Guys jeered the ancient parodist
Who sneered then to each man
“As long as my tankard goes down
I’ll go on as I’ve planned.”

The beer was getting him wickedly high
He was drinking a lot down
“Jeer not, jeer not, my brethren pests
And leave me to expound.”

Alone, alone, all alone
Alone is where he would be
To taint the tune “Pretty Woman”
In doleful parody

Of navy men so beautiful
And one so caught the eye
He and the admiral had a fling
In one bunk they did lie

This tune, too, began “pretty”
But soon it went astray
The word “woman” had been unchecked
And “ensign” put in play

Who walked in a most peculiar way
Ensign swiveling his tush
The wicked quipster man had made
Him substitute for bush

The joke was the first one of those
Of Roy O.’s that he would treat
He returned, they would see, to the tale by the guy
Who wrote the tome of men ’neath the sky
Who fish, but not to eat

They seek the beast that is not slim
And will not pass away
They look for the dreaded Moby
His title went this way

“Only the Moby,” how it gelled
Though not exactly wry
Was it, but to the next he’d scat
More parody to ply
Some might be better, but some worse
Ms. Gentry next he’d try

’67, her ratings high
With a song she did write
And sing; we don’t know what’s up
And can’t tell black from white

“Ode to Billy Joe” is its name
Perhaps about a dead
Baby a couple threw away
Off a bridge—we can’t surely say
He’d turn it on its head

Although ’twas still about a bridge
’twas one where captain makes
Decisions in the sea or bight
While sailing in the day or night
And if there are mistakes?

That can mean deep shit for the ship
Beyond the captain’s ire
And so he took off on this tack
“Eau de Bilge Below” was the wack
Title that he did sire

New drafts he need for his tongue
Ere he drafted more fare
He grabbed a beer before he’d start
Another, and then declared
“Prior to my penning more parody
I’ll swill more than my share!”

That selfsame moment, he would say
On deck above the sea
Next off he’d toss a lot and thank
Mellow fellows S&G