<P> And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda is a song written by Scottish - born Australian singer - songwriter Eric Bogle in 1971 . The song describes war as futile and gruesome , while criticising those who seek to glorify it . This is exemplified in the song by the account of a young Australian soldier who is maimed at the Battle of Gallipoli during the First World War . The song 's imagery evokes the devastation at the Gallipoli Landings . The protagonist , who had travelled across rural Australia before the war , is emotionally devastated by the loss of his legs in battle . As the years pass he notes the death of other veterans , while the younger generation becomes apathetic to the veterans and their cause . The song incorporates , at its conclusion , the melody and a few lines of lyrics of the 1895 song Waltzing Matilda by Australian poet Banjo Paterson . </P>
<P> And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda is a song written by Scottish - born Australian singer - songwriter Eric Bogle in 1971 . The song describes war as futile and gruesome , while criticising those who seek to glorify it . This is exemplified in the song by the account of a young Australian soldier who is maimed at the Battle of Gallipoli during the First World War . The song 's imagery evokes the devastation at the Gallipoli Landings . The protagonist , who had travelled across rural Australia before the war , is emotionally devastated by the loss of his legs in battle . As the years pass he notes the death of other veterans , while the younger generation becomes apathetic to the veterans and their cause . The song incorporates , at its conclusion , the melody and a few lines of lyrics of the 1895 song Waltzing Matilda by Australian poet Banjo Paterson . </P>
who wrote the song the band played waltzing matilda
who wrote the song the band played waltzing matilda
Scottish - born Australian singer - songwriter Eric Bogle
Scottish - born Australian singer - songwriter Eric Bogle