Songs mentioning kangaroos - #3 - Kanga Roo - Jeff Buckley
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382664)
Rockingham, Australia
November 14, 2017 6:28am CST
My third song that has ‘kangaroo’ in the title or lyrics is called ‘Kanga Roo’ and the lyrics are by Van Morrison. I can brag a little here and say my son has played bass in a group backing Van Morrison at a gig somewhere in Ireland. Again I have no idea what the song is about. Maybe they just wanted something to rhyme with ‘you’. It’s sung here by Jeff Buckley.
Our kangaroos are Western greys (Macropus fuliginosus). Kangaroos are macropods which means ‘big foot’. The term is especially used for the four members of the Macropus genus. As well as the western greys, there are eastern greys (slightly larger), antilopines (the far north equivalent of the western and eastern) and the red kangaroo.
The latter is not as pretty as our greys and they have a Roman nose and a red coat. They are the largest of the macropods. Surviving marsupial in the world and are found in the arid and semi-arid centre of Australia. A large male may be 2 metres (6’7”) tall and weigh 90 kg (200lb).
The roo in the photo was at Erldunda on the way to Uluru. It’s not the best photo but you can see that he is a totally different colour to ‘our’ roos and his head is quite masculine, for want of a better word. And he seems to have big ears! I have another great photo of one flat on his back catching a suntan but I’ll put that up in a comment.
10 people like this
11 responses
@JudyEv (382664)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Nov 17
@WorDazza I've got my ten. Some mention kangaroo once; and a couple twice but I'm counting them as legitimate. I don't know that I'd do much better with marsupials. I can't think of one single song that has the word 'marsupial' in it. 

1 person likes this

@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Nov 17
I have heard of Jeff Buckley but not this song.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
14 Nov 17
Wow I never realized the roos could grow so big, are they good-natured or aggressive?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
17 Nov 17
@JudyEv I just think they are so cute.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43684)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Nov 17
I've never heard this by him Bloody awesome!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43684)
• Denver, Colorado
15 Nov 17
@JudyEv - 14 minute jams are right up my alley.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
14 Nov 17
How interesting. I didn't realize they were so hunched over like that.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40230)
• United States
14 Nov 17
@JudyEv I didn't know that... I thought they hopped all the time. It's an interesting looking animal up close....
1 person likes this
@yanzalong (19091)
• Indonesia
14 Nov 17
I ve never seen kangaroos in person. Are they tame?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382664)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Nov 17
The dirt in the outback is very red so the roos blend in well in the outback.
@ilocosboy (45155)
• Philippines
14 Nov 17
Now I'm waiting for the number one song about Kangaroo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382664)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Nov 17
I think I've got ten songs which is what the gurus usually come up with - so I need to do ten if I can! 













But it doesn't seem to mean anything. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed it. 





