# Favourite Novelty Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 28, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664 "2009-04-28T20:57:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/101 "2009-05-02T23:07:44Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > I should also mention “Timothy” by the Buoys, about how the singer & another man eat their friend after getting trapped in a mine. I have to admit I never thought of that as a novelty song. I lo-o-o-o-o-oved it when I was, like, 16. Pure melodrama. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/102 "2009-05-02T23:15:33Z")
> [@HelloKitty](#): > > _Wildwood Weed_ was by Jim Stafford, wasn’t it? yup ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/103 "2009-05-03T00:03:50Z")
> [@Nightingale](#): > > \ > [Swamp Witch Hattie](http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jim_stafford/swamp_witch.html) by Jim Stafford > > \ Good one! I love that song. Most of Jim’s stuff could count. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/104 "2009-05-03T00:41:09Z")
Dad always had a special affection for Frank Zappa’s Dynamo (or Dinah-Moe) Hum. ---
**Author:** ![Nightingale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@Nightingale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightingale)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/105 "2009-05-03T01:13:17Z")
The funny thing is that I’ve never actually heard the recorded version of that song. . . I only know my dad singing it and making spooky sound effects in between stanzas. ---
**Author:** ![daygecko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/91b2a8/32.png) [@daygecko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daygecko)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/106 "2009-05-03T02:12:41Z")
Three pages and nobody for “Yes, We Have No Bananas”?!!! At least MY grandfather taught me well. 🆒 Another of his had only the words “alfalfa hay” sung to the tune of “How Dry I Am,” but Google reveals nothing, so it may have been peculiar to him. ---
**Author:** ![kitemaker\_chuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e4f/32.png) [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/107 "2009-05-03T02:20:09Z")
Here’s another one: **Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road** by Loudon Wainwright the Third ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/108 "2009-05-03T02:20:56Z")
J.Giles Band “No Anchovies Please” That’s no bowling ball, thats my wife! ---
**Author:** ![kitemaker\_chuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e4f/32.png) [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/109 "2009-05-03T02:27:59Z")
There’s also: **Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout (Would Not Take the Garbage Out)** I think that was by Shel Silverstein (not sure of the spelling) ---
**Author:** ![kitemaker\_chuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e4f/32.png) [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/110 "2009-05-03T02:37:20Z")
I seem to remember mention of this song from WW2, and I think it might of been by Hoagy Carmichael" **"I’m a Cranky Old Yank in My Clanky Old Tank on the Streets of Yokohama with my Honolulu Momma, Singin’ those Beato Beato Flat on My Seato Hirohito Blues** (or something like that!) ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/111 "2009-05-03T02:41:34Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini – ?? > Telephone Man – ?? (was considered the height of naughtiness when I was in high school) The first is by [Brian Hyland](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwGnyLPSruA&feature=related), the second by [Meri Wilson](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO3Iulye-8E). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/112 "2009-05-03T06:05:24Z")
[Filk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filk) is an endless supply of awesome novelty songs. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/113 "2009-05-03T06:23:52Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Filk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filk) is an endless supply of awesome novelty songs. Which reminds me of one of my favorites, Leslie Fish’s “Carmen Miranda’s Ghost”. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/114 "2009-05-03T09:58:12Z")
They weren’t novelty songs when they were written, but Jo Stafford and Paul Weston put out a couple of albums of covers under the _noms de guerre_ Jonathan and Darlene Edwards. Darlene was the vocalist diva, singing such tunes as “Some Enchanted Evening”, totally off-key; Jonathan was her accompanist with the two left hands. AIUI, they had a very difficult time finding sidemen who could provide rhythm without bursting into laughter in the studio, and ruining the take. I would give quite a lot to be able to obtain CDs of those albums. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/115 "2009-05-03T13:07:51Z")
Folksinger Tom Paxton, who can write songs that make you cry, is also capable of writing songs that will make you laugh. My second favorite is [Talking Vietnam Pot Luck Blues](http://www.mydfz.com/Paxton/lyrics/tvnpb.htm). I cannot find the lyrics on line to my favorite “Bring Back the Chair.” The present rules could use revision Make the obvious decision Put it all on television. Let’s bring back the chair. Slap a little makeup to them. As the juices sizzling through them, Howard Cosell\* will interview them. Let’s bring back the chair. \*Written a while back. Today I’d go with “Oprah Winfrey” ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/116 "2009-05-03T13:31:31Z")
I really like [Heywood Banks](http://www.heywoodbanks.com/). Favs of include _Big Butter Jesus_, _The Pancreas Song_, _The Revenge Song_, and _If I had a Bulldozer_. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/117 "2009-05-03T18:18:10Z")
> [@kitemaker\_chuck](#): > > I seem to remember mention of this song from WW2, and I think it might of been by Hoagy Carmichael" > > **"I’m a Cranky Old Yank in My Clanky Old Tank on the Streets of Yokohama with my Honolulu Momma, Singin’ those Beato Beato Flat on My Seato Hirohito Blues** > > (or something like that!) [http://ia311337.us.archive.org/1/items/1942bingCrosby/BingCrosby-CrankyOldYank.mp3](http://ia311337.us.archive.org/1/items/1942bingCrosby/BingCrosby-CrankyOldYank.mp3) ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/118 "2009-05-03T19:31:30Z")
And I just can’t get enough of [Elektronik Supersonik by Zlad!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp_PIjc2ga4) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664/119 "2009-05-04T00:16:10Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > They weren’t novelty songs when they were written, but Jo Stafford and Paul Weston put out a couple of albums of covers under the _noms de guerre_ Jonathan and Darlene Edwards. Darlene was the vocalist diva, singing such tunes as “Some Enchanted Evening”, totally off-key; Jonathan was her accompanist with the two left hands. AIUI, they had a very difficult time finding sidemen who could provide rhythm without bursting into laughter in the studio, and ruining the take. > > I would give quite a lot to be able to obtain CDs of those albums. I’ll send you the bill for my finder’s fee. 😃 > **[Jonathan & Darlene Edwards, Jonathan Edwards - Greatest Hits - Amazon.com Music](https://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Darlenes-Greatest-Darlene-Edwards/dp/B0000010KB)** > > The alter egos of the husband-and-wife team of Paul Weston and Jo Stafford team up for riotous renditions of Stayin' Alive; Take the "A" Train; I Am Woman; Alabamy Bound; the Last Time I Saw Paris; Autumn in New York, and more. Also includes an... > **[Jonathan Edwards, Jonathan & Darlene Edwards, Mack David, Ray Henderson, Édith...](https://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Darlenes-Greatest-Hits-II/dp/B0000010KD)** > > Only Jo Stafford could sing off-key so precisely! Jo and her husband Paul Weston's butchering of pop standards remains among the most side-splitting musical parody ever recorded, and here are 14 more of their conspiratorial concoctions: Cocktails for... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-novelty-songs/494664.md?page=5)