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Wednesday, May 16, 2007
+ yay Australia boleh +
ok... throughout the years we have undoubtedly come across peeps who have dreams of moving down under... to the land of koalas, kangaroo's, anal-retentive customs officials, and fish 'n' chips the size of the average rhinoceros. As a history major, it is of great interest to me that once upon a time, the Australian island was a dumping ground for depraved hardened criminals. They were apparently so abominable that the British Empire deliberately sent them as far away as geographically possible, so as to be rid of them forever and forever amen... Ironically, today almost every middle-class Singaporean has toyed with the idea of going there voluntarily... to live in peace and racial harmony with the descendants of... well nevermind. In order to help our would-be emigrants adapt to the distinct Australian culture and colloquialisms, i have prepared the most beloved song in Australia with annotations for easy reference. Waltzing Matilda the unofficial Australian National Anthem Once a jolly swagman(1) camped by a billabong,(2) Under the shade of a Coolibah(3) tree, And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy(4) boil You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me,(5) And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boil You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me. Down came a jumbuck(6) to drink at that billabong Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee, And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag(7) You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.(8) Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me, And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me. Up rode the squatter mounted on his thorough-bred(9) Down came the troopers One Two Three(10) Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker bag You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me. Waltzing Matilda Waltzing Matilda You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me Whose that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.(11) Up jumped the swagman sprang in to the billabong You'll never catch me alive said he, And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me.(12) ------------------------------ (1)swagman: a bum (2)billabong: a dry river bed, or a famous surfer brand (3)coolibah: apparently... some kind of... tree (4)billy: ummm... a smaller dry river bed? (5)This line seems to indicate some kind of dancing, probably a waltz, possibly with someone named Matilda (6)jumbuck: Oh COME ON! That can't possibly be a word! (7)tucker-bag: haiz... you know what? Fuck this. "English-speaking" country, my ass. (8)I find this whole stanza very disturbing, watevadahell a jumbuck is... (9)okay... I have absolutely no idea why this squatter has a thorough-bred (10)apparently he has links with either the Storm Troopers or the Starship Troopers (11)I'm not familiar with the Australian code of law... But i think the penalty for shoving a "jumbuck" in a "tucker-bag" is to go have a waltz with Matilda and a squatter. (12)The Aussies think having a waltz with Matilda and a squatter is a fate worse than death. Beats me why they wrote a song about it.
ian wong beats around the bush@
6:01 PM
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| last update Oct 2007 |
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A Sticky Affair
Shoes Anonymous Showhand Indian Thriller with English Lyrics Idlewild - American English Animaniacs - A Midsummer Night's Dream |
What we do in life, echoes in eternityStep in! All who dare enter the dark labyrinth that is my mind. I stand at the doorway, screaming "Come in already!!! the air-con is flowing out!!!" Name: Ian Wong
Find me through the looking glass
imddreamweaver@gmail.com
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