Inspired by Harry Belafonte's calypsos, most noticeably "The Jack-Ass Song", it is about an Australian stockman on his deathbed.

[2][3] The distinctive sound of Harris's original recording was achieved by the use of an instrument of his own design called the "wobble board"—a two-by-three-foot piece of hardboard.

The song was also featured in a season 10 episode of the NBC sitcom Frasier titled Farewell, Nervosa and was sung by actor Elvis Costello.

The lyrics mention animals and objects associated with Australia, including cockatoos, koalas, platypuses, and didgeridoos.

The fourth verse caused some controversy in 1964 because of its use of the word "Abo", an offensive slang term for Aboriginal Australians.

[12] The lyrics of this verse (not found on Harris's official website) were as follows: The stockman thus emancipates his indigenous offsiders at his death because they are "of no further use" to him.

[16] Harris performed the song during the Opening Ceremony of the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, he removed all reference to aboriginals and explained, "It had no special overtones when it was written... a stockman was dying and he wanted his Aboriginal helpers to be released from their employment commitments.