Funniest songs
JesiAna
have made me bust out laughing. There are many, of course, including "The
Scotsman," and "There Was an Old Sow" (a favorite of my father's). But two
songs have made me laugh so hard I had to pull my car to the side of the road.
Interestingly, they were both written by the same songwriter, the great Tom
Paxton.
"Only a Game," about the once-ubiquitous Rubik's Cube
"Hand Me Down My Jogging Shoes," which I first heard sung by Ronnie Gilbert. As
I was pulling the car over and splitting my sides, my brother was reading the
notes to the tape, which we'd just purchased, and said, "This is by Tom
Paxton." I thought (I was laughing too hard to speak), I shoulda known!
Another couple that really broke me up recently:
"I'm Gonna Tell," (I assume that's the title) which I heard Utah Phillips
perform on radio, and which he attributed to Rosalie Sorrels. I work with young
children of the tattling age...enough said.
"Lookin' the Loan of a Spade," by Colum Sands, sung by him and his brother
Tommy. VERY funny!
Jesiana
"If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing."
Brett Weiss
The Red Corvette, by John McCutcheon (on "Water From Another Time")
Good Thing He Can't Read My Mind, by Christine Lavin (on "4BB#1")
Dyslexic, by Camile West, Dave Hitt & Carl Penk (on "4BB#3")
--
Brett
JesiAna <jes...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990201011858...@ng-fa1.aol.com...
Christin Keck
>
> Since we were on the topic of saddest songs, I got to thinking about songs that
I love Mark Graham's (Open House) songs--they're clever and
witty, and really funny. One of my faves is "Jackson and
Jane" about aerobic exercise.
--
CK, or as they say in Spain, "Yes, what?"
VISIT THE WORLD OF WHISLBABE:
http://www.geocities.com/soho/square/4033/
Christin Keck
>
> A few of my favorites:
>
> The Red Corvette, by John McCutcheon (on "Water From Another Time")
> Good Thing He Can't Read My Mind, by Christine Lavin (on "4BB#1")
> Dyslexic, by Camile West, Dave Hitt & Carl Penk (on "4BB#3")
Christine Lavin rules with the funny songs.
But one that is 'primo' in my book is called "Life Sucks and
Then you Die" by The Fools. Everything about this is
hilarious, including the delivery.
CHERYLMHVA
SKUNK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD by LOUDIN WAINWRIGHT III, UNEASY RIDER by
CHARLIE DANIELS, HERE COMES THE JUDGE & also THE TRIAL by PIGMEAT MARKHAM, &
theres one by WOODY GUTHRIE I think it's called WOODY'S RAG the one where he
talks about going & being baptized etc. Fun to listen to! Peace to all!
Peace & have a nice day! Cheryl Harrell
Personal Quote: "Cheryl, huh?" By: My folksinger friend ADG
"Support Finding A Cure For Diabetes". By: ME
Bass
that I heard Michael Cooney sing in concert a few years back. Very
clever (Livingston Taylor sings it too). I don't know who wrote it
though.....
Gary Bass
> Work like you don't need money,
> Love like you've never been hurt,
> And dance like no one's watching.
Christin Keck wrote:
>
> JesiAna wrote:
> >
> > Since we were on the topic of saddest songs, I got to thinking about songs that
> > have made me bust out laughing.<SNIPPED FOR SPACE>
>
> I love Mark Graham's (Open House) songs--they're clever and
> witty, and really funny. One of my faves is "Jackson and
> Jane" about aerobic exercise.
>
MaryLyon
Had to cast my vote of funniest song:
My husband and I nearly had to pull off the road when we heard Bill Staines'
"All God's Creatures Got a Place in the Choir" on Mother's Day last year.
"All God's creatures got a place in the choir
Some sing lower, some sing higher
Some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got now..."
Maybe you had to be there! :)
MaryLyon
JesiAna
Brett Weiss
--
Brett
MaryLyon <mary...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990201223154...@ng-fv1.aol.com...
CHERYLMHVA
forget their name, & DROP KICK ME JESUS THRU THE GOAL POST OF LIFE by Bobby
Bare the Country Singer, THE MISSISIPPI SQUIRL REVIVAL by Ray Stevens & the one
about German Police Dogs in Church by Wendy Bagwell & the Sunliters, & ITCHY
TWITCHY SPOT by a country group I forget their name they had someone from the
Eagles in them. It was a parady of Billy Ray Cyrus ACHY BREAKHY HEART song.
There was a hilarious country song the kind where the guy told a story & didn't
really sing which was about a lady who served her guests at her dinner party
squirrel & they all got food poisoning. I forget who did it tho. Fun to
listen to tho. Peace be to all!
Tom King
HOME COMPANION some years ago. It was called "Boomer Johnson" about a
gunfighter turned cowboy. One chorus went:
He built his donuts solid, but it sure would curl your hair,
To see him perforate 'em when he tossed 'em in the air.
He drilled a hole plum center every time his pistol spoke.
Till the can was full of donuts and the shack was full of smoke.
another line went...
He never used no matches left 'em layin on the shelf,
Just some kerosene and cussin' and the kindlin' lit itself.
Tom King
Gary Lubbock
>Just thought of 2 more. WELFARE CADILLAC it was by a 70's country singer I
>forget their name, & DROP KICK ME JESUS THRU THE GOAL POST OF LIFE by Bobby
>Bare the Country Singer,
Brilliant song...my own nomination would be The Castleford Magic
Circle by Jake Thackray
"Mrs O'Brian and Mrs O'Grady and one or two other married ladies
Are Frantically dancing naked for Beelzebub"
Gary
Stephen Suffet
This list cannot be complete without the songs of the late and great
Alan Sherman. I like his earlier songs the best. To wit:
Sarah Jockman:
"How's your sister Ida?
She's a Freedom Rider.
She's nice, too.
She's nice, too."
Streets of Miami:
"I took careful aim with my trusty revolver,
As the clock in the Fountainbleu struck twelve o'clock,
I fired and Sam crumbled, just like a piece of halvah,
And that's what they call a Bad Day at Black Rock."
Glory, Glory, Harry Lewis:
"Oh, Harry Lewis perished in the service of his lord,
He was trampling through the warehouse
where the drapes of Roth were stored,
He had the finest funeral the union could afford,
His cloth goes shining on!"
My Zelda:
"My Zelda, she found her big romance,
When I broke the zipper on my pants,
My Zelda, she take me money and run with the tailor!"
Regards,
Steve
James W. Barrett
>
> The song that made me laugh the most I think was called Railroad Bill,
> that I heard Michael Cooney sing in concert a few years back. Very
> clever (Livingston Taylor sings it too). I don't know who wrote it
> though....
-- You're probably thinking of "Railroad Bill and the Kitten" by
Andy Breckman. His own performance of it is on his album "Don't
Get Killed".
-------------------------------------------------------------------
- James Barrett, Physics Dept, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY 11790-3800
Stewa1
Baez. Also fondly known among her fans as "Love Is a Pain in the Ass."
take care,jim
SLHinton17
On Mon, Feb 1, 1999, Gary Bass <agbs...@home.com> wrote:
>The song that made me laugh the most I think was called Railroad Bill,
>that I heard Michael Cooney sing in concert a few years back. [ . . . . ] I
>don't know who wrote it though.....
***********************
It's called "Railroad Bill,and the Cat," to distinguish it from the traditional
"Railroad Bill." And you're right: it's a real belly-laugh -- especially the
way Michael does it. It was written by Andy Breckman, and it appeared in _Sing
Out! Magazine_, vol 36, no. 4.
Other funny songs are practically anything by Lou and Peter Berrymnan.
Favorites are "A Chat With Your Mom" (The F-Word Song), "Your State's Name
Here," "Squalor," and "Why Am I Painting the Living Room?"
Sam Hinton
La Jolla, CA
Christin Keck
Did the man write anything that WASN'T funny?
--
CK, or as they say in Spain, "genuflect, genuflect genuflect..."
Ken McKinney
>
>
> I love Mark Graham's (Open House) songs--they're clever and
> witty, and really funny. One of my faves is "Jackson and
> Jane" about aerobic exercise.
>
"Neighbor of the Beast" but "Their brains were small and they died" and
"I've seen your aura and its ugly" are way up there on my all time funny
list.
Wow - nobodies mentioned Lou & Peter Berryman. Just about everything
they do is very very funny. Some of my favorites are "Double Yodel",
"Squalor" and of course "Conversation with your mother".
Ken McKinney - Ithaca NY - ken at cmold dot com
Ron Natalie
> Wow - nobodies mentioned Lou & Peter Berryman. Just about everything
> they do is very very funny. Some of my favorites are "Double Yodel",
> "Squalor" and of course "Conversation with your mother".
>
They are fabulous, I have several of their CD's and both
song books. One of my favorite lines is the copyright
notice in the song book that permits public performance
but any other use will cause "everything you touch to
turn to hair."
-Ron (Ain't got no leinie case).
John Fereira
>Here's a few more to add to the list ALICES RESTUARANT by ARLO GUTHRIE & DEAD
>SKUNK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD by LOUDIN WAINWRIGHT III, UNEASY RIDER by
>CHARLIE DANIELS, HERE COMES THE JUDGE & also THE TRIAL by PIGMEAT MARKHAM, &
>theres one by WOODY GUTHRIE I think it's called WOODY'S RAG the one where he
>Peace & have a nice day! Cheryl Harrell
>Personal Quote: "Cheryl, huh?" By: My folksinger friend ADG
>"Support Finding A Cure For Diabetes". By: ME
Speaking of funny folk songs, and people named Cheryl...
Cheryl Wheeler does some of the funniest folk songs I've heard. Her
latest album (Sylvia Hotel) has some really good ones; Potato,
We're the Bank, I'm Unworthy...
John Fereira
ja...@cornell.edu
Stop Unsolicited Commercial Email - Join CAUCE (http://www.cauce.org)
Support HR 1748, the anti-spam bill.
Jory Nash
Some favourites (Canadian spelling) of his include "Fish & Whistle", "Onomatopeioa"
"Everybody" & "Flashback Blues"
I also like the way many performers introduce their tunes in almost comedic ways.
Lyle Lovett, Jann Arden, Arlo Guthrie: sometimes their live concert between rambles
are even funnier then the songs. Makes for terrific live shows.
Cheers, not tears,
Jory Nash
John Tubbs
The Vatican Rag is one of Lehrer's all-time greats.
John
Joan Manners
The Vatican Rag - Tom Lehrer
Political Science - Randy Newman
Sweet Little Blossom of Mine - Henry Phillips
In The Closet - John Forster
Elderly Man River - Stan Freberg
Suddenly It's Christmas - Loudon Wainwright III
The Saga Of John Henry - The Smothers Brothers
Trigger Happy - Weird Al Yankovic
Saddam Shame - The Foremen
Ollie Ollie Off Scott Free - The Foremen
Hell Froze Over Today - The Foremen
Building For The Future - The Foremen
Firing The Surgeon General - The Foremen
T.M.I. - Roy Zimmerman
Defenders of Marriage - Roy Zimmerman
I know I'm forgetting some favorites, but those are some good ones that
immediately come to mind.
Joan M.
Bill H.
>
> Greetings:
>
> This list cannot be complete without the songs of the late and great
> Alan Sherman. I like his earlier songs the best. To wit:
>
> Sarah Jockman:
>
> "How's your sister Ida?
> She's a Freedom Ride
> She's nice, too."
>
> Streets of Miami:
>
> "I took careful aim with my trusty revolver,
> As the clock in the Fountainbleu struck twelve o'clock,
> I fired and Sam crumbled, just like a piece of halvah,
> And that's what they call a Bad Day at Black Rock."
>
> Glory, Glory, Harry Lewis:
>
> "Oh, Harry Lewis perished in the service of his lord,
> He was trampling through the warehouse
> where the drapes of Roth were stored,
> He had the finest funeral the union could afford,
> His cloth goes shining on!"
>
> My Zelda:
>
> "My Zelda, she found her big romance,
> When I broke the zipper on my pants,
> My Zelda, she take me money and run with the tailor!"
>
> Regards,
> Steve
SO TRUE, but it loses something without hearing the audience and/or the
calypso sound of the last one. Many times I still reverently play him
on our program.
But, one should not forget Tom Lehrer---and now we must add John Forster
to the list. Think of: Macedonia/ Rob't Moses/ Fusion/ Entering
Marion.
John Prine is clever---he makes statements. I adore his work. Comical
and belly laughs you do not get---and rightfully so=-=he has messages,
and his seemingly simple rhymes say something of the human condition.
"Poor Old Grandpa staring at a rake---thinking his marriage was a
terrible mistake" of--and I love this one--" sometimes you have to lose
your mind to keep your sanity". Who needs a shrink after that? But,
you still need a comedian---send in the above mentioned clowns.
By the way---this is Fund Raising February for us. We sure would
appreciate your support for the program mentioned in the signature. We
air from 3-6 PM on Sun. afternoons. Our tel # 201 692-2012. So, during
Feb. -if you are in our listening area--and you like the above people
and you like Celtic/World/Traditional/and you name it we are open to new
ideas---give us a call and a pledge. We'll give you a gift too. Some of
them are really terrific---and, of course, you help keep this music and
its thoughts out there. Hope we hear from you this Sunday.
Bill Hahn
WFDU 89.1FM
Teaneck NJ
CoProducer/Host Traditions
JesiAna
talking to her friend, sharing a recipe, or trying to...and the children keep
getting her attention. Finally, she ends with asking her friend something to
the effect of "Have you thought of marrying and raising a family?"
Hilarious...as anyone who's been around kids knows!
Gerry Myerson
gl...@boroughloch.demon.co.uk (Gary Lubbock) wrote:
-> Brilliant song...my own nomination would be The Castleford Magic
-> Circle by Jake Thackray
->
-> "Mrs O'Brian and Mrs O'Grady and one or two other married ladies
-> Are Frantically dancing naked for Beelzebub"
Popularized in Australia by Bernard Bolan, who also does what I think
is another hilarious Thackray concoction, La-Di-Dah.
Gerry Myerson (ge...@mpce.mq.edu.au)
Gerry Myerson
(JesiAna) wrote:
-> The Lou and Peter Berryman that always cracks me up is the one where she is
-> talking to her friend, sharing a recipe, or trying to...and the children keep
-> getting her attention.
I think it's called, Orange Cocoa Cake.
Nicely recorded by Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer on their CD, A Parents'
Home Companion.
Gerry Myerson (ge...@mpce.mq.edu.au)
Tom King
Used to be a Dinosaur - Trout Fishing in America
and, of course,
I'm My Own Grandpa by anyone at all!
Tom King
hKath
to that effect that had me rolling on the floor of the auditorium I heard it
in. Think of it - "the higher the hair, the closer to God"!
--hKath
Representative
Blond and Little Insurance Firm
*insert random Topon Das quote here*
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Stewa1
MacKeznie and Helen O'Connell called "Get It While You're Young."
One verse goes:
"Young Love's hot flame,
that burns so bright,
With age becomes a pilot light,
No house detective has to roam,
Though lonely halls of The Old Folks Home."
and on and on it goes!
Gisele and Helen recorded a series of 6 of these novelty type tunes during the
50's. It amazed record buyers since Gisele was a young new singer from Canada
and Helen was the established queen of the Big Band Era.
take care,jim
Ron Natalie
>
> The Lou and Peter Berryman that always cracks me up is the one where she is
Orange Cocoa Cake. They have the lyrics for that on their web page by
the
way:
http://members.aol.com/berrymanp/alyrics/orange.html
Amsuingly, it was Pete's birthday when I saw them perform here. At
intermission
we all got peices of Orange Cocoa Cake!
-Ron (Gonna' reconnoiter over at the Big Boy).
Marie-Claude Danis
jes...@aol.com (JesiAna) wrote:
> Since we were on the topic of saddest songs, I got to thinking about songs
that
> have made me bust out laughing. There are many, of course, including "The
> Scotsman," and "There Was an Old Sow" (a favorite of my father's). But two
> songs have made me laugh so hard I had to pull my car to the side of the road.
> Interestingly, they were both written by the same songwriter, the great Tom
> Paxton.
>
> "Only a Game," about the once-ubiquitous Rubik's Cube
>
> "Hand Me Down My Jogging Shoes," which I first heard sung by Ronnie Gilbert.
As
> I was pulling the car over and splitting my sides, my brother was reading the
> notes to the tape, which we'd just purchased, and said, "This is by Tom
> Paxton." I thought (I was laughing too hard to speak), I shoulda known!
>
> Another couple that really broke me up recently:
>
> "I'm Gonna Tell," (I assume that's the title) which I heard Utah Phillips
> perform on radio, and which he attributed to Rosalie Sorrels. I work with
young
> children of the tattling age...enough said.
>
> "Lookin' the Loan of a Spade," by Colum Sands, sung by him and his brother
> Tommy. VERY funny!
>
> Jesiana
*poking my head in*
What butters *my* muffin is "The Hunt for the Dangerous Pork Tenderloin",
performed by Moxy Früvous. They sang it on 'What's for Dinner' a little while
ago and a few times live, but otherwise it has yet to be recorded. A gem.
Marie-Claude
"Yeah, we talk funny." -- Murray Foster, canadian. (6/22/98)
Chris Conway
"Gilligan's Island" theme song to the (slightly modified) music of Zepp's "Stairway
to Heaven". I had to pull the car off to the side of the road for fear of causing
an accident. I've never been able to listen to either song since without cracking
up.
The other side of the coin - the saddest song ever - is either Eric Bogle's "The
Band Played Waltzing Matilda", or his version of "Willie McBride".
Chris Conway
compelling spoken word renditions of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" or "Mr. Tambourine
Man". Apparently, the Shatner album is to be/has been re-released in CD format, or so
I hear.
WalterH796
Doug Landauer
Sam Hinton (slhin...@aol.com) wrote:
> Other funny songs are practically anything by Lou and Peter Berrymnan.
Indeed. And one of my favorites is Sam Hinton's recording of
"Amphioxus". (I don't know who wrote it.)
Last time I participated in a thread like this, I collected and
collated a list of songs folks found funny. Lots of stuff to add,
but meanwhile Jay Glicksman was kind enough to provide a web home
for it, among his folk music webring's pages:
http://www.jg.org/folk/misc/funny.html
And Chris Conway mentioned the Gilligan's Island/Stairway to Heaven
hybrid ... does anyone know how to get a recording of this? I heard
it once on Dr. Demento's show (a good source for such silliness), but
never again. I heard rumors that the then-formidable Led Zep Legal
Machine had squashed it by threatening some kind of plagiarism
lawsuit.
--
Doug Landauer land...@apple.com (work)
land...@scruznet.com (not-work)
Mickey
ge...@mpce.mq.edu.au (Gerry Myerson) wrote:
The best songwriter of all, John Prine, has written some of the funniest
of all time, e.g., the best organ donation song, "Please Don't Bury Me,"
the family trip from hell, "Bottomless Lake," and the timeless advice of
"Dear Abby." And we shouldn't fail to mention John's best friend, the
late, great Steve Goodman with "How Much Tequila Did I Drink Last Night?,"
"Three-Legged Man", and "Elvis Imitators." How about some other favorites
from fans of JP and SG?
Christin Keck
Nightmares Realized:
Shatner is now TOURING with another group, fronted by Ben
Folds (of the Ben Folds Five) and they did a "piece" on late
night tv last week that made my HAIR HURT. Sorry, I can't
(mercifully) remember the name of this group; it's surreal
and so were they.
--
CK, or as they say in Spain, "Yes, what?"
VISIT THE WORLD OF WHISLBABE:
http://www.geocities.com/soho/square/4033/
Joan Manners
> What butters *my* muffin is "The Hunt for the Dangerous Pork Tenderloin",
> performed by Moxy Früvous. They sang it on 'What's for Dinner' a little while
> ago and a few times live, but otherwise it has yet to be recorded. A gem.
Oooh! I *knew* I was forgetting some good ones! I'm not familiar with
"The Hunt..." but I love Moxy Fruvous' "King Of Spain" and "The Greatest
Man In America."
Joan M.
Joan Manners
>
> My vote for the funniest song ever goes to the genius who set the words to the
> "Gilligan's Island" theme song to the (slightly modified) music of Zepp's "Stairway
> to Heaven". I had to pull the car off to the side of the road for fear of causing
> an accident. I've never been able to listen to either song since without cracking
> up.
The genius, indeed! It's brilliant! It's by Little Roger & The
Goosebumps and it's called "Gilligan's Island (Stairway)." It's
brilliant because they use (almost) the exact words *and* melody of the
"Gilligan's Island" theme and set them to (almost) the exact chords of
"Stairway To Heaven" - and it fits! Perfectly! It's inspired and
hilarious. Unfortunately, I don't think it was ever released on record
because the publishers of both original compositions were opposed to the
derivative work. (Please correct me if I'm wrong.)
Joan M.
John Tubbs
>
> The best songwriter of all, John Prine, has written some of the funniest
> of all time, e.g., the best organ donation song, "Please Don't Bury Me,"
> the family trip from hell, "Bottomless Lake," and the timeless advice of
> "Dear Abby." And we shouldn't fail to mention John's best friend, the
> late, great Steve Goodman with "How Much Tequila Did I Drink Last Night?,"
> "Three-Legged Man", and "Elvis Imitators." How about some other favorites
> from fans of JP and SG?
Wasn't it Steve Goodman who wrote You Never Even Called Me By My Name? (the
perfect country-western song) The last verse:
Well I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison
And I went to pick her up in the rain
But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck
She got runned over by a danged ole train.
John
John Tubbs
>
> I've always enjoyed "My Eggs Don't Taste The Same Without You".
Then there's "I've Got Tears in My Ears from Lyin' on My Back in My Bed
While I Cry Over You."
John
JesiAna
Yes!!! Forgot about that! It's very witty!
CHERYLMHVA
CHERYLMHVA
does a funny one about divorce. I forget the names of the tunes. Enjoying the
music here... Peace!
Richard L. Hess
that is why they're on my web page--I really like their music. The web
page is my way of paying them back for the great joy they bring me and
my family.
I certainly agree that Christine Lavin is excellent. My wife had not
heard anything about Christine Lavin when I took her to a concert for
the first time last month. I decided it was worth the joke to take her
out to a Sushi dinner beforehand <grin>.
There are two Canadian women, friends of each other's, who do
wonderfully humorous songs:
Nancy White and Marie-Lynn Hammond
It's no accident that I'm hosting the home pages for both of them.
They are both exceptional talents. To put things in perspective, Nancy
wrote about a song a week for fifteen years for CBC's "Sunday Morning"
news magazine. Of course, some are better than others, but wow, the
best is tops. Dr. Demento has supported her and included some of her
material on his collections.
For example, as a parent, I think Nancy's "Momnitpotent: Songs for
Weary Parents" is an absolute gem. I've probably given away a dozen
copies of that CD (bought at retail, by the way). Her most recent CD,
"Gaelic Envy" contains a mix of material, but the humorous songs are
top notch.
On "Momnipotent..." Nancy has several winners including "Leonard
Cohen's Never Gonna Bring My Groceries In" (this has been enshrined at
The Leonard Cohen Files website --linkson my pages). Other titles are
"Everything turn To Ratshit In My Life" "Open That Can" and "Daughters
of Feminists."
On "Gaelic Envy," the title tune, "Moose on the Highway" are two good
examples. On "Pumping Irony" "Old Geezers" is great.
While on the subject of songs inspired by/about Leonard Cohen,
Marie-Lynn Hammond has a bit more serious song, "When Leonard Cohen
Sings." which is also listed on the Cohen site.
Finally for Cohen songs, is The Austin Lounge Lizard's "Leonard
Cohen's Day Job." Also listed on the site:
http://www.netsonic.fi/~ja/cohen/inspirat.html
Marie-Lynn's "Black & White and shades of grey" has some very funny
songs on it including "Science" and "Not Another Benefit."
Nancy's material is easily available, Marie-Lynn's is very hard to
find...but that is being addressed, we hope.
I also mentioned these two artists in the saddest songs thread, so I
think this is indicative of their range and capabilities.
On 1 Feb 1999 06:18:58 GMT, jes...@aol.com (JesiAna) wrote:
>Since we were on the topic of saddest songs, I got to thinking about songs that
>have made me bust out laughing.
Richard L. Hess rlh...@mindspring.com
Glendale, CA USA http://rlhess.home.mindspring.com/
Web page for folk and church music, photography, and satellite navigation
Daniel R. Reitman
>Since we were on the topic of saddest songs, I got to thinking about songs that
>have made me bust out laughing. There are many, of course, including "The
>Scotsman," and "There Was an Old Sow" (a favorite of my father's). . . .
Tom Smith, "Operation: Desert Storm". (It's _not_ what you think.)
About 45 percent of Loudon Wainwright's output.
Heather Alexander, "Brannigan's Special Ale."
And, of course, Judy Small's version of "The IPD". (I forget who
wrote it.)
Dan, ad nauseam
nsi...@inescn.pt
jes...@aol.com (JesiAna) wrote:
> Since we were on the topic of saddest songs, I got to thinking about songs
that
> have made me bust out laughing. There are many, of course, including "The
The british band Magna Carta has some good one, including "Isn't it funny"
that includes this verses on the lyrics:
So I asked a coalman just for a laugh
how many times did he take a bath
as many times said he
as the bath takes me
Oh isn't it funny
and not a little bit strange
like a biscuit on a plane
going south to the sun
I also enjoy very much "Old John Parker" song from Magna Carta an started
just like this:
Old John Parker is staying up late
Sitting by his garden gate
Days of laughter and of tears
Turning into falling years gone by
See them at http://www.magnac.com/
--
Nelson Silva Official Magna Carta Web Site
http://bluenose.inescn.pt/~nsilva/ http://www.magnac.com/
Abby Sale
A fair contender for one that might fit all three categories I got from Ed
McCurdy:
I was standing on the corner, just as lonely as could be,
When up there came an ugly man and tied his horse to me.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---
I am Abby Sale - abby...@orlinter.com (That's in Orlando)
Larry Dornhoff
the Arrogant Worms, with a series of recent funny songs beginning with
"The Last Saskatchewan Pirate".
--
Larry Dornhoff, Dept. of Mathematics, Univ. of Illinois
1409 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801-2975 USA
dorn...@math.uiuc.edu; (217) 333-1574, (217) 356-3498
http://albert.math.uiuc.edu/larryhpg.htm
John J. Schuster
I've also heard the "Gilligan's Island" lyrics done to:
House of the Rising Sun
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Both work well and are hilarious!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
John J. Schuster ELECTRONICS ENGINEER
UNIV. OF MS. OFFICE (601)232-5072
OCIS FAX (601)232-7180
POWERS HALL, RM. 302 EMAIL: cc...@sunset.backbone.olemiss
UNIVERSITY, MS 38677 http://www.olemiss.edu/~ccjjs/
_______________________________________________________________________
John J. Schuster
Well, since we're getting into long titles (yet funny), how about: "How Could
You Believe Me When I Said, "I'm Sorry", Cause You Know I've Been A Lier All
My Life."
Ron Natalie
Doug Landauer
> You Believe Me When I Said, "I'm Sorry", Cause You Know I've Been A Lier All
> My Life."
Now that y'all are straying from funny folk songs into silly country
music song titles...
Before web pages became the "normal" way to do this, it was
pretty common to collect lists like this via USENET. Here's
the one I collected and consolidated around that time. My
two favorites are:
I Kissed Her on the Lips, And Left Her Behind for You
I Don't Want Your Body If Your Heart's Not In It
Since then, I found a small book of silly lines from country
songs, and someone sent me a much larger selection of them
on paper. Maybe it's time to scan it in and put it up on my
web site. Meanwhile, here's the 1995 list I collated, complete
with my 1995 .sig...
-- -- --
Bridge Washed Out, I Can't Swim and My Baby's on the Other Side
C'mon Down off the Stove, Granny, You're Too Old to Ride the Range
C'mon Out Of the Stable Granny, You're Too Old to Horse Around
Connie's Got Connections In Connecticut
Do You Love As Good As You Look
Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger (When You Go Out at Night)
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor On The Bedpost Overnight?
Don't Come Home a-Drinkin' With Lovin' On Your Mind
Don't Go Home With Your Heart On
Don't Let That Doorknob Hit You (on the Way Out)
Drop Kick Me, Jesus, Through The Goalposts Of Life
Emotional Breakdown
Every Time I See You You're Gone
>From The Indies To The Andes In His Undies
Get Your Biscuits In The Oven And Your Buns In The Bed
Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth 'Cause I'm Kissing You Goodbye
Girl, You Ain't Much Fun Since I Quit Drinkin'
Guess My Eyes Were Bigger Than My Heart
Heart of Stone (She Took My Love For Granite)
Heaven's Just A Sin Away
Hell Stays Open All Night
Her Body Couldn't Keep You Off My Mind
Her Cheatin' Heart Made A Drunken Fool Out Of Me
Her Teeth Was Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure
Here's A Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares
How Can A Whiskey [That's] Six Years Old Whup A Man That's 33? [or 32]
How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?
How Can You Believe Me When I Say I Love You ...
... When You Know I've Been A Liar All My Life?
How Long Does It Take a Memory To Drown
I Can Still Hear Our Song in the Men's Room
I Can't Get Over You, So Why Don't You Get Under Me? (with variants:
I'll Get Over You As Soon As You Get Out From Under Him; or
How can I get over you, when you're under him?)
I Changed Her Oil, She Changed My Life
I Don't Know What Came Over Me (When I Came All Over You)
I Don't Know Whether To Come Home Or Go Crazy
I Don't Know Whether To Kill Myself Or Go Bowling
I Don't Want Your Body If Your Heart's Not In It
I Fell In A Pile Of You And Got Love All Over Me
I Forgot How Bad My Good Woman Could Be
I Got In At 2 With A 10 And Woke Up At 10 With A 2
I Hate Every Bone In Your Body Except Mine
I Just Bought A Car From The Guy That Stole My Girl, ...
... But The Car Don't Run, So I Figure We Got An Even Deal
I Keep Forgettin' I Forgot About You
I Knifed the forklift driver 'cause he was spoonin' with you (WP4)
I Kissed Her on the Lips, And Left Her Behind for You
I Knew I'd Hit Rock Bottom When I Woke Up On Top Of Yew
I Knew I'd Lean (But I Never Thought I'd Fall)
I Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well
I Married a Moonshiner's Daughter and Now She Makes Me Likker
I Married a Moonshiner's Daughter and Oh, How I Love Her Still
I May Be Used (But Baby I Ain't Used Up)
I Meant Every Word That He Said
I Still Miss You, Baby, But My Aim's Gettin' Better
I Think I'll Drink Myself Into the Past
I Wanna Whip Your Cow
I Wish I Were In Dixie Tonight, But She's Out Of Town
I Wish You'd Go Marry Somebody Else So I Could Drink at Your Wedding for Free
I Would Have Wrote You A Letter, But I Couldn't Spell Yuck!
I Wouldn't Take Her To A Dawg Fight, Cause I'm Afraid She'd Win
(or I Wouldn't Take You To A Dog Fight Even If I Thought You Could Win)
I'd Be Better Off in a Pine Box
I'd Rather Have A Bottle In Front Of Me Than A Frontal Lobotomy
I'd rather pass a kidney stone than another night with you. (WP2)
I'd Rather Say Goodbye to You than Give up An Indoor Toilet
I'll Marry You Tomorrow But Let's Honeymoon Tonite
I'm Gettin' Gray From Being Blue
I'm Going Back to Dallas Texas, to See if Anything Could ...
Be Worse than Losing You
I'm Gonna Build Me a Bar in the Back of My Car and Drive Myself to Drink
I'm Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home
I'm Havin' Daydreams About Night Things In The Middle Of The Afternoon
I'm Just A Bug On The Windshield Of Life
I'm Not Married But The Wife Is
I'm So Miserable Without You, It's Like Having You Here
I'm The Only Hell Mama Ever Raised
I've Been Limping Through the Cornfield since I Fell for You.
I've Been Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart
(or I Flushed You From The Toilets Of My Heart)
I've Been Roped and Throwed by Jesus in the Holy Ghost Corral
(or I Been Roped And Thrown By Jesus In The Holy Ghost Corral)
I've Got a Feeling That She Ain't Feeling What I'm Feeling Any More
I've Got Four On The Floor And A Fifth Under The Seat
I've Got Red Eyes From Your White Lies And I'm Blue All The Time
I've Got Tears In My Ears From Lying On My Back In My Bed ...
... While I Cry Over You (or, I Got Tears in My Eyes From Lying ...
... on My Back Crying on My Pillow Over You)
I've Got The Hungries For Your Love And I'm Waiting In Your Welfare Line
I've Got You on My Conscience But At Least You're Off My Back
I've Got a Funny Feeling (I Won't Be Feeling Funny Very Long)
I've Never Seen a Straight Banana
I've Seen Your Aura and It's Ugly
If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me, Her Memory Will
If Fingerprints Showed Up On Skin, Wonder Whose I'd Find On You
If I Give My Heart to You, Then I'll Have None and You'll Have Two
If I Can't Be Number One In Your Life, Then Number Two On You
If I Had Shot You When I Wanted To, I'd Be Out By Now
If I Had To Do It All Over Again, Babe, I'd Do It All Over You
If I Had to Stop Loving You, I Wouldn't Know Where to Start
If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me?
If It's Got To Be Later, How 'Bout Later Tonight?
If Love Were Oil, I'd Be A Quart Low
If My Nose Were Full of Nickels, I'd Blow It All On You
If She Puts Lipstick On My Dipstick, I'll Fall In Love
If The Jukebox Took Teardrops I'd Cry All Night Long
If The Phone Don't Ring, Baby, You'll Know It's Me
If Whiskey Were A Woman I'd Be Married For Sure
If You Can Live With It (I Can Live Without It)
If You Can't Feel It (It Ain't There)
If You Don't Believe I Love You Just Ask My Wife
If You Don't Feel I Love You, Feel Again
If You Don't Leave Me Alone, I'll Go And Find Someone Else Who Will
If You Keep Checking Up on Me (I'm Checking Out on You)
If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?
In the Footprints of Time, I'm Just a Heel
It Ain't Love But It Ain't Bad
It Don't Feel Like Sinnin' To Me
It Don't Hurt Half as Bad as Holding You Feels Good
It Takes Me All Night Long To Do What I Used To Do All Night Long
Jesus Is a Good Ole Boy
Jump in the hefty bag, baby, 'cause I'm takin' out the trash (WP8)
Katy's Gonna Climb My Pole
Lay Back Down and Love Me and Leave the Leavin' for Later On
Learning To Live Again Without You Is Killing Me
Let Me Love the Leavin' from Your Mind
Love Will Beat Your Brains Out
Loving You Has Made Me Bananas
Lovin' you clogged my arteries with your big fat lies, ...
... then you bypassed my heart for some other guy (WP1)
Mama Get The Hammer (There's A Fly On Papa's Head)
May the Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Merle Haggard Was Eatin' Tofus
My Best Man Was Her Daddy's Shotgun (WP6)
My Every Day Silver Is Plastic
My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, And I Don't Love Jesus
My John Deere Was Breaking Your Field, ...
... While Your Dear John Was Breaking My Heart
My Legs Won't Walk Away From You
My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend, And I Sure Do Miss Him
My Wife Thinks You're Dead
Nervous Breakdown
Nineteenth Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Now I lay Me Down To Cheat
Oh, I've Got Hair Oil On My Ears And My Glasses Are Slipping Down, ...
... But Baby I Can See Through You
Oh, Lord! It's Hard To Be Humble When You're Perfect In Every Way
Out Of My Head And Back In My Bed
Pardon Me, I've Got Someone To Kill
Pardon My Southern Movements, Miss Lou (?)
Play Me or Trade Me
Please Bypass This Heart
Run to the Roundhouse, Sally, They Can't Corner You There
Runaway Freight Train Hit My Baby As She Walked Out My Door
She Can't Get My Love off the Bed
She Didn't Kiss Me Down the River So I Paddled Her Back
She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye
She Feels Like A New Man Tonight
She Gave Her Heart to Jethro and Her Body to the Whole Danged World
She gimme any more lip, you gonna have to call me Jagger (WP7)
She Got The Gold Mine And I Got The Shaft
She Got The Ring And I Got The Finger
She Made Toothpicks Out Of The Timber Of My Heart
She Treated My Heart and My Apartment Like an Ashtray
She Was Bred in Old Kentucky, But She's Just a Crumb Out Here
She Was Only a Cattleman's Daughter, But All the Horsemen Knew 'Er.
She's Got Freckles On Her, But She's Pretty
She's Out Doing What I'm Here Doing Without
(or You're Out Doing What I'm Here Doing Without)
Since She Took the Mister Coffee, I've Been Feeling Mighty Perky ...
... (Cause All I Ever Used To Do Was Drip)
Sleeping Single in a Double Bed
Somebody Must Have Loved You Right Last Night
Somebody Shoot Out the Jukebox
Swing Wide Your Gate Of Love
Take Me to Heaven (Before You Take Me Home)
Take Your Shoes Off When You're
Walking Through My Mind (Lorraine Pfizner)
Tennis Must Be Your Racket 'Cause Love Means Nothin' To You
Thank God And Greyhound She's Gone
The Last Word in Lonesome Is "Me"
The Pint of No Return
The Wife of the Party
The Worst You Ever Gave Me Was the Best I Ever Had
There Ain't No Waste In My Baby's Love Canal
There's a Tear in My Beer 'Cause I'm Crying for You, Dear
They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore
They May Put Me In Prison, But They Can't Stop My Face From Breakin' Out ...
(or You May Put Me In Prison, But You Can't Keep My Face From Breakin' Out)
This Time I'm Gonna Beat You to the Truck
Timber, I'm Falling in Love
Time Wounds All Heels
Touch Me With More Than Your Hands
Tryin' To Be a Good Ol' Boy, but You're a Bad Old Habit
Using My Bible For A Blackjack
Velcro Arms, Teflon Heart
We Used to Just Kiss on the Lips But Now It's All Over
What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me)
What's a Fool Like Me Doing In a Love Like This
When We Get Back To the Farm (That's When We Really Go To Town)
When We Were Down to Nothin' (Nothin' Sure Looked Good on You)
When You Leave, Walk Out Backwards, So I'll Think You're Walking In ...
(or Walk Out Backwards Slowly So I'll Think You're Walking In)
Who You Gonna Believe, Me Or Your Lying Eyes?
Who's Taking Care of the Caretaker's Daughter ...
... (While the Caretaker's Busy Taking Care)?
Why Can't We Make Love Without Leaving Love All Over The Place
Why don't we get drunk and (Thud) ... (WP5)
Won't you be my Ballantine? (WP3)
Would Jesus Wear A Rolex on His Television Show?
Yes, We Like Bananas (Because They Have No Bones)
You Blacked My Blue Eyes Once Too Often
You Called Her Up, Now You Call Her Off
You Can Lead a Horticulture, But You Cain't Make 'er Think
You Can Tell the Man Who Boozes (By the Company He Chooses)
You Can't Deal Me All The Aces And Expect Me Not To Play
You Can't Have Your Kate And Edith Too
You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd
You Done Stomped on My Heart (and Smashed That Sucker Flat) ...
(or You Done Tore Out My Heart And Stomped That Sucker Flat)
You Got a Hog Jowl Where Your Heart Ought To Be
You Hurt The Love Right Out Of Me
You Make My Heart Want a Dip of Snuff
You Were Only A Splinter As I Slid Down The Bannister Of Life
You Won't Be Back But George and Jack Will Help Me Make It Through The Night
You'd Make an Angel Want to Cheat
You're A Cross I Can't Bear
You're Ruining My Bad Reputation
You're the First Time I Thought About Leaving
You're the Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly
Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore
Your Getting Bothered Doesn't Marry Me
Your Negligee Has Turned to Flannel Nightgowns
Your Red Scarf (Matches Your Eyes)
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Doug.L...@sun.com || "And we're sincere, right down to our veneer!"
SunSoft->DevPro:: || -- John Forster, "Way Down Deep
Languages.ADE(C++); || (You're Shallow)"
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
WalterH796
Come to mention it, I like this one too.
I have both the rock and roll version by Sam the Sham and
the country version by Wayne Carson.
Nigel & Nancy Sellars
"When I First Became a Teacher." And, of course, Rambling Syd Rumpo's
mangled English folksongs, with lyrics by Marty Feldman and Barry Took.
Plus the Clancy Brothers' renditions of "Galway Bay" and "They're Moving
Father's Grave to Build a Sewer."
Nigel Sellars
JesiAna
LOVE YOU When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life."
And I don't consider this a country song. I believe I saw it performed in a
movie musical (for some reason, Judy Garland comes to mind, but not sure about
it), an old timey one with a man and a woman singing it onstage. It's VERY
funny!
I first heard it sung in a piano bar. The fella that sang it? Well, it fit him
to a T! Hilarious, and ironic!
John Tubbs
>
> >> I've always enjoyed "My Eggs Don't Taste The Same Without You".
> >
> >Then there's "I've Got Tears in My Ears from Lyin' on My Back in My Bed
> >While I Cry Over You."
>
> You Believe Me When I Said, "I'm Sorry", Cause You Know I've Been A Lier All
> My Life."
And who could forget "Well, Who Ya Gonna Believe, Darlin'--Me or Your Own
Eyes?"
John
Rob Lopresti
Wainwright, and Goodman but I'd like to add a few
less known songwriters.
Bob Snider of Toronto is a riot. Listen to "What an
Idiot He Is" or "Folksinger Blues."
Zeke Hoskin, formerly of Vancouver, BC, now of
Bellingham, WA, is a great writer of funny songs.
Listen to "Chocolate," "No Divorce in Ireland,"
"Yahoo the Highway (is coming through the farm"
Dave Gordon, late of Dayton, Ohio wrote great
funny and sad songs. "The Mad Consumer,"
"I Leaned Against the Sofa," etc.
And in Seattle there is Andrew Ratshin, formerly
of Uncle Bonsai, currently of the Electric
Bonsai Basnd (which is him) and the Mel Cooleys.
Andrew writes the maddest, funniest, most
word-packed songs you could ever want to hear.
Like "Another Fat Song" and "Doug Engaged."
And finally, also in Seattle, there is Scott Katz (who
will finally be releasing an album this year). His signature
tune is "I Was Wrong" ("I was a doubting Thomas, you're
a freaking Nostradamus,") but the first time I heard his
"LIving In a World With Kenny G." I literally fell out
of my chair.
Cheers,
Kay Shapero
JT>WalterH796 wrote:
>
> I've always enjoyed "My Eggs Don't Taste The Same Without You".
JT>Then there's "I've Got Tears in My Ears from Lyin' on My Back in
JT>My Bed While I Cry Over You."
Or whatever the song is with the phrase "I've Been Flushed From the
Bathroom Of Your Heart".
And then there's Tom Smith's hilarious "Domino Death" from the tape of the
same name...
John J. Schuster
>Wait a sec...I thought the song was "How Could you Believe Me When I said I
>LOVE YOU When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life."
I stand corrected on the words - actually, I realized it right after I hit
"Send" but didn't feel it warranted another message <grin>!
>I first heard it sung in a piano bar. The fella that sang it? Well, it fit him
>to a T! Hilarious, and ironic!
I first heard this sung by a barbershop quartet in a medley with "It's a Sin
to Tell a Lie"
Regards,
John J. Schuster
San Francisco":
I Left My Heart in San Francisco,
I left my knee in Baltimore.
I left my little wooden leg,
Somewhere in Winnapeg.
I left my wig in Singapore - on the floor.
I left my teeth on Mt. McKinnley,
High on a hill, they smile at me.
When I come home to you, San Francisco,
There won't be much left of me!
BTW: I would love to perform this but have been unable, as yet, to figure out
chording for it on the guitar. Any help would be appreciated.
Ron Natalie
>
> I have no idea who wrote it but there is a great parody on "I Left My Heart in
> San Francisco":
>
I sent my sinuses to Arizona.
I sent my liver to Peru.
I sent my lungs and my kidneys,
for the summer to Sidney.
But I'm sending my heart to you!
Wendy E. Betts
JesiAna <jes...@aol.com> wrote:
>Wait a sec...I thought the song was "How Could you Believe Me When I said I
>LOVE YOU When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life."
>
>movie musical (for some reason, Judy Garland comes to mind, but not sure about
>it), an old timey one with a man and a woman singing it onstage. It's VERY
>funny!
It was "Royal Wedding" with Fred Astaire and Jane Powell. Interesting
that Garland cam eto mind, I think she was the original choice.
--
Wendy E. Betts, Editor, "Notes from the Windowsill." web at armory.com
"among them was a particularly hideous little monster, a so-called
book grump...these little spirits normally spend their lives grumping
about books. Research has not yet determined why such creatures exist."
Wendy E. Betts
Joan Manners <joanm...@linkonline.net> wrote:
>Firing The Surgeon General - The Foremen
>T.M.I. - Roy Zimmerman
>Defenders of Marriage - Roy Zimmerman
I'm glad to see the Foremen! Isn't Roy Zimmermand their songwriter? Is
he doing solo work now? I know he stopped performing...
My current fav funny song is "Dog Dreams" by Jonatha Brooks on "Big
Night in a Small Town." It's such an absurd song and she sings it
with such folky passion, it's hilarious! That same album also has a
song called "Entering Marion" which is incredibly witty, though more
of a broadway sound than folk.
Other favs: "Don't Use Your Penis for a Brain" and other gems by
Romanovsky and Phillips, most songs by Oliver Brown (anyone else know
him?) and the Beastiary of Flanders and Swan.
Joan Manners
> I'm glad to see the Foremen! Isn't Roy Zimmermand their songwriter? Is
> he doing solo work now? I know he stopped performing...
Yes, Roy Zimmerman is the composer/lyricist for the Foremen (although
they are now doing some material by outside writers). He's stopped
performing with the Foremen, but he hasn't stopped performing! He has a
wonderful, brilliant solo CD out called "Comic Sutra." He released it
independently on his own label, Metaphor Records, so you can only get it
by ordering it through his P.O. box. Go here for ordering information,
and scroll down to the bottom:
http://www.mixed-up.com/markb/lyrics/artists/foremen-update.html
(Or Email me and I'll give you the ordering information.)
Roy has some solo shows coming up:
In San Francisco:
Thursday, March 11 thru Sunday, March 14th
Cobb's Comedy Club (in the Cannery)
(He will be the opening act for comedian Will Durst)
For more info on Cobb's Comedy Club:
http://www.webcom.com/shownet/cobbs/welcome.html
In Los Angeles:
Sunday, March 28 - 7pm
The Beverly Hills Public Library
2nd floor Community Auditorium
444 North Rexford Drive
(just sound of Santa Monica Blvd., between Crescent & Doheny)
(Roy will be the sole performer that night.)
Tickets are $15.00. To reserve tickets, or for more information, call
Jeannine Frank at (310) 471-3979.
Anyone interested in more information on Roy Zimmerman or the Foremen,
please Email me privately at joanm...@linkonline.net (I don't work
for them, or anything. I'm just one of their biggest fans.)
> My current fav funny song is "Dog Dreams" by Jonatha Brooks on "Big
> Night in a Small Town." It's such an absurd song and she sings it
> with such folky passion, it's hilarious! That same album also has a
> song called "Entering Marion" which is incredibly witty, though more
> of a broadway sound than folk.
"Entering Marion?" The song written by John Forster? I can hardly
imagine how a woman would be able to pull off that lyric (lots of sexual
innuendos & puns). I wonder if she changes some of the lyrics (or if
it's a different song altogether).
> Other favs: "Don't Use Your Penis for a Brain" and other gems by
> Romanovsky and Phillips,
Oh! I love their "Some Of My Best Friends Are Straight!"
Joan M.
JesiAna
that Garland cam eto mind, I think she was the original choice. >>
I was also thinking Fred Astaire...but then I wasn't sure about that, either.
Thanks for letting me know. It was a hilarious routine!
Doug Landauer
> > Night in a Small Town." It's such an absurd song and she sings it
> > with such folky passion, it's hilarious! That same album also has a
> > song called "Entering Marion" which is incredibly witty, though more
> > of a broadway sound than folk.
>
> "Entering Marion?" The song written by John Forster? I can hardly
> imagine how a woman would be able to pull off that lyric (lots of sexual
> innuendos & puns).
Apparently you are unfamiliar with the folk compilation CD
"Big Night in a Small Town". Go find it. It's worth the effort.
It's the first of two such CDs from a singer-songwriter's workshop
organized by Christine Lavin at Martha's Vineyard.
(The second one, a double-CD called "Follow That Road" is also worth
seeking out.)
Lessee, aside from Dog Dreams and Entering Marion, "Big Night in a Small
Town" has Pete Nelson's powerful "Summer Of Love", one of David Wilcox'
amazing mostly-spoken pieces, David Roth's funny song about singing the
Star Spangled Banner at a Chicago Bulls game, David Buskin's hilarious
"A Folksinger Earns Every Dime", Pierce Pettis' recording of Mark Heard's
wonderful "Nod Over Coffee", Cheryl Wheeler's "Further and Further Away"
(before she put it on any album of her own), Chuck Pyle's "Endless Sky"...
and that's just some of the favorites I recall at the moment.
> I wonder if she changes some of the lyrics (or if
> it's a different song altogether).
I've always wondered whether Linda Ronstadt changed the lyrics when
she sang Warren Zevon's "Hasten Down the Wind". (I did, once, but only
because I accidentally started it with "He" instead of "She". Led to some
quick-thinking real-time songwriting...)
I heard a Johnny Mathis recording of "Killing Me Softly With Her [sic]
Song" that made me kinda sic, considering that the song was written
specifically about Don MacLean. Made me think that if Mr Mathis were
to sing Don's great song about Van Gogh, instead of calling it
"Vincent", he'd call it "Vickie".
PAULSBANJO
After reading through the 79 list answers I only saw about two songs
that weren't "modern" so I thought I'd put in my list of "traditional" songs
for "toung in cheek" folk humor.
1-The Arkansas Traveler (the "folk" dialogue version)
2-Abdul the Bulbul Ameer
3-Tying a Knot in the Devils Tail
4-Oh Suzanna
5-I was born 10000 Years Ago
6-the Tenderfoot
7-Cosher Bailey's Engine
8-the Frozen Logger (moderatly new I believe)
9-The man that Waters the Workers Beer (also faily modern)
10- the E-ri-E Canal
Anyway just a few "in the tradition"
Paul
d...@america.net
> same name...
And on the subject of Tom Smith, how about the hysterical meta-folksong,
"My Unicorn Song"?
Rob
--
Rob Wynne / The Autographed Cat / d...@america.net
The best original science-fiction and fantasy on the web:
Aphelion Webzine: http://www.aphelion-webzine.com/
Aphelion is looking for SF poetry and filk music. Please send
submissions or inquiries to poe...@aphelion-webzine.com.
Lucy Kemnitzer
The Drunken Rat
"the cat jumped over and the rat got sober
ran back to his hole again"
Lucy Kemnitzer
Ada M. Prill
How about "The Photographer" by Grit Laskin:
Then I took out my Nikon F
And placed it in her hand--
She said that's quite a camera
You've got at your command.
Pete Seeger recorded it on his wonderful "Circles and Seasons" album.
Stephen Suffet
Can I nominate my own songs? If so, then PASSING BOO would be among
my choices.
Regards,
Steve
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PASSING BOO
Music: "Passing Through" by Dick Blakeslee
Words: Stephen L. Suffet ©1997
I heard the sirens sound, and the squad cars came around,
They brought out their guns and night sticks, too.
Wow! I thought it's somethin' thrillin',
Like maybe another killin',
But it's just a bunch of pot-heads passin' boo.
Passin' boo, passin' boo,
Panama red or 'pulco gold,
It don't matter young or old,
When you're just another pot-head passin' boo.
There are murderers galore and thieves jimmyin' the door,
There's the Cosa Nostra and all their bloody crew,
But instead of fightin' crime,
Cops are spendin' all their time,
A-bustin' all the pot-heads passin' boo.
Passin' boo, passin' boo,
Let me roll a joint for you,
Then you'll take a toke or two,
And you're just another pot-head passin' boo.
Well, I hope you like my song, and I know it isn't long,
And when I'm done guess what I'm gonna do.
Gonna find some Kennedy kids,
And score a couple o' lids,
'Cause they're another bunch of pot-heads passin' boo.
Passin' boo, passin' boo,
In the projects or the pokey,
Or the White House have a smokey,
'Cause there's an awful lot of pot-heads passin' boo.
Last night I had a dream that on my TV screen,
I saw our fearless Willie Clinton spew:
"I feel your pain now that you're jailed.
But you shouldn't have inhaled,
'Cause you're just a rotten pot-head passin' boo."
Passin' boo, passin' boo,
Democrats or G.O.P.,
It's the same hypocrisy,
When they crack down on the pot-heads passin' boo.
JesiAna
father's. Although I agree with "Arkansas Traveler" (which I heard sung by Sam
Hinton...hilarious), "Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail," (aka "Sierra Peaks,"
which I first heard Ian Tyson sing on one of his early cowboy albums), and "The
Drunken Rat," definitely funny! But not as side-splitting as the two Paxton
songs I used to begin this thread!
<< > After reading through the 79 list answers I only saw about two songs
>that weren't "modern" so I thought I'd put in my list of "traditional" songs
>for "toung in cheek" folk humor.
> 1-The Arkansas Traveler (the "folk" dialogue version)
> 2-Abdul the Bulbul Ameer
> 3-Tying a Knot in the Devils Tail
> 4-Oh Suzanna
> 5-I was born 10000 Years Ago
> 6-the Tenderfoot
> 7-Cosher Bailey's Engine
> 8-the Frozen Logger (moderatly new I believe)
> 9-The man that Waters the Workers Beer (also faily modern)
> 10- the E-ri-E Canal
> Anyway just a few "in the tradition"
> Paul
The Drunken Rat
>>
Jesiana
jenny
My Tears Have Washed "I Love You" from the Blackboard of My Heart.
John Fereira
I don't see how funniest folk song list could be complete
without Utah Phillips "Moose Turd Pie".
John Fereira
ja...@cornell.edu
fdu9
Don't forget Loud's "I Went to The Doctor" which was in the medical thread
recently
from the folkie DownUnder ( fd...@yahoo.com )
"Practise random acts of kindness and senseless beauty."
The National Folk Festival is held every Easter--
http://www.spirit.net.au/~natfolk/mainfram/htm -- Please think about
coming....
Also have a look at
http://www.ubu.com/contemp/wright/wright1.html
fdu9
> Just thought of 2 more. WELFARE CADILLAC it was by a 70's country
singer I
> forget their name,
A little digression here. Richard S. Nixon (s is for scumbag)
once found that Johnny Cash had been booked to sing in the
White House, and he asked Johnny to sing Welfare Cadillac for him.
Johnny gave him the fisheye and said, "I don't do songs like that."
Nixon didn't understand that the man was not a human jukebox.
But I recall a film I saw of Nixon and Truman (my favourite modern Prez)
together in the same room. Nixon thumped out something on the piano
for old Harry, who understandably despised the little fascist at the
keyboard.
When Nixon finished, he asked Harry how he liked it, and Harry said,
"What was it?"
Nixon said, "The Missouri Waltz, of course."
Truman glanced at the camera with that wicked look of his and told Nixon
"The way YOU played it, I couldn't recognize the tune..."
--
from the folkie DownUnder ( fd...@yahoo.com )
"Practise random acts of kindness and senseless beauty."
The National Folk Festival is held every Easter--
http://www.spirit.net.au/~natfolk/mainfram/htm -- Please think about
coming....
Also have a look at
http://www.ubu.com/contemp/wright/wright1.html
for a giggle.
fdu9
featuring the hilarious John Reed, who was the guiding hand in
Rich and Famous from Perth, previously fronted by the stunning
Kavisha Mazella, who is also worth listening to, if you can find her stuff.
kat...@dnai.com
>How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?
Dan Hicks *is* a pretty funny guy. But I think "Hell, I'd Go!" (about
alien abduction) is funnier.
Kathy
(likes the Singing Martianettes)
Stephen Suffet
And let's not forget Bob Dylan's "If I Had It to Do All Over Again,
Baby, I'd Do It All Over You."
"You never know what Dylan's into next."
--- Rev. Jim Ignatowski on "Taxi"
Regards again,
Steve
CHERYLMHVA
peace to all!
Peace & have a nice day! Cheryl Harrell
Personal Quote: "Cheryl, huh?" By: My folksinger friend ADG
"Support Finding A Cure For Diabetes". By: ME
****NO SPAM PLEASE! THANK YOU! **** :)
JesiAna
"March Ditch" CD with Tommy...hilarious!
Helen Gibbons
-|Wait until y'all discover Australia's own Sensitive New Age
Cowpersons,
-|featuring the hilarious John Reed, who was the guiding hand in
They're great aren't they? I particularly enjoyed when they play each
other's instruments at the same time...
Love Helen
~A strange singing girl~
Webmaster to:
Tall Stories <URL: http://www.littlescotland.freeserve.co.uk>
Strawhead <URL: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~helen01/strawhead.htm>
Kay Shapero
d>Kay Shapero <kay.s...@salata.com> wrote:
> On <Feb 03 21:19>, John Tubbs <jmt...@mbay.net> wrote;
> And then there's Tom Smith's hilarious "Domino Death" from the tape of the
> same name...
d>And on the subject of Tom Smith, how about the hysterical
d>meta-folksong, "My Unicorn Song"?
Yeppers - I still can't listen to that one without cracking up. Or
"Return of the King" (who else would cross JRR Tolkien with Elvis?).
Matt Griffin, American
the years, but my favorites have to be the "To Hell With Love, I'm Going
Bowling!" cassette (credited to "Fish Karma and the Droning Headaches")
and the "Teddy In The Sky With Magnets" CD. He's got more than a *little
bit* of an edge, but he's written so much stuff that makes me laugh over
and over again. Not for the feint of heart...
--
Matt "equal love for all" Griffin
the real address is
did...@shore.net (don't ask)
"After my law boards, I became pretty much a lounge potato." --John Purchase
Gerry Myerson
Fereira) wrote:
-> I don't see how funniest folk song list could be complete
-> without Utah Phillips "Moose Turd Pie".
Easy...it's not a song, it's a story.
Good, though.
GM
paul tumolo
area folk group Celtic Elvis. (indeed, just about anything by these guys
is funny.)
Ever wonder what got Bathsheba's husband killed, or made Cyrano
write all that bad poetry? Little Head explains it all. It also explains
Bill Clinton. You can hear the song (Celtic Elvis isn't very well known-
although Christine Lavin has called them one of her favorite groups) on
the band's web page:
I may be a little biased- I produced their latest album- but give 'em a
listen, they are hilarious.
Gwilym Davies
about "To be a Pharmicist" or "The Village Pimp", not to mention "Dido,
Fido".
--
Gwilym Davies
BrunoSnack
Ed McCurdy (Pills to Purge Melancholy)
Oscar Brand (Sea Shanties, Bawdy Ballads)
Roberts & Barrand
The Kipper Family
Bruno
Jon-Jon
funny.
Peace,
Jon-Jon
CHERYLMHVA
Yeah, me too! I love that song. I love Arlo too! He's great & does lots of
other funny songs & stories too. Check out his website for more info on him
http://www.arlo.net & his newsgroup alt.music.guthrie. You'll have to catch
him in concert sometime. You'll love him! I've seen him about 37 times & he is
GREAT! Peace be to all!