And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (“And the orchestra played“ Waltzing Matilda ””) - a song written by Australian singer-songwriter Eric Bogle in 1971 [1] . The song presents war as a terrible and useless thing and criticizes those who try to glorify it. The narrative is from the perspective of a young Australian soldier crippled in the battle of Gallipoli in World War I.
The song includes a melody and several lines of text from “ Waltzing Matilda ”. There are many cover versions of the song, it has been repeatedly performed by various artists at concerts.
The song is often praised for creating a spectacular image of the disaster in Gallipoli. The main character, who was a wanderer in the pre-war time, loses his legs in battle, and later watches the parade processions of veterans and the indifference of the young generation to their destinies.
In May 2001, the Australian-Asian Performing Law Association (APRA), as part of its 75th birthday celebrations, named And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda among the 30 best Australian songs of all time [2] [3] .
Content
- 1 Contents
- 2 Allegories
- 3 History
- 4 cover versions
- 5 Actual inconsistencies
- 6 notes
- 7 References
Contents
The song is a vivid and imaginative story of an Australian disabled old man who, as a young man, enrolled in ANZAC in 1915 and went to Gallipoli. Over the ensuing ten grueling weeks "he managed to stay alive when" around the pile of bodies rose higher . " He recalls " that terrible day "..." in hell, which is called the Gulf of Suvla, where we were beaten like sheep in a slaughter "..." in this crazy world of blood, death and fire . ”
With its open and clear description of the events of the battle and its consequences, the song is a passionate indictment of war.
Allegories
The ballad was written in 1971 [1] and could also be understood as a reference to the Vietnam War . With her lyrical meaning, she protests against the romanticization of war. An old man sitting on the doorstep of his house looks at the veterans passing by ANZAC every day , reflects: “ Young people ask: “Why are they marching?” And I ask the same question . ” The narrator also notes that fighting his friends going to the parade, “ from year to year it’s getting smaller, and one day there will be no one to march at all . ”
Alec Campbell , the last Australian veteran of Gallipoli, died in 2002. Peter Casserley , the last Australian veteran of World War I, went to another world in 2005. And finally, John Campbell Ross , the last Australian - a member of the First World War (who did not have time to visit the battles), died in 2009.
History
Initially, the lyrics consisted of eight verses, but Bogle reduced their number to five. In 1974, he had a chance to perform at the national festival of folk music in Brisbane . Bogle participated in the competition program with a different composition, but since the singer, who opened the festival, performed with two songs, the rest followed suit. Thus, Bogle sang “Matilda”, immediately receiving the warm support of the audience, although, to some bewilderment and even the fright of some, he did not win the competition program [1] .
Jane Herivel from the Channel Islands , who witnessed Bogle's performance at the festival, asked her to send a recording. She sang her at a festival in South England , where, in turn, June Tabor heard her and recorded. So, unknown to Bogle, the song gained fame in the UK and North America . And when Bogle visited Britain in 1976, he was surprised at the invitation to speak at a local folk club as the author of this song [1] .
Cover versions
In 1975, the song was first released on the Australian label M7 on the record of John Curry [1] . Later it was performed and recorded by such musicians and groups as Katie Noonan , Joan Baez , Priscilla Herdman , Liam Clancy , Martin Curtis, The Dubliners (as well as Ronnie Drew ), Danny Doyle , Slim Dusty , The Fenians , Mike Harding , Jolie Holland , Seamus Kennedy, The Langer's Ball , Johnny Logan , John Allan Cameron , John McDermott , Midnight Oil , Christy Moore , The Pogues , The Skids , John Williamson , The Bushwackers , Redgum (as well as John Schuman ), Tickawinda , Bread and Roses and many by others.
One of the most well-known versions of the composition is the performance of The Pogues . Music critic Robert Christgau wrote that the band’s vocalist Shane McGowan “never lets it go for a second: he tastes every word before it is uttered” [4] .
Actual inconsistencies
- The second verse of the song contains a phrase about the amphibious assault of Australian troops in the Gulf of Suvla . In fact, the landing on the coast of Suvla was carried out by British soldiers, although the Australians attempted to break out of Anzac’s position to join with the British. As Bogle later said, he included the mention of Suwla, partly due to the fact that in the minds of most Australians this place is firmly associated with Gallipoli, and partly in order to simplify rhyming [1] . The main Australian actions in Gallipoli took place in the sector, which is now called Anzac Bay .
- The mention of "tin hats" - Brody's protective helmets - is anachronistic . In fact, they began to be used since 1916, a year after the Gallipoli campaign [1] .
- The narrator in the song claims to have joined the Australian imperial forces in 1915. His next words lead to the steady thought that he took part in the first wave of the landing operation on April 25, 1915, which means that he had to leave Australia at the end of October 1914.
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jon Casimir. Secret life of Matilda . The Sydney Morning Herald (April 20, 2002). - Interview with Eric Bogle about the song. Date of treatment August 6, 2010. Archived on May 2, 2012.
- ↑ 2001 Top 30 Australian songs . Australasian Performing Right Association (2 May 2001). Date of treatment August 6, 2010. Archived on May 2, 2012.
- ↑ Debbie Kruger. The songs that resonate through the years (PDF). Australasian Performing Right Association (2 May 2001). - The official press release. Date of treatment August 6, 2010. Archived March 29, 2012.
- ↑ Robert Christgau. The Pogues: Rum Sodomy and the Lash . - Review of the album. Date of treatment August 6, 2010. Archived on May 2, 2012.
Links
- Lyrics The official website of Eric Bogle . - Lyrics. Date of treatment August 6, 2010. Archived on May 2, 2012.
- Jon Casimir. Secret life of Matilda . The Sydney Morning Herald (April 20, 2002). - Interview with Eric Bogle about the song. Date of treatment August 6, 2010. Archived on May 2, 2012.
- And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda . Official site The Pogues . - The lyrics. Date of treatment August 6, 2010. Archived on May 2, 2012.