Quick links: NewsBiscuit Home • Chat Room • Writers' Room • Top Ten
Quaz
offlineMember
The comedy song seems to have gone out of favour these days, but I'm sure Biscuiteers have their own favourites so why (not) share them in a Radio Biscuit style thread?
I'll start the ball rolling with Tom Lehrer's 'Old Dope Peddler'. Tricky to pick one Lehrer track out of the bunch, but "Old Mexico" wasn't on U-toob, and everyone knows "The Elements".
edward hack
offlineMember
This one by Robert Earl Keen (posted by Alec a while back) brings a smile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37xPiRz1sg&feature=related
shitsu_tonka
offlineMember
Doug Anthony Allstars 'I Fuck Dogs'
and
Anything by them is pure gold. I'm a tremendous fan. They also sang serious songs rather wonderfully.
They split up in '94 and I'm almost over it.
Good call on Tom Lehrer, Quaz. Here's one more of his. Poisoning Pigeons In The Park
andhrimnir
offlineMember
Almost everything by Ivor Cutler (particularly "oh pellets"), Sid Kipper ("Rhubarb", "Jack Onion" and "Bored of the Dance" amongst my faves), Jake Thakray ("Sister Josephine" is a corker) and Boothby Graffoe ("Umbrella head boy" and more for the guitar his song about golf/life, you know the one with the name I can't recall). All great live. Ivor and Jake still great despite being dead.
simonjmr
offlineMember
John Shuttleworth Austin Ambassador Y reg and I can't go back to savoury now
Austin Ambassador Y reg, I don't know why Reg?
Chorus from I Can't go back to savoury now
But I can’t go back to savoury now
That shepherd’s pie was stunning
But I’m, halfway through my pudding
I can’t go back to savoury now
My taste buds would go crazy
And I can’t go back to savoury now
(‘caus you can’t can you?)
If you can check out his eurovision entry from some year ago "Pigeons in flight" from the Europigeon film he did.
Also have a fond memory of some 1970's comedian singing Don't cry for me Ford Cortina
simonjmr
offlineMember
My wife Mary made a lovely shepherds pie & peas
With carrots and gravy, oh and cabbage as an additional green
I said that looks fantastic love and I tucked in hungrily
My daughter Karen didn’t, something I wish I’d seen
For soon my plate was empty, I said “Mary, is there any more?”
She said “No, love, but its treacle sponge for afters” and I said “phwoar”
I’d had a couple of mouthfuls, when I heard Karen declare
“I can’t eat any more of this shepherds pie mum”
Well it filled me with despair.
(because if I’d known that I wouldn’t have started my sweet)
Chorus.
But I can’t go back to savoury now
That shepherd’s pie was stunning
But I’m, halfway through my pudding
I can’t go back to savoury now
My taste buds would go crazy
And I can’t go back to savoury now
(‘caus you can’t can you?)
My tummy was in turmoil, I was panicked and confused
And as Karen’s dinner grew colder, so did my sweet
For my pleasure in that treacle sponge was now massively reduced
By the sight of fluffy potato, and glistening meat
Take this plate from me Oh Lord, before I go insane
Should I press on with my afters, or go back to my main?
Oh I can’t go back to savoury now
That shepherd’s pie was stunning
But I’m, halfway through my pudding
I can’t go back to savoury now, Oh No
My taste buds would go crazy
And I can’t go back to savoury now
I can’t go back, I won’t go back
I’d love to go back but I mustn’t do that
I can’t go back, I won’t go back
I’d love to go back obviously, but I mustn’t do that
At that moment I heard a sound, a scrape of knife on plate
As I watched Karen’s dinner go in the dog’s dish
My appetite now gone, my pudding suffered the same fate
I can only assume this appalling outcome,
Was God’s wish
‘Cause I can’t go back to savoury now
I can’t go back to savoury now
That shepherd’s pie was stunning
But I’m, halfway through my pudding
I can’t go back to savoury now
My taste buds would go crazy
And I can’t go back to savoury now
I can’t go back to savoury… now
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
Mary had a little lamb Green beans and new potatoes
I had tuna and sweetcorn flan
We served ourselves – no waiters
(because it was a carvery you see)
Ken plumped for the shepherd’s pie
I said ‘Ken, you’re outrageous’
For he had piled his plate sky high
To eat it took him ages
We had a carafe of sweet white wine
And Ken had a gin and tonic
There was a giraffe for children to climb
Though no children were on it…
Mary had a little lamb
But that was her big folly
For she was finished when it came
To viewing the sweet trolley
A substantial main meal would have made
A sweet unnecessary
As it was she suffered
‘Rigor Mortis by Raspberry’
sauce
offlineMember
Excellent choices, biscuiteers.
My Dad's an ardent Lehrer fan so I know far too many lyrics off by heart, tch. (And my step mom is Irish ... so she's not madly keen on Of an Irish Maid, hehehe.)
Here's Old Mexico for you, Quaz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nm3IzCT088
And how about Spitting Image's version of Sting's song? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqDbvLSvLt0
Quaz
offlineMember
Dont want to be a pedant Scroat, but the "Vietnam song" is "Feel like I'm Fixing to die" by country Joe and the Fish, which I think was famed for being played at Woodstock as a filler between acts to keep the crowd entertained.
It's a fine track, one of my faves and can be found here
Sauce, thanks for the link to Old Mexico.
For the Scottish contingent, we must include Billy Connolly and "Wellies", to be found here (I would have picked his "Granny's a cripple in Nashville", but couldn't find it online.)
Shitsu, I just checked out "I f*ck dogs", great.
Ivor Cutler? Now that's a blast from the past, worth a perusal.
Worth a listen if you are on the Absynth is "Fish heads" by Barnes and Barnes, here
theumpire
offlineMember
Now you've really got me started with this one, Quaz. My Lehrer favourites were always "Be Prepared" and "Rikkity-Tickitty-Tin".
My earliest recollection of comic songs comes from "Childrens' Choice" on the old steam radio, hosted by such luminaries as Uncle Mac, Wally Whyton and Ed Stewart.
Who remembers "The Laughing Policeman"? "Three Wheels on my Wagon"? "Boom-ooh-ya-tta ta ta"? "My Brother"? I could go on and on.
And then there's the comic song which ended all those Two Ronnies shows. I particularly remembered the Morris Dancers, the Two Tea Ladies, and Ronnie B's wonderful song "All Sorts" -
Down by the sea
All sorts you'll see
On a seaside hol-i-day.
And do we allow the comic monologue in here?
How about Stanley Holloway?
My Word You do look Queer (my favourite, from the days when "queer" meant "odd".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP6GOu67QxU&feature=related
Albert and the Lion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3jXMsfLxhI
Brahn Boots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohxfsFerE6g&feature=related
Old Sam Small - Pick up tha' Musket
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvLwx1fRne8&feature=related
And then there was Joyce Grenfell - "Nursery School" (George - don't do that)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oom2EPuNPv8&feature=related
Ooh! I nearly forgot Flanders & Swann with "The Gasman Cometh"
Now see what you've done, Quaz. You got me into YouTube, where I bumped into some "Yes Minister" links and just wasted an hour and a half.
Happy Days.
PS - Sorry about all the links - my URL button doesn't seem to be working.
Mrblacker
offlineMember
My pick for comedy - or at least humourous songs at the moment is John Hartford.
He's best known as the man who wrote Gentle on my Mind, but also came out with a couple of really good comedy songs.
This one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMI5wR2P9jQ
and this - which could have been dedicated to Oliver Cromwell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW3u5VjkpZc
And then there's a guy called Michael Johnson - paying homage to the world's favourite frogman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPGeFvnZkuc
And this one - one of my favourite songs and sentiments of all time; no video, just the lyrics
Life's a Bitch
Fresh out of college, carrying a Ph.D.
I thought with all that knowledge
The world couldn't wait for me
But then my eyes was opened
Just as wide as they could be
Now I'm busy coping with this harsh reality
Took some time to learn what the world already knew
And now I wake up everyday with the proper attitude
Life's a bitch and then you die
You don't know when and you don't know why
You love a little and you say goodbye
Fate comes in and throws the switch
Life's a bitch and then you die
I went to see the preacher, such a righteous man
A healer and a teacher, I was sure he would understand
Well he prayed and meditated while I told him about my life
I told him how I hated all this daily stress and strife
He took off his collar, he looked me in the eye
He closed the good book lying there and much to my surprise
He said life's a bitch and then you die
You don't know when and you don't know why
You love a little and you say goodbye
Fate comes in and throws the switch
Life's a bitch and then you die
I went to see the doctor, finally, to cure me of my ills
He reached into his locker and he handed me a bunch of pills
He said, "Boy, by your description, I can tell you're near the end
So take this here prescription, you'll be on your feet again
Follow these directions and in a week give me a call
And if these ain't effective, boy, well you might as well take 'em all"
Because life's a bitch and then you die
You don't know when and you don't know why
You love a little and you say goodbye
Fate comes in and throws the switch
Life's a bitch and then you die
Life's a bitch and then you die
thisisall1word
offlineMember
Dinosaur Egg by Scout Niblett, lyrics by David Shrigley:
Dinosaur egg oh dinosaur egg
When will you hatch
Cause I got a million people coming on Friday
And they except to see a dinosaur not an egg
Robot slave...oh robot slave
When will you spring to life
Cause I got a million people coming on Friday
And I don't except to serve them drinks myself...myself
etc...
There's a double album of David Shrigley tunes which I love very much - and there's this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOOF0NsT-38
not a song - but musical
The All New Jeni B
offlineMember
Not actual comedy songs, but the lyrics are still hysterical - Barenaked Ladies One Week.
They Might Be Giants - Birdhouse In Your Soul and Istanbul (not Constantinople.
And almost everything my Crash Test Dummies.
Well, they make me chuckle...
Quaz
offlineMember
"Why did Constantinopal get the works? It's nobody's business but the Turks"
I wondered who else bought that CD.
Hang on, all these months when I've been round at your's knicking the biscuits and the Malt, have you been round at mine robbing the CD's? It's just that you seem to have half my dance music collection as well.
Gary Stanton
offlineMember
Check out "I Ludicrous" if you have time. Can't vouch for the sound quality since the works PC is silent. Final link has a track called "I've never been hit by Mark E Smith".
They will change your life if it hasn't been changed already in some fairly substantial sort of way.
http://www.myspace.com/iludicrous
You must log in to post.
