Read the Poems

(To be recited to the rhythm of Waltzing Matilda)

Once a lonely joey strayed from his mother's pouch
Venturing out to a world on display.
Awe struck he returned to find his mother lying prone
Hungry dingoes had gorged her life away.

(Main Chorus)
Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
Fighting in the desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Once as a joey he fought just to stay alive
But now he's in the Circus, Stan Lea the Boxing 'Roo.

Hungry, all alone and scared for his life
Frightened he craved the safety of his pouch.
But he discovered Cruel Destiny had changed his life
Now all alone he must fend for himself.

Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
Fighting in the desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Once as a joey he fought just to stay alive
But now he's in the Circus, Stan Lea the Boxing 'Roo.

Years passed slowly and somehow he survived
Learning from Nature he grew big and strong.
Now, as a Big Red roo, he has the pick of all the girls
His life at last was a pleasure to live.

Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
Fighting in the desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Once as a joey he fought just to stay alive
But now he's in the Circus, Stan Lea the Boxing 'Roo.

One day out to sea strangeness he did see
A weird looking log of enormous size.
As it came closer it seemed to spawn much smaller logs
And on each small log were strange  WHITE  men.

Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
Fighting in the desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Once as a joey he fought just to stay alive
But now he's in the Circus, Stan Lea the Boxing 'Roo.

Once they reached the shore, such a commotion
No friendly group - he'd keep away from them.
So for three long days he watched their strange and wondrous ways
Until he was tempted to strayed too close!

Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
Fighting in the desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Once as a joey he fought just to stay alive
But now he's in the Circus, Stan Lea the Boxing 'Roo.

Nearing their camp the ground caved under him
Trapped inside the earth, and stricken by fear.
Was this where he'd die, out of sight of the Aussie sun,
Never again to hop or jump in fun?

Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
Fighting in the desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Once as a joey he fought just to stay alive
But now he's in the Circus, Stan Lea the Boxing 'Roo.

As the dawn arose, whitemen found him there
Giving him water and strange foods to chew.
But they bound him tightly taking him into their camp,
What would his fate be? Would he stay alive?

Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
Fighting in the desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Once as a joey he fought just to stay alive
But now he's in the Circus, Stan Lea the Boxing 'Roo.

A tiny white man fed him every day
And taught him to punch with red padded paws.
Although it made no sense, afterwards they fed him well
With strange new morsels he crushed with his jaws.

Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
Fighting in the desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Once as a joey he fought just to stay alive
But now he's in the Circus, Stan Lea the Boxing 'Roo.

A team of white men built a cage on wheels
To take him to towns all over the land.
Each night with red gloves they played their silly boxing games
And daily the children would stroke him and sing:

Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
Fighting in the desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Once as a joey he fought just to stay alive
But now he's in the Circus, Stan Lea the Boxing 'Roo.

As years drifted by he dreamt of the times
Before the whiteman came when he could hop free.
He yearned for the times when he could go and find a mate
The days when life was his and no one sang:

Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
Fighting in the desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Once as a joey he fought just to stay alive
But now he's in the Circus, Stan Lea the Boxing 'Roo.

 One day - uproar - as a strange man appeared.
He cried, "I represent Animal Rights!"
"And I hereby claim this rare Kangaroo for the Crown,"
"To be released in Queensland's Wildlife Park."

Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
Fighting in the desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Once as a joey he fought just to stay alive
But now he's in the Circus, Stan Lea the Boxing 'Roo.

 Three months later far from the white man's camp
A sleepy Stan Lea was led from his cage.
"Go and meet your new friends." said the man who'd rescued him,
"You'll never be caged or chained to a wall again."

(Final Alternate Chorus)
Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo, Stan Lea Boxing 'Roo
He fought in desert towns beneath the southern sky.
Years in a Circus he fought just to stay alive
But now he's left the Circus once more he's just Stan Lea!