Dave’s Gone By #26 (3/30/2003): HALF A YEAR IS BETTER THAN NONE

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Here is the 26th episode of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired on NY’s WGBB-AM March 30, 2003.

host: Dave Lefkowitz
guest: theater critic, Jeannie Lieberman

Featuring: Dave gets cultural and talks theater with critic Jeannie Lieberman. Plus it’s life during wartime with the satirical News Gone By and the Luther Zizland Sketch

00:00:01  DAVE GOES IN
00:21:00  DAVE’S GONE CULTURAL w/ Jeannie Lieberman
00:36:00  NEWS GONE BY
01:07:00  SKETCH: Luther Zizland
01:18:00  DAVE GOES OUT 

March 30, 2003 Playlist: “I’m Your Man” (Leonard Cohen), “Mama Said Knock You Out” (LL Cool J), “Mercenaries” (John Cale).

Jeanne Lieberman
Of course, you know, this means war.
your host

Dave’s Gone By Interview (3/23/2003): MICHAEL ARTSIS

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Dave Lefkowitz interviews broadcaster Michael Artsis

Topics include: radio, television.

Segment originally aired March 23, 2003 as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full interview with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast: Full Episode.

All content (c)2003 TotalTheater Productions.

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

Dave’s Gone By #25 (3/23/2003): A CODEWORK ORANGE

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Here is the 25th episode of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired on WGBB-AM March 23, 2003. More info: davesgoneby.com

host: Dave Lefkowitz
guest: broadcaster Michael Artsis

Featuring: Dave chats with broadcaster Michael Artsis, Goes Off on Wall Street, gets political about Life During Wartime and sings “When Bushie Goes Marching In.” Plus: the satirical News Gone By.

00:00:01  DAVE GOES IN – Life During Wartime
00:05:00  DAVE GOES FURTHER IN – Spontaneous Talk
00:17:00  NEWS GONE BY (Code Orange Again; Bulldozers n’ Tractors; Pretzels n’ Goldfish; Light Cigarettes and Hot Ash)
00:45:00  DAVE GOES OFF on Wall Street
00:57:00  GUEST: Michael Artsis
01:16:00  DAVE GOES OUT

March 23, 2003 Playlist: “When Bushie Goes Marching In” (Dave, 55:00), “Shut Up, Be Happy” (Ice T w/ Jello Biafra, 2:00), “Masters of Revenge” (Ice T), “A-B-C” (How Now Dow Jones original Broadway cast).

The Bush Curve
The Bush Bump
your host

Dave’s Gone By Song (3/23/2003): WHEN BUSHIE GOES MARCHING IN

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ZZSong-WhenBushieGoesDave’s rah-rah ballad to mark the start of the war in Iraq.

Segment originally aired March 23, 2003, as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full show with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast: Full Episode.

All content (c)2003 TotalTheater Productions.
More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

WHEN BUSHIE GOES MARCHING IN

by David Lefkowitz (sung to “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” by Patrick Gilmore)

When Bushie goes marching in again
Iraq, Iraq
His useless dad can grin again
Iraq, Iraq
The job he botched in `91
Will get cleaned up by his evil song
The fun begins as Bushie goes marching in.

It’s time to make the Muslims see
Iraq, Iraq
That they should live like you and me
Iraq, Iraq
That it is right and it is good
To smoke and drink and eat fast food
And to watch TV when Bushie goes marching in

Who flew the planes on 9-11?
Iraq, Iraq
And when the dirty deed was done
Iraq, Iraq
We blamed it on Osama bin Laden
But soon his name was nearly forgotten
Don’t look for sense when Bushie goes marching in.

The French, the Russians and Chinese
Iraq, Iraq
Make hypocritical calls for peace
Iraq, Iraq
But Bush and Cheney, they don’t care
So what if they sacrifice Tony Blair?
You can smell the sleaze everywhere
When Bushie goes marching in

And if a few Americans die
Iraq, Iraq
If poison gas makes children cry
Iraq, Iraq
That’s just the price we pay, you know,
For Haliburton’s portfolio
It’ll go sky-high so Bushie goes marching in.

The more things change the more they don’t
Iraq, Iraq
With Bush in charge, they surely won’t
Iraq, Iraq
`Cause moguls do whatever they wanna
When there’s a pax Americana
It’s all death and dishonna
When Bushie goes marching in
When Bushie goes marching in
When Bushie goes marching in
When Bushie goes marching in . . .
(fade)

©2003 David Lefkowitz

Dave’s Gone By Song (3/16/2003): COVER’D WITH CRAP

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ZZSong-CoverdwithCrap

Dave sings a delightfully repugnant sea shanty.

Guitar & background vocals: Scott Rodolitz

Segment originally aired March 16, 2003, as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full show with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast. Complete Original Broadcast: Full Episode

All content (c)2003 TotalTheater Productions.

More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

COVER’D WITH CRAP

When I was a sailor, I wore a fine cap
And all the young maidens, they sat in me lap
But then they’d jump up, and they’d leave with a slap
`Cause me pants and me undies were covered with crap.

Cover’d with crap
Cover’d with crap
Oh, bring me a dish towel I’m cover’d with crap

I went to the doctor, he gave me a salve
But that only worsened the ailment I have
Me bowels keep churning all night and all day
To drive all the people of Dublin away

“Away!,” they would say
Their arms they would flap
From the stink and the stench of me cover’d with crap

Cover’d with crap
Cover’d with crap
I canna wear white, `cause I’m cover’d with crap

I called up the daughter of old Mrs. Klein
And over the phone, well, she liked me just fine
I hoped that I’d soon get a taste of vagin’
But, alas, first I had to take her out to dine

We entered the restaurant without a mishap
And greeted the maîtr d’ – quite a nice chap
But soon he said, “You there, you’ll not eat a scrap;
You’ll get us closed down, `cause you’re covered with crap!”

Cover’d with crap
Cover’d with crap
Each smear brings a tear when you’re cover’d with crap.

So now I’m an old man
My life has grown thin
I’ve no time for sailin’ or sportin’ or sin
I wait for me heavenly rest to begin
And hope that St. Peter will let this fool in

But I know too well hope is only a trap
And I’m hearing those pearly gates close with a snap
`Cause who wants an angel with poop in his lap,
Brown wings, and a halo all covered with crap?

Cover’d with crap
Cover’d with crap
Eternity beckons all cover’d with crap.

©2003 David Lefkowitz

Dave’s Gone By Song (3/16/2003): DON’T MESS WITH US (w/ Rabbi Sol Solomon)

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ZZSong-DontMesswithUs

Rabbi Sol Solomon sings a Purim song about the resilience of the Jews.

Segment originally aired March 16, 2003, as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full show with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast: Full Episode

All content (c)2003 TotalTheater Productions.
More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

DON’T MESS WITH US

If you try to kill the Jews
Here’s a little piece of news:
God will stop you, and he’ll drop you dead instead
He got Hitler
He got Haman
And a dozen I’m not namin’
So don’t mess with the Jews
Or you’ll lose

If your aim is genocide
Then you’d better run and hide
`cause HaShem will turn the tide until you drown
Every exile and pogrom
We’ve emerged triumphant from
`Cause the Lord is our sword and our drum

So if you’re a neo-Nazi
And you think you’re hotsy-totsy
Or you’re blowing up civilians on a bus
You had best leave us alone
Or we’ll hora on your bones
You’ll be stuck, Chuck, so don’t muck with us.

So listen here, you goyim
Every girl and every boyim
Anti-Semitism brings you only tears
`Cause HaShem is in our corner
He will make your mom a mourner
For the sake of your kids
Be a friend to the Yids
Treat us nice, treat us well
Or you’ll barbecue in hell
It’s been like this for 5000 years.

Yagga dagga dagga dee, bugga bye
Buh buh buh buh bumm
Yooy booy bye bye dye byeyubuh
Yubba bubba bumm, hoy!

©2003 David Lefkowitz

Dave’s Gone By #24 (3/16/2003): PADDY O’PURIM

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Here is the 24th episode of the long-running radio show/podcast, Dave’s Gone By, which aired on NY’s WGBB-AM, March 16, 2003. More info: davesgoneby.com.

host: Dave Lefkowitz

Featuring: The history of St. Patrick’s Day; memories of Dublin; Seamus, The Urine Man; Irish music. The story of St. Patrick, and special guest Rabbi Sol Solomon making a whole megillah out of Purim. Also, News Gone By (Moron Moran; The Lost Little Whorehouse, Victoria’s Secret Dylan, the Defibrillators, stolen GEDs and Baseball Camp) and the story of Seamus, The Urine Man.

00:00:01  DAVE GOES IN (St. Patrick’s Day & Purim)
00:08:00  DAVE ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY
00:16:00  DAVE ON IRELAND
00:20:00  DAVE ON THE CLANCY BROTHERS
00:30:00  DAVE ON DUBLIN
00:36:00  DAVE ON IRISH POLITICS
00:45:00  NEWS GONE BY
01:06:00  RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S PURIMSPIEL
01:16:00  DAVE GOES OUT

March 16, 2003 Playlist: “Seamus the Urine Man” & “Sailor Song (Cover’d With Crap)” (Dave), “Don’t Mess With Us” (Rabbi Sol Solomon), “If I Should Fall From Grace With God” (Pogues, 14:00), “The Moonshiner” & “Paddy West” (Clancy Brothers), “I Am Enough for Myself” (Sinead O’Connor), “The Luck of the Irish” (John Lennon & Yoko Ono).

Purimspiel
The Clancy Brothers
Rabbi Sol Solomon

Dave’s Gone By Skit (3/16/2003): THE STORY OF SEAMUS (The Urine Man)

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ZZSkit-SeamusStory

On a trip to Ireland, Dave and his wife encounter a legend who inspires Dave’s song, “Seamus, the Urine Man.”

Segment originally aired March 16, 2003, as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full show with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast. Full Episode

All content (c)2003 TotalTheater Productions.
More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

Dave’s Gone By Song (3/16/2003): SEAMUS, THE URINE MAN

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ZZ-Song-SeamustheUrineMan
Recently back from Dublin, Dave sings of his encounter with an Irish legend.

Segment originally aired March 16, 2003, as part of the “Dave’s Gone By” radio program hosted by Dave Lefkowitz.

Please Note: Segments extracted from “Dave’s Gone By” may have music and other elements removed for timing and media re-posting considerations. For the full show with all elements, please visit the audio of the complete original broadcast: Full Episode.

All content (c)2003 TotalTheater Productions.
More information on Dave’s Gone By: http://www.davesgoneby.com

SEAMUS THE URINE MAN

(sung a cappella)

Seamus the Urine Man, the Urine Urine Man

There’s a shop in Dublin town
You should stop and look around
You’ll find candy, toys, and smokes
And a gentle Irish bloke

Seamus the Urine Man, the Urine Urine Man

Though he is a fine old soul
His bladder, he cannot control
So lift your nose and sniff the air
You’ll smell something mighty queer . . .

Seamus the Urine Man, the Urine Urine Man

When old Seamus takes a whiz
He will whiz, wherever he is!

Seamus the Urine Man, the Urine Urine Man

Seamus is a merry fellow
Splashing in his pool of yellow.
Never does he take a break
He’ll make and make and make and make and make and make

Seamus the Urine Man, the Urine Urine Man

He’s guaranteed to amuse
Stand too close, he’ll soak your shoes!
Seamus the Urine Man, the Urine Urine Man

When ol’ Seamus eats an egg
Yolk starts running down his leg
He don’t care for fame or money
Long as he’s all warm and runny
They call him “yellow fellow” (quite a stink!)

Seamus the Urine Man, the Urine Urine Man

Best to back away a little
Else you’ll get a spray of piddle
He gets wetter than the Navy
Shooting out his penis gravy
(are you enjoying your meal?)

Seamus the Urine Man, the Urine Urine Man

Every night he prays to Jesus
To renew his enuresis
He lies down to rest his head
And wakes up in a waterbed

Seamus the Urine Man, the Urine Urine Man
Seamus the Urine Man, the Urine Urine Man.
Seamus the Urine Man, the Urine Urine Man.

(Fill`er up!)

©David Lefkowitz

Dave’s Gone By Skit (3/16/2003): RABBI SOL SOLOMON’S APOCRYPHA #2 – Purim

Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Apocrypha #2: PURIM 

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This skit, an early version of what would become Rabbi Sol Solomon’s Rabbinical Reflections, first aired March 16, 2003 on the 24th episode of the Dave’s Gone By radio program. 

(c)2003 David Lefkowitz & Rabbi Sol Solomon

Shalom, Shalom oovrachah, everyone, and chag sameach [happy holiday]. Happy Purim to all of you! 

Oy, it was such a long, miserable, goyische winter; it’s time we had a little happiness in our lives. A bit of craziness! Drinking and eating of sweets and turning the whole world a little tohu vavohu—topsy turvy—to celebrate our continued survival on the planet. 

I’m Rabbi Sol Solomon on Temple Sons of Bitches in Great Neck, New York, and I wanna thank Dave Lefkowitz, the host of Dave’s Gone By, for having me back on the show. 

Last time, I was here in December for another happy holiday, Chanukah, which too many secular Jews mistake for being just a Yiddish version of Christmas. Well, now all I hear is people calling Purim a Hebraic adaptation of Halloween. Ptooey! Wrong and wrong again! Purim is its own happy holiday; it doesn’t need John Carpenter for validation. 

The story of Purim in a nutshell is this: the King of Persia got angry at his first wife, so he killed her. Single again, he went looking around for a shiskeh goddess to be wife number two. Just like in Cinderella, he found her—only, she wasn’t what he thought she was. Her name was Esther, and she was being raised by her uncle, Mordecai. Morty told her, “Look, when you meet the king, be on the safe side: don’t tell him you’re Jewish.”

“Nu, vu den?” [what then?] said Esther. “My name’s Esther, and yours is Mordecai. It’s not like we can pass for Irish.”

“I dunno. Say you’re Presbyterian. And for God’s sake, don’t show him your Lord & Taylor gift certificate!” 

So, Esther played it cool, and soon enough she was queen of the land. And Uncle Mordecai visited Esther often. And he kept reminding her: “Remember, if you get your nails done more than three times a week, he’s gonna suspect.” 

Mordecai even foiled an assassination attempt on the King by two of his servants. Morty warned Esther, Esther warned her husband, and the plotters were hanged. So Mordecai and Esther were doing fine…except: Esther was not the King’s chief advisor. That position went to a fellow in the Amalak tribe, a man by the name of Haman (spins grogger). Yes, Haman (spins grogger). Haman was a motherf — (spins grogger). A wicked man. A vain man. As the King’s Henry Kissinger, he expected everyone to bow down to him, including Esther’s Uncle Mordecai. But Morty said, “Sorry, I will not bow to you. I bow only before God and my proctologist. And at least God trims His fingernails.”

This got Haman (spins grogger) so mad, he craved revenge not only on Mordecai—who I guess he didn’t realize was Esther’s uncle—but all the Jews in the kingdom. So he drew lots. In fact, he drew lots and lots of lots to determine which day all of the Jews in Persia should be annihilated. And by the way, the word “Purim” means “lots” in old Persian. 

Anyway, it turns out that astrologically, the 14th of Adar was the most salubrious day. He actually looked in the horoscope in the Persian Post. It said, “You will make many short-term enemies. Don’t mind them! It’s a great day for a holocaust. However, your love life is still dormant and will remain so for some time. Don’t wear purple.”

Haman (spins grogger) then went to the King and told him all these terrible lies about the Jews: “Oy, they own the media! Oh, they have undue influence calling for a war with Mesopotamia! Oh, they’re ruining Michael Jackson’s career!” All these horrible slanders which the King believed.  His Highness, never one to turn down the opportunity for some bloodletting, went along with his advisor’s plan for genocide. 

Mordecai heard this and went meshuggah, crying and screaming and tearing his clothes and warning that all the Jews were gonna die. Esther got wind of it and told him, “Calm down. Tell everybody to fast for three days. Pray for me. Pray for all of us.” 

She was nervous because a queen isn’t allowed to summon a king. It’s an offense punishable by—you got it—wifeicide. But after the fast, Esther goes to the King and invites him to a big banquet. Typical man, he hears the word “food,” and he’s thrilled to be alive. So they have the feast, and the King notices Mordecai there. So does Haman (spins grogger). The King is then reminded that Mordecai once saved his tuchas. So before evil Haman (spins grogger) can ask the King to kill Mordecai, the King tells him to dress Mordecai like a royal hero and lead him through the streets in a parade. Gritting his teeth, Haman (spins grogger) does what he’s told. 

The next night, another banquet, and this time, Esther says the magic words, “Guess who married a Jew? You! And guess what else. There’s a guy in your employ who wants to murder me and all my tribe.”

“Who?” says the KIng. “That Chief of Homeland Security?” 

“No,” replied Esther. “Your closest advisor. You know his name. It starts with an `h.’ It’s not Hubert. It’s…HAMAN!” (spins grogger)

Well, that did it for the Haymaster; he was hung on the same gallows he had built for Mordecai. And all ten sons of Haman (spins grogger) were hung. A couple were well-hung, but that’s something different. Mordecai was made prime minister and given a directive that the Jews could defend themselves against anyone who tried to vanquish them. 

It all happened on the 14th day of the month of Adar—Purim day. A day the Jews could have been butchered but instead were spared and celebrated. So Mordecai declared it an annual feast day, which over the years has come to include lots of drinking and wearing costumes and masks. 

Mordecai also started the custom of giving money to the poor and giving gifts of food and candy, called “shalach manos,” to our neighbors. That’s why it’s different from Halloween; the kids go door to door giving people treats rather than taking. No wonder they grow up cranky.

But seriously, in the synagogue we read the story of Esther, called “The Megillah,” first word to last. We dance around, and, as you’ve heard, make a tremendous amount of noise when we hear the name of that megillah gorilla…Haman! (spins grogger) It’s to blot out his name, to erase him from our thoughts and from our history. Esther and Mordecai, however, are among the most beloved figures in Jewish lore, which leads me to this limerick:

There once was a hero named Mordecai 
An upstanding mensch, and a sporty guy
His clever instruction
saved Jews from destruction
and gave them permission to fortify!

And now, get your singing caps on! Time for a little music. A tune I came up with, if you want to sing along. I love the title: “Don’t Mess with Us.” 

“If you try to kill the Jews

here’s a little piece of news

God will stop you and he’ll drop you dead instead.

He got Hitler, He got Haman

and a dozen I’m not namin’

So don’t mess with the Jews `cause you’ll lose.

If your aim is genocide

then you better run and hide

`cause HaShem will turn the tide until you drown

Every exile and pogrom

we’ve emerged triumphant from 

`cause the Lord is our sword and our drum.

So if you’re a neo-Nazi

and you think you’re hotsy-totsy

or you’re blowing up civilians on a bus

You had best leave us alone

or we’ll hora on your bones

You’ll be stuck, Chuck, so don’t muck with us.

So listen here, you goyim, 

every girl and every boyim

anti-Semitism brings you only tears

`cause HaShem is in our corner

He will make your mom a mourner

For the sake of your kids

be a friend to the Yids

Treat us nice, treat us well

or you’ll barbecue in hell

It’s been like this for 5,000 years.

Yagadagadagadee badabaaay 

buh buh buh buh bum

Yoyboybaybay daybaybayba

yubuhbuhbuh bum. Hoi!” 

So, yes, on this holiday I’m here to spread some joy, to celebrate this merry holiday with music and humor and my basic undercurrent of rage. No, I’m kidding. You can’t get upset on Purim; it’s a wonderful day! And it’s a bigger deal in Eretz Yisroel than it is here. Everyone gets into the spirit. A nice boychick who was in Israel last Purim wrote on his website, “It’s a nationally celebrated party, and everyone is invited! Indeed, it is not uncommon to see rabbits, angels, and Harry Potters sitting at the bus stop or wandering around the supermarket. Nor is it unusual to pass by wizards, policemen, or monsters in the street without a second thought. At one carnival extravaganza, there were flamethrowers, singers and dancers, and I’m sure there were also the ultimate Jewish lifeline, jokes: 

The year is 2015 and the situation is grim. The earth’s ozone layer has eroded to where the ice caps are melting and the entire world is about to flood. All the major religions call enclaves on how to lead the people through the crisis. The Pope issues a statement that Catholics should write out a long confession and beg Jesus for salvation. The Protestant church urges its follows to eat only vegetables and cleanse themselves for the final judgment. The Muslim clerics order their people to fast all day and pray from morning to night. The head rabbis argue for an hour. And then they immediately start giving lessons on how to live underwater. 

That’s what it’s all about for us: survival. Belief, but pragmatism. Prayer and practicality.

I want to wish you all a Purim sameach [happy].A glorious springtime. May we all have peace—or at least a great piece of hamentaschen. This is Rabbi Sol Solomon saying shalom oovrachah from every one of me to every one of you.

© 2003 David Lefkowitz & Rabbi Sol Solomon