Adrian Song of the Week 1- Wurpelwurzelpunkerldink.
I have decided that during 2022 I would share a song or piece of music on a weekly-ish schedule and a little bit of the story behind it. Really appreciate those who take the time to listen!
Wurpelwurzelpunkerldink was one of the first songs I ever wrote. I had a guitar called 'Eric' and eventually managed to master playing the chords G, C and D after each other. While practicing I started making up a story loosely based on many of the cowboy films I used to see at the matinees at the local "Flea-Pit" Cinema or watch on TV. Cowboys, Phony doctors peddling miracle cures, bank robberies, sheriff's and lynchings all featured in good measure in those B movie classics.
I had a fascination as a kid for making up words. Not sure where that came from, but maybe I was trying to create my own crazy reality. The medicinal compound after which the song is named became 'Wurpelwurzelpunkerldink.'
I justified playing it at gospel events because it was a moral tale in which the perpetrators of a scam eventually faced justice. That was really stretching it! It is really just a silly story created by a teenager trying to master his first few guitar chords and beginning a songwriting journey that as an old guy he is still traveling.
The link is to a page on Soundclick.
Wurpelwurzelpunkerldink
Adrian J Pratt 1972 ish
Well, it all started in a grocery store,
About half a mile from Arkansas,
Big George he was a thinking' he ain't doin' to well,
So he thought up a new kind of product to sell.
He made up a remedy to cure rheumatic pains
Cure chicken pox, measles, and chilblains.
All he had to do, was think up a name,
To attract customers into his new found game.
So he chunnered, and he muttered,
And He chuckled, stammered, and stuttered,
And said, "Now I've had a think,
I'll call this brand new product 'Wurpelwurzelpunkerldink'"
Later in the day, he was out on his way,
His friend Tex Norman had something to say,
He said "Hey buddy can I come in with you?
'Cos I think there'll be a lot of money you'll be coming to".
Now Big George he wasn't the most learned of scholars,
He know no math's, like counting up of dollars.
So he let Tex Norman become his partner,
And looked up to him just like he was his father.
Tex meanwhile was an evil child,
Their fortunes were soon made,
But they wanted even more of' it,
And they formed a sort of syndicate.
They robbed a few banks, and did other silly pranks,
And Killed a few people here and there,
Till after a few years, they were morally in arrears,
But had lots more money to spend.
Now The sheriff didn't seem to appreciate this much
He said "If I catch them, I'll string them up",
But Big George and his friend Tex,
They didn't want any rope around their necks.
So they decided to make a break while the going was good,
They shot the sheriff 'cos they thought they should,
This didn't place them in the rosiest of light,
So they headed for the border on the stroke of midnight.
As fortune had it, they had run out of luck,
Tex's horse collapsed, and George's horse was sick.
Some men from the government were on their trail,
So their plans were destined to fail.
The good men finally got in the baddies hair,
Our heroes got sentenced to the electric chair,
The death is going to be in the village square,
So everybody can see them there.
At approximately half past seven,
Tex and George floated up to heaven.
Pity for them they didn't do to well,
And floated back down again to hell.
The devil set them down, and gave them a drink,
Of a bubbling mixture with a pungent stink,
They said, "Hey devil, What is this thing?"
He said "It's Wurpelwurzelpunkerldink"