TUNESMITH TUESDAY - "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport

Next Monday is Australia Day (well, the observed holiday, anyway. The REAL Australia Day is on Saturday).  Celebrated annually, it marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales and the raising of the Flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip. In present-day Australia, celebrations reflect the diverse society and landscape of the nation and are marked by community and family events, reflections on Australian history, official community awards and citizenship ceremonies welcoming new members of the Australian community.

In honor of our brothers and sisters Down Under, this week's Tunesmith Tuesday features Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport by Rolf Harris.  It had the distinction of being a hit in two separate years - 1960 in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom for the original, and 1963 with a re-recording of his song in the United States. 

Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport

[Spoken:]

There's an old Australian stockman lying, dying. He gets himself up onto one elbow and 'e turns to his mates, who are all gathered around and 'e says:

Watch me wallabies feed, mate

Watch me wallabies feed,

They're a dangerous breed, mate

So watch me wallabies 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

Ah, don't go acting the fool, Curl

Just keep me cockatoo cool

Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down

'n' take me koala back, Jack

Take me koala back

He lives somewhere out on the track, Mac

So take me koala back

Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down

Let me abos go loose, Lew

Let me abos go loose

They're of no further use, Lew

So let me abos go loose

Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down

And mind me platypus duck, Bill

Mind me platypus duck

Ah, don't let 'im go running amok, Bill

Just mind me platypus duck

Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down

Play your didgeridoo, Blue

Play your didgeridoo

Ah, like, keep playin' 'til I shoot thru, Blue

Play your didgeridoo

Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down

Tan me hide when I'm dead, Fred

Tan me hide when I'm dead

So we tanned his hide when he died, Clyde

And that's it hangin' on the shed!!

Altogether now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down

Tie me kangaroo down, sport

Tie me kangaroo down