Waltzing Matilda
Waltzing Matilda by Dan Zanes & Friends feat. Deborah Harry is 120 BPM — Allegro (fast).
Half-time 60 BPM · Double-time 240 BPM · released 2003
Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A family-friendly rendition of the classic Australian folk ballad 'Waltzing Matilda,' featuring playful vocals by Dan Zanes and Friends with Deborah Harry.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: joyful, playful
Traditions: folk
"Waltzing Matilda" by Dan Zanes & Friends feat. Deborah Harry
120 BPM, dynamic range 4/10, smooth texture, soft vocals. Sits in the middle band — neither built for stillness nor pitched at workout intensity. Whether it works for a given moment depends more on mood and lyrical content than on the acoustic profile. The full sensory breakdown follows.
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 4/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
2003 context
Released in 2003. We have 365 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.5/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 2000s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Guides that may help
How fast is "Waltzing Matilda"?
120 BPM — Upbeat (dance-pop / running warm-up)
Slow jog or recovery run pace. Matches a 120-140 stride-per-minute cadence.
Steady cardio, power walking, light weights.
Driving, getting ready in the morning, light party.
Browse more songs at 120 BPM.
When "Waltzing Matilda" works, and when it doesn't
Use-case verdicts computed from the song's tempo, dynamics, and sensory profile.
Maybe — fine for routine work, but the mid-song changes may pull attention during deep focus.
Yes — 120 BPM sits squarely in the running / cardio band. Matches natural stride cadence.
Maybe — calm overall, but tempo is a bit high for deep sleep. Better for winding down than falling asleep.
Yes — predictable enough for safe driving attention, interesting enough to stay engaged.
Yes — sits in the background without demanding attention.
Not really — it's pleasant but doesn't hit hard enough for cathartic listening.
Related reading
Editorial guides that cover this song's use cases, moods, or artist.
The counterintuitive reason some heavy metal is safer than a Taylor Swift album
Not all loud music is unsafe. Not all quiet music is safe. How doom metal, drone, and sludge rock score better for sensory sensitivity than …
Songs that hold you at 3 AM — when silence is too loud
The 3 AM playlist you can actually trust. Music with the right texture, predictability, and warmth to keep you company when the quiet gets l…
Why lo-fi study beats might be lying to you
Lo-fi hip hop is the default focus soundtrack for millions, but the science is messier than the marketing. Why it can quietly hurt deep work…
Why this rating
We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.
See how “Waltzing Matilda” sits against your own sensitivities, or use it as a waypoint in a calmer set.
Listen on
Spotify and YouTube links go direct to the track when we have the ID; otherwise they search for it. Embed this sensory profile on your site →
For calm, low-stimulation listening
Independently chosen tools listed on eBay. We may earn a commission from these links, at no extra cost to you.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-18. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Contact the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
By the numbers: how this song compares
Computed from this song’s place among the 19,209 songs we’ve measured.
Where it sits in 19,000 songs
This sits near the calm end of everything we've measured — gentler than 91% of the 19,209 songs in the library. Its intensity reading of 19/100 comes from a dynamic range of 4/10, smooth texture, no sudden shifts, and soft vocals. It shares this stretch of the spectrum with thousands of other tracks, so the finer fingerprint below is what really separates it.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is an unusually steady, even volume: more extreme on that axis than 97% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on full chaos — sudden changes, huge quiet-to-loud swings, and relentless energy — the kind of track this one is the counterpoint to.
Feels almost identical to
Closest matches by feel across all 19,209 measured songs — not by genre or artist, by how they actually move.
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
2003 in context
The 365 songs we’ve measured from 2003 average a dynamic range of 6.5/10. At 4/10, this track is gentler and steadier than its year.
Mixes smoothly with
Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.
The fingerprint
The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.
Frequently asked about "Waltzing Matilda"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the BPM of "Waltzing Matilda" by Dan Zanes & Friends feat. Deborah Harry?
"Waltzing Matilda" by Dan Zanes & Friends feat. Deborah Harry has a tempo of 120 BPM (Allegro (fast)). At half-time that is 60 BPM, and at double-time 240 BPM.
What is the sensory intensity of "Waltzing Matilda" by Dan Zanes & Friends feat. Deborah Harry?
"Waltzing Matilda" by Dan Zanes & Friends feat. Deborah Harry rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 4/10, no sudden changes, smooth texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.
How loud is "Waltzing Matilda" — what is its dynamic range?
"Waltzing Matilda" has a dynamic range of 4/10. Within normal pop-mix variation. Movement between verse and chorus but nothing dramatic.
Does "Waltzing Matilda" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "Waltzing Matilda" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "Waltzing Matilda" best for?
In our library "Waltzing Matilda" is recommended for: bedtime, long car ride, quiet play. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Waltzing Matilda" released?
"Waltzing Matilda" is from 2003, on the album "A Family Roots Music Treasury". It appears in our 2000s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Waltzing Matilda"?
We tag "Waltzing Matilda" as joyful, playful. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Waltzing Matilda"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Is "Waltzing Matilda" good for running?
Yes — at 120 BPM it sits in the running-cadence band (120-180 BPM). Match your stride to the beat and it keeps pace with most recreational runners.
Is "Waltzing Matilda" good for studying?
Yes — low dynamic range (4/10) and no sudden changes means the song stays in the background without pulling focus.
Can I use "Waltzing Matilda" for sleep?
Not recommended for sleep. Dynamic range is too high — quiet moments will be ambushed by louder ones.
Should I listen to "Waltzing Matilda"?
If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "Waltzing Matilda" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
What this song means to people
No stories yet. Be the first.
Share what this song means to you
Keep exploring
You know how this one feels — now go find the next one.