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Song Parodies -> "Pity of New Orleans"
Original Song Title:
"City of New Orleans"
Original Performer:
Arlo Guthrie
Parody Song Title:
"Pity of New Orleans"
Parody Written by:
Michael McVey
The Lyrics
“Pity of New Orleans” ©2021 by Michael W. McVey Parody of “City of New Orleans” ©1971 by Steve Goodman
Now I run the City of New Orleans,
Corruption Central, money on the rail!
Fifteen million, give that bill a rider,
I don’t care if Nagin’s now in jail!
‘Cause I know the southern niceties
And the rainbow’s opportunity,
I came here hankerin’ to wheel and deal!
My armored cars all have no name,
But I’ll kneel before the BLM’s
And then I’ll impound your pricey automobile!
Good morning, America, I fooled you!
You loved my daddy, but watch out for his son!
I’m the pain they call the Pity of New Orleans,
and I will take 500 bribes ‘fore the day is done!
Makin’ deals with the old men in the clubhouse,
Shave a stroke, that’s how I’m keepin’ score!
Now pass the burlap bag that holds the money
So I can hide it underneath the floor!
Now I’ll buy the local railroad
And hire engineers
Whose fathers paid me off and didn’t squeal!
Mothers want their kids to get
A Tulane college scholarship,
If they pay me, I can make the whole thing free!
Good grief, America, how could you?
You loved my daddy but didn’t know his son!
I’m the pain they call the Pity of New Orleans,
and I will take 500 bribes ‘fore the day is done!
Nighttime in the City of New Orleans,
Drinking wine at Arnaud’s, and it’s free!
Half the night, we’ll be home by morning
With a brand new deal for a yacht club by the sea!
But all the crime and protests seem
To make NOLA a scary dream,
And my mischief is broadcast on the news.
I had a rainbow Mardi Gras,
But then I made a real faux pas,
And now I’ve got the not-quite-woke-enough blues!
Good night, America, God help you!
You loved my daddy, but now you’ve seen his son!
I’m the pain they call the Pity of New Orleans,
and I will get 500 years ‘fore my term is done!
Corruption Central, money on the rail!
Fifteen million, give that bill a rider,
I don’t care if Nagin’s now in jail!
‘Cause I know the southern niceties
And the rainbow’s opportunity,
I came here hankerin’ to wheel and deal!
My armored cars all have no name,
But I’ll kneel before the BLM’s
And then I’ll impound your pricey automobile!
Good morning, America, I fooled you!
You loved my daddy, but watch out for his son!
I’m the pain they call the Pity of New Orleans,
and I will take 500 bribes ‘fore the day is done!
Makin’ deals with the old men in the clubhouse,
Shave a stroke, that’s how I’m keepin’ score!
Now pass the burlap bag that holds the money
So I can hide it underneath the floor!
Now I’ll buy the local railroad
And hire engineers
Whose fathers paid me off and didn’t squeal!
Mothers want their kids to get
A Tulane college scholarship,
If they pay me, I can make the whole thing free!
Good grief, America, how could you?
You loved my daddy but didn’t know his son!
I’m the pain they call the Pity of New Orleans,
and I will take 500 bribes ‘fore the day is done!
Nighttime in the City of New Orleans,
Drinking wine at Arnaud’s, and it’s free!
Half the night, we’ll be home by morning
With a brand new deal for a yacht club by the sea!
But all the crime and protests seem
To make NOLA a scary dream,
And my mischief is broadcast on the news.
I had a rainbow Mardi Gras,
But then I made a real faux pas,
And now I’ve got the not-quite-woke-enough blues!
Good night, America, God help you!
You loved my daddy, but now you’ve seen his son!
I’m the pain they call the Pity of New Orleans,
and I will get 500 years ‘fore my term is done!
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User Comments
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Never been there, but your parody certainly matches the reputation New Orleans has in my mind. Don't recall anyone using this OS before. John Denver did a very similar version, but I like Arlo Guthrie's better. The Simpson's episode "A Streetcar Named Marge" featured a satirical song about New Orleans. "Home of pirates, drunks and whores/Tacky overpriced souvenir stores/If you want to go to Hell you should take a trip/To that Sodom and Gomorrah on the Mississip' "
If you think New Orleans is corrupt, you should see Palm Beach.
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