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Squirrel Nut Zippers — Ghost of Stephen Foster
Album: Perennial Favorites
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1211









Released: 1998
Length: 3:30
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Met the Ghost of Stephen Foster at the Hotel Paradise
This is what I told him as I gazed into his eyes:
Rooms were made for carpets,
Towers made for spires,
Ships were made for cannonade fire off from inside them
(Chorus): Gwine to run all night
Gwine to run all day
Camptown ladies never sang all the doo dah day no, no, no (End Chorus)
(Chorus)
Met the Ghost of Stephen Foster at the Hotel Paradise
This is what I told him as I gazed into his eyes:
Ships were made for sinking,
Whiskey made for drinking,
If we were made of cellophane, we'd all get stinking drunk quite faster ha, ha, ha
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
Comments (237)add comment
EXCELLENT!!  Thanx RP!   
Posted 7 months ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
The horns make this a high energy 10!
Posted 8 months ago by nelsonha    [ Reply ]
awesome!
Posted 6 years ago by DocStrangelove    [ Reply ]
 leechi wrote:
how is this a 6.4 but U2 and REM and the likes get 7s and 8s.

:-( 

you people are dead inside, arent you?

 

 
Another poser trying to be cooler than thou.{#Frustrated}
Posted 6 years ago by DeemerDave    [ Reply ]
Without looking, I thought this was the intro to "Hell". 
Posted 6 years ago by DeemerDave    [ Reply ]
how is this a 6.4 but U2 and REM and the likes get 7s and 8s.

:-( 

you people are dead inside, arent you?

 
Posted 7 years ago by leechi    [ Reply ]
Hard Times? Naaaaahhhh.Vote for Bernie...
Posted 7 years ago by LastGaspMusic    [ Reply ]
Such a fun song!
Posted 8 years ago by tee_dee    [ Reply ]
              I can but say I;m watching TV.
            I guess I don;t need to lie forever.
                 Ohh everyone loves Mtv.
  Ohh and I;m cought with my hands in the cookie jar.
    Ohh It makes me feel I belong to some... anway.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:
The video for this is mandatory viewing if you enjoy the song. This is more bananas than Fyffes, more nuts than Planters, and more fun than a barrelful of monkeys. What does it mean? Fecked if I know, but it is sheer craic. 9 from the smiling Nottingham jury.

 
I live this vidéo! 
Posted 8 years ago by ambrebalte    [ Reply ]
ughh
Posted 8 years ago by Kaisersosay    [ Reply ]
This is hilariously awesome
Posted 8 years ago by OceanBlue    [ Reply ]
MAZEL TOV!!!
 
Posted 8 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 ckevin63 wrote:
Is that Andrew Bird on the violin/fiddle?

 
Probably; he was a member of the band at the time this album was recorded.
Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Welcome to Hotel Paradise!!  8.
Posted 9 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
{#Bananasplit}
Posted 9 years ago by musikluvr    [ Reply ]

I absolutely LOVE balkan music. It's so full of energy ! makes me want to close my eyes, drink and dance in a crowdy smokey room or on the exact opposite, in a field with a few close friends, around the fire.

Ah so many good memories ! Bad background music at work but great to party, cheer someone up, go crazy and be young no matter how old one is :)


Posted 9 years ago by ChrisVIII    [ Reply ]
Gah!
Posted 9 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:
The video for this is mandatory viewing if you enjoy the song. This is more bananas than Fyffes, more nuts than Planters, and more fun than a barrelful of monkeys. What does it mean? Fecked if I know, but it is sheer craic. 9 from the smiling Nottingham jury.
 
Thank you. Brilliant!
Posted 9 years ago by Lacapella    [ Reply ]
Is that Andrew Bird on the violin/fiddle?
Posted 9 years ago by ckevin63    [ Reply ]
The video for this is mandatory viewing if you enjoy the song. This is more bananas than Fyffes, more nuts than Planters, and more fun than a barrelful of monkeys. What does it mean? Fecked if I know, but it is sheer craic. 9 from the smiling Nottingham jury.
Posted 10 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Super fun!    (see fredriley's video above)

Thank you Businessgypsy!!!

 Businessgypsy wrote:


 

(Posted: Jun 12, 2011 - 13:45)
Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Wow, if you're just the right amount of drunk, this song isn't really so bad!
Posted 10 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

"Is that a squoil nut in yer zipper?"


  gotta love the greasepaint stash & brows


Posted 10 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
great video below
Posted 10 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
Some of the best and most moving lyrics of any song on this site. 

Met the Ghost of Stephen Foster at the Hotel Paradise
This is what I told him as I gazed into his eyes:
Ships were made for sinking,
Whiskey made for drinking,
If we were made of cellophane, we'd all get stinking drunk quite faster ha, ha, ha 
Posted 10 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
I really love the prevalence of circus-y music that comes up randomly in the mix. Thanks! {#Jump}
Posted 10 years ago by aaronm    [ Reply ]
The intro was so serious sounding, then I looked at the song/band name and laughed. I like this.
Posted 10 years ago by Minimally    [ Reply ]
 Euskadita wrote:
Anyone heard Emir Kusturica and the No Smoking Orchestra? this is just a bad copy.
 

You believe Kusturica invented gypsy jazz?


Posted 11 years ago by simison    [ Reply ]
Anyone heard Emir Kusturica and the No Smoking Orchestra? this is just a bad copy.
Posted 11 years ago by Euskadita    [ Reply ]
The intro———Happy Diwaili, everyone! {#Lol}
Posted 11 years ago by MirageRF    [ Reply ]
Love this tune! Totally silly, but so much fun! :o)
Posted 11 years ago by ShepHeard    [ Reply ]
This is shite.
Posted 11 years ago by jbunniii    [ Reply ]
its just after 4 in the afternoon I can hardly keep my eyes open at work.......THANK YOU for playing this RIGHT NOW.  Im awake now{#Bananapiano}
Posted 11 years ago by photolew    [ Reply ]
 thediceareloaded wrote:
Maybe the cooles video in music history....
 
 
I'd have to say one of the top ten.

Posted 12 years ago by Byronape    [ Reply ]
Puts me in mind of El Radio Fantastique.
Posted 12 years ago by Dahlia_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
Maybe the cooles video in music history....
 
Posted 12 years ago by thediceareloaded    [ Reply ]
Fun.   We were taught the Stephen Foster songbook in 2nd grade.  Amazing how you never forget it.  Wonder how many kids today know who Stephen Foster was? 
Posted 12 years ago by ronniegirl    [ Reply ]
 shmuelman wrote:
Sounds like something Gogol Bordello picked up on.
 
YUP — my thoughts EXACTLY...!     blah — time to mute, giving me a headache....  much prefer the Squirrel's other tracks


Posted 12 years ago by socalhol    [ Reply ]
 AphidA wrote:
reminds me of swing dancing geeks from the 90s.
 
I resemble that remark.. haha.  I saw these guys live, once. There were few geeks in the audience.. mostly kids.. and everyone was going crazy! It was amazing.  So I'm a geek and proud of it. haha {#Moon}
Posted 12 years ago by Ntropy    [ Reply ]
 AphidA wrote:
reminds me of swing dancing geeks from the 90s.
 

Yes, it does.{#Puke}
Posted 12 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
I really do not like these guys, but this song is alright.
Posted 12 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
The lyrics make NO sense to me, but I'm so busy dancing that I don't even care.... {#Bananasplit}
Met the ghost of stephen foster at the hotel paradise
This is what I told him as I gazed into his eyes:
Rooms were made for carpets,
Towers made for spires,
Ships were made for cannonade fire off from inside them

(Chorus):
Gwine to run all night
Gwine to run all day
Camptown ladies never sang all the doo dah day no, no, no
(Back to chorus)

Met the ghost of stephen foster at the hotel paradise
This is what I told him as I gazed into his eyes:
Ships were made for sinking,
Whiskey made for drinking,
If we were made of cellophane, we'd all get stinking drunk quite faster ha, ha, ha

(Chorus):
Gwine to run all night
Gwine to run all day
Camptown ladies never sang all the doo dah day no, no, no
(Back to chorus)



Posted 12 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]

Posted 12 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
 Rotterdam wrote:

My imagination is taking care of that now... costumes are great.... choreography is a quirky combination of modern ballet, Eastern folk dance and tap dancing. It's a frenzy... 
 
Oh, I am SO there!  "Frenzy" is the perfect word to describe this. I'm having so much fun imagining your choreography and costumes that I'm almost convinced this WOULD make a wonderfully-silly stage production. Thanks, Rotterdam. The wheels are turning in my head...{#Bananasplit}
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
reminds me of swing dancing geeks from the 90s.
Posted 13 years ago by AphidA    [ Reply ]
LOVE IT!!!!
Posted 13 years ago by photolew    [ Reply ]
 nicolewe wrote:
It should be in a musical along with dancing and characters all across the stage. {#Cool} {#Bananasplit}
 
Check out the video, that should do it for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sxFyu_U2go

Posted 13 years ago by Byronape    [ Reply ]
...ahhh, i love squirrel nut zippers...  ^_^
Posted 13 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
 nicolewe wrote:
It should be in a musical along with dancing and characters all across the stage. {#Cool} {#Bananasplit}
 
My imagination is taking care of that now... costumes are great.... choreography is a quirky combination of modern ballet, Eastern folk dance and tap dancing. It's a frenzy... 
Posted 13 years ago by Rotterdam    [ Reply ]
It should be in a musical along with dancing and characters all across the stage. {#Cool} {#Bananasplit}
Posted 13 years ago by nicolewe    [ Reply ]
I do miss The Bonzos,  these aren't far off though.
Posted 13 years ago by gumbo73039    [ Reply ]
 ubuntourist wrote:
"Istanbul, Not Constantinople" ("They Might Be Giants") next please! {#Dancingbanana}
 
While I can agree that this is in the same general spirit of Istanbull, I cannot at all agree that its similar in any other aspect.

Posted 13 years ago by Marr    [ Reply ]
Hillarious!!!
Posted 13 years ago by oenyaw    [ Reply ]
What is it about this band that always gets my foot taping, and my brain saying NO!!!  Its crazy!!!
 
Posted 13 years ago by lsfeder    [ Reply ]

pretty bad

2


Posted 13 years ago by le_colonel    [ Reply ]
Not so much.............
Posted 13 years ago by allenrudd    [ Reply ]
 DaveInVA wrote:
Every time I hear this I picture Grocho Marx singing it {#Mrgreen}
 
"Is that a squoil nut in yer zipper?"

Posted 13 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
trippy beginning!...then, back to the surreal yiddish/bauhaus gypsy polkaskas

Posted 13 years ago by Jeff09    [ Reply ]
 shmuelman wrote:
Sounds like something Gogol Bordello picked up on.
 
Yes, normaly not a bordello fan, this is nice!

Posted 13 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
Sounds like something Gogol Bordello picked up on.
Posted 13 years ago by shmuelman    [ Reply ]
"Istanbul, Not Constantinople" ("They Might Be Giants") next please! {#Dancingbanana}
Posted 13 years ago by ubuntourist    [ Reply ]
 isayhoomhom wrote:
What year was this taken?

 calypsus_1 wrote:

Squirrel Nut Zippers 038. by =GermanCityGirl

Photographed at The Triple Door in Seattle, Washington.

  is recent, January, i think, i'm not sure.
 


Posted 13 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
 anderiv wrote:
*love* it! In case you haven't seen it, here's the (brilliant) video for this track: (click here)
 
Bump!
Posted 13 years ago by DoctorHooey    [ Reply ]
There's an excellent B&W Betty Boop-style cartoon of this on YouTube. Brill!
Posted 13 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
What year was this taken?

 calypsus_1 wrote:

Squirrel Nut Zippers 038. by =GermanCityGirl

Photographed at The Triple Door in Seattle, Washington.
 


Posted 13 years ago by isayhoomhom    [ Reply ]
Every time I hear this I picture Grocho Marx singing it {#Mrgreen}
Posted 13 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]

Squirrel Nut Zippers 038. by =GermanCityGirl

Photographed at The Triple Door in Seattle, Washington.



Posted 13 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
i was in festival at Germany and i sow them - it was excellent !!  

Posted 13 years ago by natanshalva    [ Reply ]
I love love LOVE this song!
Posted 13 years ago by DoctorHooey    [ Reply ]
this reminds me of the song and dance routines from Vaudville.
Posted 13 years ago by BLADERUNNER    [ Reply ]
very fun tune.
Posted 13 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
first listen to this song and, i know i should hate it, but it was actually decent. i can see tiring of it after a few listens though.
Posted 13 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
The Kusturica gang?
Posted 13 years ago by Felix_The_Cat    [ Reply ]
Full. Of. Win.
Posted 13 years ago by Jamunca    [ Reply ]
These guys are nuts, so to speak.  (In a good way, I mean.)
Posted 14 years ago by philbertr    [ Reply ]
Squirrel Nut Zippers only mildly interested me... until I heard their stuff that WASN'T played on corporate radio.  So much talent here that never even made it to mainstream ears.  Love it.
Posted 14 years ago by dggeek    [ Reply ]
 dschless wrote:


... Yahweh and I   :)
 

You must have been spared the horrible image macro he's making fun of.


Yahweh help you if you reply " ... of which he's making fun :) "

Posted 14 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
Whoo Hoo!  What a way to start the day!!
Posted 14 years ago by plaice3    [ Reply ]
PLAY IT LOUD!
Posted 14 years ago by Derecho    [ Reply ]

It's a very short list of artists played on RP that I really don't like at all.  These guys are on it.


Posted 14 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
 WonderLizard wrote:
I love it when SNZ do klezmer. BTW, me and Yahweh love this song.

 

... Yahweh and I   :)
Posted 14 years ago by dschless    [ Reply ]

{#Curtain}(image available){#Shhh}
eat me


Posted 14 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
While there are a lot of great "swing" bands out there (Big Bad Voo Doo, etc.), this band has a distinctive voice of their own that they are true to. And I respect them for that.
Posted 14 years ago by derekd    [ Reply ]
I love it when SNZ do klezmer. BTW, me and Yahweh love this song.

Posted 14 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
I actually work with a Steven Foster.{#Lol}
Posted 14 years ago by xtalman    [ Reply ]
 vit wrote:


Whoa there cowboy this is America. Use your image blocker, or better yet exercise your right to free speech and gather a hundred of your closest friends around his home with torches, and chant this song all night.

 
Sounds like hell of a party, dude, but we here in this part of America (the Canadian part) aren't known for that kind of gathering. However, we are pretty good about free speech, as long as you're not a member of the ruling Conservative Party...

Peace, eh.

Posted 14 years ago by alanthecowboy    [ Reply ]
alanthecowboy wrote:

I agree with you regarding censorship, but still find the drawing offensive, even though I'm not a Christian. The implication that God hates a song (or that anyone else is included in a person's dislike of a song without their permission) is offense enough. How offensive does something have to be for it's removal to be considered consensus instead of censorship?

Edit: In other words, can I say that Otomi and me hate the Rolling Stones? Not that I would, but I shouldn't be allowed...



Whoa there cowboy this is America. Use your image blocker, or better yet exercise your right to free speech and gather a hundred of your closest friends around his home with torches, and chant this song all night.

Posted 14 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]
 Otomi wrote:

Censorship on RP would be far more saddening than having to see this overused piece of design.
 
I agree with you regarding censorship, but still find the drawing offensive, even though I'm not a Christian.  The implication that God hates a song (or that anyone else is included in a person's dislike of a song without their permission) is offense enough.  How offensive does something have to be for it's removal to be considered consensus instead of censorship? 

Edit:  In other words, can I say that Otomi and me hate the Rolling Stones?  Not that I would, but I shouldn't be allowed...

Posted 14 years ago by alanthecowboy    [ Reply ]
 wenatchee wrote:
At a recent Triple Door event in Seattle SNZ Female lead was an underpowered flitty distraction.  No umph in the voice and a bit pretentious . . . The rest of the band was a hoot!
 
I was at that show too - and I couldn't agree more with your review. 

Posted 14 years ago by Tree_Hugger    [ Reply ]
Didn't expect THAT song here, GREAT!
IMO the best music video ever made for a song, check it out, the song is only half as good without!

Ghost of Stephen Foster


here you go
Posted 14 years ago by thediceareloaded    [ Reply ]
At a recent Triple Door event in Seattle SNZ Female lead was an underpowered flitty distraction.  No umph in the voice and a bit pretentious . . . The rest of the band was a hoot!
Posted 14 years ago by wenatchee    [ Reply ]
 alanthecowboy wrote:

If enough people request it, maybe Bill can remove all instances of this stupid drawing from what seems like every single song on RP.  It always makes me a bit sad when I see it.

 
Censorship on RP would be far more saddening than having to see this overused piece of design.
Posted 14 years ago by Otomi    [ Reply ]
Zip it you nut, before I send the squirrels after you! {#Mrgreen}

{#Dancingbanana}
Posted 14 years ago by mabra70    [ Reply ]
 manbirdexperiment wrote:
Stupid drawing that I'm not going to nudge to the top...
 
If enough people request it, maybe Bill can remove all instances of this stupid drawing from what seems like every single song on RP.  It always makes me a bit sad when I see it.

Posted 14 years ago by alanthecowboy    [ Reply ]
 splooge wrote:
Some of the worst music I have ever heard. Please take it out of rotation now and never play it again.
 
Zip it you nut, before I send the squirrels after you! {#Evil}
Posted 14 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
gee, why did anyone bother to record this tune much less play it.  what a waste of precious air . . .
Posted 14 years ago by jjbix    [ Reply ]
Now just need to follow this with some Dan Hicks & his Hot Licks, say something like PayDay Blues
 
Posted 14 years ago by Johnny-smooth    [ Reply ]
I had to stop what I was doing to see who this was. I was guessing SNZ's.  Definitely naner-worthy!  {#Dancingbanana}

Posted 15 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
If Andrew Bird is involved, you can probably assume that it's good...
Posted 15 years ago by startatZ    [ Reply ]
TRULY obnoxious!
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
Is this considered klezmer?
Posted 15 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Yay for Squirrel Nut Zippers on RP!

{#Dancingbanana}
Posted 15 years ago by lovemydog    [ Reply ]
 anderiv wrote:
*love* it! In case you haven't seen it, here's the (brilliant) video for this track: (click here)
 
I agree this is brilliant. I didn't mind the wave animation and it gave me a new appreciation for this song (which I already appreciated heartily). Thanks for posting the link!
{#Bounce}

Posted 15 years ago by snakechaser    [ Reply ]
You have to know their other work, to appreciate this song...
Posted 15 years ago by cathenley    [ Reply ]
Stop it! How'm I supposed to work? Am listening to the lyrics while trying not to dance....
Posted 15 years ago by Rotterdam    [ Reply ]
 Baum74 wrote:
very good, väääry goooood!!!
just the right crazy music to finish a long working day ...
  {#Yes}  {#High-five}


Posted 15 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
I saw these guys play at a club in Seattle back in '97—totally fun show!
Posted 15 years ago by TravelRat    [ Reply ]
very good, väääry goooood!!!
just the right crazy music to finish a long working day ...
Posted 15 years ago by Baum74    [ Reply ]
Wow.  ALL their songs suck I guess.
Posted 15 years ago by AphidA    [ Reply ]
Makes me want to hear "Next" by Alex Harvey.
Posted 15 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
MORE SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS!!  And while you're at it, Bill, how about some Frank Zappa?
Posted 15 years ago by philbertr    [ Reply ]
on a brighter side, here s someone totally enjoying this song, having a blast here {#Music}
Posted 15 years ago by Loreweaver    [ Reply ]
 copymonkey wrote:

His screen name should give you an idea of what kind of douche-bag yer dealin' with. Might as well save the intelligent rebuttal—it's sailing right over his empty head.

 

You know what, you're absolutely right. My mistake, and my apologies. I usually don't feed trolls, but I have the flu today.
Posted 15 years ago by holborne    [ Reply ]
 holborne wrote:

Well, that's it, folks — splooge (Jesus, what are you 12?) thinks that it should be taken out of rotation, so no more Ghost of Stephen Foster!  (Edit: actually, if your profile is accurate, you're actually 47. Unreal. I bet you like shit and piss jokes too, right?)

I really don't get people who decide that because they don't like a song, it should just be yanked from the rotation. There are other people in the world aside from you, dude.

Also, have you ever heard of a mute button? Learn, and use it.
 
His screen name should give you an idea of what kind of douche-bag yer dealin' with. Might as well save the intelligent rebuttal—it's sailing right over his empty head.

Posted 15 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
Love these guys! Reminds me of some really good Roma music crossed with a bit of klesmer and Kid Creole. Love the lyrics too!{#Dancingbanana}
Posted 15 years ago by Eric_Denison    [ Reply ]
Andrew Bird on fiddle, I believe.

Posted 15 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
 splooge wrote:
Some of the worst music I have ever heard. Please take it out of rotation now and never play it again.
 
Well, that's it, folks — splooge (Jesus, what are you 12?) thinks that it should be taken out of rotation, so no more Ghost of Stephen Foster!  (Edit: actually, if your profile is accurate, you're actually 47. Unreal. I bet you like shit and piss jokes too, right?)

I really don't get people who decide that because they don't like a song, it should just be yanked from the rotation. There are other people in the world aside from you, dude.

Also, have you ever heard of a mute button? Learn, and use it.


Posted 15 years ago by holborne    [ Reply ]
Ah...this woke me up from the mid-afternoon snoozies! {#Bananapiano}
Posted 15 years ago by smilestoomuch    [ Reply ]
Some of the worst music I have ever heard. Please take it out of rotation now and never play it again.
Posted 15 years ago by splooge    [ Reply ]