This parody of the theme to "Branded," a 1965-66 TV show that has survived in popular culture mainly because they refer to it it "The Big Lebowski." The parody was recorded at least through the 1970, though, well after the show was history:
Stranded
Stranded on a toilet bowl
Stranded
Stranded
Stranded on a toilet bowl
What do you do when you're stranded
And there ain't nothing on the roll?
To prove you're a man
You must wipe it with your hand
Stranded
Stranded on a toilet bowl!
Some variants include ending with "and lick it off!"
The song has actually been performed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who presumably grew up singing it. It was out of circulation in my day. How long did it last? Is it still out there in the wild?
Idaho Falls, Idaho mid 1960's, Longfellow Elementary School
ReplyDelete1969 - Floral Park, NY My brother singing it.
ReplyDeleteVery curious about the origins of the song. The older brother of my best friend as his peers we singing it around 1966, or earlier in West Virginia, and when I moved 500 miles away the next year I found kids singing it in North Carolina. Amazing how fast these things travel. My friend's brother was always making stuff like this up, including one called "I'm dreaming of a pink-a-polka-dotted Christmas." Further lyrics to their version of Stranded: "If you're out in the woods and you want some relief and you can't find the goods you must wipe with a leaf." - or something similar...
ReplyDeleteI recall singing this with my buddies in grade school in Dallas (around 1965-66 or so). Our lyrics were slightly different:
ReplyDeleteStranded
Stranded on the toilet bowl
What do you do when you're stranded
And you don't have a roll?
To prove you're a man
You must wipe with your hand
Stranded
Stranded stranded stranded!
I learned a variation:
ReplyDeleteStranded
Stranded
Down in the toilet bowl
What do you do when you're stranded
And you can't reach the roll
For the rest of your life you will have to be a man
And use your hand
Southern California, late 60's
In the mid-80's I saw reruns of the TV show and was absolutely shocked. I had no idea the song I learned as a kid was based on a TV theme!
This was sung in Texas in the mid sixties. I know because I sang it.
ReplyDeleteThis was set to the theme of "Branded", the short lived western with Chuck Connors, following the wildly successful "Rifleman" series.
ReplyDeleteThe actual schoolyard lyrics are:
Stranded
Stranded on the toilet bowl
What do you do when you're stranded, and you can't reach the roll?
To prove you're a man you must wipe it with your hand
To be freeeee (carry the e)
from the bowl, the bowl, the bowl (each getting more silent)
STRANDED!!! (sharp and loud)
whip sound
Cheers
some kids replaced "reach" with "find the roll"
DeleteHeh, we sang that this one for years, along with the Beverly Hillbillies "Ellie May" parody.
Bucks County, PA around the late 70's early 80s my dad sang it to us.
ReplyDeleteStranded....... stranded on the toilet bowl what do you do when your stranded and you don't have a roll?
If your a man you will wipe it with your hand
If you are young you will wipe it with your tongue
Stranded....... stranded on the toilet bowl
what do you do when your stranded and you don't have a roll?
Bucks County, PA around the late 70's early 80s my dad sang it to us.
ReplyDeleteStranded....... stranded on the toilet bowl what do you do when your stranded and you don't have a roll?
If your a man you will wipe it with your hand
If you are young you will wipe it with your tongue
Stranded....... stranded on the toilet bowl
what do you do when your stranded and you don't have a roll?
Massachusetts. Mid 60's. There were several verses that changed the line about proving you're a man, ie...
ReplyDeleteTo prove you're a boy, you must wipe it with a toy
To prove you're a lady, you must wipe it with your baby
To prove you're a girl, you must wipe it with your curl,
etc.
Northeast NJ - 1960s
ReplyDeleteStranded
Sitting on the toilet bowl
What do you do when your stranded
And you ain't got a roll
To prove you're man you must wipe it with your hand
North Texas - 1990's
ReplyDeleteStranded, stick on the toilet bowl.
What do you do when you're stranded,
And you can't find a role?
You must prove you're a man,
So you wipe with you're hand,
When you're stranded!
My cousins and I were taught this song by our parents, who presumably learned it in the 60's
Stranded
ReplyDeleteStranded on the toilet bowl
What do you do when you're stranded, and you can't reach the roll?
Wherever you go for the rest of your life you must wipe with your hand
Western Oregon, mid 1960s.