And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda the younger generation becomes apathetic to the veterans and their cause. At its conclusion, the song incorporates the melody and a few lines of lyrics of the 1895 song "Waltzing Matilda" by Australian poet Banjo Paterson. Many cover versions of the song have been performed and recorded, as well as many versions in foreign languages. The song is an account of the memories of an old Australian man who, as a youngster had travelled across rural Australia with a swag (the so-called Matilda of the title) and tent. In 1915 he had joined the Australian armed forces and been sent
Tom Traubert's Blues March 1992, it was later included on the compilation "Lead Vocalist" (1993) and live album "Unplugged...and Seated" (1993). Personnel adapted from "Small Change"s liner notes. Tom Traubert's Blues "Tom Traubert's Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen)" (commonly known as "Tom Traubert's Blues" or as "Waltzing Matilda") is a song by American Alternative rock musician Tom Waits. It is the opening track on Waits' third studio album "Small Change", released in September 1976 on Asylum Records. Written by Waits and produced by Bones Howe, the song's chorus is derived from the Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda" and its lyrics