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17

from Lucky by Ira Marlowe

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VERSION #9: Three anthropologists are hacking their way through the jungle when they find themselves captured by hostile natives who drag them to their village and lock them in a hut. In the morning, one is taken to a clearing where the chief, who speaks a little English, announces, "You have choice!!! Death! Or... Roo-roo!" The captured man ponders for just a moment then says, "Well... Roo-roo... I guess..." Immediately he's tied to a rock and then brutally sodomized by the entire tribe until well past sunset. The next day the second man is dragged out and the same scenario unfolds, except that meanwhile the third man has managed to poke a hole in the hut so he's able to witness this debauchery. The next morning, when the chief demands, "Death? ... Or Roo-roo?" the third anthropologist proudly responds, "Death!" The chief is shocked. "Death???" he says? "Death!" insists the anthropologist. "OK," says the chief, "...But first a little Roo-roo!"

This song is about adolescence and disillusionment, but you knew that.

lyrics

There are 17 versions of the rooroo joke
each one ends with there’s no hope
stuck in the jungle what’s to do
but laugh the whole day through

17 ways to say goodbye
two that end in please don’t cry
one you never heard before
you were too far out the door

and the other world
that calls your name
ringing in your ears
it always sounds the same
and the other you
you tried to be
that’s the only one they’ll see

Welcome to the Liar’s Club
grab a number, step right up
stuck in the jungle, what’s to do
c’mon you know it’s true

17 years you didn’t know
then it hits you kinda slow
it’ll find you anywhere you go

and the other world
that calls your name
ringing in your ears
it always sounds the same
and the other you
you tried to be
that’s the only one they’ll …



see I don’t
see the invisible
things I used to see
it’s all so solid now
falling down
around me



17 rules in the book of life
one that keeps you up all night
stuck in the jungle what’s to do
but laugh the whole day through

17 hours in any day
til they let you get away
turn out the light
it’s brighter than they say

and the other world
that calls your name
you hear it in your heart
it always sounds the same
and the other you
you tried be
that’s the only one they’ll see

see I don’t
see the invisible
things I used to see
it’s all so solid now
falling down
around me

credits

from Lucky, released January 4, 2010
Paul Revelli: drums Jhene Canody: backing vocals

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all rights reserved

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Ira Marlowe image

Ira Marlowe Berkeley, California

Ira Marlowe's songs have appeared in indy films, been featured on NPR and Dr. Demento, and won the Parent's Choice Award. He's taught songwriting at UC Berkeley and penned the tunes for four shows by a Tony-winning theatre troupe. He lives in Berkeley, CA with his dog Potus. ... more

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