Origins: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: GUEST,Yalana Cotu
Date: 21 Nov 10 - 11:51 AM

If you go for a swim, and you don't come back in ... that's a Moray!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: kendall
Date: 21 Nov 10 - 03:12 PM

How can anyone not love a good parody?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: GUEST,Yalana Cotu
Date: 21 Nov 10 - 10:16 PM

When you meet a big eel, and its teeth are like steel... that's a Moray.
If it's big and it's mean, and all slimy and green... that's a Moray.
If it looks like a snake, with a gape like a rake... that's a Moray.
If he's fanning his gills, better head for the hills... that's a Moray!

When you're diving at night, and you feel a sharp bite... that's a Moray.
As you flee from it's cave, it's aggressive and brave... that's a Moray.
It runs you out of depth, so you run short of breath... that's a Moray.
Then it hits all your fingers, with teeth that are stingers... that's a Moray!

So you scream, and you beg, but it still bites your leg... that's a Moray!
Then it bites on your thumb, takes a chunk off your bum... that's a Moray!
When the eel in the reef, has your junk in its teeth... that's a Moray!
So you blubber and scream, just like in, a bad dream... that's a Moray!!!

And when you've had enough, of this grim, grizzly stuff...
S - I - N - G... NO MORE! eh?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: GUEST,Mary
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 03:45 AM

When an eel bites your heel and it's all you can feel,
that's a moray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 04:28 AM

In the bar we love so well
Where Louie used to dwell
That's at Mory's

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 06:26 PM

15 years and this thread should be rightfully dead but it gets more play!?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: Mark Clark
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 11:51 AM

When your thread should be dead
But it jogs someone's head,
That's some more play.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 28 Oct 14 - 12:59 PM

Stomach-heaving parody from my youth in Liverpool

When your boil suppurates and it runs on your plate,
Salmonella

They don't write them like that anymore!!
Jim Carroll

Subject: Lyr Add: THAT'S A MORAY (from The Barefoot Man)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 10:28 PM

I found this on Spotify:


THAT'S A MORAY
As sung by The Barefoot Man on "Shoeless Classics: Vol. 1"

See the thing in the reef with the big shiny teeth; that's a moray.
Put your hand in the crack and you won't get it back from a moray.
He can swim; he can glide, but he'd rather hide in the coral.
If you dive, stay alive; listen to me, for there is a moral.

Use a prong ten feet long when you see that big eel called a moray.
He's hungry and you see you are the meal that he would adore-ay.
Down below we all know he's that meanie; they call him a moray.
Put your hand in the crack and you won't get it back from a moray.

See the thing in the reef with the big shiny teeth; that's a moray.
He's hungry and you see you are the meal he would adore-ay.
Down below we all know he's the meanie; they call him a moray.
Put your hand in the crack and you won't get it back from a moray.

Subject: Lyr Add: THAT'S A MORAY (from Another Dixie Band)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Oct 14 - 10:41 PM

The instrumental part of this performance is quite comical and is reminiscent of Spike Jones and His City Slickers.


THAT'S A MORAY
As recorded by Another Dixie Band on "And Now for Something Completely Different!" (1999)

There's a fish in the sea who is bad as can be; that's a moray.
If he gives you the eye as you're snorkelin' by, that's a moray.
When he asks you to dinner, you're gonna get thinner; that's certain.
If that snake-in-the-grass starts to go for your fork, you're a-hurtin'.

He is ugly and ornery and hungry and that's the whole storay.
He likes swimmers and divers and surfers and jet-skiers, too.
If he gets kinda close, you had better start headin' for shore-ay.
Windin' up as a snack like a fishy Big Mac is a bore-ay.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: open mike
Date: 01 Jan 17 - 02:38 PM

When you're down by the sea and an eel bites your knee....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: GUEST,MobyD
Date: 08 Mar 17 - 05:25 PM

I can see your big grin,
So you must like poutine.
Have some more, eh?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: GUEST
Date: 24 May 18 - 09:35 AM

When the moon hits your knees,
and you mispronounce trees,
Sycamore.

When a grid's misaligned
with another behind
that's a Moiré

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: gillymor
Date: 24 May 18 - 09:41 AM

When an eel reaches out,
And grabs hold of your snout,
That's a moray.

Subject: Lyr Add: THAT'S A MORAY (Allan Aunapu)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Jun 18 - 07:55 PM

THAT'S A MORAY!
As recorded by Allan Aunapu on "Down on the Coast" (2010)

Put your hand in a crack and you don't get it back; that's a moray.
He's protecting his shack and he really doesn't like you, signore.
He's got nasty old teeth and he never does brush; that's his storay;
And you'll pay for that feel with a knot that won't heal; that's a moray.

Well of course you won't get it back from the moray.
Adding to his collection of hands keeps him quite busy.
He won't care much for folks, not even their jokes; what a pity!
His old lady's irate cause his part of the cave is so shitty.

So I get it; you want some revenge on the moray.
You go down to the Japanese rest'raunt and ask for some sushay.
When they serve up smoked eel, it just might reveal you're passe(?)
If true justice prevailed it'd be you on the plate, not the sushi.

If you think things are bad right now, they're gonna get worser.
People are still eating more eels than vice versa;
But if you don't mess with him, he won't mess with you; there's no worry.
He won't leave his cave; he likes lobster; he's not in a hurry.

But if you mess with his lobster, it's personal, and you'd better scurry.
He just may decide to have you with some curry.

Subject: Lyr Add: THAT'S AMORE (Brooks/Warren/Dean Martin)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Jul 23 - 11:58 PM

It seems nobody has posted the original yet. How can you appreciate the parody if you don’t know the original? You can hear this at the Internet Archive:


THAT’S AMORE
Words by Jack Brooks, music by Harry Warren, ©1953
As recorded by Dean Martin, with Dick Stabile and His Orchestra, on Capitol 2589, 1953.
From the Paramount picture “The Caddy.”

In Napoli, where love is king,
When boy meets girl, here's what they sing:

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore.
When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine, that’s amore.
Bells will ring, ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling, and you’ll sing “Vita Bella!”
Hearts will play, tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay, like a gay tarantella.

When the stars make you drool just like pasta fazool, that’s amore.
When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet, you’re in love.
When you walk in a dream but you know you’re not dreaming, signore,
Scusa me, but you see, back in old Napoli, that’s amore.

- - -
amore = love
vita bella = beautiful life. There is a song called "La vita è bella" (Life Is Beautiful) but I'm not sure that's what the songwriters had in mind.
tarantella = southern Italian folk dance in 6/8 time
pasta fazool = New York Italian dialect for pasta e fagioli, pasta and beans
signore = sir
scusa = excuse (but “excuse me” should be mi scusi)
Napoli = Naples

Subject: RE: Origins: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 20 Aug 24 - 05:54 AM

Adding to the conceit by Micca back in 2002:

The Boney Eel of Moray

by Daniel Kelly

In Rivers, and in Oceans,
Oh there had he been
But they’ve slain the Eel of Moray,
And they flayed him on the green.

I know that ye were Hungry
And fish ye did nae sae
But I bade you not ta et him,
Fae the price you’ll have to pay

He was a braw gallant,
And he hid within the stain;
And the boney Eel of Moray,
Ye should have let him laine!

He was a braw gallant,
With pharyngeal Jaw;
But the boney Eel of Morey
Will never swim nae more.

He was a braw gallant,
Ciguatera in his liver;
And the boney Eel of Moray,
Will make you retch and shiver!

Ye et of his body,
And now ye are cast Down,
By the boney Eel of Moray
For the hospital you’re bound!

Subject: RE: Origins: That's a Moray (eel)...after That's Amore
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Aug 24 - 02:08 PM

and another


Ye rugged barbecuers,
Oh come and hae yer fill.
They hae taen the Eel of Moray
And layed him on the grill.
He was a big fishy
And of eels was the king
It's the bonnie Eel of Moray
Whose praises we do sing.

Long will the hungry
Through the thick smoke look down
Ere they see the Eel of Moray
Is turning nice and brown.

Oh woe betide ye, Huntly.
You can only blame yersel
For I bid ye use the butter
And the oil to baste him well.
He was a braw fishy
And he weighed 'most 14 pound.
Now the Eel of Moray
Is turning black and brown.