I feel like this is too obvious to even add, but "Blinded by the Light" (Manfred Mann's Earth Band). was always the lyric that struck me as the ramblings of a mad man:
Madman, drummers, bummers
Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps
As the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older
I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasin', sneezin' and wheezin'
The calliope crashed to the ground
The calliope crashed to the ground!
But she was blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
I had NO idea! Fascinating. I love really getting into the stories behind songs. I've been getting sucked down a few rabbit holes while writing my "Monday Moxie" series!
It’s so easy to get sucked down rabbit holes in that area. If you’re into music, there’s a guy on YouTube you might like who breaks down the stories behind famous songs and bands. Professor of Rock: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorofRock
Amazinggg piece. Thanks for the laughs, the memories, and realizing that this nonsensical approach to song writing never seemed so, well, nonsensical in many cases. It's also cool af ---- just think about It's The End of the World as We Know It??? Aside from the refrain, it's like, Hey, REM, what? "Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, Boom!"
Thanks, Beth! I can’t believe you said that: I originally had “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” in here too but I cut it for length. But since you mentioned it, I’ll take this opportunity to give you the joke:
Did Michael Stipe tack on “(And I Feel Fine)” to the title as a preemptive denial that he was having a psychotic break?
As someone who took the time to memorize every word of Loser as a teenager, I fully appreciate this. Though I gotta say, I’m sad to see that LFO’s “Summer Girls” did not make the list, but maybe you don’t wear Abercrombie & Fitch.
Sometimes you identify a vowel or a consonant that just fits and then you just form whatever word around that regardless of whether it makes sense or is an actual word. Like su su sudio!
I almost included Sussudio in this! You probably know this, but when Paul McCartney wrote “Yesterday,” before he landed on that word, his filler words for those notes were “scrambled eggs.”
What a great read. Love nonsense lyrics. I often start off writing lyrics with a random word generator and produce hilarious (to me at least) and utterly senseless drivel. It amuses me no end.
For me: Don McLean's, "On the Amazon." Especially if you are a doctor. "The prophylactics scrounge on the Amazon. The hypodermic sounds of the Amazon." Not to forget: "And, the menopause, with hungry jaws will snare you."
I am ON THE FLOOR laughing and choking on my morning coffee 😂😂 This caused way too many spontaneous outbursts.
You forgot one song though. Not quite as old as any of these but people have joked about its lyrics for decades: Informer by Snow. I'm sure you know it but if you don't, YouTube.
Hahahaa!!! Funny story about Snow. I met him on an airplane to Jamaica (my first trip) and he ended up on the same bus to the same hotel as us. He's a space case in real life 😁
It's a particular genre of music not everyone is into (reggae). But the artist is a white Canadian dude. There's no way he should be so misunderstandable 😂
Even without words, there's plenty of music that goes off the rails. In jazz, we have Miles Davis pushing boundaries, while in classical, composers like Stravinsky and Charles Ives have created works that defy conventional understanding. Music without words doesn’t always make sense, but perhaps that’s precisely the point.
My kids came to see what I was cackling (and maybe snort-laughing) about. Holy ¥#%! that was 1.) a trip down memory lane; and 2.) a fantastic callout on never looking up Scaramouche! (which I was belting thru the sunroof, driving home an hour ago...). Magnifico, Chris Stanton! And I second @Good Humor by CK Steefel -- genius verse.
I feel like this is too obvious to even add, but "Blinded by the Light" (Manfred Mann's Earth Band). was always the lyric that struck me as the ramblings of a mad man:
Madman, drummers, bummers
Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps
As the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older
I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasin', sneezin' and wheezin'
The calliope crashed to the ground
The calliope crashed to the ground!
But she was blinded by the light
Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
That's another great one. Like, WTF? You may be surprised to hear that we have Bruce Springsteen to thank for this poetry.
I had NO idea! Fascinating. I love really getting into the stories behind songs. I've been getting sucked down a few rabbit holes while writing my "Monday Moxie" series!
It’s so easy to get sucked down rabbit holes in that area. If you’re into music, there’s a guy on YouTube you might like who breaks down the stories behind famous songs and bands. Professor of Rock: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorofRock
Tks! Will check that out!
Great piece! I can’t believe these nonsensical selections in my own coverage. . .
https://ruleofthree.substack.com/p/one-less-egg-to-fry?utm_source=publication-search
Thanks, Bill! Your piece looks awesome. I saved it so I can read it later when I have time.
Amazinggg piece. Thanks for the laughs, the memories, and realizing that this nonsensical approach to song writing never seemed so, well, nonsensical in many cases. It's also cool af ---- just think about It's The End of the World as We Know It??? Aside from the refrain, it's like, Hey, REM, what? "Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, Boom!"
Thanks, Beth! I can’t believe you said that: I originally had “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” in here too but I cut it for length. But since you mentioned it, I’ll take this opportunity to give you the joke:
Did Michael Stipe tack on “(And I Feel Fine)” to the title as a preemptive denial that he was having a psychotic break?
Thank you. Quite funny and satisfying to read.
Thanks for reading! I appreciate it.
As someone who took the time to memorize every word of Loser as a teenager, I fully appreciate this. Though I gotta say, I’m sad to see that LFO’s “Summer Girls” did not make the list, but maybe you don’t wear Abercrombie & Fitch.
This cracked me up. It's true that I don't wear A&F, but I'd consider wearing the great Larry Bird jersey 33.
Sometimes you identify a vowel or a consonant that just fits and then you just form whatever word around that regardless of whether it makes sense or is an actual word. Like su su sudio!
I almost included Sussudio in this! You probably know this, but when Paul McCartney wrote “Yesterday,” before he landed on that word, his filler words for those notes were “scrambled eggs.”
i had heard that but had forgotten until you just mentioned it! creativity is bizarre and beautiful!
Well, just found my next favorite drinking game! This is pure genius, my friend. 😂
Thank you, sistah! I can’t wait to hear how the game goes. Just please eat something first or it’ll be over before you can say Scaramouche.
Oopsie. Too late!
What a great read. Love nonsense lyrics. I often start off writing lyrics with a random word generator and produce hilarious (to me at least) and utterly senseless drivel. It amuses me no end.
Thank you! I’m going to have to try that random word generator tip. I’m sure I could entertain myself for way too long with that.
For me: Don McLean's, "On the Amazon." Especially if you are a doctor. "The prophylactics scrounge on the Amazon. The hypodermic sounds of the Amazon." Not to forget: "And, the menopause, with hungry jaws will snare you."
That sounds bonkers. I’m going to have to listen to that one.
Open mouth, Insert Foot https://open.substack.com/pub/michael880/p/open-mouth-insert-foot?r=3b6pw1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
All I know is, someone left a cake out in the rain and is the bride ever gonna be pissed.
It took so long to make it, and they'll never have that recipe again!
Actually it’s “I’ll never have that recipe again”. But you’re to be forgiven.
I immediately think of the Pixies as well. For example, "Monkey Gone To Heaven"
The creature in the sky
Got sucked in a hole, now there's a hole in the sky
And the ground's not cold
And if the ground's not cold, everything is gonna burn
We'll all take turns, I'll get mine too
That's a great one!
I am ON THE FLOOR laughing and choking on my morning coffee 😂😂 This caused way too many spontaneous outbursts.
You forgot one song though. Not quite as old as any of these but people have joked about its lyrics for decades: Informer by Snow. I'm sure you know it but if you don't, YouTube.
Oh goodness. I think I had that song stuck in my head for a year
Hahahaa!!! Funny story about Snow. I met him on an airplane to Jamaica (my first trip) and he ended up on the same bus to the same hotel as us. He's a space case in real life 😁
I can’t say I’m shocked…
I think it’s stuck in my head now
I'm glad you liked it, Kristi! I love hearing that.
I'm not sure if I know Informer but I'm super curious. Off to YouTube!
It's a particular genre of music not everyone is into (reggae). But the artist is a white Canadian dude. There's no way he should be so misunderstandable 😂
Ha, just watched it. Holy crap!
Even without words, there's plenty of music that goes off the rails. In jazz, we have Miles Davis pushing boundaries, while in classical, composers like Stravinsky and Charles Ives have created works that defy conventional understanding. Music without words doesn’t always make sense, but perhaps that’s precisely the point.
The only thing with Jazz is………you never know when it’s going to end.🤣
Ha, true!
Very true!
So true about jazz lol. I mean, it's physically impossible for jazz to be transferred to notes on a page 😂
Can confirm: have belted out scaramouche countless times and have never once wondered about the meaning until now. 🤔
Said literally everyone 😂
I only looked it up when I was writing this. Had no idea!
My kids came to see what I was cackling (and maybe snort-laughing) about. Holy ¥#%! that was 1.) a trip down memory lane; and 2.) a fantastic callout on never looking up Scaramouche! (which I was belting thru the sunroof, driving home an hour ago...). Magnifico, Chris Stanton! And I second @Good Humor by CK Steefel -- genius verse.
Thanks so much, Unlikely! I’ll take as many cackles and snort-laughs as I can get! Seriously, I’m really glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!