Because they're macaws?

Cadaverous Pallor · 04-09-2007, 10:53 AM

After a recent Tiki Room visit, GD and I were mentioning the lyrics and realized there was one part we never quite understood. I just looked it up and found that I've been saying it wrong.

Quote:

The boys in the back are kamikaze
Because of their claws?
No, because they're macaws
And our fine feathered friend is a jolly toucan
And two can sound better than one toucan can

Kamikaze? In the song the word is pronounced kaw-ma-cause, not ka-mi-ka-zi. I thought the line went "the boys in the back are called macaws".

So what does it mean? Are macaws naturally violent? Was the mispronunciation an accepted Americanization of the term back then?

It seems there are always more mysteries to uncover in the enchanted tiki room.

Alex · 04-09-2007, 11:08 AM

I'm finding several different transcriptions of the lyrics on the internet and I don't know if any are from official sources. From old war movies I've never heard kamikaze pronouned kah-mi-cause.

But the transcription I'm finding that matches my understanding of the lyrics is:

- The boys in the back are called macaws

- Because of their caws?

- No, because they're macaws!

That has the benefit of making sense (reminding me of a David Mamet line: "Everybody wants money. That's why they call it money."

Could this kamikaze version be an "excuse me while I kiss this guy" situation?

Ghoulish Delight · 04-09-2007, 11:11 AM

I don't know about the kamikaze thing, but this last time I listened carefully and I'm pretty sure I distinctly heard "because of their claws", not "caws". But I'm often wrong in such matters.

LSPoorEeyorick · 04-09-2007, 11:22 AM

I think Greg's right.

I also have to admit that I had my own "scuse me while I kiss this guy" moment in the Tiki Room. "In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room... where the birds sing words and the flowers groom..." Yeah, my brother informed me it's "croon." But it doesn't rhyme!

Cadaverous Pallor · 04-09-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

I think Greg's right.

I also have to admit that I had my own "scuse me while I kiss this guy" moment in the Tiki Room. "In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room... where the birds sing words and the flowers groom..." Yeah, my brother informed me it's "croon." But it doesn't rhyme!

Ah, the blessing and curse of the half-rhyme.

Yeah, I hope all those lame lyrics sites are wrong. It makes much more sense the other way.

Does anyone have a Disneyland songbook they can reference, or maybe some CD liner notes lyrics?

Morrigoon · 04-09-2007, 12:05 PM

I always thought the lyric was:
The boys in the back are called Macaws
Because of their claws?
No! Because they're macaws!

I thought it was one of those silly answer-not-an-answer jokes.

Ponine · 04-09-2007, 12:18 PM

Ditto.
I just played it on the pod, and I dont get kamakazie at all.

mousepod · 04-09-2007, 12:36 PM

I'm with Ponine - I have three versions on my iPod, and I just listened to 'em all again.

"The boys in the back are called macaws.
Because of their claws?
Because they're macaws!"

I think the lyrics are printed in one of the official park CDs I have at home... I'll check it out later.

Chernabog · 04-09-2007, 12:52 PM

Oh well, I still always sing "All the birds make turds/While the tourists snooze/In the Tacky tacky tacky tacky tacky room"

Nephythys · 04-09-2007, 03:29 PM

oooh ow

04-09-2007, 11:08 AM	#2
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I'm finding several different transcriptions of the lyrics on the internet and I don't know if any are from official sources. From old war movies I've never heard kamikaze pronouned kah-mi-cause. But the transcription I'm finding that matches my understanding of the lyrics is: - The boys in the back are called macaws - Because of their caws? - No, because they're macaws! That has the benefit of making sense (reminding me of a David Mamet line: "Everybody wants money. That's why they call it money." Could this kamikaze version be an "excuse me while I kiss this guy" situation?
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04-09-2007, 11:11 AM	#3
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	I don't know about the kamikaze thing, but this last time I listened carefully and I'm pretty sure I distinctly heard "because of their claws", not "caws". But I'm often wrong in such matters. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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04-09-2007, 11:22 AM	#4
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	I think Greg's right. I also have to admit that I had my own "scuse me while I kiss this guy" moment in the Tiki Room. "In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room... where the birds sing words and the flowers groom..." Yeah, my brother informed me it's "croon." But it doesn't rhyme!
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04-09-2007, 12:05 PM	#6
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	I always thought the lyric was: The boys in the back are called Macaws Because of their claws? No! Because they're macaws! I thought it was one of those silly answer-not-an-answer jokes. __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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04-09-2007, 12:18 PM	#7
Ponine Virgin Ears Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,075	Ditto. I just played it on the pod, and I dont get kamakazie at all. __________________ There's something strange, There's something wrong. I see a change - It's like when love dies.
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04-09-2007, 12:36 PM	#8
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	I'm with Ponine - I have three versions on my iPod, and I just listened to 'em all again. "The boys in the back are called macaws. Because of their claws? Because they're macaws!" I think the lyrics are printed in one of the official park CDs I have at home... I'll check it out later. __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
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04-09-2007, 12:52 PM	#9
Chernabog Biophage Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Moon Posts: 2,679	Oh well, I still always sing "All the birds make turds/While the tourists snooze/In the Tacky tacky tacky tacky tacky room" __________________ And they say back then our universe Was a coal black egg Until the god inside Burst out and from its shattered shell He made what became the world we know ~ Bjork (Cosmogony)
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04-09-2007, 03:29 PM	#10
Nephythys Yeah, that's about it- Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In a state of constant crap to get done Posts: 2,688	oooh ow
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