What game is Mister Clickety Cane playing? What kind of orange juice is best for washing? Also, what the heck is a Newspaper Mama? triple j Breakfast finds out with the man himself.

After listeners reminisced about many musical hits of text-line described “Bob Dylan of Aussie kids songs”, your Breakfast Boys decided to get the man/myth/legend Peter Combe on the show to explain some of his greatest hits.

Spaghetti Bolognaise - “I love it every day, spaghetti bolognaise…”

“All I can do is give you an explanation about when this was written. I know EXACTLY the spot where I got the idea for this song. I was teaching, and I can remember the exact spot where these two boys were playing marbles. Now I have NO idea how spaghetti bolognaise related to marbles, but that’s where the inspiration hit.”

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Newspaper Mama – “It’s the Newspaper Mama, Newspaper Mama, Newspaper mama…everyday”

“This is the complete opposite to writing Spaghetti Bolognaise. To this day, I have no idea how I wrote Newspaper mama. I remember sitting down and writing it very quickly though, probably in like an hour and a half, which is quick for my songs.”

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Mr Clicketty Cane – “Wash your face with orange juice..."

“I knew at the time that an acculmative echo song was a very powerful song with children” explain Peter, pointing to the call and response chorus (aka the “Wash your face….” bit)

“I have a been at three different gigs where people have actually bellyflopped onto pizzas!”

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Memories from the triple j text-line;

☏ I sang on the official recording of the Toffee Apple song. Recorded at ABC studios in Adelaide. I was in the choir with his daughter Alice and she was so nice to me!

☏ I went to a catholic school, we didn't get the Combe man's great music :( I feel robbed! Sammy, Newcastle. P.S My fiance told me stories of bellyflopping on a pizza and i didnt believe her, now i dont no what to think

☏ Clearly, bellyflop on a pizza is about the quintessential futility of the human condition. Pavlo from Adelaide



☏ "PINGPINGPINGPINGPINGPINGPINGPING!" these are the genius lyrics I lived for as a kid =L Hannah - Canberra

☏ Peter Combe for Like A Version!

☏ My absolute 'fan girl' moment as a 24 year old when I saw this guy perform in Canberra last year. Absolute childhood dream! This is what I live for - what an absolute legend. Ethan from Canberra!

☏ Peter Combe's Christmas CD has been played by my family every year for nearly three decades. My sister listens to it sometimes even when it's not Christmas. - Lachie, Melbourne



Peter and his daughter Emily are back on the performing circuit, playing shows at the Adelaide Fringe festival. Listen above to hear him explain his tracks or watch the story of Peter Combe below, for ABC TV’s Throwback series.