What Are Words For? (8/7)

[Railyn]

I'm screwed up. I thought today was Tuesday pretty much all day until I got home and my husband's Tae-Kwon-Do bag was gone, so I missed Weird Al Wednesday.

But since this is my column, I'm gonna do it today (technically it's still Wednesday anyway .

Here's a good old Al one. Off his first album. Not a big hit, it probably got little airplay outside of the Dr. Demento show, but it's a good one nonetheless.

STOP DRAGGIN' MY CAR AROUND
Parody of: Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
By: Werid Al Yankovic
Album: Weird Al Yankovic
Author: A. Yankovic

Had to park my car for just five minutes.
I had to go inside to use the phone.
When I came back again, my car was gone. Well,
I didn't know it was a loading zone.
What a bummer, I was so brought down.
I had to chase that tow truck all over town, yellin'

Stop draggin' my... Stop draggin' my...
Stop draggin' my car around.

Took my baby to the local disco.
I was jumpin' like a maniac.
But the owner came and pulled me off the floor. Then he,
He took me to his little office in the back.
He said, "I really like your snaggletooth necklace.
Your pants are groovy, and your hair's okay.
But, man, that car of yours is so uncool.
That's why, I'm sorry, but we towed it away!

Stop draggin' my... Stop draggin' my...
Stop draggin' my car around!

Now I'm at home. I'm watchin' "Gilligan's Island".
Guess it's time to trade my old car in.
For twenty dollars and my '64 Plymouth,
Maybe I could get a second-hand Schwinn.
Look out the window, there's a
Tow truck in the driveway.
I grabbed the driver and I asked him why.
He said, "I'm sorry, kid, you're late with the payments.
It's time to kiss your little car goodbye."

Stop draggin' my... Stop draggin' my...
Stop draggin' my car around!
Stop draggin' my car around.

Listen, the check's in the mail. No, really!
Stop draggin' my car around!
Oh man, I just had the hub caps painted!
Stop draggin' my car around!
Hey! Hey, I left a sandwich in the back seat!

Stop draggin' my car around. Oh... Stop draggin' my car around.


My Opinion In A Nutshell: I was never really fond of the original, but after hearing this one, I liked it better. Al sometimes has that effect on songs.

Favorite Line: He said "I really like your snaggletooth necklace (ew, remember those?). Your pants are groovy and your hair's ok".

[H2IZCOOL]

Hey! I LOVE Weird Al Thursdays!!

This song starts out as a "I can't find a place to park" lament, but then seems to change over to a ridicule of the "cars have to look cool" concept. I can identify with both parts. 1) Parking at my Metro station is getting harder and harder, and 2) I've always believed that a car's purpose is to take you from one place to another, not to look cool.

But I think Al's main purpose was simply to parody Tom Petty's song. The words fit, and it just made it funny.

[Railyn]

H2IZCOOL said:

Hey! I LOVE Weird Al Thursdays!!

This song starts out as a "I can't find a place to park" lament, but then seems to change over to a ridicule of the "cars have to look cool" concept. I can identify with both parts. 1) Parking at my Metro station is getting harder and harder, and 2) I've always believed that a car's purpose is to take you from one place to another, not to look cool.

But I think Al's main purpose was simply to parody Tom Petty's song. The words fit, and it just made it funny.

Well in that case, I did it just for you, in honor of your return.... WELCOME BACK! Hope you had fun in NYC. I can never convince my husband to take me. He doesn't like the city. We were supposed to go some day, to a Rangers vs. Islanders game at the Garden, and so I could finally get to the top of the World Trade Center (that's one thing he'll forever have over me - I was there twice but never made it to the top). I really wanted to go when Fosse was on Broadway, but no one around here runs trips to anything except Phantom and Lion King.

Anyway, it's hard to tell where Al gets his ideas from. I chuckle at this one because I have frequently in the past had to watch my cars get towed, but for mechanical problems. I owned 2 lemons (one right after the other).

[Dawn]

LOL! I've never heard this one, but what great lyrics! This is definitely a humorous look at some of the woes of owning a car. My very first car was a lemon - half the time it wouldn't start, and needed over $500 in repairs in less than 7 months!

[Railyn]

Dawn said:

LOL! I've never heard this one, but what great lyrics! This is definitely a humorous look at some of the woes of owning a car. My very first car was a lemon - half the time it wouldn't start, and needed over $500 in repairs in less than 7 months!

There are a number of gems on Al's first album. They largely go unnoticed (save for Hey Ricky, My Bologna, I Love Rocky Road, and Another One Rides The Bus). Al didn't really hit the "big time" until the 2nd album, Weird Al in 3-D, then some of his earlier songs came to light, especially ones he either had videos for (Ricky and Rocky Road) or were parodies of mega hits (Bologna and Rides The Bus). There are some great originals like Mr. Frump In The Iron Lung, Buckingham Blues, and a wicked version of Happy Birthday (nothing like the original in any way, shape or form.)