A writer must “know and have an ever-present consciousness that this world is a world of fools and rogues… tormented with envy, consumed with vanity; selfish, false, cruel, cursed with illusions… He should free himself of all doctrines, theories, etiquettes, politics…” —Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?). “The nobility of the writer's occupation lies in resisting oppression, thus in accepting isolation” —Albert Camus (1913-1960). “What are you gonna do” —Bertha Brown (1895-1987).
Step right up, step right up, step right up, Everyone's a winner, bargains galore, That's right, you too can be the proud owner Of the quality goes in before the name goes on.
One-tenth of a dollar, one-tenth of a dollar, we got service after sales, How about perfume? We got perfume, how 'bout an engagement ring? Something for the little lady, something for the little lady Something for the little lady, hmm Three for a dollar.
We got a year-end clearance, we got a white sale We got smoke-damaged furniture, you can drive it away today, Act now, act now, and receive as our gift, our gift to you They come in all colors, one size fits all.
No muss, no fuss, no spills, you're tired of kitchen drudgery Everything must go, going out of business, going out of business Going out of business sale, Fifty percent off original retail price, and you can skip the middle man, Don't settle for less How do we do it? How do we do it? Volume, volume, turn up the volume.
Now you've heard it advertised, don't hesitate, Don't be caught with your drawers down, Don't be caught with your drawers down Step right up, step right up That's right, it filets, it chops, it dices, slices Never stops, it lasts a lifetime, mows your lawn And it mows your lawn and it picks up the kids from school It gets rid of unwanted facial hair, it gets rid of embarrassing age spots It delivers a pizza, and it lengthens, and it strengthens, And it finds that slipper that's been at large Under the chaise lounge for several weeks, And it plays a mean Rhythm Master, It makes excuses for unwanted lipstick on your collar, And it's only a dollar, step right up, it's only a dollar, step right up, And it forges your signature, If not completely satisfied, mail back unused portion of product For complete refund of price of purchase, Step right up.
Please allow thirty days for delivery, don't be fooled by cheap imitations You can live in it, live in it, laugh in it, love in it, swim in it, sleep in it, Live in it, swim in it, laugh in it, love in it Removes embarrassing stains from contour sheets, that's right, And it entertains visiting relatives, it turns a sandwich into a banquet, Tired of being the life of the party? Change your shorts, change your life, change your life...
Change into a nine-year-old Hindu boy, get rid of your wife, And it walks your dog, and it doubles on sax Doubles on sax, you can jump back Jack, see you later alligator See you later alligator and it steals your car, It gets rid of your gambling debts, it quits smoking It's a friend, and it's a companion And it's the only product you will ever need.
Follow these easy assembly instructions, it never needs ironing, Well it takes weights off hips, bust, thighs, chin, midriff, Gives you dandruff, and it finds you a job, it is a job, And it strips the phone company free take ten for five exchange, And it gives you denture breath, And you know it's a friend, and it's a companion, And it gets rid of your traveler's checks It's new, it's improved, it's old-fashioned, Well it takes care of business, never needs winding Never needs winding, never needs winding Gets rid of blackheads, the heartbreak of psoriasis Christ, you don't know the meaning of heartbreak, buddy, C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon.
'Cause it's effective, it's defective, it creates household odors It disinfects, it sanitizes for your protection, It gives you an erection, it wins the election, Why put up with painful corns any longer? It's a redeemable coupon, no obligation, no salesman will visit your home.
We got a jackpot, jackpot, jackpot, prizes, prizes, prizes, all work guaranteed, How do we do it, how do we do it, how do we do it, how do we do it We need your business, we're going out of business, We'll give you the business, Get on the business, end of our going-out-of-business sale, Receive our free brochure, free brochure, Read the easy-to-follow assembly instructions, batteries not included.
Send before midnight tomorrow, terms available Step right up, step right up, step right up, You got it buddy: the large print giveth, and the small print taketh away, Step right up, you can step right up, you can step right up, C'mon step right up, (Get away from me kid, you bother me...), Step right up, step right up, step right up,
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, Step right up, you can step right up, c'mon and step right up, C'mon and step right up.
Step Right Up by Tom Waits
ReplyDeleteStep right up, step right up, step right up,
Everyone's a winner, bargains galore,
That's right, you too can be the proud owner
Of the quality goes in before the name goes on.
One-tenth of a dollar, one-tenth of a dollar, we got service after sales,
How about perfume? We got perfume, how 'bout an engagement ring?
Something for the little lady, something for the little lady
Something for the little lady, hmm
Three for a dollar.
We got a year-end clearance, we got a white sale
We got smoke-damaged furniture, you can drive it away today,
Act now, act now, and receive as our gift, our gift to you
They come in all colors, one size fits all.
No muss, no fuss, no spills, you're tired of kitchen drudgery
Everything must go, going out of business, going out of business
Going out of business sale,
Fifty percent off original retail price, and you can skip the middle man,
Don't settle for less
How do we do it? How do we do it? Volume, volume, turn up the volume.
Now you've heard it advertised, don't hesitate,
Don't be caught with your drawers down,
Don't be caught with your drawers down
Step right up, step right up
That's right, it filets, it chops, it dices, slices
Never stops, it lasts a lifetime, mows your lawn
And it mows your lawn and it picks up the kids from school
It gets rid of unwanted facial hair, it gets rid of embarrassing age spots
It delivers a pizza, and it lengthens, and it strengthens,
And it finds that slipper that's been at large
Under the chaise lounge for several weeks,
And it plays a mean Rhythm Master,
It makes excuses for unwanted lipstick on your collar,
And it's only a dollar, step right up, it's only a dollar, step right up,
And it forges your signature,
If not completely satisfied, mail back unused portion of product
For complete refund of price of purchase,
Step right up.
Please allow thirty days for delivery, don't be fooled by cheap imitations
You can live in it, live in it, laugh in it, love in it, swim in it, sleep in it,
Live in it, swim in it, laugh in it, love in it
Removes embarrassing stains from contour sheets, that's right,
And it entertains visiting relatives, it turns a sandwich into a banquet,
Tired of being the life of the party?
Change your shorts, change your life, change your life...
Change into a nine-year-old Hindu boy, get rid of your wife,
ReplyDeleteAnd it walks your dog, and it doubles on sax
Doubles on sax, you can jump back Jack, see you later alligator
See you later alligator and it steals your car,
It gets rid of your gambling debts, it quits smoking
It's a friend, and it's a companion
And it's the only product you will ever need.
Follow these easy assembly instructions, it never needs ironing,
Well it takes weights off hips, bust, thighs, chin, midriff,
Gives you dandruff, and it finds you a job, it is a job,
And it strips the phone company free take ten for five exchange,
And it gives you denture breath,
And you know it's a friend, and it's a companion,
And it gets rid of your traveler's checks
It's new, it's improved, it's old-fashioned,
Well it takes care of business, never needs winding
Never needs winding, never needs winding
Gets rid of blackheads, the heartbreak of psoriasis
Christ, you don't know the meaning of heartbreak, buddy,
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon.
'Cause it's effective, it's defective, it creates household odors
It disinfects, it sanitizes for your protection,
It gives you an erection, it wins the election,
Why put up with painful corns any longer?
It's a redeemable coupon, no obligation, no salesman will visit your home.
We got a jackpot, jackpot, jackpot, prizes, prizes, prizes, all work guaranteed,
How do we do it, how do we do it, how do we do it, how do we do it
We need your business, we're going out of business,
We'll give you the business,
Get on the business, end of our going-out-of-business sale,
Receive our free brochure, free brochure,
Read the easy-to-follow assembly instructions, batteries not included.
Send before midnight tomorrow, terms available
Step right up, step right up, step right up,
You got it buddy: the large print giveth, and the small print taketh away,
Step right up, you can step right up, you can step right up,
C'mon step right up,
(Get away from me kid, you bother me...),
Step right up, step right up, step right up,
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon,
Step right up, you can step right up, c'mon and step right up,
C'mon and step right up.
A really great song, has always been one of my favorites. Mostly because it seems to catch the tempo of contemporary societal values.
ReplyDelete