Weird Al Wednesday – 2.19.25

Hey! Welcome back to Weird Al Wednesday
featuring the comedic genius of Al Yankovic.
Hey, Al. What do you have to say to all those
people who said Coolio never approved this parody?

Although this is one of Al’s best videos, the song sparked a minor beef with Coolio when Al thought he had permission to parody “Gangsta’s Paradise”  (which itself sampled Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise”) when Coolio never actually approved.

It was backstage at the Grammy Awards that the dispute first manifested itself. When asked by a reporter as to whether or not he’d heard Al Yankovic’s parody, Coolio confirmed that he had, but did not approve, saying:

“I ain’t with that…I think that my song was too serious…I really…don’t appreciate him desecrating the song like that…his record company asked for my permission, and I said no. But they did it anyway…”

A few days later, a befuddled Al attempted to diffuse the spat by issuing a formal explanation of his position via email:

“…two separate people from my label told me that they had personally talked to Coolio…and that he told them that he was okay with the whole parody idea…Halfway into production, my record label told me that Coolio’s management had a problem with the parody, even though Coolio personally was okay with it. My label told me…they would iron things out so I proceeded with the recording and finished the album.”

Cooler heads seemingly prevailed and they have since patched things up.

Florence Henderson replaces Michelle Pfeiffer from the original video and an Amish Al replaces singer L.V. during his sweat-soaked profile shots.

This is “Gangsta’s Paradise”  by Coolio (Featuring L.V.)

LYRICS

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there’s nothin’ left
‘Cause I’ve been blastin’ and laughin’ so long that
Even my momma thinks that my mind is gone

But I ain’t never crossed a man that didn’t deserve it
Me be treated like a punk, you know that’s unheard of
You better watch how you talkin’ and where you walkin’
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk

I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc
As they croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke
Fool, I’m the kinda G the little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night, sayin’ prayers in the streetlight

Been spendin’ most their lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise
Been spendin’ most their lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise
Keep spendin’ most our lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise
Keep spendin’ most our lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise

Look at the situation they got me facing
I can’t live a normal life, I was raised by the street
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Too much television watchin’, got me chasing dreams

I’m a educated fool with money on my mind
Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I’m a loc’d out gangsta, set trippin’ banger
And my homies is down, so don’t arouse my anger

Fool, death ain’t nothin’ but a heart beat away
I’m livin’ life do or die, what can I say?
I’m 23 now but will I live to see 24?
The way things is going I don’t know

Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?

Been spendin’ most their lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise
Been spendin’ most their lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise
Keep spendin’ most our lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise
Keep spendin’ most our lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise

Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody’s runnin’, but half of them ain’t lookin’
It’s going on in the kitchen, but I don’t know what’s cookin’

They say I gotta learn, but nobody’s here to teach me
If they can’t understand it, how can they reach me?
I guess they can’t, I guess they won’t
I guess they front, that’s why I know my life is out of luck, fool

Been spendin’ most their lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise
Been spendin’ most their lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise
Keep spendin’ most our lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise
Keep spendin’ most our lives
Livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise

Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Douglas B. Rasheed/Stevie Wonder/ Larry James Sanders/Artis L. Jr. Ivey
Gangsta’s Paradise lyrics © Wb Music Corp., Large Variety Music, Boo Daddy Publishing, Black Bull Music, Madcastle Muzic, Songs Of Polygram Int., Inc., Jobete Music Co Inc

This is “Amish Paradise” by Weird Al

LYRICS

As I walk through the valley where I harvest my grain
I take a look at my wife and realize she’s very plain
But that’s just perfect for an Amish like me
You know, I shun fancy things like electricity
At 4:30 in the morning, I’m milkin’ cows
Jebediah feeds the chickens and Jacob plows, fool

And I’ve been milkin’ and plowin’ so long that
Even Ezekiel thinks that my mind is gone
I’m a man of the land, I’m into discipline
Got a Bible in my hand and a beard on my chin
But if I finish all of my chores, and you finish thine
Then tonight, we’re gonna party like it’s 1699

We been spending most our lives
Livin’ in an Amish paradise
I churned butter once or twice
Livin’ in an Amish paradise
It’s hard work and sacrifice
Livin’ in an Amish paradise
We sell quilts at discount price
Livin’ in an Amish paradise

A local boy kicked me in the butt last week
I just smiled at him and I turned the other cheek
I really don’t care, in fact I wish him well
‘Cause I’ll be laughing my head off when he’s burning in Hell
But I ain’t never punched a tourist even if he deserved it
An Amish with a ‘tude?
You know that’s unheard of

I never wear buttons but I got a cool hat
And my homies agree I really look good in black, fool
If you come to visit, you’ll be bored to tears
We haven’t even paid the phone bill in 300 years
But we ain’t really quaint, so please don’t point and stare
We’re just technologically impaired

There’s no phone, no lights, no motorcar
Not a single luxury
Like Robinson Crusoe
It’s as primitive as can be

We been spending most our lives
Livin’ in an Amish paradise
We’re just plain and simple guys
Livin’ in an Amish paradise
There’s no time for sin and vice
Livin’ in an Amish paradise
We don’t fight, we all play nice
Livin’ in an Amish paradise

Hitchin’ up the buggy, churnin’ lots of butter
Raised a barn on Monday, soon I’ll raise another
Think you’re really righteous?
Think you’re pure in heart?
Well, I know I’m a million times as humble as thou art
I’m the pious guy the little Amlettes wanna be like
On my knees day and night, scorin’ points for the afterlife
So don’t be vain and don’t be whiny
Or else, my brother, I might have to get medieval on your heinie

We been spending most our lives
Livin’ in an Amish paradise
We’re all crazy Mennonites
Livin’ in an Amish paradise
There’s no cops or traffic lights
Livin’ in an Amish paradise
But you’d probably think it bites
Livin’ in an Amish paradise

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Douglas B. Rasheed/Stevie Wonder/Larry James Sanders/Artis L. Jr. Ivey
Amish Paradise lyrics © Wb Music Corp., Large Variety Music, Boo Daddy Publishing, Black Bull Music, Madcastle Muzic, Songs Of Polygram Int., Inc., Jobete Music Co Inc

Thanks to you, my faithful fellow Weirdos, for coming back each Wednesday; everyone else has no idea what they’re missing! Hope to see you next week when we can embrace the weirdness.

And remember ….. it’s good to have a laugh!

And that’s all she wrote. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2025

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, Nancy ~ The Writer Formerly Known As The Sicilian Storyteller, Nancy ~ The Sicilian Storyteller, Nancy (The Sicilian Storyteller), The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, and The Rhythm Section, and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.