High Noon
Posted at 5:40 AM on July 23, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(27 Comments)
As I listened to the president's press conference last night, it occured to me that the health care debate in Washington D.C. is taking on the feel of a wild west showdown. Regrettably, I couldn't get the lilting tune of "The Streets of Laredo" off my mind.
I wonder if the new system will cover song-stuck-in-head syndrome.
As I walked out on the streets of Laredo,
As I walked out in Laredo one day,
I spied a poor cowboy who needed a doctor
Who needed one quickly and in the worst way.
"I see by your outfit that you're no physician."
These words he did say and I knew they were true.
"My toenail is ingrown, I have no insurance.
I know you're no doctor, but surely you'll do."
"Get six jolly cowboys to sit on my femur
Get six dance hall maidens to steady my knee.
Get Larry the blacksmith to loan you his pliers,
Then give me some whiskey and pull the nail free."
I told him I couldn't but don't be discouraged.
I told him Obama was pushing for change.
"If you can survive for the rest of the summer,
then health care for all might be well within range."
"A doctor you trust will examine your toenail.
A pretty young nurse by your bedside will sit.
A subsidized plan will provide for your treatment
Without adding on to our huge deficit."
"I know it sounds crazy" I said in all candor
"Like pie in the sky. Like a pig in a poke."
"But here is my hand. We can do this together."
He looked at me like I was telling a joke.
His eyes became misty, his voice was a-tremble
A smile crossed the face of this suffering man.
"I am a Republican. Though it will kill me,
I cannot condone any government plan."
Give six southern senators stainless steel shovels
Have six crusty congressmen quietly cry
My mother, Louise, and my father, dear Harry
Will want to be here when I finally die.
We buried him there in the streets of Laredo.
Municipal crews cut a trench deep and long.
We lowered him down and we paved the way o'er him.
Right there on the spot where I sang him this song.
What other songs can you think of that might involve the story of somebody who is sick?
Extra points if the lyrics reference hospitals, doctors, nurses, managed care, health insurance, multi-national pharmaceutical companies or intense medical industry lobbying.
Comments (27)
Good Morning Heartlanders,
The first "medical" song that comes to mind is St. James Infirmary. Would love to hear it.
Thanks for the quick response, Kathy.
Cab Calloway is coming up!
"Run That Body Down" by Paul Simon. I can think of a number of songs referencing pharmaceuticals, but mostly not the prescription kind.
Robert Palmer's "Bad Case of Lovin You?" "Doctor, Doctor give me the news..." -
you composed a great song, Dale - thanks, as always, for your wit so early in the morning!
off to milk the Girls
I thought of a couple more... Put the Lime in the Coconut,originally by Nielsen I believe - and Call The Doctor by JJ Cale.
Dale,
The new Laredo is brilliant. Maybe if you could sing it on the airwaves, the Blue Dog Democrats would come around.
I can think of illness songs including the one that says "Some Little Bug Is Gonna Get You Someday" and John McCutcheon's song about having the flu.
My healthcare songs do not cover pre-existing conditions without authorization except for Dr Doolittle.Is there a recording of the rhyme that includes this verse?
In came the doctor, in came the nurse, in came the lady with the alligator purse.
Mumps said the doctor. Measles said the nurse.___said the lady with the alligator purse.
Wishing everyone in the Heartland a healthy day!
songs of the nonprescription variety are always welcome
dale you must get up at 3am to write these songs, or do you sleep at all?
the whole health debate is so depressing and political it gives me a headache
... and the doctor said, "Give him jug band music. It seems to make him feel just fine."
_John Sebastian
How about the old rock tune - My Friend the Witch Doctor, He Told Me what to Do.
I don't think that's the name of the song, but you probably remember this song from the 50s or 60s.
I'm afriad we will still need witch doctors after the politicans get done with the health care system.
Hi Heartlanders. I feel sick just thinking about sickness. I cannot think of anything to add to the list. Everyone else is doing just fine. Good music as always. I cannot always get on to comment, but I try to listen at least once a day even if it is the rebroadcast at lunchtime.
Having been home sick all week, I really appreciate the sympathetic songs...especially John McCutchen's....captures the sentiment exactly--so tired of being sick.
And this is the weekend of the Free Range Film Festival (www.freerangefilm.org) in Wrenshall...I best be well!
Hi Dale,
I love Chris Smither, but here's another one:
Little Feat - rock 'n roll doctor.
Little Feat is my all-time favourite band.
Listening on the internet.
Greetings from The Netherlands, Theo
How about Love Potion No. 9 by the Searchers. For those who cater to alternative medicine.
great stuff this morning, dale!
i woke to hear you say the blog theme was doctors and illness, immediately thought of lime in the coconut song, and lo and behold, ten seconds later you played it!
then my little boy and i got to sing along to oo-ee-oo-ah-ah in the witch doctor song.
then i get online and Barb and i had thought of the same song--palmer's 'bad case of loving you"---did that alreay get played?
and hello to theo from the netherlands! what's healthcare like there?!
ah, it was fun to sing streets of laredo with the new lyrics as i'm drinking tea today.
as GK says, be well!
You'll find Jug Band Music under Lovin' Spoonful. I have it on vinyl...
Also you could play Fever by any number of famous people including Peggy Lee.
There's a bluegrass song called 20/20 Vision and Walkin' Round Blind which begins: "I've been to the doctor. He says I'm all right. I know he's lyin'. I'm losin' my sight."
See ya...
oops...just noticed I gave the wrong link to the Free Range Film Festival in Wrenshall. Correct version: www.freerangefilm.com
The first one on Saturday afternoon is about bees...then there is one about some guys cooking on their car engine as they traveled cross country. Wasn't that a feature on Car Talk eons ago?
Cynthia, i know cooking on a car engine was a Seinfeld episode - (wasn't everything?) - and we're really looking forward to saturday afternoon's program at Free Range Film Festival also! always fun.
Kay - even though i am 45 years older than you (approximately :-) we seem to have the same music memory! cool. except your memory is better than mine.
enjoying the line of music and chat today - relaxing - the Girls really made me work for the milk today. maybe they are worried about health care also.
Kay, the trivia question at Caribou the other day was "Who says ting-tang-walla-walla-bing-bang?" and I got a little over-excited about knowing the answer. Then, of course, I had the song stuck in my head the rest of the day. However, I don't see that as a bad thing :)
I feel that, in this list, dentists are being neglected. Anyone ever seen/heard Little Shop of Horrors? The song "Dentist!" maybe doesn't show the most favorite side of the healthcare profession, but it's fun to listen to nonetheless.
I just remembered. I think is was Allen Sherman who sang a parody of the Beatles' "Yesterday" and called it "Leprosy." The only lyrics I can remember are "Leprosy...I'm not half the man I used to be..." That guy would definately have trouble getting medical coverage.
PS. I love Little Shop of Horrors! Such a fun movie and soundtrack.
ha ha! Barb, i'm sure you are only about fifteen years older than i am :-) After all, i may have been small, but i do remember where i was when President Kennedy was shot.
okay, sorry, being shot does cause injury, but death is pretty extreme under the topic of illness.
gus, that's so funny about caribou--i used to love doing their trivia questions! and really, that witch doctor song is really fun to sing--puts you in a good silly mood.
off to a mtg, worse luck!
Got a late jump today. Here are a few ideas:
Aretha Franklin – Doctors Orders
Frank Sinatra – Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief
Michael Franks – Doctor Sax
Fleetwood Mac – Doctor Brown
Harry Connick Jr. – Doctor Jazz
Bruce Hornsby – Country Doctor
Joni Mitchell – Doctor Junk
Jackson Browne – Doctor My Eyes
Ray Charles – I Don’t Need No Doctor
Steely Dan – Doctor Wu
Bruce Springsteen – The Lady and the Doctor
The Beatles – Doctor Robert
Bee Gees – How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Flaming Lips – Prescription: Love
Peggy Lee – Fever
Leonard Cohen - Ain't No Cure for Love
Bonnie Raitt - Cure for Love
Wilco - Radio Cure
The Who - Miracle Cure
Gomez - Emergency Surgery
Simply Red - Night Nurse
Bruce Springsteen - War Nurse
Bjork - Happy Nurse
The Beatles - Take Out Some Insurance on Me Baby
The Ramones - High Risk Insurance
Again, certainly not a complete list but a head start.
Greetings Heartlanders! It's late in the morning, I have no ideas of health care songs (because you all do such a good job).
Gus, I loved Steve Martin as the dentist in The Little Shop of Horrors -- that song was a riot!
As much as I would love to have health insurance again, and as much as I love Obama -- the U.S. does not have a health care system -- it's a disease management tyranny (imho). I don't believe there are many accommodations for credible alternative health systems in the new bill. Europe has a much more advanced system and they publish many solid studies using herbs, nutrition, alternative nethods, etc., to manage and cure all manner of chronic dideases.
U.S. health care is deeply mired in quick fixes, profit-making, politics and unsustainable practices. In general, doctors are caring people who do their best under the circumstances. But the system built around them is not healthy! Sorry to be a downer this fine morning -- I stay healthy without ever seeing a doctor.
Stay well and have a great day!
Great list, Guy. Lets not forget all the Wrecks on the Highway and Disasters at Sea songs.
An afterthought-In this health care debate, we also can't forget the need for mental health treatment. I believe there are a number of songs about people needing psychological help for losing their minds or falling to pieces or going crazy.
Yep, in response to Renee's comments about mental health treatment, does anyone else remember one from the early 60s about "they're coming to take me away, ha ha..." Otherwise, you all have mentioned the ones I would have.
Theo -- I too love Little Feat, my favorite song is "Dixie Chicken" -- funkiest song I think I know...
As to favorite Little Feat song...mine is Fat Man in the Bathtub.
This AM the DC Show kept going silent every few seconds for a few seconds. Then the station changed spontaneously to 91.1 where the problem did not occur. Now at 5 PM there is no problem with Heartland. This is not the first time. What is going on and is anyone else having this problem? This is with an Insignia HD receiver.
Posted by Scott 8/3/09
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