Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport

Recitation:

There’s an old Australian stockman,
lying, dying, and he gets himself up onto one elbow,
and he turns to his mates, who are gathered ’round him, and he says:-

Verse 1:

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!

Chorus:

Tie me kangaroo down, sport, tie me kangaroo down.
Tie me kangaroo down, sport, tie me kangaroo down.
All together now!

Verse 2:

Keep me cockatoo cool, Curl,
Keep me cockatoo cool.
Don’t go acting the fool, Curl,
Just keep me cockatoo cool…
Altogether now!

(repeat chorus)

Verse 3:

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

(repeat chorus)

Verse 4:

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!

(repeat chorus)

Verse 5:

Mind me platypus duck, Bill,
Mind me platypus duck.
Don’t let him go running amok, Bill,
Mind me platypus duck.
Altogether now!

(repeat chorus)

Verse 6:

Play your didgeridoo, Blue,
Play your didgeridoo.
Keep playing ’til I shoot thro’ Blue,
Play your didgeridoo.
Altogether now!

(repeat chorus)

Verse 7:

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!

Discography:

1960, Rolf Harris with the Rhythm Spinners, Columbia 45-DO-4131 (Australian pressing, among others) (7″-45).

1960, Horrie Dargie Quintet, Melbourne, Astor A-7007 (7″45).

1963, Pat Boone, Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport Dot Records DLP 3534 (US), (12″33).

1963, The Brothers Four, The Big Folk Hits CBS SBP 233073 (AUS – among other pressings), (12″33).

1963, The Village Stompers, The Original Washington Square Epic ELPS 3512 (AUS – among other pressings, (12″33).

1963, Slim Dusty And His Bushlanders, King Records 45-5778 (US), (7″45).

1964, Martin Denny, A Taste Of Hits Liberty LST-7328 (US – among other pressings), (12″33).

1964, The Leslie Ross Singers, Australian Sing-Along W. & G. WG-B-1249 (AUS), (12″33).