drunk and described as having battered knuckles and dirty palms. "My Papa's Waltz" deals with themes of family, relationships, confliction, fear, and love.
waltz, (from German walzen, “to revolve”), highly popular ballroom dance evolved from the Ländler in the 18th century.
Contributor's comments: A bye jingo is an ice block or popsicle. I believe that it was actually the brand name of one of the first ice blocks released. It can also be used as an exclamation: "Can you buy me a bye jingo Mum?" OR "Bye jingos he was big!"
"Whitey" is a derogatory term for a white person. The level of contempt implied by the term varies, although it is most often used as an insult.
fanging. hungry, craving: I'm fanging for a steak. Contributor's comments: I've also heard the term "I'm hanging for a fanging" to mean hungry - or more correctly "hangin' for a fangin'". Good on the fang means having a good appetite.
The black symbolises the Aboriginal people, the red represents the earth and the colour of ochre used in Aboriginal ceremonies, and the circle of yellow represents the sun, the constant renewer of life. The flag is flown or displayed permanently at Aboriginal centres throughout Australia.
Australia's team, known as the Matildas, have named two indigenous players in their squad: goalkeeper Lydia Williams and striker Kyah Simon.
There is nothing wrong with non-Indigenous people wearing or embracing Indigenous material culture, provided that culture was made locally, and was made for sale. Wear Aboriginal iconography and jewellery, but do it with integrity.