"Jake the Peg" was a fictional three-legged man, the subject of a song performed by Rolf Harris, released as a single in 1965.
The song was adapted in 1965 from a version performed by Frank Roosen (a Dutch performer in Vancouver, Canada). The original Dutch piece was called Ben van der Steen.
In a 2004 poll Harris' version was voted the fourth best Australian single of all time.[1]
Harris would perform the song with the aid of a theatrical prop leg.[2] June Whitfield reports, in her autobiography And June Whitfield, that she used to watch Harris' performance of the number on stage from the wings, as she waited to follow him, and could never tell during the performance which of his three legs was the prop.[3]
Jake wore a long coat that came down to the knees, and apparently had three identical legs. Part of the fun was trying to guess which leg was false, as he kept both hands in his pockets, one of which operated the extra leg. He would walk around the stage putting his middle foot forward, and then his two side feet, and at times would also stand on his middle leg and stick both outer legs out. While he was moving around the stage he sang a song, which told of his life with three legs.
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