Clancy Waltzes Matilda

One of the best known traditional Irish groups are a group of four brothers. Pat, Bobby, Tom and Liam took celtic music to a whole new level and traveled all over the world to spread their rich culture. A chap by the name of Tommy Makem would typically be at their side helping along either playing or singing along to their favorite songs. The Clancy Brothers were well known all over the world and also tagged along with the big folk boom throughout New York City and the rest of the states. Playing at the Newport Folk Festival numerous times and becoming good friends with folks biggest name and grandfather Pete Seeger, they even had a hand in influencing Bob Dylan in his push to become folk/rocks biggest name. The Clancy's can sing of booze, death, wakes and seas but here they borrow a sad song born in Australia called The Band Played The Waltzing Matilda. Its one of the saddest songs I've ever lent my ears to. Its one of those songs you just can't help but hold onto every word. Its a song about a young man who loved to dance in his younger years but, especially a song called Waltzing Matilda. He was called into war and has his legs blown off on a dreadful day where thousands died. No longer could he dance like he used to and loved to do. He couldn't do most the things that he used to be able and it just killed him without being dead. The Band Played The Waltzing Matilda is one of the most heartbreaking war songs to be ever written and its probably more considered a Irish tune now more so than an Australian song, thanks to The Clancy's. They made this song their own and you can see it in their face as they sing through the words. Its a tragic song but you can see how great the Clancy Brothers really could play with this song. Beautiful!