Allan Sherman was a pioneer of the comedy-rock scene. Although not much to… Read Full Bio ↴Allan Sherman was a pioneer of the comedy-rock scene. Although not much to look at, the overweight, balding, short, Jewish man gained popularity and became quite the star because of his witty infusion of satirical comedy into very well orchestrated renditions of classic tunes and songs. A song would usually have a lyric, perhaps a name or phrase, that has very little to do with what the original song was about, but the words would sound similar. His albums had nothing to hide, either, as each one was recorded live, and all the laughter, and occasionally a lack thereof, could be heard.

Sherman was just a television producer, most famous for the quiz show "I've Got a Secret," not at all known as a comedian or performer, and it shocked everyone in the know when songs from his album My Son, The Folk Singer became popular. In fact, president John F. Kennedy was heard singing the song Sarah Jackman. Sherman's overnight popularity suddenly ended when the nation's attention focused on Kennedy's assassination, and the nation was too sad for such up-beat musical offerings.

Sherman then slipped back into his longtime depression, and died, quietly, at the young age of 48.

An Average Song
Allan Sherman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, here's a song,
An average song.
It's not too short,
It's not too long.

It's not too high,
It's not too low,
It's not too fast,

It's not too slow.

It's not too old,
It's not too new,
It's not too gay,
It's not too blue.

It's also not too good, my friends;
So ain't you glad this is the end?

Overall Meaning

The song "An Average Song" is a satirical take on the conventions of popular music, skewering the idea that a successful song must fit a certain mold or formula. The lyrics state that the song is "average," meaning that it doesn't stray too far from the middle ground in terms of tempo, length, pitch, or emotional content. By listing all the ways in which the song is average, Sherman highlights the absurdity of trying to create music that conforms to specific expectations rather than expressing a unique artistic vision.

The repetitiveness of the lyrics also serves to underscore the sameness that can be found in much popular music. The chorus, "It's not too short, it's not too long / It's not too high, it's not too low," echoes the idea that a successful song must fit certain structural parameters in terms of length and pitch. Similarly, the line "It's not too gay, it's not too blue" suggests that songs must either be lighthearted and upbeat or melancholy and reflective, leaving little room for nuance or complexity.

Overall, "An Average Song" is a clever critique of the music industry's obsession with creating formulaic hits that appeal to the widest possible audience. By pointing out the ways in which these songs are limited in their scope and originality, Sherman encourages listeners to demand more from their music and to celebrate the diversity of styles and perspectives that are out there.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, here's a song,
Hey, I have a song to sing

An average song.
It's an ordinary song.

It's not too short,
It's not too brief.

It's not too long.
It's not too extended.

It's not too high,
It's not too screaming.

It's not too low,
It's not too whispering.

It's not too fast,
It's not too rapid.

It's not too slow.
It's not too dull.

It's not too old,
It's not too vintage.

It's not too new,
It's not too contemporary.

It's not too gay,
It's not too joyful.