Kramer

A Lyrical Oktoberfest

Syracuse finally receives its own Oktoberfest melodies

We’re squarely in the middle of Oktoberfest (Sept 19-24), and I know what you’re thinking: Why are there no clever parodies of popular Oktoberfest drinking songs that celebrate Central New York? Problem solved. Due to the importance of the topic, I actually did some research for a change, and I discovered that many of the most popular Oktoberfest songs originated not in Germany but in the United States, Great Britain and elsewhere. Switzerland, for example, bears responsibility for the distressingly enduring “Chicken Dance,” first known as Der Ententanz or  “Dance of the Officially Neutral Mallard That Shelters Assets Stolen in Wartime.” On that note, it’s time to hoist an enormous stein of your favorite pilsner or doppelbock, and burst into song:  

“Sweet Caroheim”

Where it began, I can’t begin to knowin’ But all that I knew was it was wrong. Was in the spring And spring became the summer Who’d have believed they’d be so long? Veins, touchin’ veins Unsightly veins, touchin’ me, touchin’ youuuu… Locastro Vein Center! Good times never seemed so good (So good! So good!) IIIII’ve been inclined To believe they never would But now I … … look on TV And it don’t seem so lonely Juli B. says I’m not alone. And when they spread, Veins creepin’ ‘round my great gams, That’s when I turn to Locastro … Laser, cauterizing laser Reachin’ out, cauterizing me, cauterizing youuuu … Locastro Vein Center! Endovenous laser therapy never felt so good (So good! So good!) …  

“The Roadkill (a.k.a. Chicken) Dance” 

I don’t wanna hit a turkey I don’t wanna hit a buck So I crash my truck (clap, clap, clap, clap) (repeat four times)  

“Play! Baby”

Hey, hey baby (Ooo! Gross!) I wanna know if you’ll play my amphitheater Hey, hey baby (Ooo! Gross!) I wanna know if you’ll play my amphitheater When I saw you rockin’ Darien Lake I said that’s the kind of band that the ’Cuse should take You sound pretty, you sound fine, built you a venue on the taxpayers’ dime. Hey, hey baby (Ooo! Gross!) I wanna know if you’ll play my amphitheater. Then you took a different tack, you bypassed me for the freakin’ SPAC Come on, baby, don’t be a hater. Try my toxic amphitheater Hey, hey baby (Ooo! Gross!) I wanna know if you’ll play my amphitheater. (repeat 10,000 times)  

“Take the Dome, To Rock Cut Road”

Not quite Heaven, why we here? Cans of Blue Light, urination troughs Roof is old there, older than the trees And when it’s hot out, there’s no AC Take the Dome, to Rock Cut Road To the dump where it belongs What’d it win ya? Doubts ’n drama Take the dome, to Rock Cut Road All my hemorrhoids, painful throbbing features They’re exacerbated by those hard metal bleachers Dark and dreary, you can’t see the sky No beer after halftime, teardrops in my eyes Take the Dome, to Rock Cut Road To the dump where it belongs What’d it win ya? Doubts ’n drama Take the dome, to Rock Cut Road I hear his voice but I can’t make out the words he says PA sounds like breathin’ in a bag — far away. And walkin’ up the hill, I get a certain feeling That I should’ve been dead yesterday, yesterdaaayyyy Take the Dome, to Rock Cut Road To the dump where it belongs. What’d it win ya? Doubts ’n drama Take the Dome, to Rock Cut Road.  

“I Will (Barely) Survive”

At first I was afraid I was petrified Kept thinking pavement on the towpath Might leave my old knees fried But then I spent so many nights thinking gravel did me wrong And I grew strong Nothing rhymes here — how ’bout “bong’? And so it is. Thanks to the state They just walked right into town And decided five miles of fate. They should have met with everyone There should have been reports and talk About the nature of the surface, on which we bike and walk Go on now go, walk out the door just finish up the job ’cause you’re not welcome anymore. Weren’t you the jerks who tried to take down 81? Did you think it’d crumble, You think that superstructure’s done? Oh no, not I, I will survive Oh as long as Dr. Scholl’s exists, I know I will stay alive I’ve got all my life to live I’ve got all my joints to give and I’ll survive Or I’ll just drive Or I’ll just drive! [fbcomments url="" width="100%" count="on"]
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