"The Bird Dance".
"From the Indies to the Andes in His Undies".
Even my own theme song, "The Baroness" (lyrics here), which somehow manages to incorporate the oh-so-merry (yet-underutilized) word "asparagus".
All happy songs. Slap-happy, put a smile on your face songs.
They really do make the world go 'round.
So, imagine my dismay when I came across a half-page article in the paper regarding startling new evidence about one of my beloveds, "The Hokey Pokey".
Apparently I live quite comfortably under a rock in my corner of the universe, because there is big trouble brewin' in Britain.
Politicians, clergy, soccer fans - they're all getting into the fray.
None of this was mentioned in my latest issue of "Commonwealth Quarterly".
According to the son of the song's writer, a one Mr. Jimmy Kennedy, the inspiration for the song, originally titled "The Hokey Cokey", is based on a traditional Canadian folk tune.
Which in and of itself should be a source of pride for the Baroness and her fellow countrymen. Because we are trés, trés folky and very tuneful.
However.
Kennedy Jr. goes on to elaborate that the folk tune was sung by miners in the early 20th century as a drug anthem celebrating the therapeutic powers of cocaine.
So.
That's what it's all about.
Huh.
Apparently I live quite comfortably under a rock in my corner of the universe, because there is big trouble brewin' in Britain.
Politicians, clergy, soccer fans - they're all getting into the fray.
None of this was mentioned in my latest issue of "Commonwealth Quarterly".
According to the son of the song's writer, a one Mr. Jimmy Kennedy, the inspiration for the song, originally titled "The Hokey Cokey", is based on a traditional Canadian folk tune.
Which in and of itself should be a source of pride for the Baroness and her fellow countrymen. Because we are trés, trés folky and very tuneful.
However.
Kennedy Jr. goes on to elaborate that the folk tune was sung by miners in the early 20th century as a drug anthem celebrating the therapeutic powers of cocaine.
So.
That's what it's all about.
Huh.
8 comments:
It's one of LittleMan's favorites. I still maintain Puff the Magic Dragon is actually about a dragon, so there ya go.
...and you shake it all around. That's what's it's all about.
So what? Are they dipping all of their body parts into it? You put your right arm in...
You've made my night! I wish I'd known that when I sang it with my kids years ago. It would have made a nice addition to all the songs and lullabies I sang to them featuring train wrecks, drownings, morphine addiction and the like.
Countess NATUI: Britain is so far away from your home, and I doubt LittleMan is perusing the news just yet.
He doesn't need to know about this.
Sometimes ignorance is indeed bliss.
Countess MPM: Shake, snort,writhe, DT.
Whatevs.
I'm so ashamed.
Countess iPost: I know. It gives the whole song a sooty veneer.
I feel dirty even singing it in my head...
Count of Tiki: a-HA! I bet you thought, based on the title, that this post was going to have something to do with clowns!
Alas, no.
Just jacked-up childhood favorites.
I remember exactly where I was when my dad told me that "Ring Around the Rosy" was about the Bubonic Plague. Good times.
Everybody, polka!!
I have to agreed that I'm a bit puzzled about how the lyrics in this new context. How much freakin coke did they snort if they were immersing body parts in the stuff and had to shake it off. Sounds more like they were making snow angels with it. .... babspeapod
I have to agreed that I'm a bit puzzled about how the lyrics in this new context. How much freakin coke did they snort if they were immersing body parts in the stuff and had to shake it off. Sounds more like they were making snow angels with it. .... babspeapod
Countess Babs: I guess that's what the "turn it all about" was for - to shake off the excess.
I, for one, had NO idea that Canadian miners made that much money. I'm obviously in the wrong line of work.
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