# Parody folk songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357 "2018-03-28T15:39:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/1 "2018-03-28T15:39:40Z")
There are parodies of folk song _styles_, like [The Wreck of the Crash of the Easthill Mining Disaster](https://jacobhaller.bandcamp.com/track/the-wreck-of-the-crash-of-the-easthill-mining-disaster) being a riff on the ‘disaster song’. There are a lot of songs that make fun of folk singing in general. Then there are parodies of particular songs, like [Cosmic and Freaky](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUhdSoibczw) being a parody of [Pleasant and Delightful](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVaQ0JRLjfA), or [The Rolling Mills of New Jersey](https://youtu.be/Mskx6c1DULQ?t=80) being a parody of [The Rolling Hills of the Borders](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfTZFSpmeks). Lastly, there are songs that specifically address other songs, like [(Nearly) The Wild Rover](https://youtu.be/OfPQi-EAHdY?t=15) talking about how it sucks to play [The Wild Rover](https://youtu.be/OfPQi-EAHdY?t=15) so much. Can anyone recommend other folk song parodies of the second type in particular? Or any good general folk parodies, for that matter? One billion bonus points if you know of a song with the line “she had a dark and roving eye, the other was pale and static”. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/2 "2018-03-28T15:44:57Z")
Christopher Guest, in his NatLamp days, did, “[Well-Intentioned Blues](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFsFm9uqf4M),” but I’m not sure which category that falls into. Chevy Chase, also in his NatLamp days, did, “[Colorado](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKwsgOSG_H8),” a John Denver spoof. ---
**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:** [March 28, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/3 "2018-03-28T15:59:20Z")
Speaking of Guest, the entire movie [A Mighty Wind](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Mighty_Wind) is a parody of the folk genre. Speaking of NatLamp, [Lemmings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemmings_(National_Lampoon)) is a parody musical, not limited to folk, but inclusive. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/4 "2018-03-28T16:07:50Z")
Todd Snider’s [Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmxSMIN3-WI) is a simultaneous parody of talking blues and the music industry, but it most closely mirror’s Dylan’s “I Shall be Free No. 10.” ---
**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:** [March 28, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/5 "2018-03-28T16:08:46Z")
_We are the Folk Song Army Every one of us cares. We all hate poverty, war, and injustice (Unlike the rest o’ you squares)._ T. Lehrer ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/6 "2018-03-28T16:19:47Z")
[Concrete Road](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fxWRwtaClk), a parody of Country Road. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/7 "2018-03-28T16:24:24Z")
^ What time was it when Denver wrote, “Country Roads?” Almost seven. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/8 "2018-03-28T16:29:14Z")
To late to edit: I guess “Country Roads” is really a country rather than a folk song, so here’s [Juanita Suarez](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHbvZoMXq0M), a parody of “Molly Malone”. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/9 "2018-03-28T16:37:26Z")
All you really need to know is contained in the two words: “Allen Sherman.” Sample here: [Jump Down Spin Around (Pick a Dress of Cotton) (Parody of Bale of Cotton) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDXcyjV7Uxg) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/10 "2018-03-28T16:42:00Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > Todd Snider’s [Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmxSMIN3-WI) is a simultaneous parody of talking blues and the music industry, but it most closely mirror’s Dylan’s “I Shall be Free No. 10.” I’ve been trying to remember lately who did that. Thx. “I’m going back to Athens.” That’ll work. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/11 "2018-03-28T16:48:41Z")
“[Generic Uptempo Folk Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDRb528As9I)” by the Limelighters. ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/12 "2018-03-28T17:07:40Z")
Apologies, I don’t know how to bung in a link in this editor on my phone in any other way than simply pasting…but Neil Innes’ Protest Song: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qfTlGMCeuDE/hqdefault.jpg "NEIL INNES - PROTEST SONG - Rutland Weekend Television") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfTlGMCeuDE) is what I assumed had inspired the thread when I read its title. Tutorials on the above more than welcome. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/13 "2018-03-28T17:58:55Z")
[And now a word from our sponsor:](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-8JIy01YaM) ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/14 "2018-03-28T20:12:16Z")
It’s very tricky to untangle the sources and references correctly, but the way “Carrickfergus” is usually sung (and often quite earnestly, too) - with the usually-performed verses, I mean - makes it very close to a song that is its own parody already. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/15 "2018-03-28T20:29:02Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > _We are the Folk Song Army > Every one of us cares. > We all hate poverty, war, and injustice > (Unlike the rest o’ you squares)._ > > T. Lehrer Then there’s [Rickety Tickety Tin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47bKTtIwrO4), a parody of Irish folk ballads. One of his earlier parodies from before he became a nationwide success. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/16 "2018-03-28T20:36:00Z")
Welcome to the exciting world of filk (the term first was appeared as a typo for “folk” in an article on science fiction conventions). While filk music isn’t all parody, a lot of it is. They have annual awards, of which the Pegasus Award is one of the biggest. Here’s the link to their site with the words to most of the winners: [http://www.ovff.org/pegasus.html](http://www.ovff.org/pegasus.html) Here’s _Crystal Gayle Killed Frank Herbert_ by Tom Smith (the World’s Fastest Filker): [Crystal Gayle Killed Frank Herbert | Tom Smith](https://tomsmith.bandcamp.com/track/crystal-gayle-killed-frank-herbert). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/17 "2018-03-28T21:01:22Z")
The Smothers Brothers put their own twist on a lot of folk songs (for example, [here’s The Saga of John Henry](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfP-TyQhJjc)), though I’m not sure anything they did counts as a parody _per se_. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2018, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/18 "2018-03-28T21:51:02Z")
[Protest Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVqFJswb1iM)– Neil Innes [Folk Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB_c4uni6Xg)–Bongwater ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/19 "2018-03-29T03:15:53Z")
[My Body is Made of Sunlight](https://youtu.be/ciWOXQJAhQg). Perfect parody of the music I love. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2018, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357/20 "2018-03-29T13:03:20Z")
Combine Harvester Parody of Melanie’s “Brand new key” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parody-folk-songs/811357.md?page=2)