This one really pushed me to keep it brief. I ♥ few things more than quality nonsense. posted by JHarris at 10:57 PM on December 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
Here are the lyrics, if you want to sing along.
(Chorus) Ying tong ying tong Ying tong ying tong Ying tong
iddle I po, Ying tong ying tong Ying tong ying
tong (bluebottle drops behind) Ying tong iddle I po
There's some other stuff, but then a refrain:
Ying tong ying tong Ying tong iddle I po (lad) Iddle I po (lad)
Ying tong ying tong Ying tong (Sprigs: iddle)
(Bluebottle: ying tong) Ying tong iddle I po Ying tong ying tong iddle
A brief exchange, then
Oh! Ying tong ying tong Ying tong ying tong Ying tong iddle I po
Ying tong ying tong Ying tong iddle I po Iddle I po!
This goes on for a while, but it ends magnificently with
Ying tong ying tong Ying tong
ying tong Ying tong iddle I po Ying tong ying tong
Ying tong iddle I po Iddle I po. Ying tong ying tong Ying tong ying
tong Ying tong iddle I po Ying tong ying tong Ying tong
iddle I po Iddle I po.
The Q5 piano song (the link marked with "my favorite") is very catchy, btw. Beware! posted by JHarris at 1:40 AM on December 5, 2011
Thank you JHarris, have this photograph of a favourite posted by mattoxic at 2:45 AM on December 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is probably the right point to post The Goon Show's classic "What Time Is It, Eccles" sketch (from "The Mysterious Punch Up The Conker"). Spike Miliigan being incredibly silly, metaphysical, questioning, and riffing with Peter Sellers. ++ posted by ewan at 3:16 AM on December 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Ying Tong Song was an anthem in our house for years, and demonstrated the huge gap between that of my Dad and I, and that of mt mother, who disappear muttering when we sang along.
I had the privilege of seeing Spike live in concert, and fell about giggling uncontrollably when he performed the "Deary-Me" sketch, which just consists of the words repeated over and over. You had to be there. posted by arzakh at 4:29 AM on December 5, 2011
I only discovered who Spike Milligan was about a couple of years ago, back during the last MeFi Goon Show post. He's becoming almost a personal hero now. posted by JHarris at 4:57 AM on December 5, 2011
Sorry, can't watch all these. I'm busy practicing walking backwards. Y'know, for Christmas. posted by benito.strauss at 7:08 AM on December 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
You guys, you HAVE to read Spike Milligan's War Diaries. I read them and laughed myself almost to unconsciousness, and pushed them on my husband with the zeal of a newly converted vegan. He resisted me for years because of his inherent contrariness, but when he finally DID start to read them, he came at me about fifteen pages in and said "OK! You were totally right! These are the funniest fucking books I've ever read!"
One of our friends came over and found him on the couch, convulsed in silent laughter, tears running down his face. In an attempt to explain, he said "It's this book. It's about WWII. It's a comedy!" and then fell apart again. posted by KathrynT at 10:37 AM on December 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have to point to the story about how Milligan met Harry Secombe (second paragraph). I'm getting the war diaries and hoping the they contain more like this.
posted by benito.strauss at 8:05 PM on December 5
Oh God, do they ever. And many even funnier. The war diaries are just... look, just get them and read them in order. Don't do so in public unless you don't embarrass easily. posted by Decani at 11:30 AM on December 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by JHarris at 10:57 PM on December 4, 2011 [3 favorites]