Eric Bogle - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

I was a British soldier for 23 years, so In no way am I a pacifist, but this song makes me weep. Wars are started by politicians, fought by soldiers, won by the blood of soldiers and victory claimed by the politicians, who then abandon the soldiers.

ERIC BOGLE wrote and sang this song at an Australian music contest. When the judges awarded him 3rd place, the audience rioted. Gotta love those Aussies.

Whoever at Youtube thought it was appropriate to chuck an ad break into one of the verses of this song should be ashamed of themselves.

I first heard this song while a U.S. Marine, fifty-three years ago. I cried then. I cry now. Semper Fidelis

This has to be one of the most moving songs about the futility of war ever written.

"We buried ours and the Turks buried theirs then we started all over again".......Says it all........the futility of War

I enlisted in the Marines in 1966. Deployed to Vietnam in April of 1967. Spent 13 months on the DMZ from Con Thien to Khe Sanh. War is Hell. We accomplished nothing only to hopefully make it back home. This song really hits hard to the futility of war...there are no winners. I cry for friends who took their last breath 10,000 miles from home. And for a childhood friend who took his life from the scars of that damn war. RIP Danny :(

I am ex military, I am a guitarist of sorts and could learn to play this but for the life of me I could not sing it without breaking down in tears....

One of the greatest songs ever written.

Heart weary. My husband lost both of his legs in Vietnam. The men that return from war, whole or not, are forever changed and must not be invisible.

Tears on my face! 😢 When will this Killing will end? I'm a German and I cry for all the soldiers, who gave theyr live. For what? For nothing. Peace for all the people in the world!

I'm an American disabled Army veteran. Thinking this may be our anthem, regardless the flag under which one served, be you friend or former foe. God Bless, and pray for peace unceasingly.

It is an absolute outrage for YOUTUBE to allow this sacred song to be interrupted by any advertisement. This song is about the birth of the ANZAC legend and no one has a right to defile it with ads.

Perhaps the best "war" song ever written.

To put an ad in the middle of this song is unforgivable !

As a Kiwi l feel this song speaks for us as well and, as Kiwi and Aussies have a long history of borrowing from each other, l'm sure none of my cuzzies across the ditch will really mind. Have listened to it so many times and cannot help but shed a tear every time l hear it. Such a terrible terrible waste of life for an impossible task. RIP brave ANZACs. "Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore, rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours... You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well." Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

If anyone can listen to that without shedding a tear then they don't have a pulse.... Sad yet beautiful xxx

I am a veteran of the U.S. Navy. I studied songwriting at the Berklee College of Music. This stunningly beautiful song is one of the most poignant and powerful songs about the horrors of war ever written. I brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.

Not ashamed to say that this song always makes me cry. Bravo!

He must have played the song many times in his life and, yet, he still sings with full heart and intensitiy. I heard this song for the first time in a pub in Germany. At some point during the night, a guest rose and sang this song without instrumental accompaniment. I could not hold back my tears.