# There's an old Australian stockman... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688 "2002-06-06T15:53:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/1 "2002-06-06T15:53:41Z")
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! … ---
**Author:** ![Payne\_N.Diaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Payne\_N.Diaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payne_N.Diaz)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/2 "2002-06-06T18:08:19Z")
Tie me kangaroos down, sport, Tie me kangaroos down, Tie me kangaroos down, sport, Tie me kangaroos down… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/3 "2002-06-06T20:34:04Z")
Let me Abos go loose, Bruce Let me Abos go loose, They’re of now further use, Bruce So let me Abos go loose. I know it’s just part of the time and culture from when it was written, but this verse has always spoiled this song for me. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/4 "2002-06-06T21:25:12Z")
That might be because he said _Emus_. Mind me platypus duck, Bill Mind me platypus duck Like, don’t let’im go runnin’ amok, Bill Mind me platypus duck. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/5 "2002-06-06T21:43:54Z")
Tan me hide when I’m dead, Fred Tan me hide when I’m dead… …So we taned his hide when he died, Clyde and that’s it hanging on the shed. 😃 Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/6 "2002-06-06T22:08:39Z")
All together now! \< Chorus \> ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/7 "2002-06-06T22:43:33Z")
::: rattles length of tin roof removed from the Cecil archives, for appropriate bullroarer effect ::: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/8 "2002-06-06T23:33:27Z")
> [@](#): > > That might be because he said Emus. Every version I’ve seens says “Abos”. I agree that it’s a bad verse. [Here’s what one site has to say](http://users.durge.org/~rich/rolf/kangaroo.html): > [@](#): > > Apparently, the verse marked \* caused offence (leading to the song being banned in Singapore), and was removed in later years. Aside from that one verse, it’s still a great song though. (When I was a wee little lad of three, I thought he was singing _tiny_ kangaroo down…) ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/9 "2002-06-06T23:33:59Z")
A bullroarer is swung around your head to make an eerie kind of roaring sound. Rolf, however, used a “wobble-board”. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/10 "2002-06-06T23:35:12Z")
who’s going to start “jake the peg”? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2002, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/11 "2002-06-06T23:40:58Z")
When I was in high school Rolf Harris turned up, out of the blue, and performed a concert for the whole school. As a surly rock loving teenager I had no intention of enjoying someone like him. Of course he was terrific and very funny. ---
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/12 "2002-06-07T00:04:59Z")
Oh great ! Now I’ve got the wobble-board stuck in my head, wobbling away to that tune. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/13 "2002-06-07T00:13:27Z")
Did anyone happen to hear Rolf’s version of [Stairway to Heaven](http://users.durge.org/~rich/rolf/stairway.html)? The lyrics are at the link, but the actual performance is much funnier. jayjay ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/14 "2002-06-07T00:25:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\* > Every version I’ve seens says “Abos”. I agree that it’s a bad verse. [Here’s what one site has to say](http://users.durge.org/~rich/rolf/kangaroo.html): > > Aside from that one verse, it’s still a great song though. > > (When I was a wee little lad of three, I thought he was singing _tiny_ kangaroo down…) \*\* Then I stand corrected, and thanks. Ditto on the “tiny kangaroo” interpretation, as a lad of six. ---
**Author:** ![Tsubaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Tsubaki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tsubaki)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/15 "2002-06-07T00:34:14Z")
_wobble wobble wobble_ And he’s a Sandgroper! I’m Jake the Peg… With me extra leg… ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/16 "2002-06-07T00:52:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jayjay \* > \*\*Did anyone happen to hear Rolf’s version of [Stairway to Heaven](http://users.durge.org/~rich/rolf/stairway.html)? The lyrics are at the link, but the actual performance is much funnier. > > jayjay \*\* That was from the ABC TV show _The Money or the Gun_ in which host Andrew Denton gave each musical guest a musical challenge to play. Every week the challenge was _Stairway to Heaven_. An album of versions was released - [Stairways to Heaven](http://www.houg.com/critiques/Kimba/Stairways_to_Heaven.html) . ---
**Author:** ![Boxcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Boxcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boxcar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/17 "2002-06-07T01:47:25Z")
I have his tape “Live from the Sydney Opera House” somewhere around here. There is an American version: Plant me high on a hill, Will Turn mah face to the sky. Well we’ll plant ya high on the hill, phil If’n you’ll just shut up and die. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/18 "2002-06-07T02:02:38Z")
Once a jolly swagman Camped by a billabong Under the shade of a coolibar tree… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/19 "2002-06-07T22:49:54Z")
And he sang as he sat And waited while his billy boiled… ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2002, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688/20 "2002-06-07T23:05:54Z")
Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with meeeeee? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-an-old-australian-stockman/112688.md?page=2)