Dead Skunk

Album: Album III (1973)
Charted: 16
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  • Crossin' the highway late last night
    He shoulda looked left and he shoulda looked right
    He didn't see the station wagon car
    The skunk got squashed and there you are

    You got your
    Dead skunk in the middle of the road
    Dead skunk in the middle of the road
    Dead skunk in the middle of the road
    Stinkin' to high heaven

    Take a whiff on me, that ain't no rose
    Roll up yer window and hold your nose
    You don't have to look and you don't have to see
    'Cause you can feel it in your olfactory

    You got your
    Dead skunk in the middle of the road
    Dead skunk in the middle of the road
    Dead skunk in the middle of the road
    And it's stinkin' to high heaven

    Yeah you got your dead cat and you got your dead dog
    On a moonlight night you got your dead toad frog
    Got your dead rabbit and your dead raccoon
    The blood and the guts they're gonna make you swoon

    You got your
    Dead skunk in the middle
    Dead skunk in the middle of the road
    Dead skunk in the middle of the road
    Stinkin' to high heaven

    C'mon stink
    You got it
    It's dead, it's in the middle
    Dead skunk in the middle
    Dead skunk in the middle of the road
    Stinkin' to high heaven
    All over the road, technicolor man
    Oh, you got pollution
    It's dead, it's in the middle
    And it's stinkin' to high, high heaven Writer/s: LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 13

  • S M Barnes from Salina Ks.To me the dead skunk was always a metaphor for the war in Vietnam. It would have made an awesome anti-war song, but I guess it wasn't meant to be.
  • Bruce from San Jose, Calif.I was a teenager...it was late at night, and I was restless and could not get to sleep. I turn on my little radio and got Dr. Demento on, and this song was one of his oft-played songs on his program...gave me chuckles back then, and still does today, decades later...and all of us who have ever smelled a dead skunk in the middle of the road can still remember (as a flashback) that acrid stink hitting our nostrils whenever we listen to this song! (LOL)
  • K.c. from Nh@Jim - Denver, Co: What's to understand? Both of my daughters and I love to sing along with this song (much to my husband's chagrin). Gals can dig it, too.
  • Esskayess from Dallas, TxSometimes a dead skunk is just...a dead skunk.
  • Deadskunk1 from Guelph, OnYou know what?? This song is a wonderful song. This years Airbands at school I'll be lip-synching "Dead Skunk"!!!!!!!!!
  • Thomas from Somerville, AlOne of my favorite songs when I was a kid.
  • Hank Williams Iii from Loganville, TnGotta love a song about a dead skunk
  • David Fowler from Rochester, NhI loved this song as a budding teen. I guess I still do. Like songs that aren't about relationships.
    One tghings for sure, til I get my own radio show, you won't hear this on any oldies stations.
  • Jim from Denver, CoA great tune for guys having a few beers and playing cards. The gals might not understand.
  • Kevin from Hood River, OrI saw Louden in 1978 (or79?) opening for Leo Kottke. The guy was so damn funny. It was half folk singer, half stand up show. His son is the big huge world famous Rufus.
    -Kevin, Hood River, OR
  • Clarke from Pittsburgh, PaThis was a MAJOR hit in Pittsburgh, where radio station 13Q played this little stinker to death in 1973. In recent years, Wainwright has played minor roles in a number of movies, including "Big Fish" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."
  • Loretta from Liverpool, EnglandI love his voice!!!
  • Kathy from Jasper, AlI attended a gospel meeting one time back when this song was popular and the preacher based his sermon on this song. He was preaching about things that were going on in the church that stunk to high heaven!
see more comments

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