ADD: Down on the Funny Farm (Singing Kettle)

Subject: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 11 Dec 06 - 07:59 AM

Looking for lyrics to a song called "Funny Farm" by the Scottish group Singing Kettle.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: GUEST,Julia in Northumberland
Date: 11 Dec 06 - 08:33 AM

Why not try: www.singingkettle.com

They're a friendly lot.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: GUEST,Geoff the Duck
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 05:14 AM

The Singing Kettle is a long running Scottish TV Childrens show. I am not aware of it ever being shown in England, but picked up a video when the Ducklings were about 4 years old and we all enjoyed watching.
The people behind it are Cilla and Artie Trezise who used to do the Folk club circuit. I recall seeing them at the Topic FC in Bradford in the 1970s.
Cilla was originally Cilla Fisher and other family members were also well known names.
From the singing kettle website:-
Cilla grew up in a musical family (her brother Archie and sister Ray were among the first professional folk singers in Scotland). She appeared in her first BBC radio show at the age of nine and sang on a family recording soon after.

Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: karen k
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 06:11 AM

Roger,
The song Down on the Funny Farm is on the CD Greatest Hits Volume 3. Go to their website to check it out. Camsco can probably get it. There are no lyrics to any song on the website that I could find. Cilla and Artie are long time friends. Great folks.

Hello to Marge,
karen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: Jeanie
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 07:25 AM

I'm glad you've been pointed in the right direction for the song. For song lyrics: they have published a lot of song books to go with the recordings, so you may be lucky.

Just wanted to say it's good to find some other Singing Kettle fans here. Like Geoff, we'd never seen or heard of them in England, but one of their videos had found its way south to the BBC Shop in London, and my daughter was given it as a present - then we became hooked, bought more videos and went to see their live show when they came down to London some years ago (I think it was at Sadler's Wells Theatre, and packed out, with lots of people having travelled down from Scotland) - good, 'old-fashioned' entertainment, so much better than the majority of children's TV.

I'm glad to see they've found their way as far as Baltimore.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: Scotus
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 12:07 PM

Actually, they played at the National folk festival in Washington DC a couple of years ago, when Scotland was featured.

and just acouple of days ago while I was driving down through Tennessee past Johnson City listening to WETSfm - lo - there they were singing the Glasgow Train song and due to have a Singing Kettle special broadcast the following night on the same station.

small world indeed!

Jack

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: GUEST,Julia in Northumberland
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 01:16 PM

"we'd never seen or heard of them in England"

That's funny, I live in England - albeit north of Hadrian's Wall.
They tour this far south quite regularly.

But then they do have relations in the area!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 08:02 AM

The group was featured last Sunday on Fiona Ritchie's radio show, "Thistle and Shamrock". I, too, went to the web site, but no lyrics. I guess I could spring for the greatest hits CD, but sometimes I'm just cheap.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: MAG
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 10:34 AM

I heard this and wanted it, too.

Thanks for the heads-ups.

I do have an old old CD of the couple pre-children's focus that I picked up at NW Folklife. I had heard Cilla Fisher's voice and loved it.

Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN ON THE FUNNY FARM
From: Peace
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 11:11 AM

Hope this is the one you seek.


DOWN ON THE FUNNY FARM
(DeMille/Morabito)
As recorded by the Good Rockin' Daddies on "Born to Boogie," 1996. [You can hear it at Spotify.]

1. Down on the funny farm, the critters don't know
What to do or where to go.
They don't behave, but they mean no harm.
I'm gonna tell you 'bout the critters on the funny farm.

CHORUS: Hard times in the country, down on the funny farm.
Hard times in the country, down on the funny farm.

2. Down on the funny farm, the cows don't "Moo."
They sing like a rooster: "Cock-a-doodle-do."
Early in the mornin' they're perched on the barn.
They think it's their job just to wake up the farm. CHORUS

3. Down on the funny farm, the rooster don't crow.
He's not on the fence; he's down below,
Tryin' to give milk when the farmer comes past.
Spends his whole day just chewin' up the grass. CHORUS

4. Now the horse is out back; he's buryin' a bone.
The mailman's glad he's leavin' him alone.
Throw the horse a stick, he'll chase it real far.
He spends his whole day just chasin' down the cars. CHORUS

5. Now the doggie don't bark like he used to do.
He whinnies all day and half the night, too.
He likes to pull a plow and wear a saddle on his back.
He spends his whole day just racin' 'round the track. CHORUS

6. Down on the funny farm, the farmer is tense.
He can't pitch hay or mend up a fence.
His animal friends are gettin' him down.
He's gonna sell the whole farm and move into town. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 03:44 AM

A folkie friend introduced us to Singing Kettle when my daughter was only about 2, and she grew up listening to their cassettes. I also remember hiring the video of the live show from the library, which we had to keep renewing because she was obsessed with it! It was such a relief from bloody Barney that I didn't mind...

I remember her loving one song in particular about throwing sandwiches out of a tower block - something about jelly pieces? This tickled her no end. And they DID have a short-lived presence on English TV: a programme called Singing Kettle News, which was on CBBC, I think. But I don't remember it lasting for more than about one series.

Of course, now that she's a teenager, and an Emo (whatever the hell that is), she'll deny all knowledge or recollection of these events. So no one who should happen to run into us at festivals this summer should cause her embarassment or mortification by singing SK songs to her. Oh no. That would be awful.

All together now: "Pot, handle, lid of metal..."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 07:47 AM

Peace,

Thank you! That's the one!

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Funny Farm by Singing Kettle
From: GUEST,julia
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 10:30 PM

I was thinking that Alsion MacMorland had an album by that name, but I remembered that it was called the Funny Family

Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN ON THE FUNNY FARM (Singing Kettle)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Apr 24 - 02:38 PM

You can hear this on -Spotify:


DOWN ON THE FUNNY FARM
As recorded by Singing Kettle on “Greatest Hits, Vol. 3,” 1996.

1. Down on the funny farm, we sing a silly song.
The animals they all join in; the sounds they make all come out wrong.
The cows they all go “baa;” the sheep they all go “moo.”
The donkey he goes “oink-oink-oink” and the horse says “cock-a-doodle-doo.”

CHORUS: Ev’rybody baa! (Baa!) Ev’rybody moo! (Moo!)
Ev’rybody oink! (Oink!) Cock-a doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle, doodle-oodle-oodle, cock-a-doodle-doo!

2. Down on the funny farm, the pigs lay all the eggs.
The chickens help to plow the fields; the ducks all sleep in double beds.
The tractor has no tires; the horse crows ev’ry dawn.
Sheepdogs quack; ducks all bark, down on the funny farm. CHORUS

3. Down on the funny farm, the barn is filled with juice.
The sty is packed with apple pie; the hen-house crammed with choc’late mousse.
The dairy’s full of lemonade; the stable’s packed with jam.
The dogs say neigh, the cats eat hay, down on the funny farm. CHORUS

4. Down on the funny farm, we have to shear the geese.
It’s real good stuff, and sure enough, they don’t have feathers; they have fleece.
It’s true we have a tiger; there’s no need for alarm.
He’s striped; he’s set; he’s pussy-cat, down on the funny farm. CHORUS