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Song Parodies -> "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Original Song Title:

"The Times, They Are a-Changing"

 (MP3)
Original Performer:

Bob Dylan

Parody Song Title:

"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Parody Written by:

Stan Hall

The Lyrics

I’ve read in amiright’s backlog many amusing parodies of Gordon Lightfoot’s song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (which, Erie--har, har har--as such may strike what comments suggest are preponderantly unappreciative parodists, I personally quite like). Fearing to tilt quixotically at any of these insuperable windmills, I offer here an entirely novel approach that I hope isn’t itself metaphorically the very shipwreck to which it alludes. In any case, it was fun to compose, and that’s after all what matters. :-)
“No matter, now, people,” said Spielberg, “don’t moan –
Tho’ that foamy-mouthed cur and his handler have flown
The caterer’s baker has a dog he will loan.
Cut a check for that breadman’s Spitz, ‘Cheryl,’
And our flick may not flounder (if dog close-ups aren’t shown)
Like the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald!”

“One might say ‘neritic’” Shallit cried with his pen,
“of this little disaster Will Ferrell’s big in.
I can’t give it more than a none out of ten --
It’s dreck. What a dead end! It’s puerile!
It’s an absolute loser that surely will end
Like the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald!”

Said the star, “Congressman Dilbeck,” appalled,
“I’m a lecherous lush by pole dancers enthralled
And by the film’s end not a one have I balled --
My schmeckie lacks lead and ´s unvirile.
My image as studly Burt Reynolds will fall
Like the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald!”

“Oh brother, those mothers!” Mazursky said, “Stand
And attend to these changes our backers demand:
Bob, Alice and Ted, I’m so sorry, you’re canned
I must Shrek to the bed send with Carol
Hoping folks understand and it’s not badly panned
Like the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald!”

In rhymes wrought with brawn more than brain I’ve here cast
Some riddles in re a few films from the past
Giving clues fully fair (neither hard nor half-assed)
What I’m ’spectin’ but dreadin’ is there’ll
come comments “This work grows worse first verse to last --
It's the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald!"

©Stan Hall As only 4 verses pose riddles, players can earn only 4 points for solving all. I suggest awarding me 1 point per solution plus a bonus point for the self-satisfaction thus gained. By all means seek help from imdb.com if needed to earn riddler and solver 5s. :-) :-)

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 LittleLots
Matches Pace of
Original Song: 
How Funny: 
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Voting Results

 
Pacing: 5.0
How Funny: 5.0
Overall Rating: 4.8

Total Votes: 10

Voting Breakdown

The following represent how many people voted for each category.

    Pacing How Funny Overall Rating
 1   0
 0
 0
 
 2   0
 0
 0
 
 3   0
 0
 0
 
 4   0
 0
 2
 
 5   10
 10
 8
 

User Comments

Comments are subject to review, and can be removed by the administration of the site at any time and for any reason.

Agrimorfee - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
Clever stuff...I think I got #1, not at all sure about #2 (how many flops has Will Ferrell made anyway? pretty vague clue...), but #3 was easy (but its reputation is undeserved IMO).
Agrimorfee - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
Addenda: hence, my vote score 554.
Michael Pacholek - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
It wouldn't be an official "Edmund Fitzgerald" parody if I didn't at least comment... I owe you a five just for suggesting the word "puerile," which I've never used for a rhyme in all my Wreckings.
Stan - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
Aw, c'mon, Agri ... The clues are quite clear and you would (read "should"d) swat your head saying "D'oh!" Re #2 (where "flop" is portrayed as a matter of critical opinion, not box office fact) "Ferrell", "little," and "big" together should give it away. As for #4, (which apparently you didn't even try) it may be unfamiliar if you're substantially younger than I, but a check of the recommended (and explicitly permissible) imdb reference re "(Paul) Mazursky" in combo with the names of combined names of the canned and "Shreked" individuals would show the riddle's fair. And, after all, I only said the _clues_ were fair and not hard ... didn't promise easy solutions. :-) Oh well ... And Michael, thanks for the cribbage count kudos. I've read and enjoyed a number of your "real" Wreck parodies. :-)
littleCupCakes - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
555 Sir for quite a tribute to 79's, I intensely disliked ~Robert Gulp~ . I always wante to slap him . . .
Stan - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
Bravo/a 'Cakes ... I see you knew #4 (1969). Anyway, whyever'd anyone even notice Culp when Natalie Wood was onscreen? :-)
Meriadoc - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
I suspect this is very clever, but as it all has to do with celluloid, I'm lost... :-P
Invisible Boy - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
This IS very clever working on several levels at once. I won't post my guesses and be a "spoiler". #1 I think I know. #2 as well (holiday theme ?). #3 I knew right away...who doesn't love pole dancers? As for #4...why don't you and "the wife" come on over...
Stan - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
I'm sure your guess for #1 is on the money, even tho rereading it for the 1st time since posting, I see my clue has a boo boo. Should be "Lew Teague", not Spielberg. My goof -- # 1 was originally about a diffferent movie using the same rhyme scheme (to match Dylan's) and the same 1st line except director name ... obviously zI forgot to make that change. I do, tho', see by what you say re #s 2,3,& 4 indicates you got'em all, IB. :-) ATT'N ALL: I GUESS I COULD --- BUT I WON'T -- PRETEND THAT MY BOO-BOO, NOW NOTED, WAS THERE BY DESIGN, TO INCREASE THE CONCLUDING VERSE'S LIKENING OF TEH PARODY ITSELF TO THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD. :-)
Stan - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
Hey Agri ... apologies re #1, then, (see immediately preceeding comment) but not re the rest. :-)
John Barry - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
Fabulous mash. I know them all and will reveal them as soon as you do.
alvin - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
nice smooshie.....gordon lightfoot is kinda the canadian bob dylan
John Jenkins - January 28, 2008 - Report this comment
Thank you, Stan. Very entertaining concept, and very well presented.

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