Trixiestan wrote:Kazomal wrote:Hey, you know that song "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Mate" where the dieing Australian stockman is relating his last requests to his friends, and one of them is "Let me Abos go loose, Lew," does that refer to Aboriginals? Is this a reference to slavery, or just to his Abo farm hands? Either way, casts a whole new view on the song.
Did you not see my quote from the last page? o:
Racism in the arts—a window into the past
In 1957 Rolf Harris, then 27, wrote the song 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport' which became a number one hit in Australia. The song was originally made of seven verses and the chorus. The sixth verse went as follows [20]:
Let me Abos go loose, Lou,
Let me Abos go loose.
They're of no further use, Lou,
So let me Abos go loose.
Altogether now!
'Abo' is a derogatory term for Aboriginal people. In the context of the song the above verse becomes even more racist because almost all other verses are about animals which are to be let lose after the drover's death the song is about.
Because of the racist term used the song was banned in Singapore. In some versions 'Abo' got replaced with 'emu' [19].
I did not see that, thank you for clearing this is for me.