In addition to recording his albums, Yankovic has written and starred in his own film, UHF, and his own television show, The Weird Al Show, and directed music videos for himself and other artists including Ben Folds, Hanson, the Black Crowes and The Presidents of the United States of America. He has also made guest appearances on many television shows, in addition to starring in his own Al TV specials.
Though parodies earned him his fame, Yankovic has recorded a greater number of humorous songs with original tunes. Some of these pieces are pastiches (or style parodies), where he chooses a band's entire body of work to emulate rather than any single hit, although Yankovic has many completely original pieces. Most of his albums include a medley which juxtaposes the choruses of various songs in a polka style to accordion music.
Due to his popularity, he has been credited with several songs that are not actually his. A full list of every song he has ever actually done, including the live-only songs, can be found at the Al Songs website. Similarly, a comprehensive list of songs incorrectly credited to him can be found at The Not Al Page.
In 2006, Al recorded the song "You're Pitiful". However, while James Blunt gave his blessing for the parody of his song, "You're Beautiful", Blunt's label Atlantic Records was opposed to it. Though parodies are protected legally, the issue had become "more of a political matter than a legal matter", according to Al, so he decided to not put the song on his next album. Instead, he offered it as a free download from his site.
His latest album, "Straight Outta Lynwood", was released September 26th, 2006. Its first released single, "Don't Download This Song", was made available as a free download on August 21, 2006. The animated video for the track and a link to downloadable MP3 is available at dontdownloadthissong.com. Among other tracks, the album includes parodies of Green Day, Usher, R. Kelly, and Chamillionaire. Chamillionaire's "Ridin' Dirty" is parodied as "White and Nerdy", the second released single from the new album. This single has thus far climbed as far as #9 on the Billboard Singles chart, eclipsing "Eat It" as Al's highest charting single (which went as high as #12).
Official Website: http://www.weirdal.com
FactBox Info
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Al Yankovic
Jon ''Bermuda'' Schwartz
Steve Jay
Jim West
RubƩn Valtierra
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Rick Derringer
Ross Noble
Joe Earley
Money For Nothing/ Beverly Hillbillies
"Weird Al" Yankovic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beverly Hillbillies
Huh, now lookie here people
Listen to my story
A little story 'bout a man named Jed
You know something?
That poor mountaineer
Now, let me tell you
One day he was shootin'
Old Jed was shootin' at some food
When all of a sudden right up from the ground, there
Well, there came a bubblin' crude
Oil that is Well, maybe you call it
Black gold or Texas tea
He gonna move next to Mr. Drysdale
And be a Beverly hillbilly
Before you know it, all the kinfolk are-a-sayin'
Yeah, buddie, move away from there
That little Clampet got his own cement pond
That little Clampet, he's a millionaire
Now, everyone said Californie
Is the place that you oughta be
We got to load up this here truck now
We got to move to Beverly
Hills, that is
Swimming pools
Move-a-move-a-movie stars
Huh
Look it that, look it that
Beverly Beverly Beverly hillbillies
Y'all come back now, y'hear?
Beverly Beverly Beverly hillbillies
Beverly Beverly Beverly hillbillies
Beverly Beverly Beverly hillbillies
"Weird Al" Yankovic's song "Money For Nothing/ Beverly Hillbillies" is a humorous parody of the 1960s television show The Beverly Hillbillies, which was about a poor family from the mountaintops of Appalachia that moved to California and struck oil. The opening emphasizes the theme of the show, which is the rags-to-riches story of Jed, the main character, and his family. The first verse describes Jed's life in poverty and how difficult it was to feed his family. One day while hunting, he discovered oil, or "black gold," which made him a millionaire overnight.
The chorus of "Money For Nothing/ Beverly Hillbillies" is a parody of the theme song for The Beverly Hillbillies, which went "The Beverly Hillbillies ā they're just common folk like you and me. The Beverly Hillbillies ā a millionaire's lifestyle is the place to be." The chorus emphasizes the sudden wealth that comes with striking oil and the family's transition into life in a rich community of Beverly Hills. The lyrics are written in a tongue-in-cheek manner, as the family's newfound wealth leads them to discover a life full of material and entertainment that they never dreamed of before.
Overall, "Money For Nothing/ Beverly Hillbillies" is a satirical take on the American dream and being able to rise from poverty to wealth. It pokes fun at the lavish lifestyle of the wealthy and the cultural differences between rural and urban societies, while still celebrating the joys and freedoms of accumulating wealth.
Line by Line Meaning
Huh, now lookie here people
Attention, I have an interesting story to tell.
Listen to my story
Pay attention so you can hear my tale.
A little story 'bout a man named Jed
I am going to tell you about a man named Jed.
You know something?
I have some information to share with you.
That poor mountaineer
Jed was not wealthy.
They say he barely kept his family fed
Jed struggled to support his family.
Now, let me tell you
I am about to share some important information.
One day he was shootin'
Jed was hunting for food.
Old Jed was shootin' at some food
Jed was trying to hunt for his family.
When all of a sudden right up from the ground, there
Suddenly, oil gushed from the ground.
Well, there came a bubblin' crude
Oil flowed freely from the earth.
Oil that is
It was crude oil.
Well, maybe you call it
Perhaps it's what you call black gold.
Black gold or Texas tea
It's crude oil or Texas tea, depending on how you say it.
He gonna move next to Mr. Drysdale
Jed decided to move to a new home beside Mr. Drysdale.
And be a Beverly hillbilly
Jed became a member of the wealthy residents of Beverly Hills.
Before you know it, all the kinfolk are-a-sayin'
Soon, all of the family members were saying.
Yeah, buddie, move away from there
You should leave your rural home.
That little Clampet got his own cement pond
Jed now has a swimming pool.
That little Clampet, he's a millionaire
Jed is now a millionaire.
Now, everyone said Californie
Everyone believed that California.
Is the place that you oughta be
Where you should live.
We got to load up this here truck now
We need to pack our belongings into this truck.
We got to move to Beverly
We have to move to Beverly Hills.
Hills, that is
That's where we have to go.
Swimming pools
Amenity present on the homes in Beverly Hills.
Move-a-move-a-movie stars
Home to Hollywood and its movie stars.
Beverly Beverly Beverly hillbillies
A humorous reference to the wealthy residents of Beverly Hills.
Y'all come back now, y'hear?
I hope you enjoyed my story and return to hear more.
Beverly Beverly Beverly hillbillies
Another reference to the wealthy residents of Beverly Hills.
Beverly Beverly Beverly hillbillies
Yet another reference to the wealthy residents of Beverly Hills.
Beverly Beverly Beverly hillbillies
One final reference to the wealthy residents of Beverly Hills.
Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALFRED MATTHEW YANKOVIC, GORDON SUMNER, MARK KNOPFLER, PAUL HENNING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nbuehster
Mark Knopfler wasn't the only member of Dire Straits who played in this song. Guy Fletcher played synthesizer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UHF_ā_Original_Motion_Picture_Soundtrack_and_Other_Stuff#Personnel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fletcher
I find it hard to believe Mark Knopfler played guitar on this.
1. It sounds like a different kind of guitar. (one you would normally hear in Weird Al's other songs)Ā
2. Some of the riffs aren't as good as the original.
Then again, there are live versions of Money For Nothing, and the guitar he plays on those sound like the one he played on this.
@leokimvideo
How the hell he makes Money For Nothing mash with Beverly Hillbillies proves Weird Al is wired in a very different way
@musicloverme3993
Fun fact: If you rearrange the letters in Weird, you get wired!
@mightymax9948
Notable that Beverly Hillbillies is in the public domain so he probably didn't have to worry about copyrights and could even include the video footage freely.
@kamakaziozzie3038
@musiclover me that is kind of fun!
@kishascape
@Mighty Max Actually it was licensed, this is clipped from the UHF movie and it's stated during the end credits of the full movie.
@mightymax9948
@KishaScape Weird Al, not YouTube. Kek
@docproc144
The fact that Mark Knopfler pretty much told Weird Al, āYeah you can parody this, as long as I can play the riffā is just so cool to meā¦
@loadeddice4696
"Listen Al, this is the sickest riff anyone's ever heard, and only I know how to do it right"
@nickgreen4731
I didn't know Mark played it on this! I was thinking, 'Whoever copied this is really good...'
@turokforever007
Yup Mark said he would redo it for the song @@nickgreen4731