The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota by Weird Al Yankovic

Album: UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff (1989)

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Songfacts®:

This song is not a direct parody of another song, but rather is a style parody of folk artists like Harry Chapin and Gordon Lightfoot. It is about a family's vacation to the biggest ball of twine in Minnesota, which is a real attraction located in Darwin, Minnesota. Yankovic has been there at least once. >>
Suggestion credit:
cynthia - scranton, PA
Al says in the liner notes to "Permanent Record," his boxed set: "I was walking down a seedy part of Hollywood Boulevard kinda late at night, and this gang of severe looking punks was following me, and I basically thought they were going to kill me. But then they came up to me and shook my hand, and said 'We really like 'Biggest Ball Of Twine In Minnesota.'" >>
Suggestion credit:
Tim - Litchfield, NH

Comments: 10

Moosehead from Scthis is my son`s favorite song. like, of all time. go RJ!
Eric from Kansas CityI had first noticed, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," not as familiar with "30,000 pounds of Bananas." Note Patti from Michigan's comment: the verse is pretty much "30,000 pounds of Bananas" but the chorus is right of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."
Patrick from Wahiawa, HiHmm, sounds a little like the movie, "Better Start Running." (A tour of roadside attractions while on the run from the FBI?) On second thought, find the New Zealand road movie, "Goodbye Pork Pie," instead.;)
Patti from MichiganJason is right. It's not a direct parody of "30,000 Pounds of Bananas." Al has said himself that this song sounds like a mixture of "30,000 Pounds Of Bananas" by Harry Chapin and "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot. Al calls songs that are done in the style of a particular artist or group style parodies.
Jason from Morganton, GaNo, it's not a direct parody. It sounds similar but it isn't the same. If it were a direct parody, then there wouldn't be several places, it would be the whole song.
Nathan from ., MnActually Lisa, we do sometimes for the hell of it because people assume we do, lol.
Lisa from Eveleth, MnYOU BETCHA. (we never say that)
Lisa from Eveleth, Mngosh, it makes me proud to be a minnesotan. : ) hee hee
Harold from Los Serranos, CaThis song actually is a direct Parody of 30,000 Pounds Of Bananas by Harry Chapin there are several places where both tune and lyric are metered directly from the Chapin song.
Reg from Kemptville, On, -I think I heard shades of 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"!

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