Thursday, October 16, 2008

Roger Miller's out of date

Roger Miller can challenge Randy Newman for the title of Greatest American Composer, but some of his stuff doesn't age that well.

On Thursday afternoon I had my picture taken, and the photographer was taking so long that we were joking that he had to change the film.

This reminded me of a line from the Roger Miller song "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd":

You can't change film with a kid on your back

Of course, Miller's most famous song is a little dated in some spots:

Trailer for sale or rent
Rooms to let fifty cents
No phone no pool no pets
I ain't got no cigarettes
Ah but, two hours of pushing broom
Buys a eight by twelve four bit room...


Heck, you can't even get a room for fifty cents an HOUR any more.

I couldn't find a YouTube video of Miller singing the song, but here's a performance by the BCBband.



The same band has a video of "King of the Road." Admire their enthusiasm. And remember that Johnny Cash couldn't sing either, but we didn't care.



But it doesn't compare to this (warning: singer not wearing actual theatre costume).

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