Songs mentioning kangaroos - #6 – The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles – Jethro Tull

@JudyEv (325818)
Rockingham, Australia
November 19, 2017 9:01am CST
Here is song #6 which mentions kangaroos in the title or lyrics. As in the other songs, the mention is in the lyrics. The song was included on the rock group Jethro Tull's 1973 album ‘A Passion Play’. Wikipedia says it is the group’s sixth studio album comprising individual songs arranged into a single continuous piece of music. The elaborate stage production of the original tour to support the album featured three videos, the second of which was about the hare who lost his spectacles. And now a bit more about kangaroos. You all know that kangaroos move by hopping but that is not their only means of locomotion. When grazing they will support their weight on their hands and tail and swing the hind legs forward. Sometimes the hind legs don’t move exactly together. This is called pentapedal locomotion. Red kangaroos can hop comfortably at about 20–25 km/h (12–16 mph). Over short distances, speeds of up to 70 km/h (43 mph) can be reached and it can sustain a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) for nearly 2 km (1.2 m). Despite their awkward appearance kangaroos are good swimmers and if pursued by dogs will often head for water and turn to face the dogs, holding them underwater if any come close enough to be grabbed by the roo’s forepaws. The photo is of two young roos sparring. The front one is balancing on his tail and about to bring his hind legs up to try to kick the other one in the belly. The back one has his head tipped back to avoid getting poked in the eye.
This was already posted by somebody, but the audio was pretty lousy, so I downloaded it and remixed it with new, high-quality, stereo audio from my Passion P...
10 people like this
10 responses
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Nov 17
I never knew roos went into water and swam.
6 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Mar 18
Sorry I missed this. Yes, they are excellent swimmers. It surprises me too really.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
19 Nov 17
Interesting stuff about them! Are they really quite common to see? Do they cause problems with crops?
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 17
They do cause a lot of damage to crops. Although it is now illegal to shoot them, licences are issued to farmers if asked for. Some have a licence to shoot kangaroos for pet meat. Our neighbour has an electric fence which keeps them out of his place. They are increasing in numbers now they're protected and there are places, like our paddocks, where it is not unusual to see 40 to 50 of an evening. We are not trying to grow anything here and we are just happy to have the pleasure of seeing them around.
@RasmaSandra (73444)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Nov 17
Interesting to know and love the photo. Never heard of this song before. Thanks for sharing.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Mar 18
These are play-fighting, practising for when they are adults. The does rarely fight but occasionally they might.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
19 Nov 17
They do seem to be mean to each other!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Mar 18
They are just play-fighting really. Only the bucks have serious altercations.
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Nov 17
Jethro Tull is awesome. Excellent choice!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Mar 18
I'm pleased you're pleased.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
19 Nov 17
Love Jethro Tull. Didn't know there was so many gaits for Kangroos, either
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Mar 18
Yep, they're not just hoppers!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
6 Mar 18
@JudyEv lol! That's sort of what I thought - they hopped everywhere
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169993)
• United States
19 Nov 17
Kangaroos are pretty synomous with Australia.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Mar 18
That's true. They can't be mistaken for anything else!
@yanzalong (18984)
• Indonesia
19 Nov 17
I wish there were kangoroos in our country. They look so funny.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Mar 18
Australia has a few strange creatures, doesn't it?
@jobelbojel (34729)
• Philippines
19 Nov 17
Never heard of the song. Good to know information about the K. I never thought it can swim.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Mar 18
They don't really look like swimmers do they? I guess the legs are very powerful though.
@Madshadi (8849)
• Brussels, Belgium
19 Nov 17
I love their strategy to comfort dogs. They must be really smart
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Mar 18
I guess they are smart in some ways but they also panic very easily.