Okie from Muskogee

Happy birthday Merle Haggard, 73 today.

The first time I remember hearing this tune was at an Otago University capping conert but it wasn’t with these words. Jon Gadsby had changed the lyrics to I’m proud to be a scourer from Mataura. (You may have to be a South Islander to get scourer to rhyme with Mataura).

Proud to be a scourer from Mataura

Today was Merle Haggard’s birthday,which would have passed me by had I not heard it mentioned on Breakfast  followed by the name of one of his songs, I’m Proud To Be An Okie from Muskogee.

That took me back to an Otago University capping show in 1970-something (five, six or seven?) when Jon Gadsby parodied it with I’m Proud To Be A Scourer from Mataura.

It’s probably fortunate that the rest of the lyrics are lost in the mists of time.

The ex parrot

The scene: Dunedin’s Regent Theatre.

The event: University of Otago Capping Show.

The date: Definitely May and either 1975, 76 or 77.

The cast: Jon Gadbsy and someone else whose name escapes me.

The skit: Monty Python’s dead parrot.

Tha parrot hasn’t come back to life, but the skit has been revived because as Keeping Stock points out if you substitute Foreign Minister for parrot  and Norway lobster for Norwegian Blue it takes on a whole new meaning.

You can watch it here.