It’s largely a matter of geography, I think.

How come I never find a behbeh ‘roo in MY laundry basket?! :’(

Thanks Amy! Bill Bryson also explains the song in the book I’m reading.

I can explain the Waltzing Matilda thing. It’s what the swagman (tramp)in the song is doing when he goes from place to place with his swag (bag of stuff, like a hobo with a blanket bundle on a stick) – aka his ‘Matilda’. The slang for going on the road, being a wanderer, was to ‘waltz’ your Matilda – I suppose it was a joke because waltzing is about the furtherest thing from sleeping rough, going from place to place looking for work that there is.

I’m Australian, and I only know this because they told us in school once. It’s quite confusing. By the way, a billabong is a swampy pond and a tuckerbag is a food bag.

(Imagines the ‘Roo’s ears twitching during the honk-shu-ing.) ^_^

The thing that always confoozled me about “Waltzing Matilda” is it isn’t a waltz.

At least she didn’t sing Waltzing Matilda…

SoCalSis – http://www.squidgrid.com/cute/Glossary.htm#Earworm

Alltogether now… “Tie me kangaroo down, boys, tie me kangaroo down…”

Baby roos are actually cuter up close! Would love to hear those Austarlian accent impressions in real life, always fun to hear someone trying to talk like us.