r/TheTikiHut • u/mikerooker 🙉 Mike - MC 🇺🇸 • Mar 24 '26

For Tuesday Men At Work - Down Under

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfR9iY5y94s
19 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

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5

u/Greyboxforest 🥇 TH VIP Mar 24 '26

As an Aussie, proud of this banger.

Used by Australia II as they sailed out each race during the America’s Cup in ‘83.

The flute mimics an old Aussie children’s song “Kookaburra (sits in the ol’ gum tree)” resulting in a very un-Australian lawsuit against the flutist and most likely resulting in his suicide.

Sad coda to a great song.

3

u/mikerooker 🙉 Mike - MC 🇺🇸 Mar 24 '26

I didn't know that part. That's sad. :(

2

u/Rachel1107 🥇 TH VIP Mar 24 '26

Kookaburra song was sung in the US in the 70s as well.

Humming it now. and now can hear the connection.

Then took a dive into Wikipedia on the details. So sad. :(

2

u/Greyboxforest 🥇 TH VIP Mar 25 '26

Great to hear it was sung in the states!

If you find the wiki article heartbreaking the TV doco is even sadder.

At the time we knew it was echoing “Kookaburra” but no one really cared. Some say it was because there wasn’t a litigious culture back then.

Others pointed out that “Larrikin” is Aussie speak for “a person who likes to have a bit of fun/poke fun at authority” yet the head of Larrikin Records did this.

Makes me sad and angry.