#SLS ~ Arachnicide?

~ King Ben's Grandma

Thanks to Jim Adams, for hosting Song Lyric Sunday. All the rules and fine print can be found at Jim’s site. Take a look around while you’re there. He hosts, and participates in, other writing and music prompts. There’s a little something for everyone there.

The theme for this week is: Bugs, Insects.

The first song that came to mind was a song from one of the Disney Sing Along Songs VHS tapes we had for the girls when they were wee lasses. The song is The Ugly Bug Ball sung by Burl Ives. While it was a fun trip down memory lane, I decided to do a quick search and see if I could find something I liked better.

I was actually surprised at how many songs have these words or other theme related words in the lyrics. I got a huge smile on my face when I saw Boris The Spider by The Who, and knew I’d found my song. It is a song I’m familiar with, and actually like. Plus, it’s by a band I’ve had the pleasure of seeing live, back on October 27, 1982. There’s actually a video of the entire concert if anyone is interested. (the audio is super loud, so lower your volume before you click the link)

Boris The Spider was written and performed by bass player, John Entwistle. It was the first song he’d written, and the first song he had lead vocals on. It’s from the second studio album A Quick One, released in 1966. The title was changed to Happy Jack for release in the US to avoid possibly causing offense to the delicate, (prudish, hypicritical…) sensibilities of the American people.

Pete Townshend had written most of their first album, My Generation, and wanted the other band members to contribute more. Their label thought it was a great idea, and offered a £500 advance to each member who wrote a song. John Entwistle wrote this song as a joke, but also because of his childhood fear of spiders.

The song became a concert favorite (though it wasn’t played at the show I attended) and was often included in their live performances. It wasn’t released as a single in the US or UK, so it didn’t chart. In Japan it was released as the B-side of Whiskey Man in 1967.

Look, he’s crawling up my wall
Black and hairy, very small
Now he’s up above my head
Hanging by a little thread

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

Now he’s dropped on to the floor
Heading for the bedroom door
Maybe he’s as scared as me
Where’s he gone now, I can’t see

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

Creepy, crawly
Creepy, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly

There he is wrapped in a ball
Doesn’t seem to move at all
Perhaps he’s dead, I’ll just make sure
Pick this book up off the floor

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

Creepy, crawly
Creepy, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly
Creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly

He’s come to a sticky end
Don’t think he will ever mend
Never more will he crawl ’round
He’s embedded in the ground

Boris the spider
Boris the spider

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This song has stuck in my head since I first heard it forty years ago. The creepy, crawly, creepy, crawly, creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly cracks me up, as does the super deep Boris the spider. I hope you enjoyed it too.

Do you have a favorite or memorable insect/bug song? Let me know in comments, or why not join the #SLS Party, and do a post of your own. I love learning about new music, or being reminded of songs I haven’t heard in a while.

HUGS!

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30 thoughts on “#SLS ~ Arachnicide?”

  4. Fun song! I hadn’t heard that one before. On the same theme, I think I would pick Lullaby by The Cure. I always loved the creepiness of that song!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oooh! Good choice 🎶💃🏼 The Cure is always good anyway.
      I’m just now thinking “Dog & Butterfly” by Heart (who I’ve also seen😂) 🤷🏼‍♀️ I still love Boris😆 the spider, not the UK PM😂😂😂

      Liked by 1 person

  5. A family favorite from when my kids were little. They both still have it in rotation on their playlists. Incidentally, my entire adult life until maybe five years ago, I thought the words were “Hello Mr. Spider” instead of “Boris the spider.” I have a really hard time with lyrics.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m horrible with lyrics too! Hearing loss will do that🤪 You’ve got a pretty cool family! I tried to get my girls to share my love of Boris, but it never caught on. I probably should have played the song for them instead of singing it🤪😂😂

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Older is terrified of spiders, and younger loves all bugs🤷🏼‍♀️ The only bug I can’t stand are the big American roaches. Just gross! Spiders don’t bother me.
          Sophie is probably thinking bigger. Lions and Tigers and Bears😉

          Liked by 1 person

    1. I was 14 at the time and didn’t appreciate it as much as I do looking back. I’ve seen so many bands… I tried to make a list once and couldn’t do it.
      I keep a list in my phone and add to it when a band comes up and I remember I’ve seen them😆

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Burl Ives is great, and the song is cute. My older daughter used to love the Sing Along Songs tapes. The “new” Disney, starting with The Lion King kinda doomed all the old songs with all the new songs.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. I’ll have to check this song out! Songs that come to mind for me are Ants Marching (Dave Matthews Band) and one of my favorites – Kiss me (Sixpense non the Richer) … ‘Lift your open hand
    Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance’

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