Tie me Kangaroo Down Sport
SPOKEN: There's an old Australian stockman lying, dying.He gets himself up onto one elbow and 'e turns to his mates, who are all gathered around and 'e says:
Watch me wallabies feed, mate
Watch me wallabies feed,
They're a dangerous breed, mate
So watch me wallabies feed
Altogether now!
CHORUS:
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
Tie me kangaroo down, sport
Tie me kangaroo down
…and it goes on here
I was watching a small part of the Olympics – the men’s beach Volleyball – Aussies were playing someone – not sure who. Anyway between breaks they played Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport to obviously gee up the Aussies. It’s a song that could only mean anything to an Aussie. It’s silly and crazy and fun and it’s one of the songs that means home to us. The most Aussie song we have is Waltzing Matilda. Click here if you don’t know it. I have stood in bars overseas, sipping lemonade of course, and Waltzing Matilda has been played and sung and Aussies have burst into tears. It is out unofficial anthem and it means so much to Aussies. Why? It’s a song about a drifter who camps by a billabong (creek) and steals a sheep and the cops comes along and he jumps into the billabong to avoid arrest and dies. Yes – a-ha – you are saying. Why is that so meaningful? There are many theories of course but I go along with the about freedom from authority. We like to do what we do and authority figures are not always respected
Anyway – back to the beach volleyball. The men are dressed in long boards shorts and singlets. They look good. But I do not see why women, playing the exact same sport, have to wear bikini pants and a skimpy sports bra. What’s that about? They have lots of flesh showing but the men don’t. I don’t understand. Is it about the glory of sport and competition or ditzy sex appeal? If it’s sport then they should have the same type of uniform – the swimmers, runners etc all do. If it’s about sex appeal then get the men to dress in skimpy gear as well otherwise it’s all about inequality and sexism and that sucks. As far as we have come we have not come far enough and don’t tell me a woman is happy to be running around in her underwear in front of spectators – some who have specifically turned up to see her scantily clad – because thats a load of crap. Dress ‘em alike and then harpies like me will maybe shut up or at least draw breath.
An old quote but a good one…
Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels -- Faith Whittlesey
May your Sunday be peaceful – back to Monday and the pukeability of it all tomorrow.
www.amarindajones.com
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Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?
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5 comments:
You make a very valid point about the attire. Don't watch any track and field. It's the same with the runners. Um, how is it you were watching the Olympics? Am I rubbing off on you? Better watch it or next time you'll be watching the whole thing, start to finish without interruption.
Everybody's talking about the Olympics. Congrats on the Aussie wins.
One reason I don't watch the Summer Olympics... some of the costumes just make me squirm.
Love the Fred Astaire quote--there's a lot of truth in it!
Have always love Waltzing Matilda even before I was old enough to know there was an Australia.
I agree about the uniforms. It makes no sense. As always, excellent blog.
I've been watching the women's track competition and I've been thinking the same thing. THe guys don't have to wear things that make them hang out all over. Ridiculous.
I remember the Tie Me Kangeroo song from when I was a little girl. My sister and I loved to sing in when we were on road trips.
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