John Williamson - Old Man Emu

Artist: John Williamson
Album: Old Man Emu (Originally released in 1982 as "True Blue" Then re-released in 1997. Gumleaf/EMI)
Track Number: 01

Lyrics below.
Let me tell you of an interview with an Old Man Emu
He's got a beak and feathers and things, but the poor old fella ain't got no wings
"Aren't you jealous of the wedge-tail eagle?" - dom ba da little da da da

(Spoken in tempo) "While the eagle's flying round and round, I keep my two feet firmly on the ground
I can't fly, but I'm telling you, I can run the pants off a kangaroo".

doo dee ba doo doo doo , boo da da doot doo doo doo
He can't fly, but I'm telling you, he can run the pants off a kangaroo.

Well he was the model for the fifty cents - oom ba da little da da da
The designer should have had more sense - oom ba da little da da da
If you take a look, it'll prove to you, I ran the pants off that kangaroo.

Doo dee ba doo doo doo...Boo da da doot doo doo..
Take a look it'll prove to you, he can run the pants off the kangaroo.

You can't loop the loop like a cockatoo - Oom ba da little da da da
Swoop and toss like an albatross - Oom ba da little da da da
"You silly galah, I'm better by far, than a white cockatoo or a budgerigar;
They squeak and squawk and try to talk, why me and them's like cheese and chalk"
Ba da da Doo dee ba doo doo doo...Boo da da doot doo doo doo
He can't fly but I'm telling you, he can run the pants off a kangaroo...

Well the last time I saw Old Man Emu - Oom ba da little da da da
He was chasing a female he knew - Oom ba da little da da da
As he shot past I heard him say "She can't fly, but I'm telling you
She could run the pants off a kangaroo". -

Ba da da Doo dee ba doo doo doo Doo dee ba doo doo doo...Boo da da doot doo doo doo
She can't fly but I'm telling you, she can run the pants off a kangaroo

Well there is a moral to this ditty - Oom ba da little da da da
Thrush can sing but he ain't pretty - Oom ba da little da da da
Duck can swim, but he can't sing, nor can the eagle on the wing
Emu can't fly, but I'm telling you, he can run the pants off a kangaroo.

Well the kookaburra laughed and said "It's true, oom ba da little da da da,
Ha Ha Ha Ha Hah Hoo, He can run the pants off a kangaroo"

[breea]

When your 12 and listened to this song as a younger child

[buzzbelinda]

Greats memories with this song! I danced with my grandfather to this song then a few months ago i had the pleasure of watching my 2 daughters dance with their great grandfather to this song. Brought tears to my eyes.

Fun Fact: The comfortable hopping speed for a kangaroo is 21-26 km/h but speeds of up to 71 km/h can be attained over short distances an emu can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h so an emu really can run the pants off a kangaroo but only the if kangaroo is hopping at it’s comfortable hopping speed of 21-26 km/h

[owltaku]

I remember in year one for a school production we did this song. Took me a little research to finally find the song. So much nostalgia.

[carolcollins]

Love you John, and Australia, thank you, umbuchilittleahbooyou, ha

[henrydirkbikeboy]

Ah fuck yes brings back my old Aussie self. This song is a fucking ripa your a bloody true Aussie

[littlespac]

when I was younger this used to be my favourite song. I've moved on now and discovered my own music, but mate, it's still a great song with good memories of the simpler days.

[neilforbes]

Information in description completely WRONG!
"Old Man Emu"/"Gum Tree" issued May 1970 as 45rpm single: Fable FB-008. Mechanical copyright originally held by Phonogram Recordings (Australia) Ltd., as they were pressing and distributing the Fable Label for its first year or so of operation. The back-catalogue of Fable has been held by EMI since the 1990s.

[LeSaVy]

What a strange memory to pop up, not mad about it

[danread]

Haha how good this, took me back 25 years 👍

[MeowMeowMix]

I sing this on the way to my nen's it fun