Skipper Dan

CB Johnny · Post by **CB Johnny** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:04 am

I'm so glad this was brought up. I'm recording my own voice on Audadicty just to hear what I sound like before I perform a minimalist interpretation (main guitar, lead and background vocals) for an open MIC show. Despite my experience in chorus and theater I just can't make it sound very good.
...I wouldn't suppose anyone would care to hear a clip and critique it?

Skipper Dan · Post by **Skipper Dan** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:13 am

My name might give it away, but this might be my favourite Al original I've ever heard. It's catchy, fun as heck to sing, and I'm hoping it drums up interest for the album.

I personally cannot wait. (More stuff like Skipper Dan = great. More stuff like Craigslist ... meh.)

Post by **weirdojace** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:14 am

NNY273000 @ July 19, 2009 06:04 pm wrote:
...I wouldn't suppose anyone would care to hear a clip and critique it?

Okay.

WAYFan · Post by **WAYFan** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:23 am

Yeah, I'd like to hear what you sound like, um...is it Stephen? Sorry, I'm REAL bad with names. Especially connecting them with screen names.

Post by **weirdojace** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:26 am

Since I may get my band to cover this song, I wrote out the chords. I think I got them right but if I screwed up, I'd love to be corrected. I'm not all that great at this. And sorry about my weird chord naming system.

The verses are easy because they're just the same two chords over and over. Chorus is where it gets kinda tricky.

If anyone's interested:

Code: Select all


          Eb                    G#
I starred in every high school play
             Eb             G#
Blew every drama teacher away
       Eb                  G#         Eb         G#
I graduated first in my class at Juilliard
      Eb                  G#
Took every acting workshop I could
         Eb              G#
And I dreamed of Hollywood
        Eb            G#                   Eb       G#   C#
While I read my Uta Hagen and studied the Bard

         Eb                  G#
Hit the boards and paid my dues
         Eb                  G#
And got phenomenal rave reviews
         Eb                  G#                Eb     G#
I knew the world was gonna love me, without a doubt
                Eb                             G#
I was sure that Tarantino would be callin' me on the phone
        Eb                          G#
Annie Leibovitz would shoot me for Rolling Stone
        Eb                  G# 
But the years have come and gone
          Eb
And I'm sorry to say that's not the way that it's all worked out


        Eb   Bb            G#          Eb 
I'm a tour guide on the Jungle Cruise ride
   G#    Eb         Bb 
Skipper Dan is the name
        Eb      Gm   G#      Eb
And I'm doin' 34 shows every day
       G#               Bb
And every time it's the same
   Eb                            Bb
Look at those hippos, they're wigglin' their ears
   G#                            Bb  
Just like they've done for the last 50 years
           Eb           Bb               G#      Eb
Now I'm laughin' at my own jokes but I'm cryin' inside
            G#             Bb            Eb      
'Cause I'm workin' on the Jungle Cruise ride

         Eb                   G#
Oh, the critics, they used to say
           Eb        G#
I was the new Olivier
            Eb                G#                 Eb     G#
Thought I'd be the toast of Sundance or maybe Cannes
           Eb                    G#
Aw, but don't bother tryin' to IMDb me
           Eb                    G#
The only place you might possibly see me
      Eb              G#             Eb
Is ridin' my little boat around Adventureland
          Eb
It ain't exactly what I planned

            Eb   Bb            G#          Eb
But I'm a tour guide on the Jungle Cruise ride
  G#    Eb         Bb 
Skipper Dan is the name
        Eb      Gm   G#      Eb
And I'm doin' 34 shows every day
       G#               Bb
And every time it's the same
 Eb                         Bb
I would've killed if I'd been in "Speed The Plow"
    G#                            Bb
But what's the difference, that's all behind me now
           Eb          Bb            G#            Eb
'Cause I'm payin' the rent and I'm swallowin' my pride
         G#              Bb           Eb
And I'm workin' on the Jungle Cruise ride


   F#                  G#
I should be there on Broadway
             C#         G#      Bbsus     
Knockin' 'em dead in "12 Angry Men"
    F#                G#            
But instead I'm here tellin' these lame jokes
   Bb
Again and again and again and again and again and again and again


Eb     Bb    G#    Eb
G#     Eb    Bb
Eb     Gm    G#    Eb
G#           Bb


    Eb                     Bb
I shoulda listened when my grandfather said
    G#                        Bb
"Why don't you major in business instead?"
        Eb              Bb             G#          Eb
Now my hopes have all vanished and my dreams have all died
          G#               Bb        Eb    Bb           G#          Eb
And I'll probably work forever as a tour guide on the Jungle Cruise ride
    G#   Eb        Bb
Skipper Dan is the name
        Eb    Gm    G#       Eb
And I'm doin' 34 shows every day
     G#                  Bb
And every time it's the same
   Eb                          Eb
Look at those hippos, they're wigglin' their ears
    G#                        Bb
Somebody shoot me 'cause I'm bored to tears
        Eb          Bb          G#           Eb
Always said I'd be famous... I guess that I lied
            G#              Bb           Eb   Bb
'Cause I'm workin' on the Jungle Cruise ride
           G#             Bb            Eb
I'm still workin' on the Jungle Cruise ride

CB Johnny · Post by **CB Johnny** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:35 am

That helps a lot.

Are you able to log online right now?

Post by **Grom** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:44 am

I've kinda changed my opinion on Skipper Dan. It's still not really funny, but it's a good song to listen to. I think if someone other than a comedy artist had done the song (someone who writes these kind of lightly amusing stories, like Cake or Ben Folds) I'd rate it higher. But, since I expect great and funny songs from Al, it's average at best.

Make any sense?

Mad Genius · Post by **Mad Genius** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:10 am

weirdojace @ July 19, 2009 11:51 pm wrote: Really? This song is very easy for me to sing. I'm considering covering it with my band.

I want an instrumental if you do!!! I have a parody in the midst and I like where it's going, which is ultimately rare these days.

Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:50 am

Grom @ July 20, 2009 01:44 am wrote: Make any sense?

Yes. It's an interesting thoought experiment, trying to imagine how "Skipper Dan" would have seemed if it had been released by Young Neverheardofhim and his Band.

Post by **Kevbo1987** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:35 pm

When I first commented about "Skipper Dan," I had only listened to it once with a very poor Internet connection that made the video freeze about every 20 seconds. My brother-in-law was also talking to me at the same time. I couldn't hear the song that well, so naturally, I didn't really get and didn't find it all that funny. I still agree that the song is not particularly laugh out loud funny, but it has more subtle humor. The song is funny because of the situation. We have all built things up in our heads only to see the outcome come out far below our expectations. I can definitely relate to the plight of poor Skipper Dan. Musically, this is one of Al's best songs. The melody is incredibly catchy, and he nails the style of Fountains of Wayne. I really, really like this song.