B-Rich
Pro-Bowler
Offline
Last night my daughter and I heard Benny Grunch and the Bunch's local classic "The 12 Yats of Christmas" on the radio while driving in the car, and we noted how many of the places and things listed "Ain't Dere No More" (Mckenzie's, A & G, Schwegmann's, etc.).
We started talking about how the song could be updated to current times using new things.
Here are our thoughts-- love to hear yours as well:
1. On da foist day'a Christmas ma Mawmaw gave'to me,
A Crawfish' dey caught in Arabi
(still good, though where would you CATCH a crawfish in Arabi-- in a ditch, or canal?)
2. In da Christmas Picayune I seen it dere in Section E,
A Tujague's Recipe
(still good)
3. On da thoid day' a Christmas we stopped at McKenzie's,
for Three French Breads,
Okay, so of course there is no more McKenzie's. Not that I remember them being a hotspot for French bread back in the day; more like sweet treats-- cakes, pies, etc. . What could we use now?-- maybe a bonus if it rhymes with the "ee" sound of "Me"-- Maybe use the actual French bread bakeries "Binder Bakery" "Leidenheimer bakery"--- or maybe some cool newer spot such as "Dong Phuong Bakery" or "Bellegarde Bakery"
4. On the fourth day I said OK let's get a Christmas tree,
Before ya drive me nuts
(still good)
5. On the fifth day of Christmas we stopped at A&G,
For Frrried Onion Rrrings!
So obviously no more A&G. You could easily substitute "Pic-a-dilly" if you wanted to stay with a cafeteria, and it rhymes with "ee". But I've gotta think there are some better New Orleans establishments known for their fried onion rings-- hopefully one that can get us an "ee" rhyme. Ideas?.
6. On da sixth day 'a Christmas we stopped at K&B's,
For a six pack 'a Dixie
Toughie on two counts. No K&B anymore. What other kind of local chain or quick stop would have beer and rhyme with "E"? Can't think of any. Then, you've got the issue of Dixie beer, which is still available, but is not brewed here in the area any more. So you can't get it at a cheap quick stop convenience store or drugstore anyway; it'd have to be a place with a wider beer selection for retail sale. You could also swap Dixie out for Abita to keep it local, but then you miss out on the great later "Dix pack of Sixie" line... ideas? input?
7. Cemetery traffic got backed up to Metairie,
At the Seventeenth Street Canal
(still good)
8. On da eighth day of Christmas me and Rosalie,
Ate by ya Mama's
(still good)
9. On the ninth day of Christmas we drove down Delery,
In da Lower Nint' Ward
After Katrina, there was a danger of the entire Lower 9 being 'ain't dere no more", but Delery Street is still there, and there is a mix of refurbished and new houses there interspersed with many empty lots, so this still works.
10. I used'ta be at Kaiser now I'm woikin' down da street
At da Tenneco Chalmette Refinery
Still there; just have to change it to "the PBF Chalmette Refinery"-- current owners/operators are PBF Energy-- ExxonMobil sold it to them about two years ago.
11. On the eleventh day at Veteran's Highway tryin' ta cross the street,
With Eleven Schwegmann Bags
Schweggmann's is long gone. To keep it local, and on Veteran's, and with the same amount of syllables, we'd go with "eleven Rouse's bags". Though nowadays they'd probably be plastic bags, not paper.
12. On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me.
A Dozen Manuel's Hot Tamales
We came up with the PERFECT replacement for this. What else comes in a dozen, is local and delicious? (and fits in the cadence and song)?: "A dozen Drago's charbroiled oysters"
Let's hear your thoughts and ideas....
We started talking about how the song could be updated to current times using new things.
Here are our thoughts-- love to hear yours as well:
1. On da foist day'a Christmas ma Mawmaw gave'to me,
A Crawfish' dey caught in Arabi
(still good, though where would you CATCH a crawfish in Arabi-- in a ditch, or canal?)
2. In da Christmas Picayune I seen it dere in Section E,
A Tujague's Recipe
(still good)
3. On da thoid day' a Christmas we stopped at McKenzie's,
for Three French Breads,
Okay, so of course there is no more McKenzie's. Not that I remember them being a hotspot for French bread back in the day; more like sweet treats-- cakes, pies, etc. . What could we use now?-- maybe a bonus if it rhymes with the "ee" sound of "Me"-- Maybe use the actual French bread bakeries "Binder Bakery" "Leidenheimer bakery"--- or maybe some cool newer spot such as "Dong Phuong Bakery" or "Bellegarde Bakery"
4. On the fourth day I said OK let's get a Christmas tree,
Before ya drive me nuts
(still good)
5. On the fifth day of Christmas we stopped at A&G,
For Frrried Onion Rrrings!
So obviously no more A&G. You could easily substitute "Pic-a-dilly" if you wanted to stay with a cafeteria, and it rhymes with "ee". But I've gotta think there are some better New Orleans establishments known for their fried onion rings-- hopefully one that can get us an "ee" rhyme. Ideas?.
6. On da sixth day 'a Christmas we stopped at K&B's,
For a six pack 'a Dixie
Toughie on two counts. No K&B anymore. What other kind of local chain or quick stop would have beer and rhyme with "E"? Can't think of any. Then, you've got the issue of Dixie beer, which is still available, but is not brewed here in the area any more. So you can't get it at a cheap quick stop convenience store or drugstore anyway; it'd have to be a place with a wider beer selection for retail sale. You could also swap Dixie out for Abita to keep it local, but then you miss out on the great later "Dix pack of Sixie" line... ideas? input?
7. Cemetery traffic got backed up to Metairie,
At the Seventeenth Street Canal
(still good)
8. On da eighth day of Christmas me and Rosalie,
Ate by ya Mama's
(still good)
9. On the ninth day of Christmas we drove down Delery,
In da Lower Nint' Ward
After Katrina, there was a danger of the entire Lower 9 being 'ain't dere no more", but Delery Street is still there, and there is a mix of refurbished and new houses there interspersed with many empty lots, so this still works.
10. I used'ta be at Kaiser now I'm woikin' down da street
At da Tenneco Chalmette Refinery
Still there; just have to change it to "the PBF Chalmette Refinery"-- current owners/operators are PBF Energy-- ExxonMobil sold it to them about two years ago.
11. On the eleventh day at Veteran's Highway tryin' ta cross the street,
With Eleven Schwegmann Bags
Schweggmann's is long gone. To keep it local, and on Veteran's, and with the same amount of syllables, we'd go with "eleven Rouse's bags". Though nowadays they'd probably be plastic bags, not paper.
12. On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me.
A Dozen Manuel's Hot Tamales
We came up with the PERFECT replacement for this. What else comes in a dozen, is local and delicious? (and fits in the cadence and song)?: "A dozen Drago's charbroiled oysters"
Let's hear your thoughts and ideas....
