Funky Junk

The song Frog Went A Courting is around 400 years old.  It appears in the Harry Smith Anthology under the name King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Mi-O.  It stands in relation to Frog Went a Courtin'  as spirit to nature.  Frog is a stark depiction of the power of nature and the nature of power, all disguised as a jaunty, happy children's song.  Like so many children's songs and nursery rhymes, their metaphors are cloaked.   In some versions of Frog Went A Courtin' the entire entourage gets eaten by a large animal, a snake or a cat.  This is the world of nature.   In Funky Junk, it's a different world.

 Funky Junk   

There was a mystery surrounding
    every rendezvous. 
A stranger passing in the courtyard
    whispers "par lez vous".
Now her disguises were deceptive,
    yet they were really quite defective.
You could figure it out pretty quick 
    'cause her figure would give her away
    when she moved, 
and all because

    her funky junk it don't lie,
    although it maybe burn a hole in your face,
    you won't believe your eyes,
    and she will hypnotize you 'til you
    realize she's put you in your place.
    I'm telling you that funky junk it don't lie.
    It's something that she never learned how to hide.
    Unless you put a tent over the whole event
    you know that funky junk it don't,
    funky junk it don't lie.

There was a knife fight in the alley,
    all but one vamoosed. 
She'd been on the stairwell watching,
    singing, "Turn me loose!"
She reappeared in a bandana.
He said, "It really doesn't matter,
     because any disguise that you choose,
    there ain't nobody fooled,
    unless, baby, it's you."

Tell me that you know her funky junk it don't lie,
    Although it maybe drill a hole in your head.
    You won't believe your eyes,
    but she will mesmerize you with a
    look that you would want to take to bed,
    and all because her funky junk it don't lie.
    She's bound to make you do impossible things,
    but she will rearrange you and your life will change 
    because that funky junk it don't, 
    funky junk it don't lie.

Now there were rumors of a wedding
    at the Blue Lagoon,
and it was said that all attending
    were wearing new costumes.  
It was a mix of fun and danger,
    the masks made everybody strangers,
but the biggest surprise was the look in their eyes
    when the bride and the groom appeared nude.

And all because the funky junk it don't lie,
    Although it maybe blow a hole in your brain
    and you can try your best, but she will melt your heart,
    rip it up and leave it swinging in the rain.
 Let me tell you why her funky junk it don't lie.
    She's never had the need to prove anything,
    and when they call her names and tell her 
    she's to blame,
    she knows the funky junk it don't, 
    funky junk, it don't lie.

Copyright © 2009, 2014 by David Larstein, all rights reserved.

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