Kookaburra Song Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree

Meaning of the Words in Kookaburra Song

Have you ever wondered what the words in the Kookaburra Song mean? Listed below are some of the words used in the 'Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree', which may be unfamiliar to some readers.

Kookaburra – The kookaburra bird is a large Australian kingfisher. It is sometimes also referred to as the Laughing Kookaburra because it makes a sound like a human laughing.

Gum Tree – This is another name for the Eucalyptus tree, which is very common in Australia.

Bush – The people of Australia refer to parts of the country outside the major cities and towns as " the bush". The phrase probably originated because there are lots of bushes and scrub when you go into the Australian country-side.

Gum Drops – When some types of eucalyptus trees are damaged by insects, they ooze blood-red sap (like humans ooze blood). This sap forms large drops that harden when they dry. The dried sap globules from these trees are called gum drops. You can't eat sap. You would get sick if you did. Actually, kookaburras don't eat them either. Gum drops are also a type of candy. So in this song, it means candy.

Gay –When this song was written in 1932 , the word "gay" meant "happy and carefree". Since about 1955, the term has taken a different meaning. Today, the word refers to a homosexual person, or sometimes the word is used by the younger generation to mean "lame" or "stupid".

Monkeys – There are no wild monkeys in Australia. The closest animals that climb trees in Australia are koalas or possums. The word was probably used because it rhymed well.

Kookaburra Song Videos

Curious to hear what the Kookaburra Song sounds like? We've chosen two versions for you to enjoy. Simply click on the photo-links below to listen.

Marion Sinclair Wrote the Kookaburra Song

Marion Sinclair wrote Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree in 1932. She titled the song Kookaburra Sits in an Old Gum Tree , but over time, it evolved into its present names of Kookaburra Song and Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.

Marion Sinclair (1896-1988) was born on 9 October 1896 in Werribee, Victoria. She was educated at home until the age of 14 and spent a lonely childhood without much contact with other children. She found comfort in playing the piano and writing her own stories and rhymes. She attended Toorak College between 1911 and 1913. In 1920 she joined Toorak College as a music and drama teacher and involved herself with the school's Girl Guides group. Marion obtained a diploma of Music from Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music in 1924.

In 1932 Marion entered her own composition Kookaburra Sits in an Old Gum Tree in a Girl Guides competition for 'a typically Australian round' (a home-grown Australian song). She won the contest. It was sung later that year at a Girl Guides jamboree held in Australia. Visiting guides and scouts liked it so much they took the catchy tune back with them. It was soon gained worldwide popularity and was translated into many languages.

Marion left Toorak College in 1943 and worked in many welfare roles, mostly with the YWCA. While not officially taking out copyright, throughout her life, Marion frequently acknowledged ownership of the song and often gave permission to others to use it. In 1987 she assigned copyright and ownership of all her private records to the Libraries Board of South Australia. Marion Sinclair died on 15 February 1988. The Libraries Board of South Australia sold the copyright to the Kookaburra song to Larrikin Music Publishing Pty Ltd. for $6,100. Larrikin Music was bought by Music Sales Corporation in 1988.

Kookaburra Song Controversy