Today ANZAC Day is celebrated in Australia and New Zealand, in honor of the soliders who have served in the countries’ wars. The day’s origin was as remembrance of the ANZAC corps’ ill-fated landings at Gallipoli in Turkey, on April 25, 1915.
In 1972, folk singer Eric Bogle wrote a touching song about a solider’s experience at Gallipoli, and of the madness and futility of war, called And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. The song has in turn been covered by Irish folkrock band The Pogues, from whom I first heard the tune. This is a sad and moving song which brings a tear to my eyes whenever I hear it.
But the band plays “Waltzing Matilda,”
And the old men still answer the call,
But as year follows year, more old men disappear
Someday, no one will march there at all.
- Eric Bogle – And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (live, with short introduction – low quality)
- The Pogues’ version of the song (from the album ‘Rum, Sodomy and the Lash’)