Newman!

I am off doing that hippy-dippy-folky thing I do ever year around this time. I volunteer at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, one of Canada's top summer festivals.

This year I have a few must sees - Los Lobos, Leo Kottke and one of my favorite storytellers, crusty old Randy Newman. I say crusty because of the acerbic wit present in his songs. Sure, some of the tunes sounds the same (as parodied on the Family Guy), but I have loved his lyrics since my teenage years, when I had his stuff on 8-track. Passengers in my Pontiac were forced to shut up and listen to all the words to "It's Money I Love" - often followed by a lecture on the ironic nature of the piece. A lot of my friends just hated this weird piano playing guy who talked more than he sang. But more than 25 years later, Randy is still cranking them out, winning grammys and even the odd Oscar.

Anyone that can write a lyric like - you'll be as happy as a monkey in monkey tree - and make it work, is pretty damn fine to me. And no, I am not going to explain the irony in this song.

Sail Away

In america youll get food to eat
Wont have to run through the jungle
And scuff up your feet
Youll just sing about jesus and drink wine all day
Its great to be an american

Aint no lions or tigers-aint no mamba snake
Just the sweet watermelon and the buckwheat cake
Evrybody is as happy as a man can be
Climb aboard, little wog-sail away with me

Sail away-sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into charleston bay
Sail away-sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into charleston bay

In america every man is free
To take care of his home and his family
Youll be as happy as a monkey in a monkey tree
Youre all gonna be an american

Sail away-sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into charleston bay
Sail away-sail away
We will cross the mighty ocean into charleston bay