This song is by Michael Flanders and Donald Swann. It was written in 1964. Man, I miss the Muppet Show. Like Looney Tunes, it was ostensibly for children. I was one of those children and while I liked it, I didn't 'get' at the time that the producers were really entertaining themselves. There's nothing like this in the media now - it's all about selling something. I feel privileged to predate that attitude.
"You can do such a lot with the wompom You can use every part of it, too! For work or for pleasure It's a triumph! It's a treasure! Oh, there's nothing that the wompom cannot do!" @fredriklarsson8105
Hearing this song reminds me of a certain Shel Silverstein poem: "I saw an old gnome take a gknock at a gnat who was gnibbling the gnose of his gnu/ I said, "Gnasty gnome, gnow stop doin' that! That ol' gnat ain't done gnothin' to you!"/ He gnodded his gnarled old head and said, "'Til gnow I gnever gknew that gnocking a gnat in the gnoodle like that was gnot a gnice thing to do."
I was surfing round the internet, on a Sunday evening, and I came upon this vid from a show of old There was man in a bowler hat, and paper on his arm And he was a puppet... so I was told He was looking a creature, with two horns and some hair, And even thought it was a puppet too I thought it was a buffalo, but then some saw my comment... ...and replied...
“He’s a puppet representation of a g-nu!” He’s a g-nu, he’s a g-nu, (And it’s g-nice to k-now this clip’s on RU-vid, too!) He’s a g-nu, what more can I tell you? Well, he’s a g-nother Jim Henson muppet, yes, that’s true! He’s a g-nu, spelt G-N-U. And I still think that this song is still a classic, too! And let’s all, for one last time, at least, Acknowledge this grand, g-nice old beast And g-no, g-no, g-no.....he’s still a g-nu! 😁👍
Actually a lot of their humour is satirical, though a lot gentler that a most satire that we're used to today. As Mr Flanders himself put it- "The purpose of satire, it has been rightly said, is to strip off the veneer of comforting illusion and cosy half-truth. And our job, as I see it, is to put it back again." And of course there are a lot of good old fashioned puns, understatement and irony. Wonderful (and very British) humour.
I wrote a less sad version of the verse to show my friend. What can I say, I'm just a softie. ..."And I had to share my bedroom with a lot of cuddly toys, which my landlady was fond of at the time. Among the merry animals reclining on the shelf was a cheeky little face I thought I knew..." then it's just the same as the usual song.
I do! Just listened to their cd 3 times today! Well to be honest there was nothing else in the car...but still love it. Now I'll have that song stuck in my head for the next 57 years,
"The purpose of satire, it has rightly been observed, is to strip away the veneer of cozy half-truth and mealy-mouthed hypocrisy that has served us so well for so long, and our job here is to put it back again." Michael Flanders (1922-1974)
Didn't Flanders include the clause ",,,that have served us so well for so long'''" in that quote? Certainly, as you observe, gentler than most satire we hear today. This song is a great comment in the Shavian tradition. Ghoti and chips, anyone?
@@helenday5031 Was it not Shaw who mocked English language spelling with its non-standard consonant sounds and uncountable silent letters by spelling _FISH_ as _GHOTI_ with the _GH_ sound from _rough_ , the _O_ sound from _women_ , and the _TI_ sound from _nation_ ? This song pokes fun at silent letters and words that, by the conventions of silent letter usage, should have them. Incidentally, It was Shaw, who on first meeting with Harpo Marx when Harpo had hastily covered up from all-over sun-bathing, reached out as if to shake hands and quickly pulled away the towel.
Marvellous song, so funny , but just as marvellous is the way it reminds one of how it's mankind (not God as far as we can tell) who has given names to thousands and thousands of the things in the world. Allowing us to talk to each other about these things or even write funny songs about them.
