And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (Scott, Sean, & Andrew)

Scott and Sean are joined by Andrew in third chair. We discuss The Pogues' 1985 cover of And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda. The song while fictional, details the horrific slaughter wreaked upon ANZAC soldiers during the WWI Gallipoli Campaign in 1915. The song begs the question of a soldier's sacrifice and what was it all for? Originally written during the Vietnam War but set during The Great War, Eric Bogle's 1971 ballad treating the ultimate sacrifices paid by Australia's young men, was movingly covered by The Pogues (and many others), is anti-war but not anti-soldier. Heartbreaking in its realism and portrayal of lost and wasted youth, this is definitely a piece that will stick with you for a long time. Give it a listen!

Link to the song:
https://youtu.be/cZqN1glz4JY

Link to the original by Eric Bogle:
https://youtu.be/WG48Ftsr3OI

Link to Waltzing Matilda (sung by Slim Dusty):
https://youtu.be/FqtttbbYfSM

Follow Andrew on Twitter:
@ManlyFidelity

Scott and Sean:
@dotgiff
@hashtag_hey_bro

Think you've got a song with some historical context that we should discuss on the show? Send us an email or DM and we'll bring you on the pod!
[email protected]