Carra Barra Wira Canna

Subject: Carra Barra Wira Canna
From: Kathryn
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 09:11 PM

I love the song, but need information. Is this the name of a body of water?? If so where is it? If not, what is it??

Subject: RE: Carra Barra Wira Canna
From: Amos
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 09:16 PM

I don't know it-- it sounds like a verse to the Name Game...

Subject: RE: Carra Barra Wira Canna
From: richardw
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 10:02 PM

there is an old thread about this song.

richard

Subject: RE: Carra Barra Wira Canna
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 10:32 PM

G'day Kathryn,

I think this is an old song from Rolf Harris, using Australian Aboriginal words. If so, the word barra would be "water" in one of the more southerly languages of the East Coast of Australia.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Carra Barra Wira Canna
From: Callie
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 09:23 AM

As the song starts "There's a lake in South Australia, little lake with lovely name", I always assumed the title referred to the name of the lake. -Callie

Subject: RE: Carra Barra Wira Canna
From: Kathryn
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 08:09 PM

Is it a fictional place?? I figure it is in Australia. Lost my Aussie map.

Subject: RE: Carra Barra Wira Canna
From: Callie
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 08:59 PM

The song refers to South Australia, so I assume it's either there or fictitiously there! As it's a Rolf Harris song, I can see dangers in taking it too seriously. -Callie

Subject: RE: Carra Barra Wira Canna
From: GUEST, Bob Bolton('s home computer)
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 01:22 AM

G'day out (over) there,

Kathryn: "Is it a fictional place?? I figure it is in Australia. Lost my Aussie map."

I can't find it on my 1:1,000,000 Atlas of Australia, so it is either very small ... or not there.

Callie: You wouldn't be casting aspertions on the veracity of the bloke I saw on Sunday 20 1959, in the old kangaroo enclosure at Taronga Zoo, promoting his new 45 rpm record (A side: Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport and B side: My Pal Al K. Hol)? That was the weekend after my 14th birthday and I climbed a tree and took some pictures with my new sub-miniature (16mm rollfilm) Kiku 16 camera.

Rolf saw me and asked about the camera (and I sent him some flyspeck sized contact prints!) - he gave me an autographed wobble board (long since wobbled to death by my little brother).

Actually Rolf has occasionally wandered past some of my friends playing as in Bush Band in Sydney's 'Rocks' area. He used to produce a didgeridu and join in, but his agent stopped him. Said that a man whose performance was worth so much shouldn't jam in with common folkies ... and it didn't pay a commission, either!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Carra Barra Wira Canna
From: Callie
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 02:33 AM

Wow! Maybe we should start a new thread for Rolf sightings!!

A friend of mine was studying at NIDA a few years ago and the staff booked Rolf for a lunch time concert. The students all turned up wearing polyester shirts, big-frame glasses and little beards. Rolf was NOT impressed. However, my friend DID manage to get his stylophone autographed, and displays it proudly on his mantlepiece! -Callie

Subject: RE: Carra Barra Wira Canna
From: GUEST,Bob Bolton('s home computer)
Date: 20 Feb 00 - 01:55 AM

G'day Callie,

Stylophone? Plastic Wobble Boards yet?!?

Back then they were made of 1/8" Masonite - the same stuff Rolf used to paint on (cheaper than canvas) ... Apparently he invented the wobble board while waving a masonite-based painting in front of a radiator, in the cold of London's Earls Court, trying to dry it quicker.

Regards,

Bob Bolton