The parodies here are really great and I love them!!! As to the additional verses though............Peter responded with a yuchh and I would agree...at least for me. Forgetting the marijuana theorists (and I try to), this song is about the loss of innocence, specifically childhood innocence, but as we go through life we realize more and more that, as Thomas Wolfe said, you can't go home again.
I guess that why it bothers me to add on a sweet ending, that the next generation will play with Puff, or whatever. It's okay if you like that sort of thing, but to me the song stands well alone and as it was. Yeah, it's become a bit of a joke and all, that's a shame...........It's a nice song about a something that's quite personal and most can relate to.
I must be getting crankier as the years pass I guess. A few months ago I heard a group doing "Yellow Rose of Texas" in the now usual upbeat style. I asked the lead singer afterwards why they did it that way ("Pretty much how everybody does it") and then if he had actually thought about the words or knew anything about the song's history ("No"). It's a ballad, almost a lament. We talked for awhile and though I'm sure they'll continue as is, the guy was at least interested.
I'll just go over and sit with the other curmudgeons now.................
Spaw