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Lyr Req: Unrequited to the Nth Degree (Wainwright)

18 Jan 01 - 10:39 AM (#376941)
Subject: A Louden Wainwright III song
From: GUEST,Guy Hoyle ( ghoyle1@airmail.net )

Back in the 70s, on an episode of M*A*S*H, Louden Wainwright III (as Captain Spalding) played a part of a song whose lyrics I would like to know. Unfortunately, this song does not appear to be posted anywhere on the internet, and my memory of it is fragmentary. I do know that I have heard the full song at least once, but I can't remember where it was or who else sang it.

It had a line that went "The grim reaper is coming to town and I just might die." There was also a verse with the lines Chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle, Chortle chortle chortle chortle, Guffaw guffaw guffaw guffaw...

The only other line I can remember is "I'm tired of beer, sitting up on the shelf..."

I don't know the name of the song or much of anything else about it (a friend told me who the songwriter was), so I'm pretty much stuck. Thanks in advance!

Guy

18 Jan 01 - 10:53 AM (#376953)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Louden Wainwright III song
From: okthen

Try doing a search for "bad day on the planet", I'm not sure this is what you're looking for, but it rings a distant bell.

cheers

bill

18 Jan 01 - 11:00 AM (#376959)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Louden Wainwright III song
From: Sorcha

Well, go spend some time here, a Wainwright site, and you might find it. Not all his lyrics are there, but it says he was on Mash 3 times, so there will be a limited number of episodes to look for. Not much help, I know.

18 Jan 01 - 11:04 AM (#376963)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Louden Wainwright III song
From: MMario

nice site here - http://lwiii.com/lwsonglist.html

somewhere on that site I found the following: "During Loudon's appearances on three episodes of M*A*S*H, he performed the following songs:

Five Gold Stars
song about missing the nurses
Big Mac Is Coming (title?)
Unrequited to the Nth Degree

The songs are not on any albums, but a different recording of "Unrequited to the Nth Degree" is on the album Unrequited and it may be possible to buy videotapes of the episodes (check your local or online video store). "

18 Jan 01 - 11:11 AM (#376967)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Louden Wainwright III song
From: Les from Hull

It sounds like 'Unrequited to the nth degree'. It's on the album 'Unrequited'

Les

18 Jan 01 - 11:14 AM (#376971)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Louden Wainwright III song
From: Sorcha

And, the names of the MASH episodes were:
"Rainbow Bridge"
"Big Mac"
"There is Nothing Like a Nurse"

18 Jan 01 - 02:33 PM (#377117)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Louden Wainwright III song
From: Grab

He did it at the Cambridge Folk Festival a couple of years back - I missed it (I planned my holiday badly that year :-) but saw it on the TV later.

The last line of the verse was "You'd better treat me right or I just might die". Lines like "Might be a heart attack, or maybe an OD. Might be an 18-wheeler coming down on me" or something like that. Quite sick, but very funny anyway. I'd be interested to see the lyrics - can you post them here if you do find them, please?

Grab.

18 Jan 01 - 03:04 PM (#377134)
Subject: Lyr Add: UNREQUITED TO THE Nth DEGREE (L Wainright
From: Trapper

Guy-

I'm spacing on the first verse right now, but here's the rest of it. If I think of it, I'll post it later.

- Al

UNREQUITED TO THE Nth DEGREE
by Loudon Wainright III

....

Might it be a plane wreck
or some sort of O.D.
There's gonna be a photograph
with my obituary.
You're gonna read it and feel sorry
Yeah, you're gonna wanna wear black.
I may be dead, but you can bet your life
I'm gonna get you back.

CHORUS:
Ha ha ha ha
Ho ho ho ho
Chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle
Snicker snicker snicker snicker
Guffaw guffaw guffaw
Yuk yuk yuk yuk
Ha ha ha ha

I'm tired of sittin'
up here on your shelf
I may not wait around
I might kill myself.
Not only will you miss me
but you'll feel guilty too.
I may be dead, but it'll be too late
the joke will be on you.

So you better take warnin'
and start treating me good
Start doin' the things
I think you should
And you better not pout,
and you better not cry,
the grim reaper is a-comin'to town
and I just might die!

18 Jan 01 - 04:03 PM (#377178)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Louden Wainwright III song
From: jeffp

Here's what I can remember of the first verse.

Oh, when I die
And it won't be long
You're gonna feel sorry
That you treated me wrong
You're gonna be sorry
That you treated me bad
??????
And I'll be glad.

The ????? are for the part that still escapes me. Maybe somebody else will remember it.

jeffp

18 Jan 01 - 04:05 PM (#377182)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Louden Wainwright III song
From: Sorcha

I'll go send the dude and e mail..........

22 Jan 01 - 12:37 PM (#379619)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Louden Wainwright III song
From: Trapper

Jeff-

THAT'S it! NOW I can fill in the question marks!

- Al

Oh, when I die
And it won't be long
You're gonna feel sorry
That you treated me wrong
You're gonna be sorry
That you treated me bad
And if there's an afterlife I'll gloat
And I'll be glad.

15 Jan 11 - 04:20 AM (#3074993)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unrequited to the Nth Degree (Wainwright)
From: GUEST,Erik

So your song is identified and if you search for it by title you can find vids on You tube by Loudon and others. In case you wanted to play it below are what I think the chords should be, just don't hold me to it... ;D


Oh when I (B7)die & it wont be (C)long
Oh you're gonna be (G)sorry that you treated me (D)wrong(D4) (D)
You're gonna be (B7)sorry that you treated me (C)bad
And if there's an (G)after life I'll (D)gloat & I'll be (G)glad

Have fun!