Originally posted these in the "Lyrics You Still Don't Understand" thread, but in retrospect, I think they're a better fit here:
avesjohn wrote:"Oh Harvey, Harvey
Harvey The Wonder Hamster
He doesn't bite, and he doesn't squeal
He just runs around on his hamster wheel
Harvey, Harvey
Harvey The Wonder Hamster!
Hey, Harvey!"
Some truly indecipherable lyrics. As an Al fan, I've studied them for over a decade now, trying to figure out what they could possibly mean.
Perhaps this is supposed to be Al's commentary on the struggles of working-class Americans ("Harvey The Wonder Hamster"), who don't have the courage to stand up to a system that treats them like pawns ("he doesn't bite, and he doesn't squeal"), and so are forced to simply work until they die ("he just runs around on his hamster wheel"). Al being a comedian, it was only appropriate for him to represent these people in song with a pet rodent.
As an alternative theory, maybe "Harvey The Wonder Hamster" is Al himself. In that case, Al would be singing from the point of view of us fans, who are cheering "Harvey" on, while remarking on the lack of "bite" (edge) in his generally family-friendly music. The "squeal" perhaps refers to Al's tendency to respect an artist's wishes not to parody their song, and in turn Al's unwillingness to do anything more than poke light fun at them in response. The "hamster wheel", of course, would be the music industry itself, which Al is racing to keep up with, and yet despite the ever-changing tastes of listeners, remains much the same in the end (i.e., crappy and in need of a skilled parodist to make it tolerable). When "Harvey The Wonder Hamster" appeared alongside Al in other media, it was obviously an attempt to deflect from this theory - assuming it's true.
Or maybe it's just a song about a hamster.
Anyway, as confusing as this song was for me, don't even get me started on "Fun Zone."
