Lumberjack song

The lumberjack song (originally The Lumberjack Song ) is a sketch by the British comedian group Monty Python , which appears in the ninth episode of the first season of Monty Python's Flying Circus . The episode called The Ant. An introduction. was recorded on December 7, 1969 and broadcast on December 14.

The sketch was written by Michael Palin , who also sang the song in different versions (with a few exceptions). In Monty Python's stage appearances, Eric Idle took on the role of woodcutter, including in the Hollywood Bowl appearance that was later released as Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl .

The idea for the sketch came to Palin after talking to a camera assistant who had already worked in various professions, including working as a lumberjack .

action

The sketch begins with a man who expresses his displeasure with his current job and who is becoming increasingly frustrated. In the film Monty Python's Wonderful World of Gravity , it is about the zoo dealer from the also very well-known Dead Parrot sketch . Finally he admits that he actually wanted to be a lumberjack. At this statement a choir appears (mostly consisting of Mounties ), which accompanies his woodcutter song and sings the Kehrvers ("He's a lumberjack, and he's okay, he sleeps all night and he works all day"). A blonde girl in a traditional costume appears, hugs his side and looks longingly at him.

The song begins as a harmless shanty , which describes the life of a woodcutter in an idealized way; From the second stanza on, the text takes a bizarre turn: the singer claims to slip into women's clothes and hang around in bars. At first, startled and already a little irritated, the Mountie choir follows this turn.

In the third verse, the singer reveals his preference for high heels , suspenders and a bra. After all, the person wishes to be a girl - just like his mom (in the original version on Monty Python's Flying Circus , in later versions dad , in the old German version Uncle Walter rhymes with a brassiere ).

The Mountie choir reacts horrified and leaves the scene cursing, and the girl at his side leaves him with the words “And I thought you were so manly!” The singer then leaves, disappointed. In the first version, he is booed and old vegetables are thrown at him.

music

The melody corresponds to the duet Là ci darem la mano from the opera Don Giovanni by Mozart .

Versions

In 1971, a new version of the sketch was recorded for the film Monty Python's Wonderful World of Gravity .

In 1972 this sketch was translated into German by an unknown translator and recorded for the first episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus . The pythons learned the German text by heart phonetically for this. Also in this version no Mountie choir sang the chorus (“He is a woodcutter and feels strong, he sleeps at night and chops during the day”), but a group of German border police officers.

Another translation was made for the German dubbed version of the above-mentioned film Monty Python's Wonderful World of Gravity . Kehrvers here: "He's a lumberjack, and he's fine, during the day he gets worked up."

On the CD Monty Python Sings , released in 1989, the song interrupts the weather forecast of a frustrated radio presenter (“I don't want to rabbit on all day about sunny periods and patches of rain spreading from the West”), and the list of tree species before the start of the The song is increased into the absurd (including “The flatulent Elm of West Ruislip”).

In 1991 the punk band Dödelhaie released a German-language cover version on a single.

On November 29, 2002, the song was performed live as part of the Concert for George in honor of the late George Harrison (from 1979 producer of the Monty Python films). The role of one of the Mounties was taken on by Tom Hanks .

literature

Monty Python : Monty Python's Flying Circus. All words I. Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, Munich 1993, ISBN 3-453-09235-X

Sound carrier

CD: Monty Python Sings , Virgin Records 1989, Mont D1
Single / Vinyl: Das Holzfällerlied , Impact Records 1991 (punk cover version of the Dödelhaien)

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus Megaset. DVD box with all episodes published in 2000 by A&E Home Video.
^ Monty Python's Flying Circus. Just the Words 1 & 2. Mandarin, London a. a. 1993, ISBN 0-7493-0226-7

[1] The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus Megaset. DVD box with all episodes published in 2000 by A&E Home Video.

[2] Monty Python's Flying Circus. Just the Words 1 & 2. Mandarin, London a. a. 1993, ISBN 0-7493-0226-7


Movies	Monty Python's Wonderful World of Gravity • The Knights of the Coconut • The Life of Brian • Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl • The Meaning of Life
watch TV	Monty Python's Flying Circus ( Monty Python's Flying Circus )