Friday, February 5, 2010

Planting Queen

I can't believe I haven't already posted my parody of ABBA's Dancing Queen. I wrote it a few years ago and sang it in December at a friend's house filk party. Which is saying something. While I have no problems giving a gardening talk to 300 people (and don't even have the good grace to get nervous), singing in public is another matter entirely. I was totally nervous and shaking, waiting for my turn to come. Also, I must note I can't actually sing very well, so don't be sad you missed it!



Planting Queen

(Intro: Do do do do do do do do do...)
You can sow, the bed’s rife
Giving small seedlings new life
Feed the soil, sow that bean
Diggin’ the planting queen

Friday night and the light’s not low
Looking out for the place to grow
Where the clay’s not too thick
Won’t need too much toil
You come to look for good soil

Anybody could give a try
Day is young and the sun’s up high
With a bit of rain showers
Everything is fine
You’re in the mood to plant 
and when you get the chance

You are the planting queen
Old and cheap, fingernails unclean
Planting queen
Feel the beat from things wild and green, oh yeah
You amend, you compost
Making the garden its most
Feed that soil, sow that bean 
Diggin’ the planting queen

You’re organic and think it’s fun
Give ‘em water and then you’re done
Looking out for another
Maybe make that two
You’re in the mood to plant
and when you get the chance

You are the planting queen
Old and cheap, fingernails unclean
Planting queen
Feel the beat from things wild and green, oh yeah
You can sow, the bed’s rife
Giving small seedlings new life
Feed that soil, sow that bean
Diggin’ the planting queen


I also performed Scorn of Buckthorn, which was video-taped, but I haven't gotten the file yet.

ABBA: The Album was the first record I ever bought, when I was 12. Even though my musical taste has greatly expanded since then, I still love them, even 32 years later.

Happy Friday, everyone, and happy birthday, Mom!

44 comments:

  1. Ich liebe sie auch immer noch, Monica. Könnte stundenlang die Musik hören. Eine schöne Parodie auf Dancing Queen.
    Meine erste Platte war übrigens von den Bee Gees, Massachusetts.
    Schönes Wochenende und liebe Grüße
    Birgit

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  2. loved the song! great work

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  3. Funny. I love ABBA. Planting Queen will be a hit in the gardening community.

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  4. Now I know what filking is ~ I'd never heard the word before. Your lyrics are wonderful. I would have enjoyed hearing you sing `Planting Queen`. Happy weekend.

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  5. Wish I had been there to see and hear you perform that song. Fun lyrics Monica!

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  6. Oh Happy Birthday to Monica's Mom! We were very disappointed to not hear you sing this ode to gardening royalty, Monica. Old and cheap, fingernails unclean....I love it!

    Frances

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  7. That was great! Thanks for the laugh this morning :-)

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  8. I adore your song. I sang it all the way through and felt the breath of spring.

    Thanks! I needed that!

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  9. Monica, you are so creative! I don't blame you for being nervous about singing. Happy Friday!

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  10. After reading the first para, I was expecting to see a video of you! I'm a little disappointed.

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  11. Too much fun! (Have you seen the movie "Muriel's Wedding"?) I need to get going on my winter sowing, but I have to tell you I need to get my grubby mitts on a copy of that beautiful catalog you featured in your last post.

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  12. LOL, thank you for my first laugh of the morning:) I was never a big Abba fan but I would have been if they sang more about gardening.

    Want to see more photos of your winter sowing!!!!
    Marnie

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  13. ABBA, gotta love em! I so enjoy your version of ABBA...

    I cant sing worth of flip, but on Karaoke Night, after a few margaritas, I am so impressed at how well I sing. lol..

    Happy birthday to Mom! Keep warm…

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  14. Hi Planting Queen......you have just made me smile.....you are just such fun......

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  15. Very cute. Thanks for a much-needed giggle. :D

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  16. Too fun, Monica! You are queen of wit. :-)

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  17. lol you're hilarious.

    Thanks for the laugh.

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  18. That was hilarious Monica!

    I love ABBA, and have always thought it was a little funny that I do since I'm not normally 'into' that kind of music.

    On one of our first dates I took the Lawn Man to see Mamma Mia! on stage. What fun it was. Hmmm. . . maybe we'll add the movie to the list we're compiling of stuff to watch while he recuperates from surgery! (It will be hard not to replace the lyrics with Planting Queen when we watch it - probably not a good idea to crack him up though.)

    Happy Birthday Monica's mom!

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  19. Move over, Weird Al! Monica is the new Queen of Parody!:) Love it, Monica! You should think about doing a video ala Meryl Streep--you know, dancing on piers and patios:) Maybe the Buffalo Flingers should consider filming this??

    I'm a little older than you, so the first album I ever bought was the Dave Clark Five...I think I bought ABBA for my boys when they were young:)

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  20. You are too clever, Monica ...love it!

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  21. Brilliant Monica! You are a one clever lady. Enjoy the weekend and a most happy birthday to your mum.

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  22. Already know ABBA but like Kate had fun reading about filking - and love your song, Monica! One of our Austin Garden radio personalities likes to say the same thing-Feed your soil....such perfect words:
    Feed the soil, sow that bean!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  23. Great song..
    A hit for the "dirty fingernail" community.
    We are back from our tropical island,
    Gisela

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  24. Oh .. a song on planting! Nice ...

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  25. Hi Monica - doing a little "Mish Mash Monday post tomorrow! :-)

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  26. Gardening was really a very great thing to do.I am glad you posted an information about it because i am really looking for some data on gardening. I know many learnings will be contribute.

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  27. You clever writer! I can now see and hear you singing Planting Queen.

    xxgail

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  28. I love ABBA! Know most of the songs by heart.These days I am the "dancing queen!" wink
    Brave soul singing in public!
    hugs aNNa

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  29. I cannot believe this hidden talent never came out during our road trip talks. I will expect a personal performance when we head out to Meijer Gardens in May (if not before).

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  30. My favorite fun song and my musical tastes have not improved but no apologies. Gotta smile when you hear that song. Did you hear me sing your lyrics to it this a.m.? I hope not. I think it is a must performance in Buffalo so start practicing.

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  31. Wow - great parody. I love "Old and cheap, fingernails unclean" That's me alrighty!
    BTW our blog was tagged with an "Honest Scrap" award by Christine at Idora Design - I did the post for us mice and tagged you (and six others) in turn. Don't feel obligated - but have fun if you like.

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  32. Who doesn't love ABBA? It's always one of the first CD's we put on when we hit the road on vacation every year. We love to sing along at the top of our lungs.

    I thought your version was inspired! "old and cheap, fingernails unclean" What gardener couldn't relate? You need to cut a record--it would be a real hit with garden bloggers every where.

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  33. Hi Monica......tks for the comment on my recent post....just wanted you to know you are an absolute tonic.....tku

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  34. Since you're holding a chainsaw I'll have to agree that was great :)

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  35. Monica,
    want to meet at the Toronto Blooms Garden show in March??
    Anna (Nature Girl)is considering to meet me at the show as well!!
    Gisela

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  36. Brilliant Monica!
    What other secret talents are you still hiding?! :)

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  37. Oh so you are also a singer, not only a gardener, what a lovely combination!

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  38. I love it, dear Monica! Great lyrics...thanks for sharing...xxx WG

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  39. Everybody visited your site first and told me you had possums on your blog today:) Your's is a lot darker colored than mine.

    I agree, that squirrel must know a way to collapse his skeletal system. The problem with squirrels, you will have to get a second job to afford to feed them. They are bottomless pits.
    Marnie

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  40. Monica, it's humid in central NC. The heat isn't bad really, but a couple of bad weeks can tend to spread over the whole summer. lol

    If you have a shady yard and/ or a pool it's no big deal.

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  41. These are absolutely the best lyrics! I sang along, I laughed, I cried and I understood. Ma I please post it in my blog, giving you full credit of, course, and linking back to your blog. It's just absolutely too good not to share!!

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