Australian/New Zealand Folk/Children's Song

Subject: Australian/New Zealand Folk/Children's Ssong
From: Anne Lee
Date: 18 Feb 99 - 09:44 PM

Dear Mudcats From Down Under,

My 4th-5th-6th graders are studying your beautiful continent and regions.We are in need of a bit of help. I have the music to "Waltzing Mathilda" but of course have no idea what the story is about due to the many regional words. Could someone be so kind as to decipher and give the meanings to the words. (Yes, I could and will look it up in a dictionary, but prefer to hear it from the "koalas" mouth.

Also would like info and words to the kangaroo song, "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" not really sure of title.

Could you direct me to good Austrailan and New Zealand folk musicians, would like to purchase some cds.

Thank you for you time and effort.

Sincerely,

Anne Lee of Wisconsin, USA

Subject: RE: Australian/New Zealand Folk/Children's Ssong
From: Margo
Date: 19 Feb 99 - 12:19 PM

Hi Anne.

I read your message yesterday and figured the folks down under would answer. I'm in Washington state but I'll tell you what I know.

Swagman: a fellow who seeks casual work while carrying his swag.

Swag: the bundle containing his belongings

Billabong: a water inlet that dries up seasonally or only has water after the rains.

Billy: a metal pot used in camping

Jumbuck: Male sheep

Tuckerbag: a bag for carrying food

That is the only vocabulary I can think of that might be in question. If I've got anything wrong, I hope you folks will correct me!

Margarita

Subject: RE: Australian/New Zealand Folk/Children's Ssong
From: Animaterra
Date: 19 Feb 99 - 02:54 PM

OK, it's my turn to explain...
If you go to the top of the Main Forum page you can press "Forum search" , type in "Waltzing Matilda" under the Subject, and find a long, definitive discussion on the meaning and history of the song.
As for "Tie me Kangaroo" I dunno. If it ain't folk...

Subject: Lyr Add: TIE ME KANGAROO DOWN SPORT (Rolf Harris)
From: MMario
Date: 19 Feb 99 - 03:06 PM

this is what I found on a web search for "tie me kangaroo"

Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport
(Rolf Harris)

Spoken Introduction:
There's an old Australian stockman, lying, dying. He gets himself up on one elbow, turns to his mates, who are gathered round,
and he says:

Watch me wallaby's feed, mate, watch me wallaby's feed.
They're a dangerous breed, mate, so watch me wallaby's feed.
All together 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,
Keep me cockatoo cool.
All together now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport,
Tie me kangaroo down.
Tie me kangaroo down, sport,
Tie me kangaroo down.

Take me koala back, Jack,
Take me koala back.
He lives somewhere out on the track, Mac,
So take me koala back.
All together now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport,
Tie me kangaroo down.
Tie me kangaroo down, sport,
Tie me kangaroo down.

Mind me platypus duck, Bill,
Mind me platypus duck.
Don't let him go running amuck, Bill,
Mind me platypus duck.
All together 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.
Keep playing 'til I shoot through, Blue,
Play your didgeridoo.
All together 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,
(spoken)And that's it hanging on the shed.
All together now!

Tie me kangaroo down, sport,
Tie me kangaroo down.
Tie me kangaroo down, sport,
Tie me kangaroo down.

Subject: RE: Australian/New Zealand Folk/Children's Ssong
From: Anne Lee
Date: 19 Feb 99 - 08:29 PM

Thanks to Margarita for the definitions

Thanks to Animaterra for the forum search infi, I figured something like that was around, just didn't know where or how.

Thanks to MMario; I found words under word search.

Any more info out there regarding artists?

Anne Lee

Subject: RE: Australian/New Zealand Folk/Children's Ssong
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 19 Feb 99 - 11:18 PM

G'day Anne Lee,
If you click here you will get the previous thread on Matilda. There are quite a few clickable links in that thread which you will want to follow.

Some of my posts in that thread were mucked up by a recent Mudcat glitch, but they're fixed now.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Australian/New Zealand Folk/Children's Ssong
From: alison
Date: 20 Feb 99 - 01:18 AM

Hi,

and if you want to know about artists or Australian folk in general here's a link...

Folk Australia

Slainte

Alison