The Lumberjack Song

The Lumberjack Song is one of the best-known and popular sketches by the Monty Python's Flying Circus comedy troupe.

Related Topics:
Sketch - Monty Python's Flying Circus - Comedy

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The sketch appeared in several forms (on the original television series, film, stage, and LP); each time the sketch started differently.

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The common theme was a man (originally Michael Palin, in later live versions Eric Idle) who expresses dissatisfaction with his current job, and then announces, "I didn't want to do this job. I wanted to be... a lumberjack!" He proceeds to wax rhapsodic about the life of a lumberjack, "Leaping from tree to tree," etc. He then rips off his shirt to reveal a red flannel shirt, walks over to a stage backed with a conifer forest, and begins to sing about the wonders of being a lumberjack. He is unexpectedly backed up by a large set of male singers, all dressed as Canadian Mounties (several were regular Monty Python performers, while the rest were members of an actual singing troupe, the Fred Tomlinson Singers).

Related Topics:
Michael Palin - Eric Idle - Lumberjack - Canadian - Mounties - Monty Python

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As the song continues, the excited lumberjack increasingly reveals cross-dressing tendencies, which confuses the Mounties until they walk off in disgust.

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In 2003, a version of the song was performed at the Concert For George tribute to George Harrison, with Palin in the lead role and Tom Hanks as one of the Mounties.

Related Topics:
2003 - Concert For George - George Harrison - Tom Hanks

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In Monty Python's Flying Circus (stage version), where the show is performed in French, the song is entitled Le Bûcheron (chanson).

Related Topics:
Monty Python's Flying Circus (stage version) - French

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The song was translated into German for Monty Pythons Fliegender Zirkus, a special made for German and Austrian television. One significant change is that the phrase "Just like my dear Papa" has been changed to "So, wie mein Onkel Walter" ("Just like my Uncle Walter"), to rhyme with "Büstenhalter", German for "bra".

Related Topics:
German - German - Austria

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When the original version of the Flying Circus got translated for German television, the lyrics of the song got a new translation. Some translated and re-translated lines:

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Ich bin Holzfäller und das ist fein

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I'm a lumberjack and that is fine

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Ich säg' nur Holz, tagaus, tagein

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I only cut wood all day and night

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Ich lauf im Wald in Stöckelschuh'n, mit Strapsen und BH (short for Büstenhalter)

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I run through the woods in high heels with suspenders and a bra

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Ich wollt' schon immer Frau sein, genau so wie Papa

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I always wanted to be a woman, exactly like papa

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As you can see, they translaters decided to use the abreviation of Büstenhalter to make the line rhyme with "papa" and did not re-use the "Uncle Walter" translation.

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A line from this song is sung in the musical Spamalot.

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The "Lumberjack Song" usually turns the previous sketch's ending into its beginning...

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Oh, sod it! I never wanted to be a weathercaster in the first place!

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I... I wanted to be...

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A LUMBERJACK!

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(piano vamp)

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Leaping from tree to tree! As they float down the mighty rivers of British Columbia!

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With my best girl by my side!

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The Larch!

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The Pine!

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The Giant Redwood tree!

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The Sequoia!

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The Little Whopping Rule Tree!

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The Great Farting Yew!

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We'd sing! Sing! Sing!

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Oh, I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay,

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I sleep all night and I work all day.

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CHORUS:

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He's a lumberjack, and he's okay,

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He sleeps all night and he works all day.

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I cut down trees, I eat my lunch,

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I go to the lavat'ry.

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On Wednesdays I go shoppin'

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And have buttered scones for tea.

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Mounties:

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He cuts down trees, he eats his lunch,

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He goes to the lavat'ry.

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On Wednesdays he goes shopping

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And has buttered scones for tea.

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CHORUS

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I cut down trees, I skip and jump,

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I like to press wild flowers.

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I put on women's clothing,

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And hang around in bars.

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Mounties:

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He cuts down trees, he skips and jumps,

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He likes to press wild flowers.

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He puts on women's clothing

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And hangs around.... in bars???????

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CHORUS

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I chop down trees, I wear high heels,

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Suspendies and a bra.

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I wish I'd been a girlie

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Just like my dear papa.

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Mounties:

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He cuts down trees, he wears high heels

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Suspendies?? and a .... a Bra????

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(spoken, with much consternation) What's this? Wants to be a *girlie*?

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CHORUS

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All: He's a lumberjack, and he's okaaaaaaayyy..... (BONG)

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At this point, the sketch would end. Sample endings are:

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Sound Cue: The Liberty Bell March, by John Phillip Sousa.

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