Song of the Week: Kookaburra

The Kookaburra song is a nursery rhyme about the Australian Kingfisher bird, also called the Laughing Kookabura because of its laugh-like call. Written by Marion Sinclair in the mid 1900′s, it’s a cute song that talks about a Kookaburra having a grand old time in a gum tree. As an interesting side note, the tune for Kookabura was also the subject of a lawsuit when Men At Work was accused of using the melody in their “Down Under” song.

I’ve known this song since I was a child (odd considering I grew up in Southern California) and lately we’ve been singing it while we read “Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball.” I mentioned this adorable book in Five Terrific Toddler Books and one of the pages in the story shows a big tree with a Kookaburra sitting in the branches while all the animals run around the tree. Every time we come to this page the munchkin says “Kooka! Kookaburr-ahh song!” I think he not only enjoys the sweet melody, but also likes saying such a funny sounding word. :)

Below are the lyrics to the song as I learned them. As you’ll see in the video above, my version is slightly different. Also, if you want to show your toddler what real kookaburras look like, the munchkin thinks the videos at the bottom of this post are awesome. Especially the second one. Who knew birds could laugh like that?

Kookabura Song Lyrics

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!
What a life you lead

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry, merry little bird is he
Sing, Kookaburra! Sing, Kookabura!
Sing your song for me.

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gum drops he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
Leave some there for me

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Counting all the monkeys he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
That’s not a monkey that is me.