Another Great Australian Christmas Song Sing-a-Long

Well, yesterdays sing-along-a-Russ went down a real storm! I have been inundated with thousands of emails from all around the world, thanking me for bringing families together and for encouraging them to singing merrily on high.

So I have dug deep into the archives to find more classic Australian Christmas songs and today I have a real treat for you all.

So gather up ye families, print out ye song sheets, gather round ye PC and prepare to sing the Australian version of “Jingle Bells”.

Before you start, a few translations may help you understand the lyrics.

  • Bush – Countryside
  • Holden Ute – Open back van
  • Esky – Cool box
  • Kelpie – Australian breed of dog
  • Singlet – Sleeveless vest
  • Thongs – Flip flops (well I never!)
  • Scorching summers day – For those in England – remember 1976?

On with the song. Apparently, the original was by Bucko and Champs, a couple of Aussie wags and if you search Youtube, you’ll find their version. But for you, I’ve selected this rather unusual rendition which, frankly, took my breath away.

My thanks to Fotowatch42 and don’t forget to print out those lyrics so you can all sing along. Take it away…..

Lyrics: Aussie Jingle Bells

Dashing through the bush
In a rusty Holden Ute
Kicking up the dust
Esky in the boot
Kelpie by my side
Singing Christmas songs
It’s summer time and I am in
My singlet, shorts & thongs

OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

Engine’s getting hot
Dodge the kangaroos
Swaggy climbs aboard
He is welcome too
All the family is there
Sitting by the pool
Christmas day, the Aussie way
By the barbecue!

OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

Come the afternoon
Grandpa has a doze
The kids and uncle Bruce
Are swimming in their clothes
The time comes round to go
We take a family snap
Then pack the car and all shoot through
Before the washing up

OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

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{ 18 comments… add one }
  • Virginia G July 21, 2015, 9:20 am |

    This is a fun post, even though it’s not anywhere near Christmas (but Christmas in July is only a few days away!). I would love to see more posts about traditional Australian songs or children’s stories/folklore. I grew up singing “Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree” and it never even occurred to me that it was probably an Australian song until I started researching Australia (and had a baby of my own to sing to). Anyway, thanks for sharing as always!

    • BobinOz July 21, 2015, 9:30 pm |

      Yes, only four more sleeps until Christmas in July, I am already getting excited 🙂 We’ve got friends coming round and if we can get hold of a turkey, that’s what we’ll be cooking.

      Thanks, glad you enjoyed this post, I do have a few other singalongs sprinkled around somewhere, trick is finding them though. I haven’t included the kookaburra song anywhere yet though, maybe I should. Good idea Virginia 🙂

  • Jessica December 25, 2012, 3:47 am |

    Wow we used to sing this in primary school at the end of year Christmas concert! My mum absolutely loved it. I can’t believe I haven’t thought to look for it on the Internet before as I couldn’t remember all the lyrics. I will be singing this all day today, my poor family’s ears haha.

    • BobinOz December 28, 2012, 8:21 pm |

      I’m sure your family will love your rendition of this song, the key to success is probably to wait until they’ve had plenty of Christmas spirit (booze). Merry Christmas Jessica!

      • SkythekidRS December 16, 2013, 7:16 am |

        Heres my version
        Dashing through the snow on pair of broken ski’s,over the hills we go crashing into trees,the snow turning red i think i’m almost dead,i woke up in the hospital with switches in my head,oh 911 911 santa clouse is dead,cause rudolf got a 44 and shot him in the head, oh barbe doll barbie doll tried to save his life,but g.i.g.o.e from mexico stabbed him with the knife!

        • BobinOz December 16, 2013, 4:18 pm |

          Not very Christmassy is it? Lots of death and stuff.

  • Pom December 13, 2012, 7:40 pm |

    I received this on a 123.com ecard from Aussie pals and wrote back asking them for an English translation! In the meantime found your site and all revealed. Interesting but hardly amusing, from a frozen UK

    • BobinOz December 14, 2012, 9:05 pm |

      Oh, come on, it’s not that bad. You can throw snowballs or build a snowman, all we can do is go to the beach again 🙂

      • Pom December 15, 2012, 12:27 am |

        Off to Spain for 4 weeks in January so no you’re quite right – it ain’t that bad. In any case it’s just tipping down with rain now the frost has gone

        • BobinOz December 15, 2012, 7:27 pm |

          Things are looking up then, should be drier in Spain, for sure. Have a great time!

  • Daniel December 13, 2012, 12:17 pm |

    Would someone please tell me where i can get the cd of this version of Jingle Bells
    What a great song

    • BobinOz December 13, 2012, 3:19 pm |

      It’s a classic, isn’t it? Must be available somewhere! Failing that, you’ll just have to keep coming back here to listen to it 🙂 Merry Christmas Daniel!

    • Christine December 15, 2013, 11:41 pm |

      The Original video clip of “Aussie Jingle Bells”, from the classic album “Aussie Christmas with Bucko & Champs” (available on iTunes or from http://www.colinbuchanan.com.au – lyrics at http://www.gregchampion.com.au)

      Written at the last minute for a radio appearance in 1992, Colin Buchanan’s Aussie Jingle has become an Australian Christmas classic.

      First appearing on Buchanan’s 1993 album “Hard Times”, it was then released on his platinum-selling collaboration with fellow songwriter Greg Champion, “Aussie Christmas with Bucko & Champs”.

  • SSAOwner December 5, 2011, 8:47 am |

    lol.Heres my version
    Dashing through the bush
    In a rusty Holden Ute
    Kicking up the dust
    Koala in the boot
    Skippy by my side
    Singing Christmas songs
    It’s summer time and I am in
    My glasses, shorts & vest

    OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
    JINGLE ALL THE WAY
    CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
    ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
    JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
    CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
    OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
    IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

    Engine’s getting hot
    Dodge the kangaroos
    Skippy climbs aboard
    He is welcome too
    All the family is there
    Sitting by the pool
    Christmas day, the Aussie way
    By the barbecue!

    OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
    JINGLE ALL THE WAY
    CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
    ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
    JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
    CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
    OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
    IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

    Come the afternoon
    Grandpa has a doze
    The kids and uncle Bruce
    Are swimming in their clothes
    The time comes round to go
    We take a family snap
    Then pack the car and all shoot through
    Before the washing up

    OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
    JINGLE ALL THE WAY
    CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
    ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
    JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
    CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
    OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
    IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE
    Oh what fun it is to ride in a russsssssssssssstin olden Utttttttttttteeeeeee

    • BobinOz December 5, 2011, 10:43 pm |

      Good to see you included Skippy, the writers of the original should have thought of that one 🙂

      Cheers!

      • SkythekidRS December 16, 2013, 7:06 am |

        lol

  • BobinOz December 30, 2009, 9:34 pm |

    Aaah, jumpers! I remember those. And colds too. Anyway, glad you enjoyed the sing-a-long Heidi, must’ve sounded great with your blocked noses.

    Cheers

    Bob

  • Heidi December 24, 2009, 8:50 am |

    Cheers mate, that is great fun, thanks Bob

    Wish we were there in our thongs;o), lol not our wooly jumpers with a stinking cold!!

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