Shaving Cream
Paul Wynn Lyrics
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It may hurt your feelings a bit
Last night when I walked into my bathroom
I stepped in a big pile of...
[Chorus:]
Shaving cream, be nice and clean
Shave everyday and you'll always look keen
I think I'll break off with my girlfriend
Her antics are queer I'll admit
Each time I say, "Darling, I love you"
She tells me that I'm full of...
[Chorus]
Our baby fell out of the window
You'd think that her head would be split
But good luck was with her that morning
She fell in a barrel of...
[Chorus]
An old lady died in a bathtub
She died from a terrible fit
In order to fulfill her wishes
She was buried in six feet of...
[Chorus]
When I was in France with the army
One day I looked into my kit
I thought I would find me a sandwich
But the darn thing was loaded with...
[Chorus]
And now, folks, my story is ended
I think it is time I should quit
If any of you feel offended
Stick your head in a barrel of...
The lyrics to Paul Wynn's song "Shaving Cream" are quite unusual, and can even be considered nonsensical in parts. However, the song is actually a classic example of a type of novelty song called the "dirty song," which started gaining in popularity in the 1920s and 1930s. These songs often revolved around taboo subjects such as sex, but also included scatological humor and other types of irreverent or shocking imagery.
The song begins with the singer saying that he has a sad story to tell us, but it quickly becomes clear that he is not being entirely serious. The first verse describes the singer stepping into a pile of shaving cream in his bathroom, which makes him segue into the chorus where he extols the virtues of clean shaves. The second verse talks about the singer's girlfriend, whom he is thinking of breaking up with because of her "queer antics." He then accuses her of telling him he's "full of" something unspecified, before launching back into the chorus.
The third verse is arguably the strangest, as it describes a baby falling out of a window but landing in a barrel of something that is never disclosed, before once again moving back into the chorus. Similarly bizarre is the fourth verse, which tells of an old woman who dies in a bathtub from some kind of fit, but is then buried in six feet of...something. Finally, the fifth verse describes the singer's experience in the army, where he opens up a bag expecting to find a sandwich but instead discovers it's "loaded" with something else. The song then ends with one more chorus.
While the exact meaning of the song is up for interpretation, it seems clear that "Shaving Cream" is meant to be a lighthearted and irreverent take on the dirty song genre. The song's humorous lyrics and catchy melody quickly made it a hit when it was released in 1946, and it remains a popular staple of novelty song playlists to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a sad story to tell you
I want to share a sorrowful tale with you
It may hurt your feelings a bit
It could be slightly upsetting to hear
Last night when I walked into my bathroom
When I entered the restroom yesterday evening
I stepped in a big pile of...
I accidentally stepped in a large mound of...
Shaving cream, be nice and clean
Shaving cream is useful to have for looking presentable
Shave everyday and you'll always look keen
Make it a habit to shave daily for a well-groomed appearance
I think I'll break off with my girlfriend
I'm considering ending my relationship with my girlfriend
Her antics are queer I'll admit
Her behavior is peculiar, I must confess
Each time I say, "Darling, I love you"
Whenever I express my feelings, "Sweetheart, I adore you"
She tells me that I'm full of...
She responds by calling me a load of...
Our baby fell out of the window
Our child tumbled out the window
You'd think that her head would be split
You might assume she'd have an injured head
But good luck was with her that morning
Fortunately, she was fortunate that day
She fell in a barrel of...
She landed in a container holding a lot of...
An old lady died in a bathtub
An elderly woman passed away while bathing
She died from a terrible fit
She breathed her last due to a severe spasm
In order to fulfill her wishes
To respect her desires
She was buried in six feet of...
They laid her to rest, six feet deep in...
When I was in France with the army
During my time serving in the military, stationed in France
One day I looked into my kit
On one occasion, I peered into my supply bag
I thought I would find me a sandwich
I expected to discover a sandwich for myself
But the darn thing was loaded with...
Instead, it was packed with a ton of...
And now, folks, my story is ended
And at this point, my tale has concluded
I think it is time I should quit
I believe it's time for me to stop
If any of you feel offended
If anyone is upset
Stick your head in a barrel of...
Place your head inside a large container of...
Lyrics © MADISON MUSIC
Written by: BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rob Getz
Never gets old! The good Doctor resurrected this from obscurity for all to pass on to the next generation!
Jim Hilliker
I certainly remember this on KMET and I guess Barry was syndicated by this time. I had been listening to him on Sunday nights in Southern California since 1972 I guess, in high school. And he started doing his Doctor shows on the old KPPC -FM in Pasadena a few years earlier. This always made me laugh, along with other old naughty records he played, like Davy's Dinghy, Knockers Up, etc. Thanks for posting this . I haven't heard it in a long time.
Rockin' Remnants
Oh man, when I this was on the AM radio, I was 16, and I thought this was the funniest thing I had ever heard! 🤣 Just risqué enough to slip by them darn censors!
t40onbass
It took 29 years for this record to become a hit.
In Chicago if you heard this you were listening to WLS the few times they played it, "American Top 40" on WDHF or of course "The Dr. Demento Show" on WSDM (later WLUP).
Pinky Jujubean
I always thought this song was much older. I never would have guessed that this was from the 70s
Michael Azara
This record was found by a friend of a New York disk jockey & they dared him to play it on the air, & he did it after a warning that the following song maybe offensive to some. And to everyone's surprise the song became an instant success in 1975 after being one of the most requested records in radio history! And this song was an oldie even in the 70's Shaving Cream was originally recorded in 1946!
cliffford
Vanguard also released an album by Benny, with a bunch of other great songs.
Tony Seay
Just goes to show there are millons of good ole oldies...
Playbyplaymedia
I wonder how Vanguard became the label that released it in the 70s,
Juan
I had not heard this since '75.