In 1950, he scored a huge success with his first recording for Capitol Records, John and Marsha, a soap-opera parody that consisted of the title characters (both played by Freberg) repeating each other's names. In a follow-up he used pedal steel guitarist Speedy West to parody the 1953 country hit A Dear John Letter as A Dear John and Marsha Letter.
Throughout the 1950s he made a name for himself writing and performing both original songs (Tele-Vee-Shun) and parodies of popular tunes (The Yellow Rose of Texas, Day-O, Heartbreak Hotel). With fellow voice actors Daws Butler and June Foray he produced a medieval parody of Dragnet called St. George and the Dragon-Net. The latter recording was a #1 hit for four weeks in late 1953.
Freberg's brilliant, authentic-sounding musical parodies were a byproduct of his collaborations with Billy May and his Capitol Records producer Ken Nelson. His brilliant 1957 spoof of TV "champagne music" master Lawrence Welk, Wun'erful, Wun'erful was a true collaboration with May, a veteran big band musician and jazz arranger (known for his work with Frank Sinatra among others) who loathed Welk's corny style. To replicate that sound, May and some of Hollywood's finest studio musicians and vocalists worked to virtually clone Welk's sound. Billy Liebert, a first-rate accordionist copied Welk's own accordion playing. The humor was lost on Welk; Freberg later recalled the bandleader denying he ever used the term "Wunnerful! Wunnerful!" (later the title of Welk's autobiography).
Another hit song to get the Freberg treatment was the weepy Cry, which Freberg rendered as Try ("You too can be unhappy... if you try!") Ray was furious, until he realized the success of Freberg's parody was helping sales and airplay of his own record; Ray and Freberg actually became close friends.
Freberg continued to skewer the advertising industry after the demise of his radio show, producing Green Chri$tma$ in 1958 (again with Butler), a scathing indictment of the overcommercialization of the holiday. Freberg, the son of a church minister and very religious himself, made sure to point out on that novelty record "Whose birthday we're celebrating." Despite his Jewish-sounding last name, Freberg is actually a Baptist of Swedish heritage.
"Green Chri$tma$" also foreshadowed his musical review on LP Stan Freberg Presents: The United States Of America, Volume 1: The Early Years (1961) in that both combined dialog and song in a musical-like style. Stan Freberg Presents: The United States of America, Volume 2: The Middle Years was planned for a release during America's Bicentennial in 1976 but did not emerge until 1996.
Try
Stan Freberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you know that it'sss the thththing-k to sob and sigh?
Sss-singers do it, carr-rowds do it,
Even little white caaa-louds do it. 1
He-yew((you)) too can be hunhappy((unhappy)) if you terr-rye((try)).
Don't you know, nnn-nobody llllll-laughs it up no mo-o-o-o-ore?
If your heart ain't bro-oh-ken you don't know the sco-o-o-o-ore. /
/(Ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee.)
'Cause it's a-rrr-eal george-a((real george)) 2 to cah-rye((cry).
Don't be a s-snob, you too can sa-hob((sob)),
If you jest((just)) terr-rye((try)).
Do-on't yew-eww kno-oh, no-oh-bo-a-dy-ee,
La-aughs i-it u-up no-oh mo-oh oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh oh-ore?
If your heart ain't brrrrro-oken hyewwww((you)) don't know the sco-ore.
/(Ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee.)
Ooooo-wipe off that smile and wwwweep awhile,
'Cause it's a-rrr-eal george-a to cah-rye((cry).
Don't be a s-snob, sit down and sa-ha-ha-ha-hob((sob),/
C'mon and terr-ryiiiiey((try)).
(C'mon and try.)
The lyrics to Stan Freberg's song Try suggest that it's okay to express negative emotions such as sadness and crying, even if society pressures people to appear happy all the time. The song highlights the fact that everyone experiences hardships and that it's okay to show vulnerability. The lyrics suggest that even animals cry, so it's natural for humans to do so as well. The song argues that people should not be afraid of appearing weak or vulnerable and that they should try to embrace their emotions rather than suppressing them.
The message of the song is relevant in today's society where there is often pressure to put up a façade of happiness and success, even when facing difficulties. The song encourages listeners to embrace their feelings and acknowledge the challenges of life, rather than pretending everything is perfect. The song's call to action - to "try" - suggests that it takes effort to show vulnerability, but it's worth it to experience emotional growth and authenticity.
Overall, the song's message is one of acceptance, empathy, and compassion. It reminds listeners that everyone struggles and that it's okay to embrace sadness and tears. By doing so, people can find comfort and healing from within themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Iiiii-if yore happy hand((and)) yore eyes are always daaa-rye((dry)), Don't you know that it'sss the thththing-k to sob and sigh?
If you always appear happy with dry eyes, you should know that it's okay to express sadness and cry.
Sss-singers do it, carr-rowds do it, Even little white caaa-louds do it. 1 He-yew((you)) too can be hunhappy((unhappy)) if you terr-rye((try)).
Singers, cows, and even birds cry. You too can be unhappy if you give it a try.
Don't you know, nnn-nobody llllll-laughs it up no mo-o-o-o-ore? If your heart ain't bro-oh-ken you don't know the sco-o-o-o-ore. /(Ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee.)
No one is laughing anymore. If you don't experience heartbreak, you don't understand the pain.
Ooooo-wipe off that smile h-and((and)) we-eep awhile, 'Cause it's a-rrr-eal george-a((real george)) 2 to cah-rye((cry)).
It's okay to wipe off your smile and cry because crying is a genuine and honest expression of emotion.
Don't be a s-snob, you too can sa-hob((sob)), If you jest((just)) terr-rye((try)).
Don't be arrogant and allow yourself to cry. All you have to do is give it a try.
Do-on't yew-eww kno-oh, no-oh-bo-a-dy-ee, La-aughs i-it u-up no-oh mo-oh oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh oh-ore?
Don't you realize that nobody laughs it up anymore?
If your heart ain't brrrrro-oken hyewwww((you)) don't know the sco-ore. /(Ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee ooo-eee.)
If you haven't experienced heartbreak, you don't truly understand the depth of emotional pain.
Ooooo-wipe off that smile and wwwweep awhile, 'Cause it's a-rrr-eal george-a to cah-rye((cry)). Don't be a s-snob, sit down and sa-ha-ha-ha-hob((sob),/ C'mon and terr-ryiiiiey((try)). (C'mon and try.)
It's okay to wipe off your smile and cry genuinely. Don't be arrogant and sit down and cry. Give it a try and express your emotions honestly.
Contributed by Ellie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joey DAttili
This is absolutely brilliant. I haven't heard it in 30yrs
Daria Wells
I've been subjected to Johnnie Ray's moaning throughout this year of listening and this is refreshing and delightful...and spot on!
The Eggplant That Ate Chicago
Maybe the funniest record I've ever heard. The bit about little white clouds kills me every time.
Dan VanLandingham
I love ut,I wonder if he did a spoof of "The Little White Cloud That Cried"?
loverofcountry506070
I can't believe this made the top 100 much less the top 20.
Natalie P.
loverofcountry506070; You mean this parody or the Johnnie Ray original?
Thumb Trick Flux
This has to be where Andy Kaufman got his bongo routine from.
Clyde P
My guess: The melody and words had to be changed at least a little in order to circumvent the royalties requirement, just like that in Glenn Millers 1942-1943 "Juke Box Saturday Night".
Bic Parker
Bwahahahaha! Take that, Johnnie Ray!
The Eggplant That Ate Chicago
Johnnie Ray had a very sad life, but that doesn't change the fact this parody is hilarious.