<Standard Introduction Sequence>
*** GRAMMAR ROCK *** (1973)
Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla
Music: Bob Dorough
Lyrics: Kathy Mandary
Sung by: Jack Sheldon
Animation: Kim and Gifford Productions
- Key to symbols within the lyrics
- Now I have a friend named Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla,
- And I could say that "Rufus found a kangaroo
- That followed Rufus home
- And now that kangaroo belongs...
- To Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla."
- Whew! I could say that, but I don't have to!
- Because I got pronouns, I can say,
- "He found a kangaroo that followed him home
- And now it is his."
- You see, "he", "him" and "his" are pronouns
- Replacing the noun "Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla",
- A very proper noun,
- And "it" is a pronoun replacing the noun "kangaroo"!
- %Now comma...%
- Now Rufus has a sister named Rafaella Gabriela Sarsaparilla,
- If she found a kangaroo I'd say to you
- "She found a kangaroo that followed her home
- And now it is hers."
- But I can't say that...
- 'Cause she found an aardvark
- That fell in love with her and they're so happy.
- And my name is Albert Andreas Armadillo
- <No relation to the Sarsaparillas...>
- Because of pronouns I can say
- "I wish she would find a rhinoceros for me,
- And we'd be happy."
- You see, a pronoun was made to take the place of a noun.
- 'Cause saying all those nouns over and over
- Can really wear you down.
- Now I could tell you "Rafaella Gabriela
- and Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla and
- Albert Andreas Armadillo found
- An aardvark, a kangaroo and a rhinoceros.
- And now that aardvark and that kangaroo
- And that rhinoceros belong respectively to:
- Rafaella Gabriela Sarsaparilla
- And Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla
- And Albert Andreas Armadillo."
- Whew! Because of pronouns I can say, in this way,
- "We found them and they found us,
- And now they are ours and we're so happy!"
- <Thank you pronoun!!>
- You see, a pronoun was made to take the place of a noun.
- 'Cause saying all those nouns over and over
- Can really wear you down.
- Sometimes when we take them all on the bus,
- People really raise a fuss.
- They start shouting out loud pronouns at us, like:
- "*Who* brought that rhinoceros on the bus?" and
- "*What* made that horrible noise?" and
- "Which one of 'em's getting off first?"
- "Who", "what" and "which" are special pronouns
- That can ask a question
- In the sense where you do not know the name of the noun.
- But I know!
- I have mine and she has hers and he has his,
- Do you have yours?
- They love us and we love them.
- What's ours is theirs, that's how it is with friends.
- And pronouns, you are really friends. Yeah!
- 'Cause saying all those nouns over and over
- Can really wear you down.
Great thanks to:
David Strauss / dss2k@virginia.edu (PsiCop P12+ & B5 Waiter, Fresh Air)
Administrator, New York Islanders Mailing List
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