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Song Parodies -> "Getting Down to the Wire"
Original Song Title:
"We Didn't Start the Fire"
(MP3)Original Performer:
Billy Joel
Parody Song Title:
"Getting Down to the Wire"
Parody Written by:
Below Average Dave
The Lyrics
badave.com Jack Wilson. . .you are an evil little man you know that? For those who don't know what I mean see Cat's "AmIRight Right Request Hour" thread. . .
I know I cannot stay in this damn bed all day
Feel horrific, Eyes are twitching, Man I'm moving slow
Coffee's starting, big decision, Sick I'll fake, I envision
Bad idea 'cause Maria will fire me though
It's occurred stay calm, Red Bull waits, Swallow some
Great, shower cold as ice, Brushing my teeth on the fly
One half hour, I'm clean, I'm sick of this routine
Gotta jet though, grabbing my keys and my good neck tie
Getting down to the wire
The clock is ticking
To the gas I'm sticking
Getting down to the wire
I don't feel right yet
I'm not awake quite yet
Cars are stalling so I moan, Crawling in the damn fast zone
C'mon mister, getting blisters, Not wearing sun block
Move along hearing songs, hope we aren't blocked too long
Peeling, squealing, Boss calls, he's stuck down the block
Prime Time for me to be as late as I can be
Hope that I do not get canned, Hope the D.M. understands
Straight ahead, Great at last, Gotta open it up fast
Or I'll face that mean face, Hear how I'll be replaced
Now things are really dire
My stomach is turning
For more time I'm yearning
Hope I do not expire
Though I do not like it
Can't afford to spike it
What a shock, beat the clock, Now the doors shall be unlocked
Looking on up at the sky, Sun is shining really bright
Through the shift I crawl, Though I really want to fall
My eyes aren't opened wide, I feel like my mind is fried
I'm feeling really sore, Think I need the doctor
Gotta go, but no, "We're too busy" says Joe
So I beg and plead, I got down on my knees
Just look at me now bro, I look like a big toad
He thinks I am a liar
No his heart ain't bleeding
From the words I'm feeding
Think my head is on fire
He don't want to hear it
Said "Advil will clear it"
What a day it's been, Feeling better than I'd been
My grin within, 'cause the clock is tickin'
Time to go and party y'all, Party at a big Pool Hall
At night I cringe, I went on a Nacho binge
Complex subject, What I do with my pay checks
Though I was up all day, Gotta earn my meager pay
One day I will retire
But from now until then
Keep hanging with my friends
No wonder I'm so tired
I always all night it
and I'll never right it
Oh no not again, What a short night it has been
Tick Tock-Damn Clock, Forgot to put on my socks
Head spins, No Grins, Hear me whine, I don't have time to dine
Before my day's began, Already have evening plans
Gotta go to work I sigh, Button up and grab that tie
Breaking sweat as I jet, Hope I'm not late yet
Speeding to get to the store, Don't want to hear the boss roar
Get there to count out the drawers, Man this story is a bore
Getting down to the wire
Yes the clock is ticking
And my @$$ it's kickin'
Getting down to the wire
But lives just goes on,
it will just go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on
This is what life requires
Gotta earn a living
Take what they are giving
It's not what we desire
If you do not like it
They'll say "Take a hike kid"
Feel horrific, Eyes are twitching, Man I'm moving slow
Coffee's starting, big decision, Sick I'll fake, I envision
Bad idea 'cause Maria will fire me though
It's occurred stay calm, Red Bull waits, Swallow some
Great, shower cold as ice, Brushing my teeth on the fly
One half hour, I'm clean, I'm sick of this routine
Gotta jet though, grabbing my keys and my good neck tie
Getting down to the wire
The clock is ticking
To the gas I'm sticking
Getting down to the wire
I don't feel right yet
I'm not awake quite yet
Cars are stalling so I moan, Crawling in the damn fast zone
C'mon mister, getting blisters, Not wearing sun block
Move along hearing songs, hope we aren't blocked too long
Peeling, squealing, Boss calls, he's stuck down the block
Prime Time for me to be as late as I can be
Hope that I do not get canned, Hope the D.M. understands
Straight ahead, Great at last, Gotta open it up fast
Or I'll face that mean face, Hear how I'll be replaced
Now things are really dire
My stomach is turning
For more time I'm yearning
Hope I do not expire
Though I do not like it
Can't afford to spike it
What a shock, beat the clock, Now the doors shall be unlocked
Looking on up at the sky, Sun is shining really bright
Through the shift I crawl, Though I really want to fall
My eyes aren't opened wide, I feel like my mind is fried
I'm feeling really sore, Think I need the doctor
Gotta go, but no, "We're too busy" says Joe
So I beg and plead, I got down on my knees
Just look at me now bro, I look like a big toad
He thinks I am a liar
No his heart ain't bleeding
From the words I'm feeding
Think my head is on fire
He don't want to hear it
Said "Advil will clear it"
What a day it's been, Feeling better than I'd been
My grin within, 'cause the clock is tickin'
Time to go and party y'all, Party at a big Pool Hall
At night I cringe, I went on a Nacho binge
Complex subject, What I do with my pay checks
Though I was up all day, Gotta earn my meager pay
One day I will retire
But from now until then
Keep hanging with my friends
No wonder I'm so tired
I always all night it
and I'll never right it
Oh no not again, What a short night it has been
Tick Tock-Damn Clock, Forgot to put on my socks
Head spins, No Grins, Hear me whine, I don't have time to dine
Before my day's began, Already have evening plans
Gotta go to work I sigh, Button up and grab that tie
Breaking sweat as I jet, Hope I'm not late yet
Speeding to get to the store, Don't want to hear the boss roar
Get there to count out the drawers, Man this story is a bore
Getting down to the wire
Yes the clock is ticking
And my @$$ it's kickin'
Getting down to the wire
But lives just goes on,
it will just go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on
This is what life requires
Gotta earn a living
Take what they are giving
It's not what we desire
If you do not like it
They'll say "Take a hike kid"
This has been a Below Average Dave Production, All Rights Reserved
Your Vote & Comment Counts
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Voting Results
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Voting Breakdown
The following represent how many people voted for each category.
| Pacing | How Funny | Overall Rating | |||||||||
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 5 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
User Comments
Comments are subject to review, and can be removed by the administration of the site at any time and for any reason.
That was pretty cool, a "We Didn't Start The Fire" parody that actually has a story to go along with it instead of just a long list. I like the OS as a list, but this was pretty clever.
The story made me think of Nabokov for some reason, kind of a "futility for happiness in modern day society" kind of thing...every verse was different, but the singer's plight never changes...good job on a very hard song.
I like it. Nice job.
I like it too.
Excellent work Dave!
Lord B-A-D, it seems you like to live 'close to the edge' when it comes to starting the work day, eh guy??
Thank you everyone, I was determined to come up with an idea that would fill this song without making it a list parody, not that I won't ever do one, but I felt I could pull off this one without it being a list parody. I'm glad you guys felt it was worth the effort!
Wonderful. Can't say whether pacing was on or not as I can't find my album collection right now, but I do recall this is one enormous brain stretcher of a song to parody. I probably took a week of from parody writing after penning mine.
So "down to the wire" means like "to the last minute" if I get it right? That beside I'm with Matthias here, taking a list type OS and transforming it to a song that tells a story is kind of a novel idea even for Amiright. :-)
Thank you Tim very much--it was a tough OS (but worth the effort). . .and thank you Peter, I've seen so many lists to it, I wanted to be different, I think I succeeded:) Your correct with that, it's common in America to refer to nearing a deadline as cutting it to the wire, or down to the wire. . .That's one of the other things I love about AmIRight is learning the common different uses of the same words throughout the world. . .awesome
Billy himself would be proud of this effort Dave :)
Awesome job! 555
(See above) This was very well done and sure to continue you on your winning streak in the ABC competition...
^^Like he said. :)
ABC- Nice job, not a big fan of the original song though, but nice work!
(ABC G & H) Great execution, pacing, rhyming and grammar were good, but my only qualm with the parody was that it was a bit hard to follow. But so is the OS, if you try to sing it from lyrics or along with the radio, YouTube or a recording. 5s just the same.
(ABC-GH) Great story here (though I don't know what 'getting down to the wire' means) but the pacing was very spotty at times. This is shocking from you, but given the OS I'll let it slide and vote 555.
(ABC G/H) I love this OS lots and enjoyed it spoofed a whole lot, especially the way you converted it! This is such a hard OS to spoof and pacing is hard to follow on it, but you made a great effort on it. I was thinking of spoofing this same OS, but it's pretty hard for me. Great job and lots of luck to ya!
(ABC G/H)BAD, I really like how you ease in simple phrases into complex rhythms like this one and make it seem effortless. Tough OS too, but really nice job.
I echo Matty's comment way above, I like how you worked this as a story instead of a "list" parody. Very well done.
Great one, especially on such a hard song. 555
(ABC Tournament) Get wired with 5's!
Echoing others, taking a "list" song and making a story to it is challenging, and something my parodies completely lack. Incredible effort to such a lengthy song. 555
I could really identify with this story.
This explains a lot, Dave. :-) Excellent effort on a tough song.
Something that can turn you into a high-strung tweaker.
(Artistry) See above!
I agree with Matthias' first comment, fun to see this parody as a story and not a "list". Very well done.
Like others have said, I liked how you told a story with a list parody, and it's clear all the work you put in. Well played, BAD. Great stuff. Now go catch the bus.
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