The Hair Piece
George Carlin Lyrics


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George Carlin
FM And AM
The Hair Piece
One of the things that occurred when I began to uh, y'know, feel some changes happening to me... naturally, I was kinda still entertaining in gin joints, y'know- I realize they sell gin here, but it's really not the same as middle-class nightclubs where I spent like a lotta years and it was weird to start having hair and start having a beard and to come out, y'know, to all these folks- lotta Shriners and hookers and salesmen.which are the same as hookers, really, if you get right down to it. Uh, it was just strange. I had to find a way to break the ice. I told them a poem. I told them about my hair.

I'm aware some stare at my hair
In fact, some really despair of my hair
But I don't care
'cause they're not aware
nor are they debonair
In fact, they're just square
They see hair down to there
say BEWARE and go off on a tear
I say "No fair"
A head that's bare is really nowhere
So be like a bear
Be fair with your hair
Show it you care
Wear it to there, or to there,
or to THERE if you dare
My wife bought some hair at a fair
to use as a spare
Did I care? Au contraire!
Spare hair is fair
In fact, hair can be rare
Fred Astaire got no hair
nor does a chair
or a chocolate eclair
And where is the hair on a pear?
Nowhere, mon frere
Now that I've shared this affair of the hair
I think I'll repair to my lair
and use Nair, do you care?
Here's my beard
Ain't it weird?
Don't be sceered
's just a beard





That's the thing. The word 'beard' shook a lot of people up. Beard! It's not American sounding. BEARD! Lenin had a BEARD! Gabby Hayes had 'whiskers'. Monty Woolley had whiskers. Yeah. Well anyway, I mention hair because I've only had extra hair for about a year now and uh, actually, it's the same hair I always had. It just used to be on the inside. I'm wearing it in a new location, that's all. And I've found there are some advantages to longer hair. For one thing, it covers the pimples on your neck. One of the disadvantages of longer hair- a lot of people think you're a Commie *** junkie. And it's tough to talk them out of three things at once. What would a Commie *** junkie sound like, y'know? (does unintelligible 'Commie *** junkie' impression)

Overall Meaning

In George Carlin's song "The Hair Piece," he talks about the changes he goes through as he starts developing his hair and beard. The song talks about how he goes from performing in middle-class nightclubs to singing in gigs where there are a lot of Shriners, hookers, and salesmen. Carlin feels out of place in this new world but finds an excellent way to connect with his audience by telling them a poem about his hair. He sings that people stare and despair on his hair, but he doesn't care. He then goes on to say that a head that's bare is really nowhere.


Carlin mentions the benefits and the drawbacks of long hair. He jokes that having longer hair could cover the pimples on the neck but could also make people assume that he's a commie junkie. The song goes on to mention that his wife bought some extra hair to use as a spare, and Carlin has no issue with that as he believes that spare hair is fair, and in fact, hair can be rare. In the end, Carlin asks his audience if they care that he has hair, and if he would use Nair to remove it.


Overall, the song talks about the advantages and disadvantages of having longer hair, and it also highlights George Carlin's excellent sense of humor and his ability to connect with his audience.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm aware some stare at my hair
I know people look at my hair


In fact, some really despair of my hair
Actually, some really don't like my hair


But I don't care
But I don't let it bother me


'cause they're not aware
Because they don't know


nor are they debonair
And they're not suave and sophisticated like me


In fact, they're just square
Actually, they're quite uncool


They see hair down to there
People see my long hair


say BEWARE and go off on a tear
Get scared and start to freak out


I say "No fair"
I think that's not right


A head that's bare is really nowhere
Bald people have nowhere to hide


So be like a bear
So be bold and furry


Be fair with your hair
Be kind to your hair


Show it you care
Let it feel loved


Wear it to there, or to there, or to THERE if you dare
Wear it how you like


My wife bought some hair at a fair
My wife bought some hair at a carnival


to use as a spare
In case she needs it


Did I care? Au contraire!
Did I mind? Not at all!


Spare hair is fair
Having extra hair is okay


In fact, hair can be rare
Actually, sometimes hair is hard to come by


Fred Astaire got no hair
Fred Astaire was bald


nor does a chair or a chocolate eclair
Chairs and desserts don't have hair either


And where is the hair on a pear?
And where is the hair on fruit?


Nowhere, mon frere
Nowhere, my friend


Now that I've shared this affair of the hair
Now that I've talked about hair


I think I'll repair to my lair
I think I'll go back to my secret hideout


and use Nair, do you care?
And use a hair removal product, do you mind?


Here's my beard
Now let me show you my beard


Ain't it weird?
Isn't it strange?


Don't be sceered
Don't be scared


's just a beard
It's just facial hair




Contributed by Elliot B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@mullen25

listened and loved this album as a kid. we'd replay it countless times. we'd repeat the lines all the time. friend's older brother had it.

@jamescox2749

classic carlin

@joellafargue9882

I watched this, using the "closed captions" feature, just to see how many words and phrases they'd fuck up.

@tncorgi92

Did pretty well, up until "nowhere mole Fred".

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