The Lumberjack Song
ja:木こりの歌
The Lumberjack Song is one of the most well-known and popular sketches by the Monty Python's Flying Circus comedy troupe.
The sketch appeard in several forms (on the original television series, film, stage, and LP); each time the sketch started differently. The common theme was a man (originally Michael Palin, in later live versions Eric Idle) who expresses dissatisfaction with his current job, and then announces, "I didn't want to do this job. I wanted to be... a lumberjack!" He proceeds to wax rhapsodic about the life of a lumberjack, "Leaping from tree to tree," etc. He then rips off his shirt to reveal a red flannel shirt, walks over to a stage backed with a pine forest, and begins to sing about the wonders of being a lumberjack. He is unexpectedly backed up by a large set of male singers, all dressed as Canadian Mounties (several were regular Monty Python performers, while the rest were members of an actual singing troupe, the Fred Tomlinson Singers). As the song continues, the excited lumberjack increasingly reveals cross-dressing tendencies, which confuses the Mounties to the point where they walk off disgustedly.
In 2003, a version of the song was performed at the Concert for George tribute to George Harrison.
The Song
Composers: Terry Jones, Michael Palin, & Fred Tomlinson
Authors: Terry Jones & Michael Palin
Arranger: Fred Tomlinson
Lead Singer: Michael Palin
Continued from Petshop, Barber, or a variety of other Python sketches.
I never wanted to do this job!
I... I wanted to be...
A LUMBERJACK!
(further spoken intro here, depending on version)
Oh, I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay,
I sleep all night and I work all day.
CHORUS: He's a lumberjack, and he's okay,
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
I cut down trees, I eat my lunch,
I go to the lava-t'ry.
On Wednesdays I go shoppin'
And have buttered scones for tea.
CHORUS: He cuts down trees, he eats his lunch,
he goes to the lava-t'ry.
On Wednesdays he goes shoppin'
And has buttered scones for tea.
I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay,
I sleep all night and I work all day.
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.
CHORUS: He cuts down trees, he skips and jumps,
he like to press wild-flowers.
He puts on (incredulous) women's clothing?,
And hangs around in bars?
I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay,
I sleep all night and I work all day.
I cut down trees, I wear high heels,
Suspendies and a bra.
I wish I'd been a girlie.
Just like my dear papa.
CHORUS: He cuts down trees, (incredulous) he wears high heels?,
Suspendies and a bra?
(Rabbling)
CHORUS: He's a lumberjack, and he's okay,
he sleeps all night and he works all day.
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
The song was translated in German for Monty Pythons Fliegender Zirkus and the German lyrics have also been published. One significant change is that the phrase "Just like my dear Papa" has been changed to "So wie mein Onkel Walter"("Just like my Uncle Walter"), to rhyme with "Büstenhalter", German for "bra".
External link
- Monty Python songs on the Web (http://bau2.uibk.ac.at/sg/python/Songs.html)