Mrs+Nisbet+-+Kookaburra

**VERSION ONE** Here is a traditional rhyme from Australia.

//Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,// //Merry merry king of the bush is he.// //Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh, Kookaburra,// //Gay your life must be!//

This rhyme was written by a lady called Marion Sinclair in 1932 for a girl guide competition. It was written in a time when gay meant happy, and refers to the distinct call off the kookaburra which is a laughing sound. It is a very Australian song in that both kookaburras and gum trees are native to Australia. It's a happy, cheerful song about a cool little bird in a country where so many things are deadly. // "Despite its particular "Australian-ness", the song is well-known and performed around the world, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom, where the Girl Guide movements in those countries have adopted it as a traditional song." (From Wikipedia) // media type="youtube" key="jqzY3TuFlPM" height="379" width="639"

As you know, kids like to make their own versions of nursery rhymes. Here is the version I remember from the playground when I was at school in Australia  //Kookaburra sits on the electric wire,// //Better watch out or you'll catch on fire.//
 * VERSION TWO**

We lived on a farm so electric wire was a fact of life, as was the threat of fire. We also had to watch out for red back spiders and snakes. This modified rhyme captures more of the sense of danger that exists in Australia.

VERSION THREE
When I was starting high school in NZ an Aussie band called Men at Work exploded on the scene with a song called "Land Down Under" which is all about Australia. It's a great song, again, quintessentially Australian, with its mention of Vegemite, my favourite breakfast spread, and that threat of danger "You better run, you better take cover." Recently there was a big stink in Australia with some people claiming the boys had ripped the tune from Kookaburra. Check it out... media type="youtube" key="nF0Q5x7IeO0" height="385" width="480"