Song Challenge! Part 38

Subject: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Áine
Date: 19 Aug 00 - 04:39 PM

From fantasy to the fantastic! Come on, you thrill-seeking Challenge!rs, and run away with me to the circus . . .

A Party for the Passing of Popular Popsicled Pachyderm Poop Picker -- A memorial was held last weekend in Springfield, Missouri, for a popular circus elephant groomer whose body was frozen when he died three months ago so his friends could attend the funeral.

The funeral was held under the big top and included circus music, food and even an elephant-drawn wagon carrying the casket. In the center ring, the main attraction was Albert "Shorty" Sharp, who stood 4 feet, 7 inches tall, when he wasn't on his tiptoes grooming pachyderms. Sharp, who spent 50 years in the circus, died May 12 of heart failure while traveling through Wisconsin with George Carden Circus International. After the funeral festivities, Sharp's body was taken to a cemetery on the wagon, drawn by the elephants he cared for.

"My circus was out on the road when Shorty passed away and only a few of his friends would have made the funeral," said ringmaster and owner George Carden. So he decided to freeze Sharp's body at a Springfield funeral home until all of his friends could come. "This is not so much a funeral as it is a celebration to say 'thank you' to Shorty for his dedication," Carden said Thursday. "Shorty was a little man with a great big heart." Like most circus employees, Carden said, Sharp was completely dedicated to his work. Sharp groomed elephants for circuses in Florida and Texas, and even tended to Bimbo, a water-skiing elephant who appeared in a 1950s TV series called "'Circus Boy.' "In the circus, there is no such thing as calling in sick or getting tired, the show must always go on," Carden said. "Shorty was always there. He had no family, so he lived and breathed the elephants."

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Aug 00 - 09:37 AM

Poor old Shorty
I'll bet the elepants miss him
Poor old Shorty
Put on ice for the interim

Haha...not much in the way of being creative, today, Aine, darlin'...but it'll bring the thread back tot he top, so maybe someone else will have a go at it...

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: MMario
Date: 20 Aug 00 - 01:21 PM

THE LAST PARADE

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome ye all
To this my last farewell
For I shall ne'er see thee again
Unless in heaven or hell

My friends I bid you all "adieu"
With merriment and song
Do not grieve, or sigh for me
For you know, "The show goes on"

So when the call-I-ope sounds out
And the elephants parade
Let the joeys smile for me
And jollity be made

For now I soar as the flyers do
Above the rubes and crowd
And revel in the eternal song
Of applause both long and loud

My family, oh my dearest friends
Take care of the ring and when
The spotlight shines and the banners fly
I'll be with you again

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Áine
Date: 20 Aug 00 - 01:28 PM

Oh Leo, that is so beautiful! What a lovely, lovely song. It brought a tear to my eye, I tell ya. Well done, sir. Do you have a tune for it? Any chance of hearing you sing this (please, please)?

-- Áine

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: MMario
Date: 20 Aug 00 - 01:38 PM

it's playing in my head - sorta a varient on tramps and hawkers only a bit irregular, but I will try to work it up. Maybe get it on tape next weekend at Praise's when I visit. I should have some spare time then. and who knows, maybe I can highjack her microphone for a HearMe session...

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Áine
Date: 20 Aug 00 - 01:45 PM

I'm looking forward to it, Leo!! And give her a big sloppy kiss for me when you see her (!) and a big squiggy hug, too.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Áine
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 08:42 AM

Just wanted to pop this back up to the top for all you 'worker-lurker' Challenge!rs . . .

And dear kat -- Sorry I didn't mention your little verse yesterday. It's a great beginning, and I'd love it if you'd keep on going on and finish your song. Come on, mehitabel, Go For It!

-- Áine

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: MMario
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 08:18 PM

refresh c'mon guys.

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Mbo
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 08:21 PM

I can't! I'm using up my song writing energy for someone else! ;-)

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: MMario
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 08:31 PM

holy hoppin' hornytoads, Mbo; I'm surprised you have the energy to type after snogging all them young women...

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Mbo
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 08:39 PM

I'm like the energizer bunny!

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: MMario
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 12:52 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Kim C
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 01:03 PM

I don't care if it's rainy or cloudy, long as I got my frozen Shorty..................

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Mbo
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 01:10 PM

But when Shorty freezes, there is no Mudcat!

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Pseudolus
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 04:44 PM

This is to the tune of Mr. Bojangles....Not my best effort but because of the typing alone I'm gonna make y'all read it!!

Frank

The was a man named Shorty and he scooped a lot For Elephants
He brushed 'em up and he hosed 'em down even fed 'em some
some peanuts they loved
He jumped so high, Yeah he jumped so high
Just to wash off their knees.

He said his name was Shorty then he grabbed a stool
To boost him up
He grabbed a brush and a big ol rag and washed 'em down
But still they stunk
But he didn't care, no he didn't care.
Cause a groomer's work is never done.....

Mr. Shorty, Mr. Shorty, Mr. Shorty, Short.

He said I brush, never in a rush, to finish up
I like my work
He said with tears, "For almost 50 years, this is all I've done
And my neck really hurts
He let go a laugh, I think that it was a laugh,
No wait I think it was a gasp!!

Mr. Shorty, Mr. Shorty, Mr. Shorty, Dead

His life did end now but all his friends are off to work
they're out of town
Looked high and low but no one's there to mourn the loss
Not even the clown
They put him on ice, Yeah they put him on ice
Until the circus comes to town

Mr. Shorty, Mr. Shorty, Mr. Shorty, Froze.

The Pachaderms, they all returned, and heard the news
Of Shorty's fate.
Their hearts were still, he's a popsicle, as hard as rock
Looks like they're too late
They pulled him around, they pulled him around
But thawed he stunk more than them

Mr. Shorty, Mr. Shorty, Mr. Shorty, Stinks.......

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 04:46 PM

Mbo - energizer bunny eh?? Doing anything later>???? **VBG**

LTS

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Mbo
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 04:48 PM

Not particularly!

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Áine
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 05:40 PM

Dear Pseudolus -- Wunnerful, wunnerful song, there! What a great compliment to MMario's offering - now we have both ends of the spectrum represented! Here's your Silver B.L.O.B. (best line o' bull) for:

He jumped so high,
Yeah he jumped so high
Just to wash off their knees

Well done!

And MMario, here's a belated, but sincere, Silver B.L.O.B. for:

My family, oh my dearest friends
Take care of the ring and when
The spotlight shines and the banners fly
I'll be with you again

Those lines really got to me, Leo. Thanks again for the lovely song.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Bradypus
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 07:11 PM

How about this, to the tue of "The Teddy Bears' Picnic"

A Funeral Service for Shorty

If you go down to Springfield today
You're in for a big surprise
The sights you'll see in Springfield today
You'll never believe your eyes
For circus folk from far and from near
Will smile and laugh, perhaps shed a tear
Today's the day, a funeral service for Shorty

If you can see the Big Top today
There's music and flags and drums
Elephants pulling a hearse today
They're cheering as Shorty comes
He died on the road, from friends far away
They kept him on ice for this special day
Today's the day, a funeral service for Shorty.

Shorty groomed the elephants
He fed and tended the elephants for fifty years
Four foot seven tending elephants
Buffing their tusks, combing their tails and cleaning their ears
Shorty's whole life was elephants
In Florida, and Texas, and on TV shows too
Though now he's dead, the show must go on
Let jugglers juggle, and clowns toot a horn
Today's the day, a funeral service for Shorty.

If you go down to Springfield today
The ringmaster with his whip
The tightrope walkers, acrobats too
Will jump with a double flip
The horses prance, the lions roar loud
There's never been such a great circus crowd
Today's the day, a funeral service for Shorty.

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: MMario
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 11:18 PM

from one end of the spectrum to the other and one fitting nicely in the middle. wow! usually we're all at one end or the other!

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Áine
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 08:20 AM

Once again, dear Bradypus, you force me to award you the Silver B.L.O.B. for your entire song. Of course, using one of my favourite tunes helped quite a lot (*BG*). And MMario's right, it wonderful to see the entire spectrum of perspectives on the theme covered so early in the Challenge! Our numbers may have grown fewer lately, but the talent just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Here's a great big snog for all of you.

-- Áine

(And don't forget that if you've missed a Challenge! or two, there's never an end to any Challenge! Check out the Song Challenges From The Past page and Go For It!)

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Áine
Date: 24 Aug 00 - 11:34 PM

refresh...

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Lox
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 12:25 AM

(chorus)
Well poor old shorty's packed his trunk
he's said his last goodbye
He's gone to care for Jumbo
In the circus in the sky

There was a man called shorty
(he wasn't very tall)
He didn't know his future
until he heard the call

A herd of wandering elephants
were trumpeting his name
so he packed up his belongings
and went in search of fame

(chorus)

He found them in a clearing
he said "how do you do"
they answered him with tearful eyes
much better for seeing you

He gave them food and water
and washed them, head to toe
they thanked him there and then, and said
they planned to make some dough

(chorus)

And so they joined the circus
and their partnership was sealed
they rolled in muck to please the crowd
and when it was congealed

He scrubbed and washed and hosed them down
until they gleamed and shone
and they shouted "dearest shorty"
"we'll miss you when you're gone

(chorus)

And then one day, one dreadful day
shorty's big old heart
stopped its' mighty rhythm
and then refused to start

the elephants stopped skiing
their skin went cold and pallid
as their trusted keeper was carried away
and his body frozen solid

chorus

Finally the big day came
when they could say goodbye
crowds came down from near and far
to remember and to cry

But what a guard of honour
standing tall and proud and strong
a life must be really something
to be remembered in a song

Lox

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Marymac90
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 12:32 AM

You all have covered this so well that nothing else is left unsaid to inspire me. But what I want to know is, does anyone else remember Circus Boy?

Aine, I may check out that Old Challenges page. I wrote myself a Post-it about one, and never did anything with it!

Marymac

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Áine
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 09:21 AM

Dear Lox,

Wunnerful, wunnerful song you've written and very touching, too. It was hard to find the best lines for your Silver B.L.O.B., but I think these are my very favorites:

But what a guard of honour
standing tall and proud and strong
a life must be really something
to be remembered in a song

Well done! And thanks so much for sharing it with us all.

And Dear Marymac,

Nothing left to inspire you? Come on darlin', keep trying, OK? But, if you'd like give us something from a Challenge! From The Past, I'd be pleased as punch to see it, and I'm looking forward to your entry. And I remember Circus Boy, especially the little round-faced fella that played the lead. I've always wondered what happened to him. He was one of my all-time favorite child actors.

Keep playing, singing and writing, my dear Challenge!rs, Áine

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: MMario
Date: 28 Aug 00 - 09:15 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Bradypus
Date: 07 Sep 00 - 07:25 PM

Just to refresh the challenge - the obvious tune of 'Nellie the Elephant'

Chorus
Shorty the elephant keeper died
While travelling round with the circus
Back he came in an ice-cold trunk
Trunk, Trunk, Trunk

Then back home
The circus folk gathered round
They held a big party for Shorty, then
They burried him in the ground
For

Chorus
Shorty the elephant keeper died
While travelling round with the circus
Back he came in an ice-cold trunk
Trunk, Trunk, Trunk

No more tusks
For Shorty to clean and buff
An elehant keeper for forty years
Has had enough of that stuff
For

Chorus
Shorty the elephant keeper died
While travelling round with the circus
Back he came in an ice-cold trunk
Trunk, Trunk, Trunk

(Well, you get the idea)

Bradypus

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Sep 00 - 07:35 PM

Circus Boy became one of the Monkees. Mickey I think. There's another whole thread about it.

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Sep 00 - 07:48 PM

Generally speaking in these Song Challenges I go for the serious/sentimental end of the spectrum, even when the challenge looks like it calls for a funny-song.

But Mmario's filled that slot beautifully this time. And very singable too. Sort of Tramps and Hawkerish? That'll do till I get a chance to hear the intended tune. (And I'm too knocked out from cladding the inside of a new shed in the garden to try writing a song.)

But how come these days every time I see a post from Aine it looks like it's from someone called "-ine"?

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Áine
Date: 08 Sep 00 - 05:10 PM

Thank you, Bradypus, for resurrecting the Challenge with your wunnerful song! And shame on me for forgetting to hand out the Golden Cow Chips for this round. I'm standing here red-faced with just a handful of excuses instead. I promise to do the awards in the morning, when the kids are still asleep and my first cuppa of the morning has kicked in. *BG* Amos has sent me a great Challenge! idea, so look for #39 coming up soon.

Dear Kevin, I hope you're feeling a little less knackered, and I'll be interested in seeing if you can find a "serious/sentimental end of the spectrum" in the next Challenge! (hahahaha). And the reason you've been seeing "-ine" as my Mudcat handle is that Max is fiddling around with the Mudcat servers, software, etc., and as a result, the HTML markup used for the letters with fadas and/or special characters goes wonky every now and then. Amergin asked me that same question, and I told him to just consider "-ine" as my pouty face, instead of my usual happy 'be-fada'd face.

-- Áine (or just plain 'Aine')

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Bradypus
Date: 10 Sep 00 - 06:11 PM

It's good to know that Amos is about again - 39 should be fun !

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Sep 00 - 10:45 PM

Gasp, wheeze, oh my, I'm out of breath! Am I too late? Can I get one in here before the awards ceremony? I ran all the way!

To the tune of Rosin The Bow"

An elephant washer was Shorty,
A big man though he wasn't tall,
And all of the circus adored him,
The clowns and the strong man and all.

The clowns and the strong man and all.
The clowns and the strong man and all.
And all of the circus adored him,
The clowns and the strong man and all.

He traveled the country all over,
With circuses from town to town,
He loved his pachyderm partners
Cleaned behind them and then washed them down,

Cleaned behind them and then washed them down,
Cleaned behind them and then washed them down,
He loved his pachyderm partners
Cleaned behind them and then washed them down,

It was in the State of Wisconsin,
That his heart gave out on the road,
After 50 years with the circus,
He finally put down the load.

He finally put down the load.
He finally put down the load.
After 50 years with the circus,
He finally put down the load.

But his friends were scattered all over,
With circuses all over the place,
But they wanted to be at the funeral,
To say their goodbyes to his face

To say their goodbyes to his face
To say their goodbyes to his face
But they wanted to be at the funeral,
To say their goodbyes to his face

So they froze poor Shorty solid
The freezer did not have to be big,
And three months later they gathered,
For heartfelt farewell shindig.

And three months later they gathered,
And three months later they gathered,
For heartfelt farewell shindig.
And three months later they gathered,

His friends they spoke of his kindness,
His love of the job and the show,
They wept and hugged one another,
They all grieved to bid him adieu.

They all grieved to bid him adieu.
They all grieved to bid him adieu.
They wept and hugged one another,
They all grieved to bid him adieu.

But they loaded him into the wagon,
With pachyderms pulling it slow,
And took him out to the graveyard,
And then it was "On with the show."

And then it was "On with the show."
And then it was "On with the show."
And took him out to the graveyard,
And then it was "On with the show."

But we know wherever he's gone to,
He's up there watching his beasts,
So they'd better be well taken care of,
Just as well as he did at least.

So they'd better be well taken care of,
So they'd better be well taken care of,
Just as well as he did at least.
So they'd better be well taken care of,

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Áine
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 08:37 AM

Well, Naemanson, your song was well worth waiting for! What a lovely tribute to the little fella -- very, very nice. I'd love to hear it performed (hint, hint).

I apologize (once again) to all for delaying the 'awards ceremony' -- we had a death in the family and had to go out of town for the funeral. Great Aunt Mae was a lovely country woman, who volunteered for over 30 years at her local hospital and nursing home to help those in pain and sickness. Almost 50 of her fellow volunteers, in uniform, came to the services, and the sight of this 'sea of pink' was very moving indeed. She was a well respected and well loved woman, and she will be sorely missed by many.

Give me a few more hours to get everything ready, and I'll have us moving on to the next Challenge! -- guaranteed to cheer all of us up!

-- Áine

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: MMario
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 08:38 AM

Naemanson! well done. *applause*

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Áine
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 10:03 AM

Here ya go, my fine Challenge!rs -- Cudos, congrats and a great big thank you to you all for such wonderful entries. Now, on to Part 39!! *BG*

Winners of the Golden Cow Chip Award with Harp Ribbon:
The Last Parade by MMario
Mr. Shorty by Pseudolus
Shorty's Packed His Trunk by Lox
Shorty The Elephant Keeper by Bradypus

Winners of the Golden Cow Chip Award with Guinness Crest:
A Funeral Service for Shorty by Bradypus
On With The Show by Naemanson

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Sep 00 - 11:53 AM

Thanks for the compliments.

I would like to point out that I left out any reference to my ex-wife's uncle who worked for a circus and was killed when an elephant decided to tap dance on his chest.

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 10:40 AM

To the tune of "Look Out Maw, Here Comes The Elephant Boy" by John Prine

(That isn't Prine's title, just the first line of the chorus, but I can't remember the exact title!)

SHORTY's WAKE
The ringmaster called us to his tent one day
He had sad news, Shorty'd passed away
The show goes on, but when we get a break
We're gonna give him a helluva wake

Look out maw, it's the elephant man
Lived his life in a caravan
Died on the road, and the story ran
The show must still go on
The show must still go on

We put on a show like you've never seen
There were dancing horses and highwire queens
Jugglers, tumblers and eating flames
Snakes were charmed and lions tamed

Look out maw, it's the elephant man
Lived his life in a caravan
Died on the road, and the story ran
The show must still go on
The show must still go on

The elephants filed, dignified
Past his body, froze in ice
And as they paid their last respects
A hush descended on the circus acts

Look out maw, it's the elephant man
Lived his life in a caravan
Died on the road, and the story ran
The show must still go on
The show must still go on

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Trapper
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 11:24 AM

Title: Sabu Visits The Twin Cities... Alone

- Al

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! Part 38
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 04 Sep 01 - 11:34 AM

Thanks Trapper!