"Jake the Peg" is the title of a comedic song about a fictional three-legged man performed by

Rolf Harris Rolf Harris (born 30 March 1930) is an Australian entertainer whose career has encompassed work as a musician, singer-songwriter, composer, comedian, actor, painter and television personality. He often used unusual instruments in his performan ...

and released as a single in 1965. The song was adapted in 1965 from a version performed by Frank Roosen (a Dutch performer from Vancouver, Canada). The original Dutch party skit was "(Ik ben) van der Steen". In a 2004 poll by Virgin Radio, Harris' version was voted the fourth-best Australian single of all time.

Live performances

Harris would perform the song with the aid of a theatrical prop leg.

June Whitfield Dame June Rosemary Whitfield (11 November 1925 – 29 December 2018) was an English radio, television, and film actress. Her big break was a lead in the radio comedy ''Take It from Here'', which aired on the BBC Light Programme in 1953. ...

reports, in her autobiography ''And June Whitfield'', that she used to watch Harris's performance of the number on stage from the wings, as she waited to follow him, and could not tell during the performance which of his three legs was the false one. Harris wore a long coat that came down to the knees, and apparently had three identical legs. 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 the song, which told of his life with three legs.

Cover versions

"Jake the Peg" had been a childhood favourite of comedian

Adam Hills Adam Christopher Hills (born 10 July 1970) is an Australian comedian, radio and television presenter. In Australia, he hosted the music quiz show '' Spicks and Specks'' from 2005 to 2011, and again in 2021 onwards, and the talk show ''Adam Hi ...

, because he was born with only one foot, and Hills performed the song with his prosthetic leg as a child. Hills performed a parody of the song on ''

The Last Leg ''The Last Leg'' (known during its first series as ''The Last Leg with Adam Hills'' and in Australia as ''Adam Hills: The Last Leg'') is a British comedy and late-night television talk/sketch show that originally ran alongside the 2012 Summer Pa ...

'' television show following Harris's conviction for sexual offences.

References

Comedy characters Fictional characters introduced in 1965 1965 singles Novelty songs Rolf Harris songs Songs about fictional male characters Songs written by Rolf Harris {{1960s-single-stub