# Waltzing Matilda

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waltzing-matilda/124454>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 18, 2002, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waltzing-matilda/124454 "2002-08-18T06:36:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2002, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waltzing-matilda/124454/21 "2002-08-19T19:00:38Z")

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Great _Waltzing Matilda_ moment: at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, **Slim Dusty** [sup]1[/sup] came on, playing Waltzing Matilda on an accoustic guitar. The whole stadium joined in, all -what- 100,000 of them or so.\

Pure magic. Combine it with the most powerful version of _Beds are Burning_ (the “We’re Sorry” t-shirts… tearing up just thinking about it) by **Midnight Oil** , and the conclusion is simple: best closing ceremony EVER. For the best Olympics, ever.

OK, sorry 'bout the hijack. Australians are just cool. 🙂

[sup]1 = would you believe I first typed slim BUSTY?? :o[/sup]

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**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2002, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waltzing-matilda/124454/22 "2002-08-19T22:46:26Z")

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“Shelter” (also written by Eric Bogle, although John Williamson recorded one of the best versions) beats "I Still Call Australia Home) hands down.

We could always opt for “The BBQ Song”…

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**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waltzing-matilda/124454/23 "2002-08-20T01:20:01Z")

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How about a rousing chant of Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!

(oi! oi! oi!)

At least everyone knows the words to that one. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waltzing-matilda/124454/24 "2002-08-20T06:19:41Z")

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The BBQ Song and Nobody’s Moggie really counteract all the sober and wrenching songs he’s written. And the banter on stage with his band, clearly people having a lot of fun.

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