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Waltzing Australia

WALTZING AUSTRALIA
WALTZING AUSTRALIA

Monday, January 28, 2013

53. Why is Australia called "OZ" by some people?

This is something that I have often wondered about. Many times on travel forums, I see threads and posts in which the poster asks questions about Oz. Some even call it "Aussie" - as in "I'm going to Aussie". I mean Oz I can understand in a way, but Aussie? Who would call Australia "Aussie"? The word Aussie is used by some people in reference to Australians - One might say I am an Australian or I am an Aussie. Aussie is an adjective, not a noun.

The short version of a person from Australia is "Aussie" which is pronounced "Ozzie" and it's mostly British people who use "Oz". Kiwi's (New Zealanders) tend to call Australia "Aussie" - no idea why. Back until 1901, we were still a British colony - the Brits filed us under "the colonies" or "the antipodes" !

Anyway, I recently came upon this poem -

Is 'e an Aussie, is 'e Lizzy?
Is 'e an Aussie, is 'e eh?
Is it because 'e is an Aussie
That 'e makes you dizzy Lizzy
'as 'e jazzy ways an' does 'e
Make you go all fuzzy wuzzy?
Is 'e an Aussie, is 'e Lizzy?
Is 'e an Aussie eh?


Not having heard it before, a search was in order. It was sung by a duo called Flotsam and Jetsam. Mr Flotsam and Mr Jetsam were a comedy duo in the 1920's and 30's. Flotsam was Bentley Collingwood Hilliam, the songwriter, pianist and tenor voice, 1890–1968 and Jetsam was Malcolm McEachern, bass voice, 1883–1945 from New Zealand.


 
Above: Mr Flotsam & Mr Jetsam

I found the complete lyrics and the youtube video, you can sing along the the video - enjoy.

Is 'E an Aussie, Is 'E Lizzie?

Learn how Lizzie met an Aussie
Told her girlfriend Mary-Anne
"Mary-Anne I've met a man who says he's an Austray-ee-an"
"Falling for him have your Lizzie?"
Lizzie blushing shook her head
Said Mary-Anne "don't think you can fool me" and then she said:

"Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, is he?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, eh?
Is it 'cos he is an Aussie that he keeps you busy Lizzie?
'as he jazzy ways and does he make you go all fuzzy wuzzy?
Got you dizzy, 'as he Lizzie?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, eh?"

Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, is he?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, eh?
Is it because he is an Aussie that he keeps you busy Lizzie?
Has he jazzy ways and does he make you go all fuzzy wuzzy?
Got you dizzy, 'as he Lizzie?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, eh?"

"Seems this digger likes my figure"
Lizzie then told Mary-Anne
"Likes my ways and claims to think-U'm what these Aussies call fair-dinkum"
"Throws a fond eye, talks of Bondi
And he's tried to kiss me twice
When I said 'No' he said 'Good-oh'"
Said Mary-Anne "How nice"

Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, is he?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, eh?
Is it because he is an Aussie that he keeps you busy Lizzie?
Has he jazzy ways and does he make you go all fuzzy wuzzy?
Got you dizzy, 'as he Lizzie?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, eh?"

Soon this wonder from Down Under
Got himself right down to biz
Lost no time in coaxing Liz
To promise that she would be his

He being well-born, lived in Mel-bourne
So they sailed at once for there
Poor Mary-Anne without a man
Repeats this maiden's prayer:

"Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, is he?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, eh?
Is it because he is an Aussie that he keeps you busy Lizzie?
Has he jazzy ways and does he make you go all fuzzy wuzzy?
Got you dizzy, 'as he Lizzie?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, eh?"

(he's a bonza bloke)

Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, is he?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, eh?
Is it because he is an Aussie that he keeps you busy Lizzie?
Has he jazzy ways and does he make you go all fuzzy wuzzy?
Got you dizzy, 'as he Lizzie?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, eh?"

Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, is he?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, is he?
Is he?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, is he?
Is he an Aussie, Lizzie, is he, eh?







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