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...
When all else fails, song parody! The show only did song parodies occassionally. I remember one about the Y2K computer bug, to the tune of "Y-M-C-A." They did my version of "12 Days of Christmas" previously. But sometimes a tune gets in my head with an alternate title and a line or two and I follow it up. And if there's a writer's block to deal with, that's enough to carry me through sometimes. They didn't go for it, however...
Wintertime
(to the tune of Gershwin's "Summertime")
Wintertime
And the weather is crazy
Sleet is clumpin'
And the snowdrifts is high
Car's in the ditch
And the mudslides are comin'
The slush didn't stop ya
Still you slide
The Artic Express
You're going to wake up freezin'
Pineapple Express
And you'll flee from the sky
Temper'tures vary
There's no way to dress right
With cough and fevers standing by
Wintertime
And the storm's are convergin'
Degrees jumpin'
And the wind gusts is high
Your shovel's gone
And your snowblower's missin'
So hush little baby
Stay inside.
Wintertime
And the weather is crazy
Sleet is clumpin'
And the snowdrifts is high
Car's in the ditch
And the mudslides are comin'
The slush didn't stop ya
Still you slide
The Artic Express
You're going to wake up freezin'
Pineapple Express
And you'll flee from the sky
Temper'tures vary
There's no way to dress right
With cough and fevers standing by
Wintertime
And the storm's are convergin'
Degrees jumpin'
And the wind gusts is high
Your shovel's gone
And your snowblower's missin'
So hush little baby
Stay inside.
