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.
Wun'erful Wun'erful!
Stan Freberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ls is the Lemmon Sisters, ll is Larry Looper,
Ss is Stoney Stonedwell, al is Alice Lean,
Sm is sailor matey, sc is sailor captain
Note lw is done in a parody of Lawrence Welks accent.
I will spell this phonetically in a few places
Where it is important, but if I did it consistently,
Lw Thank you, thank you and good evening friends.
Were coming to you once again from the beautiful
Aragon Ballroom on Lick Pier at beautiful Santa
Monica Beach, California. Weve been getting lots
Of cards and letters from you folks out there in
Television lant and we surely do thank you for... Ah...
For... Ah... For all the cards and letters from you
Folks out there in television lant. Starting us off
Tonight is our trio the Lemmon Sisters and
Girls what are you going to sing?
-L Were going to sing Thank You For All Those Cards
And Letters You Folks Out There in Television Land.
Lw Lant!
-L Lant
Lw And now an appropriate number. A-wun and a-too and a-
Ls Thank you for all those cards and letters
You folks in television lant
We wonder where this television lant is
Could it be a couple of miles from where Diney Lant is
Oh, well never the less you guys and gals in
Lw What is that noise there?
Ls - bunch of palsy-walsies -
Lw Oh, it's the bubble machine. Turn off... Just a moment...
I... Hold it just a moment please... Turn off the bubble
Machine... Please turn off the bubble. Thank you Lemmon Sisters
For that lovely number. Wunerful, wunerful. And now on with
The show. Heres that man with the deep, deep voice,
Larry Looper. Larry, What are you going to sing for us, Larry?
Ll I'm going to sing Thank You For All Those Cards and Letters.
Lw I'm sorry, that number has been taken.
Ll Well. I'll sing The Funny Old Hills then.
Lw Good. A-wun and a-too and a-
Ll I-
Lw Hold it just a moment. The bubbles don't come till the end
Of the program. Turn off the bubbles. Thank you Lar- thank you
Larry Looper, for that wunerful number. Now I would like to
Play a short instrumental medley based on the names of girls.
A-wun and a-too... No... No, that's not it... Thank you so very much. And
Now heres that young man about town from the brass section, Stoney
Stonedwell, to sing Please.
Ss Please. Lend your little ears to my plea -
Lw What is the matter with that machine. Here, hit it with your
Horn... Hit it... Here... Stick your mouthpiece in it there.
Wunerful, wunerful. And now on with the show. Heres our
Champagne lady Alice Lean. Alice is going to sing
Moonlight and Shadows. A-wun and a-too and a-
Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in twenty-five years
My popping finger is caught in my cheek. Will you give me a hand
There, Alice... Here, pull my arm... No, the other arm... Just pull
It...
Pull it... That's it.
Al Moonlight and shadows and you in my arms
And the melody in the bamboo tree my sweet
Even in shadows
Lw Hold it, somebody stop the bubble machine. The whole ballroom is
Lathering up with bubbles. And now I can't see the cameras. Here, let
Me set that accordion down on the stage and I'll try to fix that. Bear
With us, folks just a moment please. Gee, the time is running out and
We haven't even played the polka. Wait a minute, boys, I
Didn't mean... Hold it, Alice, don't polka on my accordion.
Gee, Dad, it was a Wurlitzer. Hit the theme, boys. And so it's
Goodnight from all the champagne... Wheres the cameras... There's so
Many bubbles I can't... And so, friends, we... Help, the whole ballroom
Is shoving off to sea...
Sm Sure is a clear night, aint it, Captain?
Sc Yup, matey, these are the kind of nights when the sea plays
Tricks on ye.
Sm Yeah, I recollect one night off Singapore...
Sc Tricks, I say, like that mirage off the port bow now.
Sm What?
Sc See it there, kinda bubbly looking in the moonlight?
Sm Oh, yeah. Gee, if I didn't know better, I'd say it looks
Like the Aragon Ballroom.
Sc Yeah... Dee-deedee dee-dee dee dee dee-dee
Sm Hey, that's a catchy chantey you're humming there, Captain.
What is it?
Sc Oh, I don't know. Just keeps running through my head.
Sm Lets go below and catch a little shut-eye.
Lw Help! Help! Wunerful, wunerful. Turn off the bubble machine.
Help... Help...
The lyrics to Stan Freberg's song "Wun'erful Wun'erful!" are a satire of the Lawrence Welk Show, and its distinctive brand of wholesome, bubbly entertainment. The song takes place at the Aragon Ballroom on Santa Monica Beach, California, with Lawrence Welk introducing the various performers. The Lemmon Sisters sing "Thank You For All Those Cards and Letters You Folks Out There in Television Land", complete with references to "Diney Lant" and "palsy-walsies." Larry Looper attempts to sing the same song but is told it's been taken, so he changes to "The Funny Old Hills." Stoney Stonedwell's rendition of "Please" is interrupted by malfunctions in the sound and bubble machines, while Alice Lean's performance of "Moonlight and Shadows" is marred by a stuck finger and more bubble problems.
The song is a commentary on the saccharine, often formulaic entertainment of the Lawrence Welk Show, which relied heavily on corny jokes, earnest balladry, and synchronized dancing. Freberg pokes fun at the show's rigid conventions, from Welk's heavily accented and sometimes incomprehensible delivery to the omnipresent bubble machine. The references to "television lant" and "Diney Lant" also play on the show's status as a cultural phenomenon, with a devoted following of middle-class viewers who tuned in every week for a dose of wholesome entertainment.
Line by Line Meaning
Thank you, thank you and good evening friends.
Welcome to my show.
Were coming to you once again from the beautiful Aragon Ballroom on Lick Pier at beautiful Santa Monica Beach, California.
This is where I am broadcasting from.
Weve been getting lots Of cards and letters from you folks out there in Television lant and we surely do thank you for... Ah... For... Ah... For all the cards and letters from you Folks out there in television lant.
Thanks for writing in and supporting us.
Starting us off Tonight is our trio the Lemmon Sisters and Girls what are you going to sing?
My first act tonight is the Lemmon Sisters.
Were going to sing Thank You For All Those Cards And Letters You Folks Out There in Television Land.
They are going to sing a song thanking the audience for writing in.
And now an appropriate number. A-wun and a-too and a-
Now for some music.
Thank you for all those cards and letters You folks in television lant We wonder where this television lant is Could it be a couple of miles from where Diney Lant is Oh, well never the less you guys and gals in
Thanks again for supporting us, wherever you are.
What is that noise there?
What is causing that sound?
Oh, it's the bubble machine. Turn off... Just a moment... I... Hold it just a moment please... Turn off the bubble Machine... Please turn off the bubble.
There is a bubble machine making noise, please turn it off.
Thank you Lemmon Sisters For that lovely number.
Thanks to the Lemmon Sisters for their great performance.
Wunerful, wunerful. And now on with The show. Heres that man with the deep, deep voice, Larry Looper. Larry, What are you going to sing for us, Larry?
Great job, now here comes Larry Looper, what will he sing?
I'm going to sing Thank You For All Those Cards and Letters.
Larry is going to sing a song thanking the audience for their support.
I'm sorry, that number has been taken.
That song has already been performed.
Well. I'll sing The Funny Old Hills then.
Okay, I'll sing a different song.
Hold it just a moment. The bubbles don't come till the end Of the program.
Please save the bubbles for the end of the show.
Thank you Lar- thank you Larry Looper, for that wunerful number.
Thanks to Larry for his great performance.
Now I would like to Play a short instrumental medley based on the names of girls.
I'm going to play some music now.
Thank you so very much. And Now heres that young man about town from the brass section, Stoney Stonedwell, to sing Please.
Thanks, now Stoney Stonedwell is going to perform.
What is the matter with that machine. Here, hit it with your Horn... Hit it... Here... Stick your mouthpiece in it there.
There is something wrong with the equipment, please try to fix it.
And now our Champagne lady Alice Lean. Alice is going to sing Moonlight and Shadows.
Next up is Alice Lean who will perform 'Moonlight and Shadows.'
Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in twenty-five years My popping finger is caught in my cheek. Will you give me a hand There, Alice... Here, pull my arm... No, the other arm... Just pull It... Pull it... That's it.
I have a cramp, could you help me out?
Hold it, somebody stop the bubble machine. The whole ballroom is Lathering up with bubbles.
Stop the bubbles, they are causing a mess.
Gee, the time is running out and We haven't even played the polka. Wait a minute, boys, I Didn't mean... Hold it, Alice, don't polka on my accordion.
We are running out of time and have not played the polka yet, oops! Don't play that song on my accordion.
And so it's Goodnight from all the champagne... Wheres the cameras... There's so Many bubbles I can't... And so, friends, we... Help, the whole ballroom Is shoving off to sea...
Goodnight everyone, we are having some issues here. The ballroom is in chaos.
Sure is a clear night, aint it, Captain?
Nice night isn't it?
Yup, matey, these are the kind of nights when the sea plays Tricks on ye.
It's these kinds of nights that make the sea unpredictable.
Tricks, I say, like that mirage off the port bow now.
Unpredictable, like that mirage off to the left.
See it there, kinda bubbly looking in the moonlight? Oh, yeah. Gee, if I didn't know better, I'd say it looks Like the Aragon Ballroom.
It looks like the Aragon Ballroom, but that can't be right.
Oh, I don't know. Just keeps running through my head.
I can't get this tune out of my head.
Hey, that's a catchy chantey you're humming there, Captain. What is it?
That song is catchy, what is it called?
Oh, it's over. Forget it.
Nevermind, it's gone now.
Lets go below and catch a little shut-eye.
Let's go rest.
Help! Help! Wunerful, wunerful. Turn off the bubble machine. Help... Help...
Help! Please stop the bubbles, it's out of control!
Contributed by Joshua Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chris Winter
"Wunnerful, Wunnerful" is a classic.
"I b'lieve the sea can play tricks on a man."
"Yeah. I recollect one night off Singapore, we--"
"Tricks, I say! Like that mirage off the port bow now. See it there, kinda bubbly-lookin' in the moonlight?"
"Yeah -- if I didn't know better, I'd say it looks like the Aragon Ballroom."
Sooz
Stan Freberg was a hoot... loved the way my Dad laughed himself senseless over his silly songs.
Soundtrack of my youth đźđ¤
Paul Masgalajian
Probably one of the most hilarious skits ever recorded. My parents watched the Lawrence Welk show religiously every week when I was in grade school. I first heard this recording at a friend's house when I was 13 years old. I can recall laughing so hard, it doubtless looked like I was having a convulsion.
dwtpa90
Yes, Stan Freberg really captured Lawrence Welk! Thanks for your comment and history -
mescko
He did this bit first on his radio show, and the hysterical reaction he got convinced him to do a record of it.
Barry I. Grauman
Stan originally presented this parody on his CBS radio show in the summer of 1957; he re-recorded it for Capitol, without the audience, but it's just as potent. He thought Welk and his brand of variety were too...as in "why DO people just sit there in their living rooms and WATCH this every week?". Peggy Taylor, Stan's vocalist on the radio show, sings all the female parts; Daws Butler and Stan are the "seamen" at the end. Billy May does an excellent job of "interpreting" Welk's arrangments...
ProfessorNeuwave
I just met Stan Freberg's widow today while I was working at Best Buy, and sold her 2 Roku units. 'The Three Little Bops' was my favorite cartoon ever as a kid. I am in complete shock at his prolific legendary status. Life can be so amazing when you least expect it.
Donald Carleton, Jr.
Always thought the "Three Little Bops" was up there with "One Froggy Evening" as one of the greatest animated shorts ever. Now I know why!
deenie1219
I had this record. I loved Stan, a truly funny comedic genius. I also had Ken Nordine's "Word Jazz" set of albums. Both these guys were great. Oh, also Bob Newhart " Button Down Mind" too. These guys were so great with no vulgarity at all. Wunnerful fun.
hourlynewscaster
Freberg was a perfectionist and surrounded himself with some of the most talented people in radio and music. Too bad what is on radio today pales by comparison.
peace2014
Stan Freberg's spoof of Dragnet is a classic.