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.
yup
Good one! I love that song. Most of Jim’s stuff could count.
Dad always had a special affection for Frank Zappa’s Dynamo (or Dinah-Moe) Hum.
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.
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.
Here’s another one:
Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road
by Loudon Wainwright the Third
J.Giles Band “No Anchovies Please”
That’s no bowling ball, thats my wife!
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)
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!)
The first is by Brian Hyland, the second by Meri Wilson.
Filk is an endless supply of awesome novelty songs.
Which reminds me of one of my favorites, Leslie Fish’s “Carmen Miranda’s Ghost”.
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.
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. 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”
I really like Heywood Banks. Favs of include Big Butter Jesus, The Pancreas Song, The Revenge Song, and If I had a Bulldozer.
And I just can’t get enough of Elektronik Supersonik by Zlad!
I’ll send you the bill for my finder’s fee. 