Boney Maroney--In case you ever wondered

by **DivaDiana77** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 3:11 am

Boney Maroney is a rock standard by Larry Williams which has been covered by a lot of people. It's a song about a girl named Boney Maroney. The spelling has changed around.

A partial list is here:

http://www.secondhandsongs.com/performance/69136

The list includes Ritchie Valens and many more. It's curious that Mac would then sing about Boney Maroney being a guy when the original was about a girl.

by **Frank The Bunny** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:55 am

Thank you DivaPedia, but...

It's not 'curious' at all... listen to the lyrics. Boney Maroney was one of those songs that had a dance that went with it (as mentioned in Wilson Pickett's "Land of 1000 Dances".

"You cut off my hands when I wanted to twist
If you know how to dance to boney maroney
He's doing the ballet on both of his wrists"

the above also talks about The Twist and Ballet.

He was not singing about a person. He was singing about the song and the dance that went with it.

SO.. everybody (including Scooby-Doo and the gang) can rest easy. This "mystery" has been solved.

by **Mr. Brian** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:32 am

Again I think people assign way too much meaning to rock lyrics. Sometimes words and phrases just sound good to the author. I always thought Mac was good at taking words and changing the diction or pronunciation to fit in with the song or sometimes just stuttering the word.

by **Frank The Bunny** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:37 am

Mr. Brian wrote:Again I think people assign way too much meaning to rock lyrics. Sometimes words and phrases just sound good to the author. I always thought Mac was good at taking words and changing the diction or pronunciation to fit in with the song or sometimes just stuttering the word.

Agreed.

by **In The Margins** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:43 am

For me, he played with the sounds of the words rather than the meanings.

He still does to an extent, but not like the early days.

by **Frank The Bunny** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:47 am

In The Margins wrote:For me, he played with the sounds of the words rather than the meanings.

He still does to an extent, but not like the early days.

"Lorraine, what rhymes with do-do-do, la-la-la? Oh, right. Lorraine kicked me out and I'm sleeping behind the Tesco. What rhymes with 'Tesco'?"

by **Voodoo Billy** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:48 am

Surely Mac's reference to Boney Moroney comes from Patti Smith's "Horses", Smith and that album in particular being a major influence on the punk and post-punk scene in Liverpool.

by **fat cherry** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:24 am

more likely to be his less well known fascination with Showaddywaddy, who covered it on their first album (or so i have been told).

by **fat cherry** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:26 am

Frank The Bunny wrote:".... I'm sleeping behind the Tesco. What rhymes with 'Tesco'?"

derrrrrr. lily allen knows that. he'd never get away with lifting one of her lyrics or her dad would come round and beat him up - and then they'd go down the groucho club and drink for days on end before old keith would start showing everybody his nob.

by **DivaDiana77** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:23 pm

Frank The Bunny wrote:Thank you DivaPedia, but...

It's not 'curious' at all... listen to the lyrics. Boney Maroney was one of those songs that had a dance that went with it (as mentioned in Wilson Pickett's "Land of 1000 Dances".

"You cut off my hands when I wanted to twist
If you know how to dance to boney maroney
He's doing the ballet on both of his wrists"

the above also talks about The Twist and Ballet.

He was not singing about a person. He was singing about the song and the dance that went with it.

SO.. everybody (including Scooby-Doo and the gang) can rest easy. This "mystery" has been solved.

Thank you Frankepedia. I did not know that, and I was curious. I didn't ever hear dance "to" I heard dance "like" and then "he's". I thought Boney Maroney had something to do with sea chanteys but then discovered it's a rock standard. It was at least interesting that so many people covered it because I don't think I have ever heard it.

by **DivaDiana77** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:27 pm

Mr. Brian wrote:Again I think people assign way too much meaning to rock lyrics. Sometimes words and phrases just sound good to the author. I always thought Mac was good at taking words and changing the diction or pronunciation to fit in with the song or sometimes just stuttering the word.

c-c-c-cucumber
I really like A Promise because the meaning changes with just a few words being different.

by **tonywojo** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:08 pm

Mr. Brian wrote:Again I think people assign way too much meaning to rock lyrics. Sometimes words and phrases just sound good to the author. I always thought Mac was good at taking words and changing the diction or pronunciation to fit in with the song or sometimes just stuttering the word.

u got it boss

by **tonywojo** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:10 pm

Frank The Bunny wrote:"Lorraine, what rhymes with do-do-do, la-la-la? Oh, right. Lorraine kicked me out and I'm sleeping behind the Tesco. What rhymes with 'Tesco'?"

al fresco
san francisco
pesto

by **DivaDiana77** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 6:40 pm

tonywojo wrote:al fresco
san francisco
pesto

She hit me with a desk--oh!
What a pest---oh!
Surely you jest-ooooooh!
So distressed--oooooooh!

Oh, baby, etc--the all purpose filler words of rock.

by **Voodoo Billy** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 5:17 am

If you've still got receipts for your classical training I'd try for a refund.

Boney Maroney--In case you ever wondered

Boney Maroney--In case you ever wondered

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