Music Blog

Weird Al Wednesday – 4.9.25

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Hey! Welcome back to Weird Al Wednesday
featuring the comedic genius of Al Yankovic.
“Say, Al! Your Bob Dylan impersonation is
so darn good, I heard Dylan really liked it
a lot. Can you show us his reaction after
watching your parody of his song?”

© tenor.com

The #1 rule of parody is that you have to be able to perfectly duplicate your subject. Just as The Onion wouldn’t work if its writers didn’t know how to write Associated Press copy, Weird Al’s music wouldn’t work if he and his band were incapable of mastering the sound of just about any song imaginable. In this pastiche of Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues”, Al riffs on Dylan’s frequently cryptic lyrics by singing only in palindromes. Did you catch that, my wondrous weirdos? Al’s entire parody is sung in palindromes! I tell you, the man is one clever dude! Today’s video is a spot on homage, complete with Allen Ginsberg and the other guy chatting in the background.


First up is “Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Bob Dylan


LYRICS

Johnny′s in the basement mixin’ up the medicine
I′m on the pavement, thinkin’ about the government
The man in the trench coat, badge out, laid off
Says he’s got a bad cough, wants to get it paid off
Look out, kid, it′s somethin′ you did
God knows when, but you’re doin′ it again
You better duck down the alleyway, lookin’ for a new friend
The man in the coon-skin cap in the big pen
Wants 11 dollar bills, you only got ten

Maggie comes fleet foot, face full of black soot
Talkin′ that the heat put plants in the bed book
The phone’s tapped anyway, Maggie says, “The man, he say
They must bust in early May, orders from the D.A.”
Look out, kid, don′t matter what you did
Walk on your tip toes, don’t tie no bows
Better stay away from those that carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose, watch the plainclothes
You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows

Oh, get sick, get well, hang around an ink well
Hang bail, hard to tell if anything is goin′ to sell
Try hard, get barred, get back, write braille
Get jailed, jump bail, join the army if you fail
Look out, kid, you′re gonna get hit
By losers, cheaters, six-time users
Hangin’ ′round the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool’s lookin′ for a new fool
Don’t follow leaders, watch the parkin′ meters

Ah, get born, keep warm, short pants, romance
Learn to dance, get dressed, get blessed, try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy gifts, don’t steal, don’t lift
20 years of schoolin′ and they put you on the day shift
Look out, kid, they keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole, light yourself a candle
Don′t wear sandals, try to avoid the scandals
Don’t want to be a bum, you better chew gum
The pump don′t work ’cause the vandals took the handles

Source: Musixmatch
Writer(s): Bob Dylan

And now this is “Bob” by Weird Al


LYRICS

I, man, am Regal, a German am I
Never odd or even
If I had a Hi-Fi
Madam, I’m Adam
Too hot to hoot
No lemons, no melon
Too bad I hid a boot
Lisa Bonet ate no basil
Warsaw was raw
Was it a car or a cat I saw?

Rise to vote, sir
Do geese see God?
Do nine men interpret? Nine men I nod
Rats live on no evil star
Won’t lovers revolt now?
Race fast safe car
Pa’s a sap
Ma is as selfless as I am
May a moody baby doom a yam

Ah Satan sees Natasha
No devil lived on
Lonely Tylenol
Not a banana baton
No X in Nixon
O stone, be not so
O Geronimo, no minor ego
“Naomi” I moan
A Toyota’s a Toyota
A dog, a panic, in a pagoda

Oh no, Don Ho
Nurse, I spy gypsies, run!
Senile felines
Now I see bees, I won
UFO tofu
We panic in a pew
Oozy rat in a sanitary zoo
God, a red nugget, a fat egg under a dog
Go hang a salami, I’m a lasagna hog

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Al Yankovic

Now that’s what I call brilliant!

Thank you, my wildly wacky weirdos, for joining me each week for more Weird Al Wednesday weirdness. I haven’t had this much fun since last Wednesday! Join me next week and I’ll be sure to save you a seat!

And remember what I like to say …. clever is sexy! Did anyone even notice I changed that line this week? Just checking to see who’s reading all the way through!

That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2025

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section, et. al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

39 thoughts on “Weird Al Wednesday – 4.9.25”

  1. Palindromes – I had to look that up! Well, conveniently, I can always excuse my ignorance by pointing out I’m not a native English speaker. 😂

    On a more serious note, holy cow! Not only did Weird Al a great job channeling Dylan, but his use of palindromes (now that I know that word, I’m going to use it!😂) in the lyrics really puts this rendition to a different level. Also, kudos to Dylan for evidently having a good sense of humor.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. This is so far my favorite Weird Al parody. It may not be his funniest in terms of belly laughs, but it is his most ingenious, clever and lyrically mind-blowing! How he was able to come up with all those palindromes is a mystery to me. What a brain this man has! Combined with his talent and sense of humor, it’s an epic video. You mentioned Dylan having a good sense of humor, which he does. I don’t know his reaction to Al’s video but all the parodies Al does are cleared first with the original artist and only one or two preferred he not do a parody of their song. Most artists feel ‘honored’, saying ‘you know you’ve made it when Weird Al parodies your song’!

      Thanks for a great comment, Christian.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Thanks, Nancy, I also read Al clears all of his parodies with the corresponding artists of the originals – in a litigation-happy world he has to! I understand some denied his requests, which I find a bit silly. Weird Al always puts a lot of efforts in his parodies, so I don’t think you can accuse him of being sloppy. Plus, just have a good sense of humor!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. Yep, I agree completely. There was some sort of dust-up with Coolio about ‘Amish Paradise’ but it got straightened out and Al went ahead with the parody. Al has said in interviews if any artists tell him ‘no’, that’s it; he respects their wishes and won’t do the parody. That’s the way all business should be run.

          Appreciate your comments, Christian.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

    1. So glad you picked up on that reference to The Onion, Michele! I’m very grateful to readers such as yourself who appreciate the creative genius and wit of Weird Al. It’s a joy for me to share these videos every Wednesday. They are incredible fun! Thank you, my dear friend, for making this so worthwhile and such a pleasure. 🥰🎶🖤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Oh yes, The Onion… I once had to explain to a new teacher that that was in fact satire, not factual. 🤯👍🏻 I knew very little about Weird Al prior to your shares and definitely had no idea he has produced so much! 🤯 😂

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. Hahaha! I had a similar experience with the Onion! 🤦🏼‍♀️
          I told another reader who wasn’t very familiar with Weird Al that many people think he packed it in after releasing a couple of videos. Well, they’re wrong as he’s still performing to sold out venues and writing new material. He’s the best and loves what he does … and it shows. I’m amazed by him every week. Thank you for this terrific comment, Michele. I’m delighted to know you’re embracing the weirdness! 😂☺️🥳

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

    1. You know, Tiffany, I think most people believe Al made a handful of parodies and then quit. He’s still writing, recording and performing and has more parodies in his catalog than you or I could even begin to imagine. It’s mind-blowing how much he’s done and he’s always surprising me!

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