Editing Waltzing Matilda (section)

===Alternative theories===
Given the tumultuous events of the shearers' strike and the burning down of 8 shearing sheds in the Winton & Kynuna districts in 1894, and given Paterson's socialist views, it is not difficult to see why historians look for a political allegory in the words of "Waltzing Matilda", penned in the districts in 1895. Ross Fitzgerald, emeritus professor in history and politics at [[Griffith University]], argued that the defeat of the strike only a year or so before the song's creation, would have been in Paterson's mind, most likely consciously but at least "unconsciously", and thus was likely to have been an inspiration for the song.<ref name="ABC" /> Fitzgerald stated, "the two things aren't mutually exclusive"<ref name="ABC"/>{{mdash}}a view shared by others, who, while not denying the significance of Paterson's relationship with Macpherson, nonetheless recognise the underlying story of the shearers' strike and Hoffmeister's death in the lyrics of the song.<ref name="o'keeffe-book">{{harvnb|O'Keeffe|2012|p={{page needed|date=November 2020}}}}</ref>

According to writer, Mathew Richardson, the 'swagman', at his most corporeal, is Frenchy Hoffmeister, 
who actually committed suicide by a billabong......In a more general way, the swagman represents the 
'free citizen, the itinerant with no vote, no award, no arbitration, standing for the union'.<ref>Richardson, Mathew, 'Once a Jolly Swagman, The Ballad of Waltzing Matilda', 2006, Melbourne University Press, 187 Grattan 
Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. Page 92
</ref>

These theories were not shared by other historians. In 2008, Australian writers and historians Peter and Sheila Forrest claimed that the widespread belief that Paterson had penned the ballad as a socialist anthem, inspired by the Great Shearers' Strike, was false and a "misappropriation" by political groups.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-05-05|title=Waltzing Matilda 'not socialist'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7384056.stm|access-date=2024-04-19|language=en-GB}}</ref> The Forrests asserted that Paterson had in fact written the self-described "[[wikt:ditty|ditty]]" as part of his flirtation with Christina Macpherson, despite his engagement to Sarah Riley.<ref name="ABC">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/05/2235263.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505095048/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/05/2235263.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2008|title="Waltzing Maltida"<!--sic--> a little ditty, historians say|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=5 May 2008}}</ref>

The original words of the first two lines of the first chorus of 'Waltzing Matilda' are, 'Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda my darling? Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda with me?'<ref>> https://www.rogerclarke.com/WM/Manuscript.gif<</ref> In 2019, in ''Waltzing Matilda- Australia's Accidental Anthem'', W Benjamin Lindner asks two questions. "Is 'Waltzing Matilda' a serenade and who was the 'darling' to whom Paterson posed the question, 'Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda with me?{{'"}} Lindner gives the unequivocal answer, {{"'}}Waltzing Matilda' is a serenade to Paterson's musical muse, Christina."<ref>Lindner, W Benjamin. Waltzing Matilda ─ Australia's Accidental Anthem. Boolarong Press. Tingalpa, Queensland, Australia. 2019. ISBN 9781925877076 pp. 44/5</ref>

Graham Seal, Professor of Folklore at Curtain University, WA, wrote that "Waltzing Matilda" is – "let's be honest – a pretty silly ditty about a swaggie knocking off a sheep and throwing himself in the billabong when the squatter and the cops turn up."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gristlyhistory.blog/author/grahamseal/page/7/|title=Graham Seal|website=Gristlyhistory.blog|access-date=20 May 2025}}</ref>
 
Several alternative theories for the origins of the words of "Waltzing Matilda" have been proposed since the time it was written. Some oral stories collected during the twentieth century claimed that Paterson had merely modified an existing bush song, but there is no evidence for this. In 1905, Paterson himself published a book of [[bush ballad]]s he had collected from around Australia entitled ''Old Bush Songs'', with nothing resembling "Waltzing Matilda" in it. Nor do any other publications or recordings of bush ballads include anything to suggest it preceded Paterson. Meanwhile, manuscripts from the time the song originated indicate the song's origins with Paterson and Christina Macpherson, as do their own recollections and other pieces of evidence.<ref name="o'keeffe-book"/>