Rolf Harris, with some ideas from brother Bruce, wrote this iconic Australian song in 1957.
The song was recorded and released in 1960and went to No. 1 in Australia for four weeks.
It also reached the top 10 in Britain. It was released in the USA later that year but had no success.
However, three years later, a Denver disc jockey played it on air for a bit of a laugh and received such a reaction that he played it often which led to epic records releasing it as a single and it became a hit reaching No. 61 in the USA.
(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. (spoken) So we tanned his hide when he died, Clyde, 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.
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