Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?

Subject: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: thespionage
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 11:17 AM

Which of Woody Guthrie's songs do you think is the funniest? Top 5 perhaps?

Russ
http://www.myspace.com/russeli

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: Peace
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 11:31 AM

I like both

"The Ladies Auxiliary" and "Car Car", although I don't know if they are the real titles.

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: Scrump
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 11:40 AM

Well it ain't 1913 Massacre, I know that ;-)

I'll have to think about that one...

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: thespionage
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 01:04 PM

I've always enjoyed "Why Oh Why?"

Russ
http://www.myspace.com/russeli

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: GUEST,Janine
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 03:32 PM

Several of his serious songs have an element of humour, such as the talking blues, especially 'Talking Dust Bowl'. Of the funny ones, I'd agree with Russ.

Jan

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: thespionage
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 09:25 PM

A lot of the "Talking Blues" numbers are good. "Talking Fishing Blues" is quite funny.

Russ
http://myspace.com/russeli

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 11:43 PM

Mail myself to you.

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: Peace
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 11:43 PM

Yep. That's a gooder.

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: Songster Bob
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 12:51 AM

The "New Sheriff" (or "High Sheriff" or "Dead or Alive") has an ironic feel and several humorous lines. I don't know it by heart (even though I sing it with my partner, Pete Kraemer, but he does the lead), but it goes something like this:


The New Sheriff (as sung by Sidekicks)


The new sheriff wrote me a letter (2x)
Come 'round and see me, dead or alive. (2x)

He said he would clothe and feed me (2x)
Dead or alive, yes sir. (2x)

He said he would pay transportation (2x)
Dead or alive, yes sir. (2x)

He even sent me my picture (2x)
Dead or alive, yes, sir. (2x)

I'm sorry I can't come, sheriff (2x)
Dead or alive, no, sir. (2x)

I've got to go see my little sweet thing (2x)
Dead or alive, yes, sir. (2x)

I don't like your hard-rock hotel (2x)
Dead or alive, no, sir. (2x)

It's a hard road, Dead or alive (4x)



Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 01:49 AM

Mean Talking Blues.

I'm the meanest man that ever had a brain,
All I scatter is aches and pain.

eric

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 03:02 AM

I'd Say So Long, It's Been Good To Know Yuh:

The telephone rang. It jumped off the wall,
That was the preacher, a-makin' his call.
He said, "Kind friends, this may the end
You have your last chance at salvation from sin!"

Well, the churches was jammed and the churches was packed,
But that dusty old dust storm it blew so black
That the preacher could not read a word of his text,
So he folded his specs, took up a collection, (Sayin'...)

So long, it's been good to know yuh;
So long, it's been good to know yuh;
So long, it's been good to know yuh.
What a long time since I've been home,
And I've gotta be driftin' along.

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: GUEST,Janine
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 08:32 AM

I'd go along with that, Eric: there's also 'Talking Hard Luck (or Work)': '..I got moon struck, 'scito bit, poison ivy, seven year's itch and the blind staggers..'
In a similar line to Bob, there 'Bad Lee Brown' (Cocaine Blues): '.. I'll be here for the rest of my life and all I ever done was kill my wife...'
Jan

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: Flash Company
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 12:57 PM

Think I'd go with 'Hard Work'.

FC

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: Greg B
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 01:24 PM

Talkin' Guitar Blues...

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 05:24 PM

If Woody's reputation was based on his funny songs, it wouldn't exist. Wry? Yes. Ironic? Yes. Funny? Not particularly.

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 08:47 PM

Here's an amusing one that not too many know:

Words by Woody Guthrie Circa 1940
Tune: traditional "Molly Malone"

I'm a Jolly Banker


My name is Tom Cranker and I'm a jolly banker,
I'm a jolly banker, jolly banker am I;
I safeguard the farmers, widows and orphans,
Singing I'm a jolly banker, jolly banker am I.

When dust storms are sailing and crops are all failing. (as above)
I'll check up your shortage and bring down your mortgage. (as above)

When money you're needing for mouths you are feeding. (as above)
I'll plaster your home with a furniture loan. (as above)

If you show me you need it, I'll let you have credit. (as above)
Just bring me back two, for the one I lend you. (as above)

When your farm you are losing and sadly you're crusin'. (as above)
I'll come and foreclose, get your car and your clothes. (as above)

When the bugs get your cotton and times they are rotten. (as above)
I'll come down and help you, I'll rape you, I'll scalp you. (as above)

When the landlords abuse you or sadly misuse you. (as above)
I'll send down the police, keep you from mischief. (as above)

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: Janice in NJ
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 10:51 PM

Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman, Ingrid Bergman,
Let´s go make a picture,
On the island of Stromboli,
Ingrid Bergman.

Ingrid Bergman, you´re so pretty,
You´d make any mountain quiver,
You´d make my fire fly from the crater,
Ingrid Bergman.

This old mountain, it´s been waiting,
All its life for you to work it,
For your hand to touch the hard rock,
Ingrid Bergman, Ingrid Bergman.

If you´ll walk across my camera,
I will flash the world your story,
I will pay you more than money,
Ingrid Bergman.

Not by pennies, dimes, nor quarters,
But with happy sons and daughters,
And they´ll sing around Stromboli,
Ingrid Bergman.

This old mountain, it´s been waiting,
All its life for you to work it,
For your hand to touch the hard rock,
Ingrid Bergman, Ingrid Bergman.

Words by Woody Guthrie, set to music by Billy Bragg.
© 1998 Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc.

Subject: RE: Woody Guthrie: Funniest Song?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 01:43 AM

Just a few odd lines - "there was a hairpin bend and I didn't make it" always amused me, or a verse of Clean-o,
"Sweetie oh sweetie come smell me now,
Come smell me now, come smell me now.
Sweetie oh sweetie come smell me now,
Don't I smell nice and clean-o."

But that one was meant to entertain his little daughter.
Robyn