On the Modern-Day Relevance of Jumbucks and Billabongs

On the Tuesday before break, my ninth-grade students and I put together a lesson on Australia.  The idea originated about three weeks ago when a student asked, "how come we never learn about Australia?"  It seemed like a perfectly good question to me.  I set about to remedy it.  Of course, in the interim, regretfully, we all heard about Australia through an act of terrorism.  

I supplied the students with a great overview of Australia, as provided to me via e-mail from my distant and remarkable Aussie cousin.  My students brought in Lamingtons and Tim Tams.  They also used volunteers to teach the class through simulation how to play Gorri and Rugby.  Additionally, we learned what creatures Down Under we can be happy are not Up Top.

To introduce the lesson, I gave students a copy of the lyrics for "Waltzing Matilda."  (Sadly, in my attempts to play it via the Smartboard, as usual, I found sites blocked by the D.o.E.)  Students were asked to read the lyrics and retell the story of the jolly swagman in their own words.  It was a nice way to introduce the students to Aussie slang.  

Most importantly, although the lyrics seemed hard to comprehend, the underlying themes seem too real for today.  The swagman is caught by the troopers after stealing a sheep.  He refuses to face arrest.  Instead of going peaceably, he resists, in this instance, by committing suicide.  He drowns himself in the billabong. 


Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled:
"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?"

Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled:
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."

Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong.
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee.
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag:
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."

Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me",
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag:
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."

Up rode the squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred.
Down came the troopers, one, two, and three.
"Whose is that jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."

Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me",
"Whose is that jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag?
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me."

Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong.
"You'll never take me alive!" said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong:
"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?"

Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me",
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong:
"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?"