The Song of the Day is “Rock Lobster” from new wave icons The B-52’s.

Fun Facts

In all likelihood, this is the only song in history that talks about narwhals. It’s certainly the only song talking about narwhals to chart in the top 100.
The song’s famous bass line was not done on a bass guitar. It was done with the Korg SB-100 Synthe-Bass.
While first recorded in 1978, the music is a throwback to the 60s surfer music sound.
No, the lyrics don’t really mean anything. The B-52’s frequently made whimsical music with word salad lyrics.
That being said, though, Fred Schneider did get the idea for the titular lobster from his vegetarian objection to cooking crustaceans.
The song contains a lot of references to the strange music and art of Yoko Ono.
“Rock Lobster” inspired John Lennon to come out of retirement and record his final album, Double Fantasy.
The band created the song together, on the fly, constantly changing the lyrics and music while they were practicing it.
That’s Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson making those fish noises.

Lyrics:

(Musixmatch)

We were at a party

His earlobe fell in the deep

Someone reached in and grabbed it

It was a rock lobster

Rock lobster

We were at the beach

Everybody had matching towels

Somebody went under a dock

And there they saw a rock

It wasn’t a rock

It was a rock lobster

Rock lobster

Motion in the ocean

His air hose broke

Lots of trouble

Lots of bubble

He was in a jam

S’in a giant clam

Rock rock

Rock lobster

Down, down

Lobster rock

Let’s rock!

Boy’s in bikinis

Girls in surfboards

Everybody’s rockin’

Everybody’s fruggin’

Twistin’ ’round the fire

Havin’ fun

Bakin’ potatoes

Bakin’ in the sun

Put on your noseguard

Put on the Lifeguard

Pass the tanning butter

Here comes a stingray

There goes a manta-ray

In walked a jelly fish

There goes a dog-fish

Chased by a cat-fish

In flew a sea robin

Watch out for that piranha

There goes a narwhal

Here comes a bikini whale!

Rock lobster

January 11, 2022

Fun Facts

Lyrics:

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