Can't see the wood for the trees?

Okay – work is still driving me insane! I don’t know where they got the idea I was supposed to work for a living. But I’d rather be busy in this job that I do enjoy with people I enjoy working with.

Anyway, less of that and more of the music. I’ve picked something a little different this week (plus with the pressing time I’m going to have to keep it short). During the week I found a little spare time when there was just myself and the eldest in front of the television. So, I decided to expose her to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Recently we found that she had become a bit of a fan of Fawlty Towers. Not bad for a twelve year old, but I’m never sure if that’s a sign of a good sense of humour or plain insanity. We watched it laughing all the way through and needless to say those catchphrases that I remember from my teen years are once again echoing around the house. Yes we ask for a shrubbery and exclaim “Ni!” if we need to make a threat. Also “Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries” is heard to echo around the house in a silly French accent. Fortunately we’ve managed to avoid “Then after the spanking, the oral sex!” I mean kids seem to know stuff that we never knew about at their age – but this I thing is a good thing and would no doubt form the basis for an entire post.

So back to the song before I totally lose the plot. Whilst this isn’t one of the great songs from the Holy Grail it has to be one of the most well known and loved Python song. Yes, it’s THE LUMBERJACK SONG. This originally appeared in December 1969 (at which point I was 6 months old!). Originally it was performed by Michael Palin who was dressed as a barber. The barber was supposed to be cutting Graham Chapmen’s hair however he had rather homicidal tendencies. The end of the sketch involves Palin announcing that he didn’t want to be a lumberjack and then tears off his white coat to reveal his checked shirt. It never, ever fails to make me smile and since I’ve shown it to the kids they have both expressed how daft and funny it is. Any, without any further ado I give....the Lumberjack Song!



BARBER:
I wanted to be... a lumberjack!

Leaping from tree to tree, as they float down the mighty rivers of British Columbia. The Giant Redwood. The Larch. The Fir! The mighty Scots Pine! The lofty flowering Cherry! The plucky little Apsen! The limping Roo tree of Nigeria. The towering Wattle of Aldershot! The Maidenhead Weeping Water Plant! The naughty Leicestershire Flashing Oak! The flatulent Elm of West Ruislip! The Quercus Maximus Bamber Gascoigni! The Epigillus! The Barter Hughius Greenus!


With my best buddy by my side, we'd sing! Sing! Sing!
[singing]


I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay.
I sleep all night and I work all day.


MOUNTIES:
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.

BARBER:
I cut down trees. I eat my lunch.
I go to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays I go shoppin'
And have buttered scones for tea.

MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He eats his lunch.
He goes to the lavatory.
On Wednesdays he goes shopping
And has buttered scones for tea.


He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.


BARBER:
I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women's clothing
And hang around in bars.


MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He skips and jumps.
He likes to press wild flowers.
He puts on women's clothing
And hangs around in bars?!

He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.


BARBER:
I cut down trees. I wear high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra.
I wish I'd been a girlie,
Just like my dear Mama.


MOUNTIES:
He cuts down trees. He wears high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra?!
[talking]
What's this? Wants to be a girlie?! Oh, My!


And I thought you were so rugged!

[singing]


He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
He's a lumberjack, and he's okaaaaay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.