This week Jim Adams has prompted us with choosing songs involving Cruel | Evil | Horrible | Monster | Wicked for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday.
This week I chose three different songs plus a bonus track to cover Wicked, Cruel & Monster. I couldn’t decide and thought they were all worthy of the challenge. “Marie Laveau” by Bobby Bare is the first song up. “Don’t Be Cruel” by Elvis Presley is my second choice. Third choice is “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett. It’s close enough to Halloween to share this classic for this week’s challenge.
BONUS AT THE END: “Monster Hash”
Snippet of the real Marie Laveau
Marie Catherine Laveau was a free woman of color of African, Native American and French descent. She was born on September 10, 1801 in colonial New Orleans, Louisiana (French Quarter). Well known in New Orleans, she practiced Voodoo, was an herbalist & midwife. She died at the age of 79 on June 15, 1881 in New Orleans. Her daughter, Marie Laveau II, practiced rootwork, conjure, Native American & African spiritualism, as well as Louisiana Voodoo. Laveau I has been an inspiration of many fictional characters in novels. Angela Bassett appears as a fictionalized Laveau in “American Horror Story: Coven” and “American Horror Story: Apocalypse”.
SONG FACTS – “Marie Laveau”
- Written by Shel Silverstein and Baxter Taylor
- Originally recorded by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show on their 1971 album “Doctor Hook”.
- Bobby Bare recorded it live in 1974.
- Reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Canadian RPM Country Tracks for Bare.
“Marie Laveau”
The most famous of the voodoo queens that ever existed Is Marie Laveau, down in Louisiana There's a lot of weird ungodly tales about Marie, She's supposed to have a lot of magic potions, spells and curses.... Down in Louisiana, where the black trees grow Lives a voodoo lady named Marie Laveau Got a black cat's tooth and a Mojo bone And anyone who wouldn't leave her alone She'd go another man done gone She lives in a swamp in a hollow log With a one-eyed snake and a three-legged dog She's got a bent, bony body and stringy hair If she ever seen why'all messing round there She'd go another man done gone And then one night when the moon was black Into the swamp come handsome Jack A no good man like you all know He was looking around for Marie Laveau He said Marie Laveau, you handsome witch Give me a little a little charm that'll make me rich Give me a million dollars and I tell you what I'll do This very night, I'm gonna marry you Then It'll be another man done gone So Marie done some magic, and she shook a little sand Made a million dollars and she put it in his hand Then she giggled and she wiggled, and she said Hey, Hey I'm getting ready for my wedding day But old handsome Jack he said goodbye Marie You're too damned ugly for a rich man like me Then Marie started mumbling her fangs started gnashing Her body started trembling and her eyes started flashing And she went another man done gone. So if you ever get down where the black trees grow And meet a voodoo lady named Marie Laveau If she ever asks you to make her your wife Man, you better stay with her for the rest of your life Or it'll be another man done gone Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Baxter Taylor / Shel Silverstein Marie Laveau lyrics Β© T.R.O. Inc.
Song Facts – “Don’t Be Cruel”
- Written by Otis Blackwell in 1956. Presley was given credit for co-writing this song as he changed many of the lyrics.
- Recorded by Elvis Presley and released on July 13, 1956.
- It was the first song that Hill and Range (Presley’s song publishers) brought to him to record.
- “Hound Dog” was on the “A” side of the 45 rpm record with “Don’t Be Cruel” on the “B” side. “Hound Dog” had risen to #2 on the Pop charts with sales of over 1 million. “Don’t Be Cruel” overshadowed “Hound Dog” by reaching #1 on the Pop, Country & R&B charts.
- It was Presley’s biggest selling single recorded in 1956 with over 6 million dollars in sales by 1961.
- “Don’t Be Cruel” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.
“Don’t Be Cruel”
You know I can be found sittin' home all alone If you can't come around a least please telephone Don't be cruel to a heart that's true Baby if I made you mad for somethin' I might have said Please let's forget the past the future looks bright ahead Don't be cruel I got a heart so true I don't want no other love honey it's just you I'm thinkin' of Let's walk up to the preacher and let us say I do Then you gonna have me baby I got a little bitty your love too And don't don't don't don't be cruel I don't want no other love honey it's just you I'm thinkin' of Hey don't stop thinkin' about me and don't make me feel this way Come on over here and love me you know what I want you to say Don't be cruel to a heart that's true Well I don't want no other love honey it's just you I'm thinkin' of Don't be cruel to a heart that's true don't be cruel to a heart that's true Why should we be apart I really love you baby cross my heart Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Elvis A. Presley / Otis Blackwell Don't Be Cruel lyrics Β© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Raleigh Music Publishing
SONG FACTS – “Monster Mash”
- Written by Leonard Capizzi and Bob Pickett.
- Released as a single on Gary S. Paxton’s Garpax Records label on August 25, 1962 and on a full-length album called “The Original Monster Mash” which contained several monster-themed songs.
- Reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for October 20-27 of 1962, just in time for Halloween.
- One night, Pickett was doing a monologue while performing the Diamond’s “Little Darlin’” in a monologue imitating horror movie star Boris Karloff. The audience loved it and fellow band member, Leonard Capizzi encouraged Picket to do more of Karloff. Pickett’s humor paved the way for him and Capizzi to compose “Monster Mash”
“Monster Mash”
I was working in the lab, late one night When my eyes beheld an eerie sight For my monster from his slab, began to rise And suddenly to my surprise He did the mash, he did the monster mash The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash He did the mash, it caught on in a flash He did the mash, he did the monster mash From my laboratory in the castle east To the master bedroom where the vampires feast The ghouls all came from their humble abodes To get a jolt from my electrodes They did the mash, they did the monster mash The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash They did the mash, it caught on in a flash They did the mash, they did the monster mash The zombies were having fun, the party had just begun The guests included Wolfman, Dracula, and his son The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds The coffin-bangers were about to arrive With their vocal group, 'The Crypt-Kicker Five' They played the mash, they played the monster mash The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash They played the mash, it caught on in a flash They played the mash, they played the monster mash Out from his coffin', Drac's voice did ring Seems he was troubled by just one thing He opened the lid and shook his fist and said "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist? It's now the mash, it's now the monster mash The monster mash, it was graveyard smash It's now the mash, it caught on in a flash It's now the mash, it's now the monster mash Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land For you, the living this mash was meant too When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you Then you can mash, then you can monster mash The monster mash and do my graveyard smash Then you can mash, you'll catch on in a flash Then you can mash, then you can monster mash Mash good! Easy, Igor, you impetuous young boy Mash good! Grrr! Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Leonard Capizzi / Bob Pickett Monster Mash lyrics Β© Reservoir Media Management Inc
SONG FACTS – “Monster Hash”
- Written & performed by The Toyes, an American reggae band from Grants Pass, Oregon.
- The song was written as a parody of Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s “Monster Mash”.
“Monster Hash”
I was working in the lab late one night
When I heard the gurgle of a waterpipe
So I turned to see my monster in a cloud of smoke
Who said “This shit ain’t bad, here, have a toke”
(We smoked some hash) – We smoked some monster hash
(Some monster hash) – It was his personal stash
(We smoked some hash) – We got completely trashed
(On monster hash) – We smoked some monster hash
As we partied in the castle with the living dead
Mouths were dry and eyes were red
The ghouls and goblins shrieked and screamed
“Won’t somebody please pass the Visine”
(They smoked some hash) – They smoked some monster hash
(Some monster hash) – From Frankie’s personal stash
(We smoked some hash) – And they all were smashed
(On monster hash) – They smoked some monster hash
The mummy was toking on a bong
Wolfman said “Don’t bogart that, pass it along”
The swamp thing was toasted, rolling on the floor
Laughing hysterically and pleading for more
The scene was rocking as the werewolves moved
To the undead reggae band’s dance hall grooves
Meanwhile in the kitchen Frankenstein baked
Some Alice B. Toklas brownies and cakes
(We ate some hash) – We ate some monster hash
(Some monster hash) – It had the graveyard smashed
(We ate some hash) – And we all got trashed
(On monster hash) – We ate some monster hash
The party would have gone on ’til we all passed out
But just then we heard a bloodcurdling shout
“Watch out, beware, cover your necks
Dracula’s got the munchies, and he’s totally wrecked”
(He smoked some hash) – He smoked some monster hash
(Some monster hash) – He was completely smashed
(He smoked some hash) – That transylvanian’s trashed
(On monster hash) – He smoked some monster hash
Now every night the dead rise up from the grave
To partake in our happening THC rave
For you, the living, this hash was meant, too
When you get to my door just say the Toyes sent you
(We’ll smoke some hash) – We’ll smoke some monster hash
(Some monster hash) – And we’ll all get trashed
(We’ll smoke some hash) – From my personal stash
(Of monster hash) – We’ll smoke some monster hash
Mmmm – that shit gooood
Easy, boy, save some for daddy
Mmm – hash gooood
Comments
12 responses to “Song Lyric Sunday – “Marie Laveau” & More”
Great choices, enjoyed them all but the Monster Hash, beat them all into a cocked hat π
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Monster Hash was Frank’s contribution. I’ve never smoked weed or done drugs, but it is kinda a funny rendition on the classic. That’s why it was a bonus and not in my main pics! π
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I have never partaken either but yes so funny π
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Fun picks today! You covered all the prompts I think! I didnβt realize there were so many songs about monsters out there. βΊοΈ
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Oh, there were more I wanted to do, but I didn’t want to beat it to death. Pun intended! LOL! π
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That’s funny π€£
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I did not know the real story of Marie Laveau, but I always liked this song. I enjoyed learning about how the Monster Mash was written. Monster Hash cracked me up, too funny. Thanks for sharing your music today Lisa.
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I thought you might like the Monster Hash. Thank Frank for that one. He said I needed to include it and I told him that “Jim will like that”. LOL! π
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A trifecta today! Perfect for the theme π
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Thanks Jill! It was fun to do! π
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I’m still smiling after hearing the Monster Hash song! So funny and love those old B & W movie clips! Never heard the first one before, but I sure liked it, and of course Elvis is always great. π
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Thanks Barbara! It was fun to put together. I knew instantly when I saw the prompt a few weeks ago that I was going to do Marie Laveau. I grew up to that song & always thought it was funny that she got the last laugh, so to speak! π Frank insisted on Monster Hash. I never knew about it until a couple of years ago when he pulled it up on YouTube for me to hear. I’m not a stoner, never even tried it, but he was and he did…back in the day! LOL! π
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