Roger Miller's out of date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).