Song dates from 1934, written by Marion Sinclair, as a result of a competition to raise money for the Girl Guides of Victoria (a state in Australia). It's since become an Australian children's nursery rhyme. Singing, it goes to the same tune as a traditional Welsh song called Wele ti'n eistedd aderyn du?
The original lyrics of the Australian tune are:
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh, Kookaburra! laugh, Kookaburra!
Gay your life must be
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gum drops he can see
Laugh, Kookaburra! Sing, Kookaburra!
Leave some there for me!
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Counting all the monkeys he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
That's not a monkey that's me
Kookaburra sits on a rusty nail
Gets a boo-boo in his tail
Cry, Kookaburra! Cry, kookaburra!
Oh how life can be!
The original lyrics of the Australian tune are:
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh, Kookaburra! laugh, Kookaburra!
Gay your life must be
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gum drops he can see
Laugh, Kookaburra! Sing, Kookaburra!
Leave some there for me!
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Counting all the monkeys he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
That's not a monkey that's me
Kookaburra sits on a rusty nail
Gets a boo-boo in his tail
Cry, Kookaburra! Cry, kookaburra!
Oh how life can be!
