Bob Kanefsky

Bob Kanefsky writes song parodies, often of other filker's original songs. His lyrics are available on his songworm.com web site. The Roundworm CD and out-of-print Tapeworm series feature some of his victims singing Kanef's parodies of their own songs.

Recently he has been writing a series of mash-ups: he did the same thing to Seanan McGuire he earlier did to Eric Bogle; he also entangled Cat Faber's "Wings" (both ways) with "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm", used "'39" for a fresh look at "The Owl and the Pussycat", injected "Madeira" into "The Girl That's Never Been", and even stooped to taking apart "Boundless?" and putting it back together to tell the back story of "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall".

He lives in California and works on Mars.

Representative Work for the 2007 Pegasus. Note- this is NOT a 2007 Nominated Song.

Dear Departed

Parody lyrics ©1988 by Bob Kanefsky. All rights reserved. The copyright of the original lyrics and music remain with the holder(s) of the original copyright.
Used by permission

Parody of “Velveteen” , words and music by Kathy Mar
For more information and other parodies, see www.songworm.com

Inspired by “Dead Girl Polka”, Frank Hayes’ sendup of “Mary O’Meara” to the tune of “Roll Out the Barrel”, plus an unrelated serious song, “Mary’s Reply” (by Sandra Miesel, on Margaret Middleton at Bayfilk I)

When I was boxed and laid to rest beneath the lily field,
I didn’t know that there were those to whom the dead appealed.
The earthworms and bacteria have left their marks behind,
But if someone can love me still, I’m sure that I won’t mind.

It might be just my luck some weirdo will choose me for the one,
And dig me up each evening long enough to have his fun.

And now some drunken sailor has decided to get fresh,
In spite of my protruding bones and decomposing flesh.
I lie there, only watching, as I often did in life.
But to him my unresponsiveness makes me the perfect wife.

And it was just my luck some weirdo would choose me for the one.
He digs me up each evening long enough to have his fun.

Now all you ladies worried that your love will be untrue,
And all you men who want a girl who won’t care what you do,
Just take your cue from Faulkner(1), or from Poul and Passovoy (2),
And find some dear departed whose cadaver to enjoy.

Just find an isolated graveyard with carcasses to steal,
Though the stench may be disgusting — quite enough to make you reel.
_________________
1 “A Rose For Emily” by William Faulkner (1892-1962)
There is also a Julia Ecklar song about it; same title, on Horsetamer’s Daughter.
2 “Mary O’Meara”: lyrics by Poul Anderson, tune adapted by Ann Passovoy.