MUSIC: The Trashmen "Surfin' Bird"

Back when I was a teenager in the 60's there wasn't much choice of anything. We all watched the same tv programmes and listened to the same radio programmes. One of these radio things was called Two-Way Family Favourites on BBC's Light Programme and broadcast on Sunday lunchtimes. It played pop music requested by people for their loved ones who were serving in the Forces in Germany and vice versa. The announcers were all very BBC middle class.

I was in the middle of my O-level GCE's (1964) at the time when a friend played a joke by requesting a particular record (I forget which) to be played for 'Irene' Williams but gave his own name, and that of the rest of our all-male group. I expected to get the piss taken out of me mercilessly the next day at school but oddly it was generally dismissed as a stupid joke.I say oddly, because I thought it was very funny.

Another time they played Surfin' Bird by The Trashmen. Afterwards, the middle class male announcer said, "Well, they say you get milk from a milkman," thereby dismissing one of the greatest rock 'n' roll/surf music songs ever.

I was reminded of it by the sound effects in Howard Chaykin's American Flagg (see earlier entry) of the somnambutol guns going PAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAP OOOO MOW MOW. The Trashmen were, according to AllMusic Guide, a competent rock 'n' roll/surf music group from the Midwest whose one moment of fame was Surfin' Bird and they disbanded in 1967 and that, apart from a mid-80's reunion, was that.

But it doesn't matter. Their name shall live forever and the song Surfin' Bird will will be transmitted endlessly around the universe, its profundity and eloquence appreciated by all sentient entities with the technology and ears to hear it.

Come on, sing it with me now. Everybody, all together!


SURFIN' BIRD
(Frazier - White - Harris - Wilson)
THE TRASHMEN (GARRETT 4002, 1963)

A-well-a everybody's heard about the bird
B-b-b-bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, well the bird is the word
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a don't you know about the bird?
Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a...

A-well-a everybody's heard about the bird
Bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird, bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a don't you know about the bird?
Well, everybody's talking about the bird!
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word
A-well-a bird...

Surfin' bird
Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb... [retching noises]... aaah!

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow

Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-oom-oom-oom
Oom-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-a-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow
Papa-oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow
Oom-oom-oom-oom-ooma-mow-mow
Ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow
Papa-ooma-mow-mow, ooma-mow-mow
Well don't you know about the bird?
Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!
A-well-a bird, bird, b-bird's the word

Papa-ooma-mow-mow, papa-ooma-mow-mow

(REPEAT)