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Celebrating The Things That Make Australia Unique
from Australian Songs for Australian Children
by Maybanke Anderson (1845 - 1927), published in 1902
Bandicoots are small native Australian marsupials varying in size from a large rat to a rabbit. The bandicoot pictured below is a Western Barred Bandicoot. A favourite bandicoot is the Bilby, also known as the rabbit-eared bandicoot.
This song is sung to the Old English tune A-hunting We Will Go
We have a little visitor,
He comes to us at night,
And walks about the garden
When the moon is shining bright.
I'm sure I saw him here!
I think I see him there!
He moves, he hops, he jumps away!
A little grey bandicoot.
We send no invitation,
We do not bid him come,
He doesn't care, he hops about
As if he were at home.
I'm sure I saw him here!
I think I see him there!
He moves, he hops, he jumps away!
A little grey bandicoot.
When Mother rakes the borders clean,
And makes them trim and neat,
He writes a little pattern
Upon them with his feet.
I'm sure I saw him here!
I think I see him there!
He moves, he hops, he jumps away!
A little grey bandicoot.
When Father plants a fruit-tree rare
And treads the earth around,
He nibbles at the tiny roots
And pulls them from the ground.
I'm sure I saw him here!
I think I see him there!
He moves, he hops, he jumps away!
A little grey bandicoot.
Sometimes we hear his chattering call,
And then we slyly creep
And hide behind a bush or tree
To try to get a peep.
I'm sure I saw him here!
I think I see him there!
He moves, he hops, he jumps away!
A little grey bandicoot.
He's very sharp, he knows we're there,
Although we make no noise,
For bandicoots have better ears
Than little girls and boys.
I'm sure I saw him here!
I think I see him there!
He moves, he hops, he jumps away!
A little grey bandicoot.
So while we stand and gaze around,
Someone is sure to say,
"Why, there he goes," and then we see
He's hopping far away.
I'm sure I saw him here!
I think I see him there!
He moves, he hops, he jumps away!
A little grey bandicoot.
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