# Is Alice's Restaurant a tradition for your Thanksgiving? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 24, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983 "2011-11-24T17:06:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/141 "2013-11-26T21:17:00Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I remember hearing the song a lot on my dad’s eight-track player (yes, I’m that old) when I was a kid, but despite the Thanksgiving story embedded in the song, it was never a part of our holiday celebrations. Kid…We don’t like your kind. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/142 "2013-11-26T23:49:44Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever heard the entire song. I had no idea it was related to Thanksgiving. Sentence #1 explains sentence #2. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/143 "2013-11-26T23:58:26Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Sentence #1 explains sentence #2. The only thing I remember about the song is the line, “You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant.” ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/144 "2013-11-27T00:33:52Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > The only thing I remember about the song is the line, “You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant.” (Excepting Alice.) ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/145 "2013-11-27T01:01:33Z")
My parents played a lot of Arlo Guthrie when I was growing up, including Alice’s Restaurant. Despite that, we never associated it with Thanksgiving. The association for us was with getting into trouble and landing on the Group W bench. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/146 "2013-11-27T01:28:31Z")
Ya gotta sing loud if you wanna end war and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/147 "2013-11-27T02:43:23Z")
I’ve heard the song, I’ve seen the videos. Is it worth trying to find a copy of the movie? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/148 "2013-11-27T03:48:53Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > I’ve heard the song, I’ve seen the videos. Is it worth trying to find a copy of the movie? I had one before my ex-wife tore the labels off a lot of VHS tapes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/149 "2013-11-27T04:19:32Z")
This thread prompted me to do a bit of research about the song and Arlo Guthrie. (OK, I went to Wikipedia ;)) I was surprised to learn that Guthrie is now a registered Republican and a Ron Paul supporter. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/150 "2013-11-27T12:17:29Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > I’ve heard the song, I’ve seen the videos. Is it worth trying to find a copy of the movie? Maybe, it is not a great movie but I think it is fairly fun to watch and a great time piece. The music is good at least. > [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > This thread prompted me to do a bit of research about the song and Arlo Guthrie. (OK, I went to Wikipedia ;)) I was surprised to learn that Guthrie is now a registered Republican and a Ron Paul supporter. He is a Libertarian but still a Green. He still does stuff for [Hudson River Clearwater](http://www.clearwater.org/), (Pete Seegar’s Environmental group) and I had the strong impression he likes Ron Paul especially for his anti-war stance. I can’t find the full endorsement he gave though in 2008. Just a few quotes from it. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/151 "2013-11-27T13:25:28Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > I’ve heard the song, I’ve seen the videos. Is it worth trying to find a copy of the movie? No, it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/152 "2013-11-27T14:03:45Z")
I agree. The movie is a lot less fun than the song. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/153 "2013-11-27T14:05:01Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > No, it isn’t. As a great fan of Arlo and that song, I cannot but agree. 🙂 This forum requires that you wait 60 seconds between posts. Please try again in 3 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/154 "2013-11-27T14:16:40Z")
If you’re looking at the movie just as an adaption of the song then it disappoints I still thought it was good otherwise though ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/155 "2013-11-28T22:09:19Z")
Well, I’m working in the ER today, so I’m the one that’s inspecting, injecting every single part of ‘em and I ain’t leavin’ no part untouched. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/156 "2013-11-28T23:13:08Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > I’ve heard the song, I’ve seen the videos. Is it worth trying to find a copy of the movie? As Far As I’m Concerned, it’s a lousy movie, but if you want to be an Arlo Guthrie Fan Club member, you must be subjected to it as part of the initiation. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/157 "2013-11-29T04:36:34Z")
Yes! Yes it is a tradition, and thank you for reminding me! Dah, dum, dum… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/158 "2013-11-29T04:51:43Z")
¡_Chingada madre_—I almost forget! Just getting ready to eat. I’ll listen to it while I’m serving myself. This is the first Turkey Day since mom’s passing, and I buried her with her Arlo Guthrie autograph from a show at the MGM Grand. She was the one who started the tradition in our family. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/159 "2013-11-29T06:56:26Z")
I’ve heard the song once. Never felt much call to hear it a second time. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2013, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983/160 "2013-11-30T09:43:07Z")
Okay, my Alice’s Restaurant stories. I wasn’t much into listening to radio. I first heard this song in spring of 1969, at my High School Senior Talent Show, where one student performed it. (When I eventually heard the actual song, which I think was at least a year later, I realized he had performed it very well.) A few years later, off at college, I learned that he (the student who performed it) is gay. Remember, this was at a time when this was something you didn’t want to have widely known. Question for thought: Do you suppose that gay student must have found it upsetting or offensive to sing “And if two people, two people do it, in harmony, they may think they’re both faggots and they won’t take either of them”? Okay, now fast-forward 43-some years, to November 2012. In a thread about belly-rubbing Mexicans, I posted [this little parody](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15296095#post15296095), including this line at Post #29: > [@Belly-rubbing Mexicans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belly-rubbing-mexicans/431906/29): > > And if two Mexicans, two Mexicans do it, in harmony, they may think they’re both faggots and they won’t take either of them. . . . only to be modded by **Colibri** at [Post 31](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=15297438#post15297438): > [@Belly-rubbing Mexicans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/belly-rubbing-mexicans/431906/31): > > [Moderator Note] > > **Senegoid** , I realize that this is a parody of _Alice’s Restaurant_, but many people may not recognize it. In any case, let’s avoid the gratuitous use of offensive terms like “faggot” in this forum. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator How our sensitivities have evolved! And who’da ever thunk that there might be anybody who hasn’t heard Alice’s Restaurant? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alices-restaurant-a-tradition-for-your-thanksgiving/603983.md?page=9)