Such clever lyrics, with word play on places, animals and plants in our Country. It was written by Billy Birmingham and Austen Tayshus and released on 1 June 1983. Here are the lyrics and a very short explanation of some of the references…. Sitting at home last Sunday morning, me mate “Boomer rang” (referencing an Aboriginal Boomerang and for this poem, a person by the name of Boomer ringing. A Boomer is a male kangaroo) Said he was having a few people around for a “barbie” (Australian slang for a BBQ or Barbecue) said he might “cook a burra” (written Kookaburra, which is a bird) or two I said, "Sounds great, will “Walla be” (Wallaby - a marsupial in the same family group as a kangaroo) there?” He said, "Yeah and “Vejja might” (Vegemite) come too" So I said to the wife, "Do you wanna “go Anna” (Goanna is a lizard)?” She said, "I'll go if “Ding goes” (dingoes are a wild dog-like animal) So I said, "What’ll (Wattle is a plant species) we do about Nulla?" He said, "Nulla bores” (Nullarbor is the name of a stretch of Australia that you drive across from WA to the East coast. It literally means no tree) me to tears, leave him at home" We got to the party about two and walked straight out the kitchen to put some booze in the fridge And you wouldn't believe it, there's Boomer's wife Warra sitting there trying to “plait a puss”. (Platypus, an egg laying mammal) Now, I don't like to speak “I’ll of Warra”. (Illawarra is a town), but I was shocked; I mean how much can a “koala bear” (referring to how much a koala can bare) So I grabbed a beer, flashed me “wanger at her” (town Wangaratta) and went out and joined the party Pretty soon “Ayres rocks” (referring to a person named Ayres, and Ayres Rock, also called Uluṟu) in and things really started jumping This Indian girl Marsu turns up, dying to go to the toilet, but she couldn't find it I said to me mate Al, "Hey, where can “Marsu pee, Al (marsupial is a type of animal that has there baby born very small and continues to grow and develop after birth. This includes the Kangaroo)?” He said "She can go “out back” (referring to the Aussie outback, and also a term for a person to use an outside toilet, which was very common decades ago) with the fellas, she's probably seen a “cock or two” (referencing a Cockatoo which is a bird) Well just then Warra comes out of the kitchen with a few drinks for everybody Fair dinkum, you've never seen a “cooler bar maid” (Coolabah is a place in New South Wales”. I grabbed a beer and said, "Thanks “Warra, tah! (Waratah is a plant species) A couple of “queens land” (I know such an out os date term, but this is referencing Queensland, the State) at the party, one smelling pretty strongly of aftershave One of them sat down next to me and I turned to him and I said, "Ya know mate, “you reek of Stockade!” (Eureka Stockade was a rebellion involving gold miners and government) It was a really hot day; Oscar felt like a swim He said to Ina, "Do you want a have a dip in the “river, Ina” (Riverina, place in New South Wales She said, "I haven't got my “cozzy, Oscar!” (Cozzy is an abbreviation of costume or swimming apparel, and it is also referencing Mount Kosiuszko, our tallest mountain) Well Bo says, "Come in starkers (this means in your birthday suit or naked), “what’ll they care?” (Referencing Lake Eyre, which is a place that has a lot of wattle trees in the area) Ina says, "What, without so much as a “thread , Bo?” (thread as in the material of clothing, and Thredbo, a place in New South Wales which is also has a ski resort) "Ah, “perish the” (Perisher is another skiing place) thought! Has “Yucum been” (Eucumbene is a lake in New South Wales) in yet?" Well a few of the blokes decided to play some cricket Boomer says "Why doesn't “Wom bat? (Wombat is an animal) "Yeah, and let “Tenter field” (In cricket there is a batting side, and fielding side. Also Tenterfield is a place, made famous by Peter Allan singing Tenterfield Sadler”, a song for his Grandfather) He said I should have a bowl but I was too out of it to play cricket so I suggested a game of cards I said to Liptus, "Wanna game of “euchre, Liptus?” (Eucalyptus is a gum tree, famously eaten by Koalas) He said, "There's no point mate, “Darr wins” (Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory) every time" Well Bill said he'd like a smoke Nobody knew where the dope was stashed I said, "I think “Marie knows” (Merinos are a breed of sheep) “But I was just spinning a bit of a yarn” 😂 (to spin a yarn is to tell a far-fetched story, and also what wool from sheep is made into) Barry pulls a joint out of his pocket Bill says "Great, Barry, a reefer!” (Great Barrier reef is famous, maybe if you’ve watched Nemo), What is it mate?” “Noosa Heads” (place) of course. Me mate “Ada laid” (Adelaide is the capital of South Australia” ‘em (short of them) on me” And it was a great joint too, it “blew Mountains” (Blue Mountains is a place) away and his “three sisters” (tourist rock formations in the Blue Mountains, NSW) Well I thought I'd roll one meself, I said, Chuck us the “ Tallyho, Bart” (Tallyho is a brand of cigarette papers and Hobart is the Capital of Tasmania) He said "They're out on the “lawn, Ceston” (Launceston is a town in Tasmania) can you get 'em for us?" “Bernie” (a town and name of a person) says, "It's okay mate, “she’s apples”, (Tasmania is known as the Apple Isle, but it is also slang saying which basically saying it’s going to be alright) I'll get em for ya" Just then “Alice springs” (A town in the NT) into action, starts to pack “Bill a bong” (a Billabong is a body of water and also a surfing label) And you wouldn't believe it, the bong's broken I said "Lord how!” (Referencing Lord Howe Island, a place) "Hey man” (referencing a place, Hayman Island) somebody says, "will a “didgery do?” (Referencing a didgeridoo) I said “Hummmmm, mummmm, mummmmm,mummmm,” (sound of the didgeridoo), maybe it’ll have too” I look in the corner and there's Bass sitting there, not getting into it, not getting out of it I said, "What, is “Bass straight” (place Bass Strait) or something?" Boomer says, "As a matter a fact mate, he's a cop" I said, "You're joking mate, a cop? I'm getting outta here. Let's “go, Anna” (Goanna is a lizard) She said, "No way, I'm hangin round till “Gum Leaves” (plant eaten by Koalas) Besides, I don't wanna leave “Jack around a” (Jacaranda is a plant) party on his own Have you seen him? I think he's trying to “crack on to Wumba”,(crack is to flirt, and to Wumba references the town Toowoomba) he's already tried to “mount Isa” (Mount Isa is a place in Queensland) And he'll definitely try to lead you “astray, Liana”! (Aka Australiana)! Thank you and goodnight!
On 8th September 1983 Australiana by Austin Tayshus Reached number one and stayed at that position for seven weeks and remainded on The Australian Top 20 for eighteen weeks. Its became the biggest selling Single of 1983 it was also featured a Maxi-Single
I feel sorry for people who aren't Australia as they don't get many of the references, which no matter how many times Aussies hear this we find it hilarious.
Australiana (astray liana), is complicated. There is a wikipedia entry for it "Australiana (song)" that does give a breakdown of all of the references and the allusion to what is said. I would post it but YT would probably delete it. Briefly, starting from the title "Australiana", the last line "Lead you astray, Liana." can be any Australian kitch or paraphernalia relating to Australian. "Astray, Liana" Astray: " into error or morally questionable behaviour." Liana: a girls name My mate, Boomer, rang "Boomer" in context of the song, a friends name, could also be a kangaroo (Six white boomers: a christmas song). Rang: Boomer called him on the phone. HTH
Such clever lyrics, with word play on places, animals and plants in our Country. It was written by Billy Birmingham and Austen Tayshus and released on 1 June 1983. Here are the lyrics and a very short explanation of some of the references….
Sitting at home last Sunday morning, me mate “Boomer rang” (referencing an Aboriginal Boomerang and for this poem, a person by the name of Boomer ringing. A Boomer is a male kangaroo)
Said he was having a few people around for a “barbie” (Australian slang for a BBQ or Barbecue) said he might “cook a burra” (written Kookaburra, which is a bird) or two
I said, "Sounds great, will “Walla be” (Wallaby - a marsupial in the same family group as a kangaroo) there?”
He said, "Yeah and “Vejja might” (Vegemite) come too"
So I said to the wife, "Do you wanna “go Anna” (Goanna is a lizard)?”
She said, "I'll go if “Ding goes” (dingoes are a wild dog-like animal)
So I said, "What’ll (Wattle is a plant species) we do about Nulla?"
He said, "Nulla bores” (Nullarbor is the name of a stretch of Australia that you drive across from WA to the East coast. It literally means no tree) me to tears, leave him at home"
We got to the party about two and walked straight out the kitchen to put some booze in the fridge
And you wouldn't believe it, there's Boomer's wife Warra sitting there trying to “plait a puss”. (Platypus, an egg laying mammal)
Now, I don't like to speak “I’ll of Warra”. (Illawarra is a town), but I was shocked; I mean how much can a “koala bear” (referring to how much a koala can bare)
So I grabbed a beer, flashed me “wanger at her” (town Wangaratta) and went out and joined the party
Pretty soon “Ayres rocks” (referring to a person named Ayres, and Ayres Rock, also called Uluṟu) in and things really started jumping
This Indian girl Marsu turns up, dying to go to the toilet, but she couldn't find it
I said to me mate Al, "Hey, where can “Marsu pee, Al (marsupial is a type of animal that has there baby born very small and continues to grow and develop after birth. This includes the Kangaroo)?”
He said "She can go “out back” (referring to the Aussie outback, and also a term for a person to use an outside toilet, which was very common decades ago) with the fellas, she's probably seen a “cock or two” (referencing a Cockatoo which is a bird)
Well just then Warra comes out of the kitchen with a few drinks for everybody
Fair dinkum, you've never seen a “cooler bar maid” (Coolabah is a place in New South Wales”.
I grabbed a beer and said, "Thanks “Warra, tah! (Waratah is a plant species)
A couple of “queens land” (I know such an out os date term, but this is referencing Queensland, the State) at the party, one smelling pretty strongly of aftershave
One of them sat down next to me and I turned to him and I said, "Ya know mate, “you reek of Stockade!” (Eureka Stockade was a rebellion involving gold miners and government)
It was a really hot day; Oscar felt like a swim
He said to Ina, "Do you want a have a dip in the “river, Ina” (Riverina, place in New South Wales
She said, "I haven't got my “cozzy, Oscar!” (Cozzy is an abbreviation of costume or swimming apparel, and it is also referencing Mount Kosiuszko, our tallest mountain)
Well Bo says, "Come in starkers (this means in your birthday suit or naked), “what’ll they care?” (Referencing Lake Eyre, which is a place that has a lot of wattle trees in the area)
Ina says, "What, without so much as a “thread , Bo?” (thread as in the material of clothing, and Thredbo, a place in New South Wales which is also has a ski resort)
"Ah, “perish the” (Perisher is another skiing place) thought! Has “Yucum been” (Eucumbene is a lake in New South Wales) in yet?"
Well a few of the blokes decided to play some cricket
Boomer says "Why doesn't “Wom bat? (Wombat is an animal)
"Yeah, and let “Tenter field” (In cricket there is a batting side, and fielding side. Also Tenterfield is a place, made famous by Peter Allan singing Tenterfield Sadler”, a song for his Grandfather)
He said I should have a bowl but I was too out of it to play cricket so I suggested a game of cards
I said to Liptus, "Wanna game of “euchre, Liptus?” (Eucalyptus is a gum tree, famously eaten by Koalas)
He said, "There's no point mate, “Darr wins” (Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory) every time"
Well Bill said he'd like a smoke
Nobody knew where the dope was stashed
I said, "I think “Marie knows” (Merinos are a breed of sheep)
“But I was just spinning a bit of a yarn” 😂 (to spin a yarn is to tell a far-fetched story, and also what wool from sheep is made into)
Barry pulls a joint out of his pocket
Bill says "Great, Barry, a reefer!” (Great Barrier reef is famous, maybe if you’ve watched Nemo), What is it mate?”
“Noosa Heads” (place) of course. Me mate “Ada laid” (Adelaide is the capital of South Australia” ‘em (short of them) on me”
And it was a great joint too, it “blew Mountains” (Blue Mountains is a place) away and his “three sisters” (tourist rock formations in the Blue Mountains, NSW)
Well I thought I'd roll one meself, I said, Chuck us the “ Tallyho, Bart” (Tallyho is a brand of cigarette papers and Hobart is the Capital of Tasmania)
He said "They're out on the “lawn, Ceston” (Launceston is a town in Tasmania) can you get 'em for us?"
“Bernie” (a town and name of a person) says, "It's okay mate, “she’s apples”, (Tasmania is known as the Apple Isle, but it is also slang saying which basically saying it’s going to be alright) I'll get em for ya"
Just then “Alice springs” (A town in the NT) into action, starts to pack “Bill a bong” (a Billabong is a body of water and also a surfing label)
And you wouldn't believe it, the bong's broken
I said "Lord how!” (Referencing Lord Howe Island, a place)
"Hey man” (referencing a place, Hayman Island) somebody says, "will a “didgery do?” (Referencing a didgeridoo)
I said “Hummmmm, mummmm, mummmmm,mummmm,” (sound of the didgeridoo), maybe it’ll have too”
I look in the corner and there's Bass sitting there, not getting into it, not getting out of it
I said, "What, is “Bass straight” (place Bass Strait) or something?"
Boomer says, "As a matter a fact mate, he's a cop"
I said, "You're joking mate, a cop? I'm getting outta here. Let's “go, Anna” (Goanna is a lizard)
She said, "No way, I'm hangin round till “Gum Leaves” (plant eaten by Koalas) Besides, I don't wanna leave “Jack around a” (Jacaranda is a plant) party on his own
Have you seen him? I think he's trying to “crack on to Wumba”,(crack is to flirt, and to Wumba references the town Toowoomba) he's already tried to “mount Isa” (Mount Isa is a place in Queensland)
And he'll definitely try to lead you “astray, Liana”! (Aka Australiana)!
Thank you and goodnight!
PS Merry Christmas 🎄
Awesome job, there is a pun or two in every line. Impossible for a non Aussie to catch them all.
This was MASSIVE when released & has aged well.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
A lot of the jokes are place names, they are easy to miss for someone not from Aussie.
I hope you and dad are having a great chrissy and new year.
G'day. You missed so many . Most are place names with a few animals thrown in for good measure. Pretty much every line had a pun in it.
On 8th September 1983 Australiana by Austin Tayshus Reached number one and stayed at that position for seven weeks and remainded on The Australian Top 20 for eighteen weeks. Its became the biggest selling Single of 1983 it was also featured a Maxi-Single
welcome back!!!
You’re back!
Wangaratta is a town south west from where i live its only 70km and it only takes 46 minutes drive form me to get there
Tenterfeild is a town in New South Wales
I feel sorry for people who aren't Australia as they don't get many of the references, which no matter how many times Aussies hear this we find it hilarious.
Saw Austen Tayshus back in the eighties he was wild live
great choice mikey its a comedy
he is a halerious look of australian puns town names ect
Australiana (astray liana), is complicated.
There is a wikipedia entry for it "Australiana (song)" that does give a breakdown of all of the references and the allusion to what is said.
I would post it but YT would probably delete it.
Briefly, starting from the title "Australiana", the last line "Lead you astray, Liana." can be any Australian kitch or paraphernalia relating to Australian.
"Astray, Liana"
Astray: " into error or morally questionable behaviour."
Liana: a girls name
My mate, Boomer, rang
"Boomer" in context of the song, a friends name, could also be a kangaroo (Six white boomers: a christmas song).
Rang: Boomer called him on the phone.
HTH
Also check The Twelth Man by Billy Birmingham . He wrote that clip .🏏
He’s quoting native aboriginal names of animals and places and thing of such like Maree knows is the reference to the Marino sheep
Did you get any of that Heavy?
waratah is a native flower
Eureka Stockade ; Miners rebellion Ballarat Dec 3rd 1854
and that was censored on radio
A lot of the jokes are place names, locals only, sorry.
lol you pronounced it wrong, it's pronounced just like the you say the word Australia but with "Ana" at the end.
Please pronounce Australiana correctly Orstraliana .👍🍻