The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota

"The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota"
Song by "Weird Al" Yankovic from the album UHF
Released July 18, 1989
Format Cassette, CD
Recorded May 24, 1989
Genre Comedy, folk
Length 6:50
Label Scotti Brothers
UHF track listing
  1. "Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies*"
  2. "Gandhi II"
  3. "Attack of the Radioactive Hamsters from a Planet near Mars"
  4. "Isle Thing"
  5. "The Hot Rocks Polka"
  6. "UHF"
  7. "Let Me Be Your Hog"
  8. "She Drives Like Crazy"
  9. "Generic Blues"
  10. "Spatula City"
  11. "Fun Zone"
  12. "Spam"
  13. "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota"

"The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" by "Weird Al" Yankovic is a lengthy folk-type song about a family road trip to a tourist location in Minnesota. The song was meant by Yankovic as a style parody of the storytelling songs of Harry Chapin and Gordon Lightfoot,[1] and the structure and chord changes closely mirror the Chapin song "30,000 Pounds of Bananas".[2] The song refers to a real tourist attraction, a large ball of twine in Darwin, Minnesota, that Yankovic has visited on at least one occasion.[3][4] The song might also have found inspiration from the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation, where the biggest ball of twine is mentioned several times.

The topic of "Weird Al's" song, The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota, housed in Darwin, MN

The song begins as the unnamed narrator recalls his trip to the titular attraction. After working all year at Big Roy's Heating and Plumbing he accumulates some vacation time. One night at the dinner table, he asks his kids where they would like to go on vacation. The kids excitedly inform him that they would like to see The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota. The very next day the family loads up their 1953 DeSoto and begin a trip that takes three days (no point of origin is given). After naming off several places that the family has visited in the past (all of which are real places), the narrator recalls the excitement of the trip which includes picking up a foul-smelling hitchhiker who calls himself Bernie. On Wednesday evening at sunset, the family arrives at the twine ball, which they regard with a kind of rapturous spirit of worship but also questions about why someone would want to make a giant ball of twine the first place. The family then gives their camera to Bernie to take their picture, which he promptly runs away with. The family isn't bummed about the theft because "at least we got our memories". Back at the twine ball, the narrator is so overwhelmed by the mass of the ball that he falls to the ground and begins weeping, which prompts security guards to throw the family off the premises. The song ends with the family looking at one another and agreeing that they will visit the ball again next year.

Notes

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ask Al Archive (go to October 1998) Retrieved 2008-03-30
  2. ↑ '"Weird Al" Yankovic's Original Songs Remind You Of What?!?!' Russ, Edward. Retrieved 2008-03-30
  3. ↑ Weird Al Photo Gallery Darwin, Minnesota; 1996-08-16. Retrieved 2008-03-30
  4. ↑ Picture displaying Weird Al's visit to Minnesota Retrieved 2008-03-30
  5. ↑ Forget the mouse - go for the tupperware Reddick, Christopher. Retrieved 2008-03-30
  6. ↑ World's Largest Shuffleboard Courts Retrieved 2008-03-30
  7. ↑ Nevada Division of State Parks Valley of Fire State Park. Retrieved 2008-03-30
  8. ↑ White Squirrel Wars Retrieved 2008-03-30
  9. ↑ Al-oholics Anonymous - Ask Al Retrieved 2008-03-30
  10. ↑ video of White and Nerdy on YouTube Retrieved 2008-03-30

External links

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