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Version 1[Intro] A A/E x6 [Verse 1] A D A When I was a young man I carried a pack A E A I lived the free life of the rover. A D A From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback, A E A I waltzed my Matilda all over. [Pre-chorus 1] E B D A Then in 1915, my country said, "Son, E B D A there's no time for roamin', there's work to be done." A D A F#m And they gave me a tin hat, and they gave me a gun, A E A And they sent me away to the war. [Chorus 1] A D A And the band played "Waltzing Matilda," A D E As the ship pulled away from the quay. D A F#m And amidst all the cheers, the flag waving, and tears, A E A We set off for Gallipoli. [Verse 2] A D A How well I remember that terrible day, A E A When our blood stained the sand and the water; A D A And how in that hell that they called Suvla Bay A E A We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter. [Pre-chorus 2] E B D A Johnny Turk, he was waitin', he primed himself well; E B D A He showered us with bullets, and he rained us with shells – A D A F#m And in five minutes flat, well he blew us to hell, A E A He nearly blew us right back to Australia. [Chorus 2] A D A And the band played "Waltzing Matilda," A D E As we stopped to bury our slain. D A F#m We buried ours, and the Turks buried theirs, A E A Then we started all over again. [Verse 3] A D A So those who were left, just tried to survive A E A In a mad world of blood, death and fire. A D A And for ten weary weeks I kept myself alive, A E A As the corpses around me piled higher. [Pre-chorus 3] E B D A Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head, E B D A And when I awoke in my hospital bed A D A F#m I saw what it had done, and I wished I was dead – A E A Then I knew there were worse things than dying. [Chorus 3] A D A And I'll go no more "Waltzing Matilda," A D E All through the green bush far and free – D A F#m Cause to hunt and tent peg, a man needs both legs, A E A No more "Waltzing Matilda" for me. [Verse 4] A D A They collected the crippled, the wounded, the maimed, A E A Shipped us all back to Australia. A D A The legless, the armless, the blind and insane, A E A The brave wounded heroes of Suvla. [Pre-chorus 4] E B D A And as our ship pulled into Circular Quay, E B D A I looked at the place where my legs used to be, A D A F#m And I thanked Christ there was nobody waiting for me, A E A To mourn and to grieve and to pity. [Chorus 4] A D A And the band played "Waltzing Matilda," A D E As they carried us down the gangway. D A F#m Nobody cheered, they just stood and stared, A E A Then turned all their faces away. [Verse 5] A D A And now every April, I sit on my porch A E A As I watch the parade pass before me. A D A I see my old comrades, how proudly they march, A E A Reviving old dreams and past glories. [Pre-chorus 5] E B D A But the old men march slowly, bones stiff and sore E B D A Tired old men from a tired old war. A D A F#m And the young people ask "What are they marching for?" A E A And I ask myself the same question. [Chorus 5] A D A And the band plays "Waltzing Matilda," A D E As the old men still answer the call. D A F#m And year after year, more old men disappear A E A Soon none of them will march there at all.