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
Rubén Valtierra
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Rick Derringer
Ross Noble
Joe Earley
Nature Trail To Hell
"Weird Al" Yankovic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The most horrifying film to hit the screen
There's a homicidal maniac who finds a cub scout troop
And he hacks up two or three in every scene
Please don't reveal the secret ending to your friends
Don't spoil the big surprise
You won't believe your eyes when you see
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
In 3-d
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
In 3-d
See severed heads that almost fall right in your lap
See that bloody hatchet coming right at you
No, you'll never see hideous effects like these again
'Till we bring you "nature trail to hell part 2"
So bring the kids along, it's good clean family fun
What have you got to lose
If you like the six o'clock news then you'll love
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
In 3-d
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
In 3-d
(Zhiw ezeehc stae natas)
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
In 3-d
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
In 3-d
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
In 3-d
N-n-n-n-n-n-n-nature trail to hell
Take it away from the nature trail to hell
There's no escape from the nature trail to hell
In 3-d
3-d
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
Nature trail to hell
In 3-d
Nature trail to hell
In 3-d
Nature trail to hell
In 3-d
Nature trail to hell
In 3-d
"Weird Al" Yankovic's "Nature Trail to Hell" is a satirical take on the horror movie genre, specifically the slasher subgenre that had gained popularity in the 1980s. The lyrics describe a movie that was supposedly "coming this Christmas" to "a theater near you." The movie features a homicidal maniac who finds a cub scout troop and kills two or three of the scouts in "every scene." The lyrics also suggest that the film will be in 3D, and that the audience will see "severed heads" almost falling into their laps, and a "bloody hatchet" coming right at them. In the end, the song plays with the idea that the movie will be a wholesome, fun-family event, similar to watching the 6 o'clock news.
The song's lyrics are a commentary on the cultural phenomenon of horror movies and how they are marketed to the public. The idea that the movie is "good clean family fun" is an ironic twist on the reality that horror movies are often marketed to teenagers and adults, and that they are filled with graphic violence and gore. Furthermore, the fact that the movie is advertised as being in 3D, and that the audience will see a bloody hatchet coming at them, is a nod to the cheap tactics that movies often use to attract audiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Coming this Christmas to a theater near you
This movie is coming out soon in theaters
The most horrifying film to hit the screen
This movie is very scary and disturbing
There's a homicidal maniac who finds a cub scout troop
The movie is about a crazy killer who attacks a group of boy scouts
And he hacks up two or three in every scene
The killer brutally murders multiple boy scouts throughout the movie
Please don't reveal the secret ending to your friends
Do not give away the surprise ending of the movie to anyone
Don't spoil the big surprise
Keep the movie's twist ending a secret
You won't believe your eyes when you see
The movie has amazing and shocking visual effects
Nature trail to hell
The movie is called Nature Trail to Hell
In 3-d
The movie is in 3D
See severed heads that almost fall right in your lap
The movie has graphic scenes of heads being cut off and it feels like the heads are close to the audience
See that bloody hatchet coming right at you
There are scenes in the movie where a bloody hatchet appears to be aimed at the audience
No, you'll never see hideous effects like these again
The special effects in this movie are very unique and will not be seen in other movies
'Till we bring you "nature trail to hell part 2"
There is a possibility of a sequel called Nature Trail to Hell Part 2
So bring the kids along, it's good clean family fun
The movie is marketed as appropriate for families, but it is not appropriate due to the violent and disturbing content
What have you got to lose
The movie is asking the audience to take a chance and watch the film
If you like the six o'clock news then you'll love
If you enjoy watching violent news stories, you will enjoy this movie
(Zhiw ezeehc stae natas)
This is a backwards message that says 'Satan eats cheez whiz'
N-n-n-n-n-n-n-nature trail to hell
This is the chorus of the song and repeats the title of the movie
Take it away from the nature trail to hell
This line is unclear in meaning and may be interpreted differently by listeners
There's no escape from the nature trail to hell
The movie is so intense that it feels like there is no way to escape from the horror
Nature trail to hell
The chorus repeats the title of the movie
In 3-d
The movie is in 3D
Nature trail to hell
The chorus repeats the title of the movie
In 3-d
The movie is in 3D
Nature trail to hell
The chorus repeats the title of the movie
In 3-d
The movie is in 3D
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AL YANKOVIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
firmkillernate
I never gave Weird Al a shot until recently and holy shit this man is a bonafide musical and comedic genius.
GB89
This is me right now
Anthony Branch
Yup.
firmkillernate
@Spacejunk nothing stopped me, I was just never curious. I wasn't really honest with my taste in music until recently, I kind of led myself into a little echo chamber of the same sounding shit. But now I'm more willing to give things a try. Ya know?
Frank69s
Im in the same boat 2 years later
haddyDrow1
This man is an international treasure
Square_9023
Galactic treasure
Thinking Outside The Jar(of PB)
He who is tired of weird al is tired of life
-Homer Simpson
William A Bove
Fucken A right he is
Arbichief
Indeed