Quote:
Originally posted by sapper740
Not knowing how old you guys are, I'm not sure if you're a contemporary of mine or if you'd remember the airplay that an Australian singer received in the late '50's and early '60's. For the life of me I can't recall his name but I remember some of the songs he sang. Of course, my favourite was "Waltzing Matilda", how the heck else could a Canadian lad learn what a billabong was! He also sang "Tie me Kangaroo down, sport" My mother would get after me as I turned the radio up to listen to those songs.
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Derek...
To refresh your memory...
Tra-la-la-la-laaaaaa!!
Rolf wrote this in 1957, inspired by Harry Belafonte's calypsos. The song was number 1 for about four weeks in Australia in 1960; this version was re-recorded in England in 1962. Apparently, the verse marked * caused offence (leading to the song being banned in Singapore), and was removed in later years.
Derek..
Rolf Harris also had his Three legged character act about that same time..
He used to sing that song and cruise around on three legs...Funniest thing I saw til the pigs ate granny..!!!
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(Harris) Ardmore & Beechwood Ltd / EMI (P) 1963
Arr. Johnnie Spence - Produced by George Martin
[Spoken:]
There's an old Australian stockman, lying, dying,
and he gets himself up on one elbow,
and he turns to his mates,
who are gathered 'round him and he says:
Watch me wallabys feed mate.
Watch me wallabys feed.
They're a dangerous breed mate.
So watch me wallabys feed.
Altogether now!
Tie me kangaroo down sport,
tie me kangaroo down.
Tie me kangaroo down sport,
tie me kangaroo down.
Keep me cockatoo cool, Curl,
keep me cockatoo cool.
Don't go acting the fool, Curl,
just keep me cockatoo cool.
Altogether now!
Take me koala back, Jack,
take me koala back.
He lives somewhere out on the track, Mac,
so take me koala back.
Altogether now!
Let me Abos go loose, Lou, *
let me Abos go loose.
They're of no further use, Lou,
so let me Abos go loose.
Altogether now!
Mind me platypus duck, Bill,
mind me platypus duck.
Don't let him go running amok, Bill,
mind me platypus duck.
Altogether now!
Play your digeridoo, Blue,
play your digeridoo.
Keep playing 'til I shoot thro' Blue,
play your digerydoo.
Altogether now!
Tan me hide when I'm dead, Fred,
tan me hide when I'm dead.
So we tanned his hide when he died Clyde,
(Spoken) And that's it hanging on the shed.
Altogether now!
© 1960 Castle Music Pty, Ltd.
Words and music by Rolf Harris