The Great Smoke Off

[fredgalist1]

: )

[Noangel489]

I love it lol

[danielthechskid]

My only complaint about this copy is the high pitched digital compression noise from using too low of an audio bitrate, oh well i like the song/poem too much to ever hit dislike on it for an audio issue. I too first heard this on Dr. D and loved it ever since, FWIW I have never partaken in any Sativa (or any other drugs), but this and the show Weeds are all time classics not to be missed.

[dresden67]

"Sweet grapes by the bunches", classic

[TheRussellCharles]

Priceless. I love the word Lid, I asked my Dad what a Lid was and he said "about 4 or 5 fingers high and baggie wide, roughly an ounce." I asked him what it weighed and he said "I dunno, it was the 70s..."

[boo936]

Nine people will never meet the world's greatest dopers with the world's greatest weed!

[WytZox1]

I remember hearing this on Dr. Demento years ago. LOVE IT! Beware of being the roller when there's nothing left to roll! LOL☺

[junkiechristmas]

the REAL giving tree ;)

[DoctorWholives]

I've spent years trying to find this "song". Always thought it was called Pearly Sweetcakes. Thanks so much for posting this, gonna send it to my daughter LOL

[BlutoUSN]

AAHHH...Nice...

[stereodreamer23]

9 people can't roll them faster that they can smoke...

[WEIR4EVER]

hahaha!  go girl!

Sunny San Rafael...

[emjee]

@WEIR4EVER Smoked my first joint at age 13 in SUNNY SAN RAFAEL. 1973!! Acapulco Gold!!

[WEIR4EVER]

@emjee that is the coolest; smoked my first at same age, in brussels city . Not as nice as S.R. :-)

Acapulco Gold & Silver huh... sounds familiar ...

[WEIR4EVER]

@emjee OH, same year same age! We 1960ies babies rock, might even say weir smokin' hot!

[MistahJ82]

@emjee 19 years old here.

No stems, no seeds that you don't need! Acapulco Gold is.....pffffffft.......badasss­s weeeeeeed.

[jaratt85]

haha I had my english teacher put this on in class when I was a sophmore in high school... she had one of his kids books in class and I remembered this from the friday frenzy and brought it up lol... my teacher was cool

[Jimpe02]

I wanted to like the video but its at 420 likes and didnt think I should mess that up!! =)

[AlphaHowler]

I just made this have 420 likes

[OceanSkate401]

@AlphaHowler no1 cares.

[zasxzaqw23]

Make that five.

[zasxzaqw23]

This needs six more likes. But no more.

[Acesinoproductions]

Those 9 people def do not do deeds like the other 407 ppl

[nickellicker]

Shel Silverstein was one of the last great beatniks. His Playboy Magazine poetry and illustrations were comical, inciteful and cutting-edge throughout the 1960's. It's about time people are catching up with him...

[DWSimmy]

This is true poetry

[mikextxe]

Hershey bars and oreos FTW

[Mickagume]

This man was unique in all the world....genius!...There was never anyone like him, and there is still no one like him ...RIP, my friend.

[peanutmaster1231]

so showing this to some of my friends at school.

[Scottydont66]

i remember hearing this a kid on Dr Demento

9.47fm KMET

[lilmispixiedust]

Classs!!! Luv it!!! Hee heee

[gr8wazoo]

This is one of the greatest works of all time, pass the Funyon's please!

[Audhumla]

sup shel this ones for you



[crzdctryrebel]

I used to have to memorize his poems in sixth grade I wish I would have known of this one!

[Fyropyro420]

Oh god i forgot about the ending im scared now

[Fyropyro420]

I loved this b4 I smoked, loved it even more after XD

[Rebelcommander6]

I'm gonna be honest, ten years ago I thought they were talking about tobacco.

[MrJackSterbenc]

jesus fucking christ this is genius... i had no idea my favorite childhood writer was going to be one of my favorite weed artists

[minsmama]

@MrJackSterbenc lmao i know, right! i had all his books...i'd heard this, but i had NO idea it was him!!!

[ichapah]

I have been looking this recording for about twenty years, I found others but this is the one. Dr. Demento stopped putting it on tapes and albums (before CDs)

So now I'm stoked to have found it here!!! Thank you !!!!

[Candice200769BODYCO]

this video s fucking awsome /<3 <3

[magnuse123]

Thumbs up if you know this song from facebook!

[MichaelHansenFUN]

this the dr demento radio version because of the BEEP

[MichaelHansenFUN]

dr demento

[OttotheOtter97]

He also wrote, "A Boy Named SUE"

[brainmush12]

i challenge any of you to a smokeoff ill lose but shit ill be baked out of my mind and really can you ask for anything else in life

[diamonddiva1954]

@cjd1957able EXTREMELY good theory! I've been working on that since I was roughly 14, smile! I have GOT to search Amazon to see if they have any Shel Silverstein albums/cds-the man was a genius, 1st in Playboy, then with his oh so wonderful music! Remember Dr Demento? He played a lot of Silverstein's stuff, but we no longer get him on the radio where I live-wah!

[diamonddiva1954]

This old woman has toked 42 out of her 56 years and I plan to die with pipe in hand! THANK YOU for the wonderful memories........

[MrAbawmidabull]

I had no idea he wrote stuff like this...it's fucking wonderful

[st0reugle]

@MrAbawmidabull he wrote left,right and center. An extremely gifted and versatile man. He wrote for many artists as well, Some incredibly sweet and romantic songs and some that'll leave your ears bleeding and you ROLF. I can't point to anything that I don't like by Shel. Sylvia's mother is said to have been phoned in - so to speak - to a member of Dr. Hook by Shel from a phonebooth in the middle of the night. I recently made some uploads of his work .

[MrAbawmidabull]

@st0reugle i agree with you, the man was a legend and truly a credit to the world of literature. and on an informal note, if i could smoke with anyone in history it would be this guy

[MsGuitarChicky]

Very nice

[CONfusion2021]

I dont know why, but I get hungry hearing Shel Silverstein recite his poems.  is that normal?

[4cellar2door0]

@CONfusion2021 Contact munchies :D

[CONfusion2021]

I dont know why, but I get hungry hearing Shel Silverstein recite his poems.

[CONfusion2021]

You what is funny, that 244 people (I being one of them) like this and only 6 hate it. Must be the people who dont approve of smoking pot.

[elugeus]

Shel also wrote alot of classics for Dr. Hook and the medicine show. "The Cover of the Rolling Stone" and "Sylvias Mother" are most likely the best known.

[Monponsett]

If Dr. Seuss had some more hep friends....

[tripledouble74]

anyone know the guitar chords?

i know theyre simple. but hey, help me out

[CONfusion2021]

I heard this over the radio a long time ago at work

[GrigoriZhukov]

6 narcos watched this vid...man I can't stand squares.

[scottalias]

Play this at my funeral

[PUIncubus]

@scottalias meeee seeeeeeeeeveN!!!!!

[diamonddiva1954]

There's NO ONE like Shel Silverstein! I never differentiated between his kids' books/videos & his wackier stuff-its ALL great! Hey-where's my lighter? Ya can't listen to the Great Smoke-Off without SMOKING something!

[radiationtherapyband]

This is so awesome. Love the smoke voice.

[JoshRJameson]

"Beware of Bein' the Roller When There's Nothin' Left to Roll."

[j3an8ry]

didnt know this dude wrote bout weed. pretty wicked seeing a dude write about weed, when all youve seen him write is kids boook

[Scray1]

Beautiful...

[ViolenceMR]

@Scray1 What a fulfilling life you must have.

[euphorichumanoid]

is this shel silversteins actual voice???

[BubbaGanoush2]

@euphorichumanoid yup, that's the man himself. Such a great voice with so much range and timbre.

[bruceleephillips]

Thanks for a quality representation of Shel Silverstein's work I hope it inspires people to purchase more of his creative works.

[GUITANO65]

thanx so much for posting this.this takes me back 30 years on a sunday night listening to DR DEMENTO.i still remember every word.

[medicvet]

@GUITANO65

I remember Dr. Demento's show...listened to it every week growin up. love this. 8)

[wafflecopter1000]

my dad told me to look up this song. and im glad i did its "inspirational"

[sgtwynn]

I DIDNT COME HERE TO FUCK AROUND

[420inthe802]

I CAME HERE TO SMOKE!

[roadskare63]

oh hell yeah pearly was my woman in college...sort of lol

[nephrectomy1]

A classic if there ever was one. For more Shel genius, see Bobby Bare's "Lullabys, Legends and Lies" or, to a lesser extent, "Hard Time Hungrys".

[deemcc666]

shel kicks ass, my dad let me hear some of his stuff years ago lol

[nitrohuffer1320]

........in case anyone gets the munches.

i'm hip.

"twice the man i used to be".

[steven8807]

Love This stuff!

[MrKingkirby]

thanx to you!

[marissaastronaut]

WHAT?!?!?!? WHAT?!?!!?

[ogersteiner]

That is some funny shit.....

[WeedGreenPowerRanger]

Too bad uncle Shelby didn't hear about Seattle bud or the Hemp Fests of the new millennium before he wrote this...

[Bogframe]

I was thrown out of honors english for reciting this! I got an A for memorization and presentation, but an F for choice of materials!

[huinga]

respect

[rebelsushi]

How hypocritical of teachers to require their students to read Shel Silverstein in grade school then fail you for discovering his better works.

[loveandmortality]

@rebelsushi WOW! I agree. I just discovered his songs about weed today and I'm amazed!!! I will share with everyone I know.

[alhroun]

@rebelsushi , Maybe they need to read the 1st amendment of the Constitution again.

[sp1ke0kill3r]

@rebelsushi That's not hypocritical, retard

[gr8fuljer]

@rebelsushi Hear Hear!

[wiwneferi]

That would be an appropriate time to call the ACLU. Violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution. Clear cut case.

[Bogframe]

That was way back in 1977. I think the Statute of Limitations has run out by now!

[ifightaliens]

@Bogframe Ahh... you'd have gotten an A in my class.

[bulbheadmyass]

@Bogframe  You'd get an A+ from me. :o)

[GrigoriZhukov]

@Bogframe What a bunch of censorship freaks...

[retrozim]

@Bogframe Man that sounds like something I would do :)

[GordosMama1111]

@Bogframe fascists

[jageedsheedmaheed]

sup uncle shel, still rollin and smoking

[TheTMP]

Happy B'day Uncle Shelby! October 2nd...

From "the old man who smoked reefer back before it was a crime!"

[jdhoffman1221]

Uncle Shelby!!!!!!!!!!!

[iatyma]

California tokers!!!

[rehejduk]

Brings back some Blurry memories lol Love htis shit errr i mean this song

[matchewzits]

"beware of being the roller, when there's nothing left to roll"..... oooooooohhhh, gave me chills.

[medicvet]

Classic comedy gold. ...or Acupulco Gold.. 8)

[nitedrive]

I LOVE this! Havent heard it in years. Thanks for posting.

Reminds me of the Dr. Demento show on KMET back in the 80s....

[crazened]

im pretty sure ive earned the right to be called RHONNI SWEETCAKE, since ive been workin on it a loooooong time.  Shel is a personal fave of mine and i represent him well.thanks Shel, for everything, from the giving tree, where the sidewalk ends, stoned and i missed it............i could go on and on..............thank you

[19dresses]

I first heard this at a festival in Michigan. It has become my nickname and my favorite poem over all others. Deep and inviting, Shel's voice is like a featherbed for your soul.

[thetaman63]

this makes me want to smoke weed.... actualy im rolling one right now on my key board lol

[heyyyyyynow]

god this guy is awesome. Why cant there be more like him. Im going to cry now.

[jammiebeez]

such expression, such imagination .... now can someone please upload, the man who got no sign......the public need to know ............. thnx for posting, inneedoftherapie

[12Damon34]

", of 15,000 Screaming heads, all stoned out of thier minds!" Best line ever

[barbwirepain]

50,000 is what he says

[mharder82]

Awesome

[FootFck]

Once upon a time TODD PINSKY made this song all his own to about 15 stoned skiers...oh man oh man

[kenmabie]

what?

[natethomas2003]

the last line of this song is so deep. very interpretive. i love it.

[latinobandit10000000]

i heard this on the radio actually...and cant believe i found it on here. thanks for the upload :)

[LadyAltheaIsMe]

THank you Dr Demento for sharing this song with us back in the day!!!

[CGB6904]

Shel Silverstein

[disneypassholder]

That's where I first heard this, too.

[scootertrash1965]

thanks for the post. I remember hearing this on wmms in cleveland oh.

[googoobh]

Hey me too where did you live back then?

[AintNoDevil]

So weird to be reading the giving tree in grade 2 & listenin to the smoke off in grade 8 : P

[rob16von19]

I love the whole "Casey At the Bat" tone and how there was no joy in Muddville after the Kid got smoked!

Shel was a God of the written word, and I've loved this song for 30 years. Thanks for posting it!

[pdxmissfit]

I'm really happy to find this song here.

I grew up reading a light in the attic, and where the sidewalk ends. When i first heard this song i couldn't belive what i was hearing

I applaude who ever put this up.

420/24/7

[roxie2003]

I am a huge fan of Shel Silverstein and I never heard of this until 10 minutes ago. I love it! I too, can die happy now lol.

[sharonsslave]

i can die happy now thx for posting

[az24fan]

I love this poem.

I remember listening to it on Dr. Demento here in Phoenix, on KRIZ.

[green102506]

where can i purchase a copy been many years since i've heard it love it

[green102506]

it skips

[green102506]

cancel that it was me I had a brain fart

[bulbheadmyass]

Haven't heard this for years. Love it. Pearlie Sweetcakes vs. Calistoga Kid. Thanks for posting.

[iamautomaticman]

shit ! i remember listening to this as ayoung

kid on the old dr. demento show . way before i ever took a toke . it's that old . but that

was many doobie's ago ,still a great poem .

wonderful prose .way to go shelly !!

[queenchaos34]

God forbid there would be nothing left to roll, I'd be so sad. Silverstein is the greatest. This made me smile from ear to ear.-Thanks Shel. Now I'm absolutely certain I was born in the wrong generation.

[EndlessMyke2]

man, i wasnt around in the 60s and 70s to hear this but i used to get stoned and recite this with my buddies back in the day. its the best poem ever written

[mikey581152]

this is a great album. I heard it for the first time in the late 60's or early 70's

[MikeG62]

Nice to see a comment from someone else who used to listen to "The Zoo"!

[emarbee]

Hey thanks! Back in the late 70's I used to hear this on KZEW 98 FM in Dallas late sunday nights on the Dr. Demento Show! It has been going round and round in my mind ever since! Thanks for posting this treasure! Bless.

[happyjack39]

Believe it or not, whenever my friends and I would get together,smoke booquo amounts of weedwe would recite this from beginning to end and then laugh for hours...."Beware of being the roller when theres' nothing left to roll"!!!!!!!

[BrandiMS13]

great post.. thanks for sharing :)

[pearly420]

Absolutely love this! I swear this was written for me!! He was a genius with words!

I wanna know when the next smoke off happens!

[mlagunitas]

are u from sunny San Rafael?

[anjumaakafan]

yep. pearl's one of my bffs.

[XsigmaZ]

But you probly know her well

[averyellis]

Man, when I was a kid listening to this on Dr. Demento, I had NO idea what it was about!

[darlene1029]

one of his best stories

[tallpaul88]

yeah, well the thing that's kinda 'suspicious' to me about this, is that Silverstein is supposedly remembered as a guy that performed music for 'kids', personally, i don't see it. Exhibit 'A'.

[MacDougalPuppy]

Yeah, but he got his start writing humor for Playboy. His adult albums are still available (although I can't find this one anywhere).

[cyroborg]

I found it on the "Dr. Demento: The very best of Dr. Demento" I'm not sure it was ever released on a Shel Silverstein Album

[inneedoftherapie]

1972 Shel Silverstein Album Song and Stories.

[sr71ablackbird]

@inneedoftherapie just a small thank you for posting this. I haven't heard this since dr. demento was on back in the 90s.

[inneedoftherapie]

@sr71ablackbird You are welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.

[amrap1]

Did Dr.Hook ever perform this? Was a GREAT late night Saturday night song on the radio.

(BMB) Before Magot Brain!

[ConnDevi]

can you send me an mp3 of this song? Shel was a genius

[KNOTTHEJUGGLER]

thanks so much for posting this, been looking for it since i heard it on a late night radio show 23 years ago.

on my way to the Viper Hall of Fame

[KNOTTHEJUGGLER]

THANK YOU so much for posting this, i been looking all over the net for this song, heard it 23 years ago on a late night radio show (Chris Prior - SA's best DJ ever), and never since then...

[Neonyxia]

Ah, man! The vid  isn't working!

[inneedoftherapie]

hope it works next time you try. It works on my end.

[ittybittytittycmitee]

Shel Silverstein is/was the man!! It's a damn shame that man does not grace this good Earth with his presence!!

[douta3]

I have this poem memorized and it is a wonderful way to entertain people at a party or by a campfire. I memorized "the perfect high" also by shel. In the same vein. Wonderful stuff. he is my hero.

[hip2freak]

I can rollem'faster than any chick can smoke "The one paper kid"

[bobbuilder1126]

Ah. Remember the days before Hydroponics. Alcapulco Gold,Panama Red and Humboldt Endika . And the days of the 4 finger 10 dollar Lid. Toke on old Hippies.

[smokindog]

Very cool!! Chicken soup for the old hippies soul :-)

[whompus02]

Dr Demento from the 70's

[billc625]

This was originally done back in a time where you didn't have to worry about spending a decade in prison for getting caught with a doobie or your holier than thou neighbor calling CPS, while they're getting falling down drunk off their ass in their house of hypocrisy.

[supertwat87]

nicely put bill

[txnladie]

Makes me missing smoking....LOL But I am clean and sober...so I guess just a memory and a smile about my past is all I need.

[supertwat87]

rock on dude

[mastarot]

I first heard this in the early 70'S he he he,

TTFN

MAS

[crazened]

they call me rhonni sweetcake...........i earned it

[divinehand]

i think this is the best thing shel has ever writen

[DoknDoLpress]

thanx....to remind us once more what it was like to be free...dokndolpress

[skrat5]

"Beware of being the roller, when there's nothing left to roll." Good Quote.

[AUsluicerman]

So glad to hear this again! I used to have it on tape, recorded from the Dr. Dimento Radio Show in the early 80s.

[kinggriffiths]

shel used to do the cartoons for playboy

he also wrote a lot of kids songs and

most of the songs for Dr. Hook & the

Medicine Show.

[4ninja2penguin0]

Man im probally younger than all the people who have posted comments and I have enjoyed this since I was just a little kid.

Good to see it here and I did enjoy it once again

[TimmyChaw]

Word

[RinoaTiamat]

oh yes...now i remember where i put them brain cells!

[RinoaSnow]

It is nice to see that I'm not the only person that grew up on this music!

Far out,man! Groovy!

Thank You !!

[mastarot]

yeap me too, I first heard it in the early 70'S