From 1999 to 2004-ish, I was one of the contributing writers for Garrison Keillor's renowned radio show "A Prairie Home Companion." I learned a lot of things there, mostly how to spell 'prairie." It was a solid gig and I'm proud of my work there. But, like any other job, there were...things...
I'm not sure how I never saw a "It's a Wonderful Life" and a "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" mash-up before. I mean, it's right there; they're both about Christmas and have the word "wonderful" right there in the title! I really like writing song parodies. There's something about the structure that makes working jokes into a medley that much more rewarding. And that's to the internet and online rhyming dictionaries, wow, has it gotten easier. The first time I really tackled a song parody was doing a version of "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" about Medicare for a MASH parody. I mean, I was showing it to friends like I cracked a code or something. It was a rush for me (Less so for them). Anyway, I put this together to get it to PHC in time for the holidays and they passed on it. Humbug.
It's a Most Wonderful Life
(to the tune of "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.)
It's the most wonderful life of the year
With the money gone missing
My life reminiscing
'cause Clarance is here
It's the most wonderful life of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
With Potter all greedy
And Mary so needy
Bank auditors call
It's the hap-happiest season of all
They'll be trips never taken
and confidence shaken
with feelings of dread and forlorn
they'll be runs on the known banks
and crashes in snowbanks
Then wishing I never was born.
It's the most wonderful life, so I hear
Uncle Billy's forgetting
to come to the wedding
Plays in my good ear
It's the most wonderful life of the year.
Bert and Ernie don't greet me
I'm tossed from Martini's
As if I never was born.
They'll be gym floors retracted
Rose petals extracted
In black & white Capra-corn.
It's the most wonderful life I can bear
They'll be cheers and some singing
when angles get winging
Sam's checks finally clear
It's the most wonderful life
Despite all of the stife
It's the most wonderful life of the the year.
It's the most wonderful life of the year
With the money gone missing
My life reminiscing
'cause Clarance is here
It's the most wonderful life of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
With Potter all greedy
And Mary so needy
Bank auditors call
It's the hap-happiest season of all
They'll be trips never taken
and confidence shaken
with feelings of dread and forlorn
they'll be runs on the known banks
and crashes in snowbanks
Then wishing I never was born.
It's the most wonderful life, so I hear
Uncle Billy's forgetting
to come to the wedding
Plays in my good ear
It's the most wonderful life of the year.
Bert and Ernie don't greet me
I'm tossed from Martini's
As if I never was born.
They'll be gym floors retracted
Rose petals extracted
In black & white Capra-corn.
It's the most wonderful life I can bear
They'll be cheers and some singing
when angles get winging
Sam's checks finally clear
It's the most wonderful life
Despite all of the stife
It's the most wonderful life of the the year.
