Thursday 30 July 2015

Postcard to Chubby Checker: Stuck in Limbo

POST #83
PARODY-SONG
ORIGINAL SONG: "Limbo Rock", as recorded 1962 by Chubby Checker.
PARODY COMPOSED: Giorgio Coniglio, May, 2015.

KEYWORDS: goldenoldy

The name "Limbo" conjures up an intriguing mixture of Caribbean dancing and Dante's Inferno. In another posting here, part of the Inferno sequence, Dante provides us with on-site reporting which seems to eliminate it from serious consideration as a longterm retirement home. Perhaps it is more realistic to consider it an untapped tourist destination.  


POSTCARD TO CHUBBY CHECKER

(to the tune of "Limbo Rock")

Want to visit Limbo-land?
Rick Steves help vacation-plan
Limbo-folks are tourist-shy
Complicated reasons why. 
Limbo-visa hard to get - 
Seems that none been printed yet
I.T. system's way behind
Limbo-stuck in Dante's time. 

What to pack for Limbo-trip?
Don't need sunscreen - get a grip!
Limbo-weather always same
Sticky days, we're not to blame.
Limbo-neighbors turn up steam
Get so burned they moan and scream
Don't advise excursion there
If no Hazmat suit to wear. 

Limbo-talk in Limbo-land
Locals hard to understand
Few speak Eng., they all speak It.,
Antique Limbo-dialect.
LIMBO is the outermost complete circle
Limbo-customs might appeal - 
Walk feet flat with weight on heels
Limbo-nights - no moon or stars
Lean back in or under bars.

Got good staff at Limbo-Inns
They commit no Limbo-sins
New construction in bare feet
Projects never get complete.
Might not find a hotel room
Now or when you're in your tomb;
Limbo-book with kids and wife
For the Limbo-afterlife.

Rates discounted now.
Rates discounted now.
How low can they go?



Performing Notes: 

The chord pattern is the same for all verses, and is quite easy. The trick is to clinch the Caribbean rhythm with heavy beats on 2 and 4. and the English lyrics ending just before the 4th downbeat for every line. Another nice trick is to to employ the 5,4,3,3, position for the C chord, and then use downward NewYork strum for the 4 and 4.5 counts in most lines (the F9 and G7 chords can also be adapted to do this for the last few line of each verse).
Fadd9 = 0,0,1,0 (for NY strumming try 2,0,1,3).

INTRO: = chords for first 4 lines


[C] Want to visit Limbo-land?
Rick Steves [G7] help vacation-[C]-plan
Limbo-folks are tourist-shy
Compli[G7]cated reasons [C] why. 
Limbo-[F9]-visa hard to get - 
Seems that [C] none been printed [G7] yet
I.T. system's way behind
Limbo-[F9]-stuck in Dante's [C] time. 

Compare this with Ch.Ch.'s original:

[C] Every limbo boy and girl
All a[G7]round the limbo [C] world
Gonna do the limbo rock
All a[G7]round the limbo [C] clock
Jack be [F9] limbo, Jack be quick
Jack go [C] under limbo [G7] stick
All around the limbo clock
Hey, let's [F9] do the limbo [C] rock. 










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