Would a rose by any other name be a Parody ?

Subject: Lyr Add: NINE-STONE TOY BOY (Cheap Sunglass...)
From: Ritchie
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 08:44 AM

I love parodies and there seems to be so many good ones about both old and new.

There used to be a duo called the 'Cheap Sunglass Serenaders' and the majority of their act was based on parodies.

One in particular that I can almost remember was sung to the tune of Rhinestone Cowboy

Uh one, Uh two, Uh one, two, three, four.

Well, I've been out on the road so long,
Singing the same old song.
I've been in every bar from Blaydon to Byker,
Where 'doms' is the name of the game,
And the darts team plays home and away in the snow and the rain.
There's been a load of heavy spendin',
And me dole will soon be ending,
But I'm gonna find a nice little woman for me.

Cos, I'm a nine stone toy boy,
Searching every night for a woman with a load of dough.
I'm a nine stone toy boy,
Looking for a woman with a nice little home of her own,
A car and a heart of gold.

I've got a sun bed tan on me skin.
I wear whatever's in, cos you're out if you wear loons or roll your sleeves up.
Me stubble is always short and me arms they are quite short,
But me pockets are long.

There's been a load of heavy spendin',
And me dole will soon be ending,
But I'm gonna find a nice little woman for me.

Cos, I'm a nine stone toy boy.,
Searching every night for a woman with a load of dough.
I'm a nine stone toy boy,
Looking for a woman with a nice little home of her own,
A car and a heart of gold.

I met this lass from Darras Hall.
I tried to give her my all but because I was so small I got caught in the duvet.
She said, "You're only 5 ft 2 and there's not quite enough of you for a woman like me."

There's been a load of heavy spendin',
And me dole will soon be ending,
But I'm gonna find a nice little woman for me.

Cos, I'm a nine stone toy boy,
Searching every night for a woman with a load of dough.
I'm a nine stone toy boy,
Looking for a woman with a nice little home of her own,
A car and a heart of gold.

Love and happiness

Ritchie

Subject: RE: Would a rose by any other name be a Parody ?
From: Graeme
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 09:08 AM

Nice one Ritchie!

If you type @parody into the DT search window, you'll get hundreds of them..........

Here's one I found in the database and played around with a bit (aplogies to F. Wedlock, and many others...)

The Folkie

(To the tune of "The Boxer")

O I am just a singer
And my songs are bloody old
And I cannot play the music
On a length of Spanish chipboard
Called a Folk Guitar
I do requests
Just the songs I know the words to
And I disregard the rest
(And I never try the high notes
- I'm told it's for the best)

Lie-la-lie etc

Now I come here every Wednesday
And I cannot tell you why
In the company of boozers
Waiting for my spot to come around,
I'm
Shitless scared
Singing low
Seeking out the darker corners
Where the rotten singers go
So if I wet my trousers
Then nobody will know
Lie-la-lie etc

Seeking only free beer and a fag
I come looking for a spot
But I get no offers
Just a come on from the groupie at the bus stop
I do declare
I've had problems with my sex life
Since I fell and broke my wrist
And all my songs are just as bad as this

Lie-la-lie etc

Now the thing about a folk song
Is it's usually quite long
But it always has a chorus
So if I cock the words up
And I start to get it wrong
I can.......um..........

Lie-la-lie etc

At the bar I stand so bravely
And I try to sing my songs
And I carry a reminder
Of every gig I've ever played
Like the Biker's pub in Catford
I fled in fear
With the imprint of a cider jug stamped right behind my ear
And a voice that yelled "Don't sing that shit in here"

Lie-la-lie etc

In the pub there stands a folkie
And a singer by his trade
And he tries to keep on singing
With people in the corner talking
Really loud.
He hopes in vain
They are leaving, they are leaving
But the bastards still remain
So I think I'll sing the chorus once again

Lie-la-lie etc

All the best,

Graeme

Subject: RE: Would a rose by any other name be a Parody ?
From: Ritchie
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 09:43 AM

Graeme,

Thanks, I like it ...Lie-la Lie(With the tune running around his head the Mudcat goes to the search window yet again to once more marvel at the wonders of science)

p.s I've got a good cd by a 'band' known as 'Run CW' which is a good 'micky take' on soul & c/w music.

love and happiness

Ritchie

Subject: RE: Would a rose by any other name be a Parody ?
From: Ewan McV
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 10:28 AM

A good parody has to work well on two levels - as a song in its own right and at the same time working off the aware hearer's knowledge of the nature and context of the original song.
So it is sometimes richer than the original.

Sometimes of course it is just a squib.

Like the following, which I learned in Boston, Mass, in about 1966.

Ain't no use to sit and wonder why, friends
There's so many folksingers round
Ain't no use to sit and wonder why, friends
They've all got the same old sound
Cause they all look the same, and they all act the same
And they all sound like Peter, Paul, and Whatshername
They've got all of that fortune and fame
So if they don't think twice they'll be all right.

No use to sing another song, Bob
You can't sing anyhow
(The rest was silence)

Subject: RE: Would a rose by any other name be a Parody ?
From: Dan Keding
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 11:51 AM

Parodies are fun. Have you heard of the duo Dos Boys out of Chicago??? Great stuff. Clever approach. Their cds are worth getting.

Subject: RE: Would a rose by any other name be a Parody ?
From: Mo
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 08:01 PM

Ewan, you have a wonderful ability to hit the nail right on the head! I must admit to loving good parodies - though I do suspect part of the reason is that they make me feel oh-so-clever in doing just what you say, recognising the original, and the new curve on it. This probably qualifies me for having unplumbed shallows in my character... but hey, if it keeps me happy! (And appreciative of others talents!) Cheers Mo

Subject: RE: Would a rose by any other name be a Parody ?
From: Mo
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 08:10 PM

Just to catch the flak before it starts - when I was talking about shallows in that last reply I was only talking about myself, there was definitely no implied criticism of anyone elses love of parodies - I think I was trying to be funny and/or self-deprecating! Continued sleep deprivation from being on early shifts is also depriving me of the ability to write a well-turned phrase too. Sorry in advance if I offended anyone, and I'm off to catch some sleep now - I'll be better in the morning - honest! Zzzzz Mo.

Subject: RE: Would a rose by any other name be a Parody ?
From:
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 01:50 AM

I like the old parody, which I've seen in different versions:

Word has to the kitchen gone
And word has to the hall
That "Mary Hamilton" has forty verses
And I shall sing them all.