Lyr Req: I Wonder Why? (Ted and Jackie Egan)

Subject: Lyr Req: I wonder wonder whyt
From: GUEST,Kerri
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 04:24 AM

I have a couple of lines from a song going around in my head, that we sang at school as kids. It's an Aussie kid's song, and the lines that are going through my head are:

"I wonder, wonder why, the emu doesn't fly"

"and why the kangaroo goes by bus to woollamallu"

and in there somewhere it goes "wonder la la la la, wonder la la la ling ah" or something like that.

Just having those couple of bits going around and around in my head is driving me nuts, and I would love if anyone could come up with the rest of the lyrics.

Thanks

Kerr

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I wonder wonder why the emu doesn't fly
From: Gene
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 12:30 AM

Hope someone comes thru for you...

A local music pal found a song for me online that a single verse had been drumming thru my head for 60 years...

and just last week Red Neckerson posted a 45 of a song that a verse of had been drumming thru my head for 50 years...

G

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I wonder wonder why the emu doesn't f
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 12:48 AM

I don't know the song but can suggest a correction to line 2

"and why the kangaroo goes by bus to woollamallu"

Woolloomooloo (often pronounced something like "woola/ma/loo") - suburb of inner Sydney used in a number of songs

good luck

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I wonder wonder why the emu doesn't fly
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 01:40 AM

LOL - yeah, thanks Sandra. Knew I had that spelling wrong, but thought that any one who knew the song I was talking about would know what I meant.

Cheers

Kerri

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I wonder wonder why the emu doesn't fly
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 02:18 PM

The only emu we saw on telly in England couldn't fly because it had Rod Hull's arm up it's bum...

Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I wonder wonder why the emu doesn't f
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Dec 09 - 12:37 AM

Kerri, I've sent your enquiry around further afield

sandra

Subject: Lyr Add: I WONDER WHY (Ted and Jackie Egan)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 03:38 AM

& received an answer, & here it is courtesy of Bertie who transcribed it from one of his copies of 'Sing'

Ted Egan's website

Welcome to Sing! online - index to all issues 1975 to 2006

=========================

I Wonder Why? by Ted and Jackie Egan

I wonder wonder why, the stars are in the sky?
Wan-ba-la la-la-la, Wan-ba-la la-la-Linga*
And why the moon's so round, and so far from the ground?
Wan balalalala, Wan balalala Linga
The stars are there at night, for those that have no light
The moon's a friend for ev'ry little star
So dance and join the ring, and hear the children sing
Wan balalalala, Wan balalala Linga
Wan balalalala, Wan balalala Linga

I wonder wonder why, the emu doesn't fly?
Wan balalalala, Wan balalala Linga
And why the kangaroo, goes by bus to Woolloomooloo?
Wan balalalala, Wan balalala Linga
Perhaps the emu thought, his wings were rather short
Perhaps the kangaroo can't drive a car
So dance…..

I wonder wonder why, a wombat winks his eye?
Wan balalalala, Wan balalala Linga
And kookaburras laugh, while splashing in the bath?
Wan balalalala, Wan balalala Linga
Now wombats tell us jokes, they're very funny blokes
The kookaburras laugh ha-ha-ha-ha
So dance….

I wonder wonder why, the gumtrees are so high?
Wan balalalala, Wan balalala Linga
And why koala bears, always sleep upstairs?
Wan balalalala, Wan balalala Linga
The gum trees are so tall, and koalas are so small
Perhaps they need an es-cal-a-te-ar
So dance….

* 'All the children happy'

========================

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I wonder wonder why the emu doesn't fly
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 09 - 11:55 AM

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! That is wonderful. :D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Wonder Why? (Ted and Jackie Egan)
From: GUEST,Lisa
Date: 19 May 10 - 08:19 AM

My mother, sister and I used to sing the first 2 verses of this song when I was a little girl and brings back such great memories. As a mum to 3 girls now I still sing this to them at bedtime and have spent many a night over the years searching for the full lyrics - I was so thrilled to find them - thank you so very much!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Wonder Why? (Ted and Jackie Egan)
From: GUEST
Date: 25 May 10 - 07:09 AM

wow i've been looking for years for the lyrics was never able to tell my kids but now i can thank you

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Wonder Why? (Ted and Jackie Egan)
From: GUEST,anni-lyn
Date: 14 Aug 10 - 12:22 AM

Many thanks to Bertie and Sandra, I've had the koalas quandry going round in my head for months and been forgetting to google it. I loved that song, as well as "There's an elephant in my bedroom". The 70's was a brilliant decade for Sing books. I also remember "What I want is a proper cup of coffee" and "Lime juice tub". Wow, it's all coming back to me now!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Wonder Why? (Ted and Jackie Egan)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 14 - 09:50 AM

Gorgeous... I've had this song in my head for 36 years & just found the album via Ted Egans web site. I'm glad I wasn't alone. It meant the world to me as a kid and still does now as an adult.. I'm still singing it.. xo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Wonder Why? (Ted and Jackie Egan)
From: GUEST,Annie oc
Date: 30 Mar 15 - 03:12 AM

Thank you, 30 years of misquoted lyrics corrected :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Wonder Why? (Ted and Jackie Egan)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Mar 15 - 07:12 PM

I sing some really good Mondegreens & discovered as few when I was looking thru a song book recently!

Most of the songs I know/partly know I've learnt in singing sessions, then when I see a copy of the words ...

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Wonder Why? (Ted and Jackie Egan)
From: GUEST,SP
Date: 29 Apr 15 - 12:09 AM

I just randomly sung the beginning of this song and then couldn't remember any further than the chorus!
Thank you!! :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Wonder Why? (Ted and Jackie Egan)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Oct 24 - 11:38 AM

That's amazing. This morning, the first couple of lines of I Wonder Wonder why .... were going through my head for no logical reason, and I decided to try and find the rest of the lyrics. Lo and behold, other folks are wondering, too :) I remember learning this song at school in Gnowangerup, a little town, south west of Perth. Memories.
Thanks for sharing all the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Wonder Why? (Ted and Jackie Egan)
From: GerryM
Date: 16 Oct 24 - 05:16 PM

"Gnowangerup, a little town, south west of Perth." That would put it in the Indian Ocean. It's actually southeast of Perth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnowangerup,_Western_Australia