And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda

In Australia, to "waltz Matilda" means to travel with all your belongings in a sack on your back. Like a little boy running away from home, like a hobo with his bindle. When you are waltzing Matilda your wanderlust is a dance and your rucksack is your best girl. She calls you out and you aren't the one in the couple who decides when the dance is over. There is a great Australian ballad called Waltzing Matilda

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me"
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled,
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me".

It is a wonderful song in its own right but like any other great folk song has been re-appropriated for use in other songs, Tom Waits's Tom Traubert's Blues and The Pogues' ...And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda. (It was actually written by someone else, but you cannot beat the Pogues for song interpretation).

My particular Matilda is a Kelty Slingshot, it's green and black, it has webbing, loops for ropes, pockets, pockets and pockets, secret compartments, and is tougher than hell. She waltzed with me down to Mexico City, to Oaxaca, up to the frigid Great White North, to Hawaii, Lake Superior, Crestline, Cucamonga and now Siam.