Rolf Harris began his recording career with "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport," and most of his following singles releases were in the same genre, i.e. comedy and/or novelty songs; "Sun Arise" is the exception.

Released on Columbia October 25, 1962, (and January 1961 in Australia) it was co-written with his fellow Australian, the naturalist Harry Butler. It is based loosely on Aboriginal folklore.

"Sun Arise" can also probably be credited with introducing the didgeridoo to contemporary Western music, certainly to the mainstream. At the time it was recorded, Harris could not play the didgeridoo so double bases were used to mimic its sound, although it was later re-recorded with the real thing. The B-side was a more typical Harris recording, "The Big Black Hat." >>