OLD MAN EMU
(John Williamson)

John Williamson - 1970


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?
Oom-ba-da-liddle-da-da-da
"While the eagle's flying round and round
I keep my two feet firmly on the ground
Now, I can't fly, but I'm telling you
I can run the pants of a kangaroo"
Ba-da-da-da-doo-do-doo-doo-da-doo-da-doo-doo
He can't fly, but I'm telling you
He can run the pants of a kangaroo

Well he was the model for the fifty cents
Oom-ba-da-liddle-da-da-da
The designer should have had more sense
Oom-ba-da-liddle-da-da-da
"If you take a look, it'll prove to you
I ran the pants off that kangaroo"
Ba-da-doo-doo-da-doo-doo-doo, doo-da-doo-da-doo-doo
Take a look it'll prove to you
He ran the pants off the kangaroo

You can't loop the loop like a cockatoo
Oom-ba-da-liddle-da-da-da
Swoop and toss like an albatross
Oom-ba-da-liddle-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-doo-doo-da-doo-doo-doo, doo-da-doo-da-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-liddle-da-da-da
He was chasing a female he knew
Oom-ba-da-liddle-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-doo-doo-da-doo-doo-doo, doo-da-doo-da-doo-doo
She can't fly but I'm telling you
She could run the pants of a kangaroo

Well there is a moral to this ditty
Oom-ba-da-liddle-da-da-da
Thrush can sing but he ain't pretty
Oom-ba-da-liddle-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-liddle-da-da-da
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-hoo
He can run the pants off a kangaroo
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha"