Tag Archives: song lyric

Making Whoopi

Text: My mom said they used to hold large family reunions, 30-40 people, every year at the family house. Each year her papa, uncle, and others would rewrite the lyrics to the song “Making Whoopi” to speak to each of the family members that had an age with a zero on the end. They would rewrite the verses then have the chorus. There were always multiple people so they’d rewrite multiple verses. Then they, in a small group, would sing it at the family reunion and the whole group would gather around to listen. 

Context: My mothers extended family lives in Idaho, which she moved away from when she was young but went back to visit every summer. According to my mom, everyone in her immediate extended family, grandparents to aunt and uncles, sang. They would stand around the piano and sing song after song so this tradition makes sense with who they were. My parents also mentioned that these family reunions don’t happen much anymore, since we can keep track of everyone through social media. 

Analysis: This is folk music, specifically parody, that is meant to build community among the family and honor people through performance. By picking only people with an age that ends in zero they get to honor people, make them feel seen, without having the song get repetitive and loose the fun it is trying to create. I believe the big part that makes this song meaningful is the work and care that goes into writing it, it’s not the same thing every reunion thus giving it more meaning but repetitive enough with the same tune that it feels traditional. They also performed this song as a group, meaning no one person is singled out for too long making a performance meant to build community and bond rather than one to show off one’s own talent.

You can’t always get what you want – Folk Speech

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text:

You can’t always get what you want

Context:

My informant told me that her parents used to tell her this as a kid. A scenario she provided was when she and her sister disagreed on how to do something and my informant did the task her own way with no regard for what her sister wanted. Her parents said this phrase to her to help her understand that not everything in life will go her way, and therefore she needed to learn how to compromise and adjust accordingly.

Analysis:

This phrase became popular when The Rolling Stones released the song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” in 1969. There is a legend that Mick Jagger heard this phrase at a bar after a concert in Minnesota, although it was never verified. For people who know this song, this phrase would be considered a reference to The Rolling Stones. What I find interesting, though, is that when I used to hear my parents use this phrase, I was not aware that they were quoting a song. I thought this phrase was a proverb/a kind of folk speech, and I’m probably not alone in that thought. It will be interesting to see how as time goes on, if younger generations will know this phrase as a “reference to that one Rolling Stones song” or if it will only be known as a phrase that parents/older people use with children.