Spike Jones was a radio star and a bandleader too, but unlike Harris, his entire band - a talented group known as the City Slickers - became part of the act. The musicians, who doubled as singers and sound effects wizards, helped Spike to stay a big hit for a lot of years. They later transitioned into success on early TV too where they really let their imaginations soar. Their sets and costumes revolutionized the medium, which up until then had been a little staid.
Spike's signature songs always followed the same pattern — a serious, familiar melody would be reworked, tweaked, and bent until it would inevitably make the listener howl with laughter. A typical treatment included gunshots, sirens, and horns, and you never knew what to expect next. Some of his classics were "Hawaiian War Chant", "Cocktails For Two" and the one that might have helped a little in the war effort, "Der Führer's Face" It's kind of interesting to listen to it now while visualizing it in the context of the time, and how it was meant to both cheer up a war-weary public and throw a little dirt in Hitler's face.
However, there was one song from those days that was always a mystery to me, and it wasn't until I grew older that I finally figured it out. I bet you've heard it before, but do you know what the performer is really saying when he sings, "Mairzy Doats, And Dozey Doats, And Liddlamzydivie — Akiddleydivietoo, Wouldn't You?"
Any guesses?
Article comments
1 - Vern Halen
"Mares eat oats, and does eat oats, and little lambs east ivy, a kid'll eat ivy too - wouldn't you?"
But I always wondered why the heck I'd want to eat ivy.
2 - BIg Geez
You got it right, Vern. (Assuming you made a type with the "east" after lambs.)
As to eating ivy, have you ever tried it? Maybe it would make a good salad:-)
3 - BIg Geez
How funny - I made a typo of my own - wrote "type" when I meant "typo".
4 - michael
Enjoyed reading your article. As a collector of novelty songs myself ( see blog ) I'm always pleased to see the genre celebrated and not belittled as it often is. I actually have another CD entitled "Mairzy Doats" that was released on the Music & Memories label in 1995 here inthe uk and contains very similar tracks I imagine to the new version but nearly all the music is from the 30's and the 40's.
5 - BIg Geez
Thanks, Michael. Appreciate the comment and the info. Your blog looks pretty good - if you get a chance, check out my regular blog. (Link above) Although my posts are mostly repeated here on blogcritics, I have some fun with the blog too.
6 - A.L. Harper
Congratulations this article is Assistant Music Editor, A.L. Harper's Editor's pick of the week.
7 - Big Geez
Thanks, Lisa!
8 - Phin
Back in about 1962, while near Portland, ME, I heard a parody of the song "Still" (country song by Anderson???). The one lyric I remember is "Still, I wish I had a Still ..." As I recall it was about a failed romance.
Does anyone remember this and have the person / group who did it? Thanks!
9 - Big Geez
Don't know, Phin. My memory of a song like that was someone (Flatt and Scruggs?) who did a parody of the Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hands" called "I Wanna Hold Your Hams".
10 - milo
kids are baby goats
11 - milo
I could add, In the 1950's our seventh grade music teacher played Spike Jones' "Carmen". I would dearley hear it again.