# Tropic of Sir Gallahad **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2000, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550 "2000-03-29T13:19:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr.Zambezi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Mr.Zambezi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Zambezi)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/21 "2000-03-30T22:34:00Z")
Not to mention that Miller ripped off several songs and later refused to give vcredit to the original artists. Very bad form. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2000, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/22 "2000-03-30T22:37:00Z")
Just to complete the hijack, Billy Joe was not the sheriff. He was the one who shot a man while robbing his castle. Billy Mack is the one who makes his livin’ off of the people’s taxes. ## And thank you very much for dooming me to hearing _that_ song in my head till the thread dies and I don’t have to read it anymore. [NYC IRL III](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/006163.html) is on April 15th. Do you have what it takes? ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/23 "2000-03-31T00:27:00Z")
The lady who wrote “Do Ron Ron” also said she couldn’t think of any words and “Do Ron Ron” came to mind and it sounded catchy. Thus the whole story. ---
**Author:** ![Beruang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/24 "2000-04-01T09:17:00Z")
quote: ===== 1910 Fruitgum Factory is, hands down, my favorite dumb name for a musical group. ===== I’ve always been partial to Strawberry Alarmclock. Or was it Raspberry? Damn, I’ve GOT to get to sleep! * * * “The dawn of a new era is felt and not measured.” Walter Lord ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/25 "2000-04-01T12:48:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Beruang: > **quote: > I’ve always been partial to Strawberry Alarmclock. Or was it Raspberry? Damn, I’ve GOT to get to sleep!** It was Strawberry. Just a side note…the first concert I ever went to was a triple-header. Get this, the three bands were: Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Hollies and Wilson Pickett. Eclecticism in action. Today, going to the same concert would earn you at least a dozen “diversity points.” ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/26 "2000-04-01T13:38:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Just to complete the hijack, Billy Joe was not the sheriff. He was the one who shot a man while robbing his castle. I thought he was the one who jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge. ---
**Author:** ![Galahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Galahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galahad)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/27 "2011-09-17T16:53:37Z")
It’s a book “The Tropic of Sir Galahad”, like a Dan Brown’s book, but explores the misteries of a third tropic. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/28 "2011-09-17T17:34:04Z")
Reported spam. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/29 "2011-09-17T19:59:43Z")
“Maybe it’s the time of year, maybe it’s the time of man…” My money’s on time of year. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/30 "2011-09-17T20:04:48Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Don’t expect anything from the band America to make sense. > > \ > > “the ocean is a desert with its life underground.” I don’t know if they meant it this way, but the ocean is a vast empty area with all its life beneath the surface; “underground”. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/31 "2011-09-17T20:44:34Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Don’t expect anything from the band America to make sense. They also talk about “alligator lizards in the air” and “the ocean is a desert with its life underground.” [Alligator lizard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Alligator_Lizard). They’re known to jump from branch to branch. I always looked at _America_ as the quintessential California sound of the day, with its laid back lyrics and rhythms. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/32 "2011-09-17T20:50:06Z")
“I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name…” Horse, heroin? Is the drug reference too obvious or what? “In the desert, you can’t remember your name, cuz there aint no one for to give you no pain…” Sounds like the usual results for using horse with no name. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/33 "2011-09-17T23:53:23Z")
Oh, Christ. It’s back. And, it seems that you CAN remember your name in the desert 'cause there ain’t no-one for to give you no pain. Except maybe those flying alligator lizards. And underground life in the ocean. And, although the cities have a heart made of ground (as opposed to…?), the humans don’t love it. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/34 "2011-09-18T00:29:27Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Pfui. They sucked then; they suck now, and forever shall they suck. The only thing good about them is that they finally had the decency to go away! Now, if that twit Steve Miller would only do the same… Thank you! I can’t tell you how much I loathe this band and every single song they made. No reason (other than too… dopey, too…strummy) I can elucidate. I just HATE them. But what was wrong with the Monkees getting back together for an old-age tour? I’d a paid good money for that, they put out part of the soundtrack of my long gone youth. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/35 "2011-09-18T01:47:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > [Alligator lizard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Alligator_Lizard). They’re known to jump from branch to branch. I always looked at _America_ as the quintessential California sound of the day, with its laid back lyrics and rhythms. Yes. I grew up in SoCal in the 1970s and Dad played America a lot (Mom was a Steve Miller Band fan, too). So, I too think of them in laid back Southern California themes. As for alligator lizards, I remember trying to catch them as a kid and ending up with nothing but a tail in hand. They do jump pretty good. Mom doesn’t like it when you bring the tail home, but the feral cats are quite happy to take care of them for you. > [@Rysdad](#): > > And, although the cities have a heart made of ground (as opposed to…?), the humans don’t love it. > > Or something. Under the cities lies a heart made of ground but the humans will give no love. Take a walk through a city sometime and notice all the asphalt and concrete. Underneath it all is earth, but humans will never cultivate that earth (love it) because it’s been buried in concrete. At least that’s the way I interpret that passage. It’s not the most profound poetry in the world, but it’s pop/rock. How is it any different than surrealist art? ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/36 "2011-09-18T02:25:34Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > And, it seems that you CAN remember your name in the desert 'cause there ain’t no-one for to give you no pain. And “the heat was hot”. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/37 "2011-09-18T03:35:04Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Don’t expect anything from the band America to make sense. They also talk about “alligator lizards in the air” and “the ocean is a desert with its life underground.” > > They also spewed this gem: “And there ain’t no-one for to give you no pain.” > > Pfui. They sucked then; they suck now, and forever shall they suck. The only thing good about them is that they finally had the decency to go away! Now, if that twit Steve Miller would only do the same… Meh. People make things up. In some quarters it’s considered Creative !! 🙂 For example, when queried about the lyric from “Miami 2017 ( Seen the lights go out on Broadway ) that goes " Before the Mafia took over Mexico”, Billy Joel said, Hey, I made it up. No huge message. It just sounded cool. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/38 "2011-09-18T05:02:09Z")
In the lyrics department, America was no Zager & Evans, but in the department of sheer 70s hipster coolness, they are unbeatable…watch [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3fI0mLz3ks) clip of them in the studio and dig the little post-tuning riff on the Ovation guitar and the mysterious search for a cigarette. I spent most of 2007 and about half of 2008 trying very hard to look and act like that guy. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/39 "2011-09-18T16:39:31Z")
Cafe Society fodder. Moved. **samclem** Moderator ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550/40 "2011-09-18T16:44:30Z")
> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#): > > And “the heat was hot”. Okay, what was the heat then? Cold? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-of-sir-gallahad/9550.md?page=3)