MetaFilter posts tagged with ShelSilverstein

And the operator says Forty cents more, for the next three minutes

Sailormom — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:50:04 -0800

Sylvia's mother was a 1972 single by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show that was written by Shel Silverstein that tells the true story of Shel's girlfriend Sylvia Pandolfi Silverstein admitted that there was a real Sylvia, and he did indeed call her mother to learn the shocking truth. He even thought of pulling a Mrs. Robinson and disrupting the wedding, but he came to his senses when thinking about Sylvia's last words to him: "Shel, don't spoil it." She would never become Mrs. Sylvia Silverstein. The video is a short documentary about the song with interviews from Sylvia's mother and Sylvia Pandolfi. Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show - Sylvia's Mother Bobby Bare Sylvia's Mother Dr Hook & The Medicine Show - "Sylvia´s Mother" From Shel´s Houseboat

Now here's my post

geoff. — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:11:16 -0800

An Impolite Interview with Shel Silverstein from The Realist, August 1961. "There were some pretty horrendous experiences in the YMCA, too. Because at the time I thought this was a place where all the he-men gather. Where young Christian men gather, and you know. And it's not quite like that. It makes Sixth Avenue and 8th Street late at night look like a cub scout meeting. Q. For the Benefit of our out-of-town readers, could you be more specific? A. Faggots!" Q. I just mean that since you're on one of the lower rungs of being a public personality, do you find you make it easier with people? Not just girls. A. Absolutely. Well, girls are people - can I point that out?

The Giving Tree

the_bone — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:21:11 -0800

The Giving Tree (1973), animated short based on Shel Silverstein's 1964 children's story and narrated by the author. Once you're done crying, here are a few related links: The Giving Tree: A Symposium (a collection of thoughts on the story by some American religion scholars.) The Misgiving Tree (a parody) A couple of parody videos: "The Really, Really Giving Tree" and "The Taking Boy"

Hearing Spooky Voices

not_on_display — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:56:18 -0800

Hearing Voices [prev, prev] has a devilishly viscera-soaked Halloween broadcast: Bloody Hell: The First Half is Bloody. The Second Half We Go to Hell. So, turn the lights out, press play, and grab your favorite token of comfort. (It won't help.) The only warning I will give you is that I can't find the volume control knob, so be prepared to adjust your own set accordingly. Happy Halloween!

I Got Stoned and Missed It

Astro Zombie — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:53:19 -0800

Shel Silverstein, songwriter. "A Boy Named Sue," as performed by Johnny Cash; "One's on the Way," performed by Loretta Lynn; "The Unicorn Song" performed by the Irish Rovers. (All YouTube links) "25 Minutes to Go," performed by Johnny Cash; "Cover of the Rolling Stone," "Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball," and "Sylvia's Mother" performed by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show; "The Winner," "Tequila Sheila" and "Quaaludes Again," "Mary Laveau" performed Bobby Bare (cowritten by Baxter Taylor); "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" performed by Marianne Faithfull ; "Queen of the Silver Dollar" performed by Dave and Sugar; finally: Shel Silverstein and Johnny Cash performing "A Boy Named Sue" and performing "Bunky & Lucille" with Dr. Hook.

If You Are A Dreamer, Come In...

amyms — Tue, 01 May 2007 20:18:12 -0800

"If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer..." ShelSilverstein.com bills itself as "the Official Site for Kids" but, if you're familiar with Sheldon Allan Silverstein's ecclectic career, you don't have to be a kid to enjoy it. Shel was best known for his books and poetry, but he was also a prolific songwriter, working extensively with Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show [sorry, Tripod link]. He also wrote Johnny Cash's hit "A Boy Named Sue" and was posthumously inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2002. More songs and stories here. And his amazingly extensive Wikipedia page is here.

won't somebody please think of the children!

Paragon — Sat, 05 Feb 2005 13:48:14 -0800

Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book - along with The Gashlycrumb Tinies, Max und Moritz, and Der Struwwelpeter (previously discussed here and here) - are classics in the genre of children's books that are likely to disturb sensitive adults. Of course, Barbar isn't much better, and neither is Mickey Mouse, but at least they're not trying to conquer the human race [via Boing Boing]. What is it about corrupted innocence that's so darn funny?

'The Father of the Boy Named Sue'

dgaicun — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 08:41:16 -0800

'The Father of the Boy Named Sue' Shel Silverstein's follow-up to his Cash hit-maker, 'A Boy Named Sue', ends in terrifying innuendo.

David Mamet misses Shel Silverstein (NYT link).

adrober — Sun, 14 Oct 2001 09:53:27 -0800

David Mamet misses Shel Silverstein (NYT link). But, really, who doesn't?