Australian Songs 

Like most cultures, Australians have their own set of songs which are special to their hearts. And like other cultures in which alcohol plays a large part, a lot of those songs do revolve around the amber nectar.  

But for a sneak preview of a traditional song, click here to bring a tear to your eye. 

An Aussie belting out one of his favourite songs

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This song is popular whenever hoards of drunken Australians get together.  It could be heard at the footy, on a pub crawl, at a barbie or even down at your local pub.  It's easy to remember and a cack to sing. 

More beer, more beer, more beer, more beer
More beer, more beer, more beer,
More beer, more beer, more beer, more beer
More beer, more beer, more beer.

An Australian was teaching this cracker to a Canadian in London, Canada in 1998.  After hearing the first verse the Canadian shook his head in wonder before saying, "You know here we call it Auld lang syne".  Same tune, different words.

Aussie Aussie Aussie

This little beauty is generally heard at sporting events. With any luck it will get some coverage in the Olympics in 2000 (UPDATE: indeed it did).  Generally one person takes over the very demanding Aussie! role, with the rest of the crowd following with the oy! oy! oy! People who claim we don't have a culture should go to a sporting crowd and start this and see if they respond.  Bloody oath they will.  Because they are Australians. 

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!
oy! oy! oy!
Aussie!
oy!
Aussie!
oy!
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!
oy! oy! oy!

The VB Song

You can get it jumpin'
You can get it pumpin'
You can get it pressin' a suit
A hard earned thirst needs a big cold beer
And the best cold beer's VIC
A LONG COLD VIC
You can get it liftin'
You can get it shiftin'
You can get it any old how
Matter o' fact, I got it now  

VIC BITTER!

Fourex Song

Waltzing Matilda

Here is one version of the song that is closer to our collective national hearts than any other:

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 boilled,
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me? 

Waltzing matilda Waltzing matilda 
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me? 
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boilled,
Who'll come a waltzing matilda with me? 

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

Up came the squatter riding his thoroughbred,
Up 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. 

The swagman he up and he jumped in the billabong,
Drowning himself by the coolibah tree,
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

No it is not our national anthem, despite what the rest of the world thinks. Although perhaps it should be. You only have to look at the number of links in the song to see how Australian it is.  Although sadly, a lot of Australians wouldn't even know what waltzing matilda even means.  This doesn't mean that the song isn't special to them.  They just don't know why!

There is actually a lot of history behind the song. It isn't just about some bloke who tops himself because he gets caught having flogged a sheep.  It is all about the political strife of the 1890s, and the shearer's strike at that time, and about the fine old Australian tradition of resisting authority.

Click here for a great instrumental from www.waltzingmatilda.com. The site also has much more information on Australia's only folk song.

Take a break from drinking like the author of this article did - Read why and how in his book Between Drinks: Escape the Rout