This has got to, for all time, define the term

[Danger]

This has got to, for all time, define the term "clueless".
North Americans of my generation will get it right away; I'm not sure about the rest of you.
For maximum effect, watch right until the end, because that's where the punchline is delivered by Larry himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye3ecDYxOkg"

 

[FrancisZ]

I'm not seeing it. So what is it?

 

[DaveC426913]

I'm not seeing it. So what is it?

Gale, Dale and Lawrence Welk, sweetly, wholesomely, God-fearingly and completely obliviously singing about lightin' up a big fat spliff.

 

[Danger]

Yeah! Let's spark up a gagger and pray!

By the bye, this was at almost exactly the same time that Vice President Spiro Agnew declaimed Brewer and Shipley as subversive to the American youth.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

The only other definition I have found for "toke" so far is a tip from a gambler to a dealer or casino employee so I have no idea what they thought they were singing about.

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2506

 

[Newai]

They were actually singing about excess, and the song was intended as a joke in that vein.

Wikipedia's "Early History of Tarkio," Brewer and Shipley's album:

Early history

The two Midwestern natives met each other numerous times at various coffeehouse gigs before settling in Los Angeles to write music together, producing their first two albums Down in L.A. and Weeds. Even though mutual friends in bands such as The Association and Buffalo Springfield also lived in Los Angeles, they left California during 1969, returning to Kansas City, Missouri, where they made a meager living by playing in college towns. They derived the name of their next album, Tarkio, from a regular gig they played in Tarkio, Missouri. This album was their most successful commercially, featuring the song "One Toke Over the Line", which they wrote as a joke while preparing backstage for a performance.

After broadcasting of the song, President Richard Nixon termed Brewer & Shipley public miscreants. In retaliation, they referred to Nixon by name in their song, "Oh Mommy," (from Tarkio).

Their song "One Toke Over The Line" was performed for the The Lawrence Welk Show, a television program known for its conservative, family-oriented format, by a duo known as "Gail and Dale." At the conclusion of the performance of the song, Welk remarked, without any hint of humor, "There you've heard a modern spiritual by Gail and Dale."

This caused Michael Brewer to comment:

The Vice President of the United States, Spiro Agnew, named us personally as a subversive to American youth, but at exactly the same time Lawrence Welk performed the crazy thing and introduced it as a gospel song. That shows how absurd it really is. Of course, we got more publicity than we could have paid for.[1][2]

Brewer & Shipley have performed with many notable acts, including Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bruce Springsteen, Black Sabbath, and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, who played pedal steel guitar for "Oh, Mommy".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarkio_(album)

 

[FrancisZ]

Gale, Dale and Lawrence Welk, sweetly, wholesomely, God-fearingly and completely obliviously singing about lightin' up a big fat spliff.

"Toke" is a euphemism for smoking marijuana? No clue (*points at self*).


Well, you learn something everyday.

 

[hypatia]

The Oop's thread got me. I thought he discovered I was posting in the nude again.

 

[FrancisZ]

The Oop's thread got me. I thought he discovered I was posting in the nude again.

No more purple bow cat? Don't get me wrong though: nothing wrong with butterflies (except when they're in your stomach, of course).

 

[nismaratwork]

"...Driven from dee mainland, to the heart of the Carribean..."

Sorry, I don't know why that always springs to mind.

 

[nismaratwork]

"Toke" is a euphemism for smoking marijuana? No clue (*points at self*).


Well, you learn something everyday.

Toking is technically the inhaling action typical of someone using a joint, but it originally referred to any hand-rolled.

Certainly, "One toke over the line sweet jesus, one toke over the line..." refers to weed.

edit:

One toke over the line, sweet Jesus, one toke over the line
Sittin' downtown in a railway station, one toke over the line
Waitin' for the train that goes home, sweet Mary
Hoping that the train is on time
Sittin' downtown in a railway station, one toke over the line.

Note, Mary may also refer to Mary Jane, not just the virgin mary.

 

[DaveC426913]

Toking is technically the inhaling action typical of someone using a joint, but it originally referred to any hand-rolled.

So, someone could 'toke' a cigarette?

I've never heard it used in any context other than weed.

 

[FrancisZ]

So, someone could 'toke' a cigarette?

I've never heard it used in any context other than weed.

Well, toke does rhyme with smoke. But I think you're right Dave--I've never heard anyone refer to smoking a regular cigarette as toking (of course, I never realized what it meant to begin with).

I think "dragging" on a cigarette is slightly more prevalent.

 

[nismaratwork]

So, someone could 'toke' a cigarette?

I've never heard it used in any context other than weed.

There's no reason you would... AFAIK it has to do with the way in which the 'combustible' is held between thumb and forefinger; typical of eastern europe with hand-rolled cigarettes.

Saying this, I can find no support for etymology of the slang predating 1955 in the pure context of a marijuana cigarette, or later any inhaled marijuana... so I may well be wrong.

I do know that "toke" as in the heel of bread, or hat is unrelated however, so evidence is overwhelmingly against me. I suspect I got some bad... info.

 

[Evo]

I do know that "toke" as in the heel of bread, or hat is unrelated however, so evidence is overwhelmingly against me. I suspect I got some bad... info.

The hat is actually a "toque".

 

[nismaratwork]

The hat is actually a "toque".

Well... there we have it eh?



Having found 0 support for my odd view of toke, and having the spelling talents of a neonate, I'm going to wisely withdraw both my claim, and my buttocks from this wedge I've found myself in!

Hehhehe... Why do I enjoy laughing at my own expense so much?!

edit: Figures the name of the thread is "oops"

 

[mugaliens]

It also means "touch." Not exactly a common usage, though. Could the song's author have been referring to petting?

If so, given Lou's penchant for a clean, healthy, and holy show, that would have been outlawed, too. Still, she is sitting in his lap...

 

[nismaratwork]

It also means "touch." Not exactly a common usage, though. Could the song's author have been referring to petting?

If so, given Lou's penchant for a clean, healthy, and holy show, that would have been outlawed, too. Still, she is sitting in his lap...

One grope over the line sweet jesus, one grope over the line. Getting felt up in a railway station, one grope over the line. Waiting for this perv to get his hands off of me, waiting to report this here crime. One grope in a railway station, one grop over the line.

 

[DaveC426913]

One grope over the line sweet jesus, one grope over the line. Getting felt up in a railway station, one grope over the line. Waiting for this perv to get his hands off of me, waiting to report this here crime. One grope in a railway station, one grop over the line.

Niiiiiice.

I was toying with a riff on 'One toque over the line' but gave up. Yours is better.

 

[nismaratwork]

Niiiiiice.

I was toying with a riff on 'One toque over the line' but gave up. Yours is better.

Coming from you Dave, that is high praise indeed!

(that pun isn't actually intended, but... I like it, so it stays)

 

[Danger]

The hat is actually a "toque".

Which, despite the spelling, is pronounced as "tuke". In some parts of Canada, though, it comes out as "took".
Nismar... very impressive adjustment of lyrics.

 

[nismaratwork]

Which, despite the spelling, is pronounced as "tuke". In some parts of Canada, though, it comes out as "took".
Nismar... very impressive adjustment of lyrics.

What can I say? It's the natural byproduct of a disturbed mind at work.

 

[Danger]

...a disturbed mind at work...

The best kind...

 

[nismaratwork]

The best kind...

See, I knew there were all kinds of good reasons that I like you.