A graduate of St. Andrew's School, Wainwright is best known for a 1972 novelty song hit Dead Skunk (in the Middle of the Road), with pianist Teddy Wender and for playing Captain Spalding (the "singing surgeon") on three episodes of the American television show M*A*S*H in its third season (1974-1975), but his musical reputation is much deeper. Using a witty, self-mocking style, Wainwright has recorded over twenty albums on eleven different labels. Two of his albums have been nominated for Grammy awards.
He is also a regular actor in Judd Apatow movies. His biggest role was playing the father on Judd's show, Undeclared.
In 2012 his latest offering Older Than My Old Man Now was released.
Official website : http://www.lwiii.com/
Dead Skunk
Loudon Wainwright III Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He shoulda looked left and he shoulda looked right
He didn't see the station wagon car
The skunk got squashed and there you are
You got your
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high heaven
Take a whiff on me, that ain't no rose
Roll up yer window and hold your nose
You don't have to look and you don't have to see
'Cause you can feel it in your olfactory
You got your
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
And it's stinkin' to high heaven
Yeah you got your dead cat and you got your dead dog
On a moonlight night you got your dead toad frog
Got your dead rabbit and your dead raccoon
The blood and the guts they're gonna make you swoon
You got your
Dead skunk in the middle
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high heaven
C'mon stink
You got it
It's dead, it's in the middle
Dead skunk in the middle
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high heaven
All over the road, technicolor man
Oh, you got pollution
It's dead, it's in the middle
And it's stinkin' to high, high heaven
"Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III is a humorous yet macabre tale about a skunk that sadly meets its demise in the middle of the road. The song begins with a brief narration about how the skunk failed to look both ways and ended up being hit by a station wagon. The singer then sings about the unfortunate consequences of leaving a dead skunk in the middle of the road, including the overwhelming stench it creates. The song also adds a darkly comical twist by noting that the scent of a dead skunk can overcome a person's sense of smell so much that they don't even need to look at it to know it's there.
Through its absurd lyrics and catchy melody, "Dead Skunk" marks a commentary on the ways in which human behavior can drastically and irreversibly impact the natural world around them. The song also showcases Wainwright's satirical and witty songwriting style, making it a quintessential cult classic amongst his many fans worldwide.
Line by Line Meaning
Crossin' the highway late last night
The skunk was attempting to cross the highway at night
He shoulda looked left and he shoulda looked right
The skunk made an error in judgment by not checking both sides before crossing
He didn't see the station wagon car
The skunk failed to notice the car coming towards it
The skunk got squashed and there you are
The skunk met an unfortunate end as it was hit by the car
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
The carcass of the skunk is situated in the center of the road
Stinkin' to high heaven
The odor emanating from the dead skunk is extremely pungent
Take a whiff on me, that ain't no rose
The foul smell of the skunk can be experienced by anyone nearby
Roll up yer window and hold your nose
The stench is so unbearable that one should close their car window and cover their nose while passing by
You don't have to look and you don't have to see
The smell is so strong that one can experience it without having to actually witness the dead skunk
'Cause you can feel it in your olfactory
The smell is so overpowering that one can feel it in their sense of smell
Dead cat, dead dog, ghost of a 'possum in the road
The song describes the various other types of animal carcasses that may be found on the road
On a moonlight night you got your dead toad frog
Even on a beautiful, moonlit night, one may encounter a dead toad frog
Got your dead rabbit and your dead raccoon
In addition to skunks, other animals such as rabbits and raccoons may also meet a similar fate on the road
The blood and the guts they're gonna make you swoon
The sight of the entrails and blood of these animals could cause one to feel nauseous
Dead skunk in the middle
Continuation of earlier line to emphasize the presence of the dead skunk on the road
All over the road, technicolor man
The song uses a metaphor to describe the multiple colors of the various animals' entrails strewn all over the road
Oh, you got pollution
The lyrics comment on the environmental pollution caused by the increasing number of animals killed on the road
It's dead, it's in the middle
The repetition of this line is used to drive home the fact that the skunk is no longer alive and is still blocking the road
And it's stinkin' to high, high heaven
Reinforcing the foul odor coming from the carcass of the skunk
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-zm8lu7ew3h
My husband passed away last Thursday ...we were married 56 years and he loved this crazy song.I chosen it for the play list for his memorial
@davidsloan2093
I recently did a eulogy for a friend who I used the intro to Dead Skunk in The Middle of The Road. My friend was pretty good singing this song, so I recited in in his honor. I find it interesting that you used the song at his memorial service. Must have been fate that I saw your comment.
@AkilCampbell
My condolences
@justingoodsell1376
My condolences
@denisebersch
Thank you. I know he loved it. And you know he was watching.
@charlesbraun8867
Prayers for you , but awesome you kept it ion his play list.
@teresamiller517
I was telling my husband of 35 years how we would sing this with our Mom going down the road listening to the radio, he didn't believe there was a song about a dead skunk in the road. I was 14 back then, Mom is gone now, those were good days for a 14 year old. Good memories.
@rickmcdaris4157
Almost an identical story. My brother an I would sing along with our mom when it came on the radio in the car. We could never make it through without breaking into hysterics. My dad would just shake his head. Good times! Mom and Dad are both gone now as well.
@Momcat_maggiefelinefan
My Mom loved this song! She even bought the “45” and told my Dad that we kids wanted it. She’d play it all day, but never when Dad got home from work, lol! 🇨🇦🖖🏻🇨🇦🦨🇨🇦🦨🖖🏻🦨🇨🇦
@terismidt4920
My husband sang it to our kids and grandkids. He passed away from covid 2 years ago. I miss hearing him sing it.