Dead Skunk - Loudon Wainwright 3rd

[youngsavage54321]

Brings back good memories

[datfri13]

My favorite Louden Wainwright III song. Out of all the times I have picked and sung in public, the only time someone came up to me and said "That was good!" was when I did that song!

[redmuddr]

All over the road.....technicolor.....LMAO

[Mstrmayhem]

Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road was selected as our class theme for graduation, until the administration vetoed it.

[rayredding72]

haha, Nicely done...

[wescarr2]

This was my favourite song when I was a kid... haven't heard it for years. Still love it. Brings back memories. Thanks for posting this! Cathi.

[ArtieinAus]

Actually the theme song to MASH suicide is painless was written by Johnny Mandel and Mike Altman.... look in the Wiki........

[pillroller88]

Alabama...so many recipes....so few squirrels

[mjpk6269]

Horray, Captain Spaulding.

[TayInTheWay]

First heard this on Slacker. Took a good several times, but it eventually sunk in and now I love it.

[22AnnNancy]

I saw a comment about him appearing in Mash. Didn't he or someone in his family write the theme song (Suicide is Painless)?

[arkevin45]

@22AnnNancy he did. its in the credits from the movie MASH!

[TheAsbryder]

@bloosdoode Then don't listen to it? And just so you know, he's a very successful singer/songwriter. I don't particularly think that characterizes him as a "loser"... Although, railing songs for the sake of something to be pissed off about seems more the type.

[7sendero]

Thanks! Great Song! Pretty Music!

[The67rockstar]

always liked this song

[petantim]

heck yeah jmorris..mans gotta eat....times are tough lol

[jmorris724]

@petantim lmao! 

[bloosdoode]

This song brings back memories for me -- of immediately switching to a different station. The song is repugnant, and so is the artist. He sounds like a loser without enough wit to write children's songs, so he writes this crap. Classic? Classic CRAP!!!

[acesandeights65]

@bloosdoode why are you here then ? go away, hang out in the middle of the road. maybe you get a song

[bluelou33]

@bloosdoode you are an ignoramus.

[petantim]

wow brings back memorys

[jmorris724]

@petantim do these memories involve roadkill?

[jim19617]

Dead freakin skunk...PU

[Saeritha]

They should have used this in Dexter when Dexter goes on 'patrol' with that guy who kept Lumen locked up.

[KaitFrances]

This is every highway department's road crew's anthem in the USA. Not to mention the coon, squirrels. possom, deer and occasional cat.

[MsRandy316]

He was the guitar-playing soldier on the MASH Series

[CaradaysRedux]

Heard this first when Loudon performed for us at the Red Herring Coffeehouse in Urbana Illinois.  What a classic! Thank you Loudon!

[iltis1985]

it's a song i grew up with 

[ramadama7]

His son sings Hallelujah on the shek soundtrack

[acesandeights65]

if you were the skunk. not so funny

[redndwhitee92]

@acesandeights65

That must be who the 11 dislikes come from

[bensmagginolia]

best memory of texas!!! lol

[doncsaul]

My best friend and I used to sing this on the carpool in to work!

[numbersmandan]

This was one of my grandmothers favorite songs when I hear it I think of her and laugh. Thanks for posting.

[LVSaddleTramp]

Best Campfire song EVER!!!!!!!!!! 

[acesandeights65]

this such a happy song' are you happy? OH THEN GO FUCK YOUR SEALF IAM HAPPY

[spicygaga]

sounds like vimto as song from 2007

[hoth260]

C'mon!!! Stink!!!!!!!!

[snorb1tz]

my boss sings the chorus " he stinks t high heaven" all the time,because of a coleague of minenever baths, though he didnt know about this song.

[TonyTellez706]

gota love that smell!!

[Fendergirl131]

I think my life is complete. All I needed was a song about dead skunks in the middle of the road...

[danj1701d]

Loudon was so popular for a bit in the early 70s because of this great song that he appeared in a couple of very early episodes of M*A*S*H. He really didn't have much to do with the plots, but always sang a song at the end just before the credits rolled. Unfortunately, he never sang Dead Skunk on the show.

[jsno313]

When you live outside the City it may make sense...Just good stuff....When my children are happy with music I am as well..

[jsno313]

Yes...Yes Yes.. My 9 year old daughter loves this song. We Travel some up in Wisconsin....You will see it..... Sorry , but its life

[cheesefriesification]

@Yakutska21 i wouldn't consider it country i like to call music like this masterpieces

[rwhaller42]

What a great song! It's going to live forever because everyone who hears it passes it on to their children who love it too, and so it goes...

Saw a dead skunk in the middle of the road this evening and had to crank up YouTube as soon as I got home to look for it. Thanks for posting it!

BTW, Captain Spaulding was first introduced to the public as one of Groucho Marx's characters. Google it. I doubt the use of that name in Mash was a coincidence.

[ChaliQ1]

Me & some of my friends found a dead skunk in the middle of the road picked it up & in front of the Catholic school where we were beatin & terrorrized when we were kids & put it in front of the door. Of course the nuns came out with their yard sticks & chased us away with the skunk. Nuns were Brutal.

[sanjhunt]

My dad used to sing this to us when we were kids. Other kids got lullabyes, not us.

[xAnimeWannabe]

Just told my daughter about this song- that I heard in it's "radio days"...and how very true it is. Was out riding in the hills of northern California in 1980, when I came across a squashed thing ... in the middle of the road. It was a skunk; and it STANK all the way to heaven! Love a true story; don't you?

[64g15csr]

i remember this song when it was playin on the radio in 73

[DaveWollenberg]

Loud hit #16 in Billboard, 3-31-73. God bless ya, for postin' it. Thanx!

[Bella8236]

My language arts teacher was playing this song in the middle of class XDDD

[lcr1955]

When I swerved to avoid that skunk, I lost control and flipped my car onto it's side in the median. Thanks a lot Louden!!!

[Bogdan1211]

wtf?!!

[arryplova]

Oh my goodness I love this song.

[jeffandtherest]

Takes me back to the 70's, my Mom used to get our local disc jockey to play it for her as she drove home from work every day. Love it !!!!

[nettie22able]

Loved this song always, takes me back to the '70s and makes me laugh wherever I am when I think of it, I'll sing it at work in surg and people will laugh along with me!!!You're so cool dude!!!

[briansimard]

The first time I heard this song I was driving my kids home from soccer practice in the early 90s we sat in the car listening and laughing till it was done..

great Memory will stay with me till I die, one of the special moments..

Thanks

[xorbah]

Been singing this song to my kids for years - they love it!

[barnabas50]

i like this song i remember it on fm radio back in the early seventies.

[discgolfman25]

this is the shit id sing on american idol woo hoo

[sweetmonkeylove1]

Thank you.

[CherokeeBPM]

Even after hearing this too many times between Washington State and New Mexico (AND BACK!), I still find it a pretty cool song!

[cjsames]

I remember linedancing to this song in the Ozarks on vacation!

[tthomaselli2]

7 Justin Bieber fans need to get their shit rocked!

[Tattoogazza100]

Just Takes me back! Love it, i'm a kid again!!! Cheers!

[IdRatherBeOnPluto]

Wait this is Rufus Wainwright's dad? Awesome!

[ysm314]

my physics teacher played this for us

[TheGreatLineDefined]

I LOVE this song!!!!!!

[eachmorning]

@alexvik Liverpool/Syracuse on a warm summers night. It can be four blocks away and still permeate the air. So funny when I first heard this on Dr Dimento. Now youtube!!

[eachmorning]

Upstate NY Theme Song... : )

[alexvlk]

@eachmorning Really? I heard this for the first time on the radio while in upstate New York yesterday. haha!

[prsobotka]

I remember this on the Radio, as a kid

[brineb58]

Thank you Richard Nixon!!!

[Lizard5571]

Hey!!!,.THATS MY STASH!!!!,.DONT FUCKIN TOUCH IT!!!,...WAIT!!!,..Ok,.I was wrong,..You can play with it if ya want,..just remember ta wash yer hands befor dinner,..COME ON,...STINK,...Have a Great Day!!!

[dredger9mm]

It may be silly, but ain't it fun?

[Mr1991ladarius]

Loudon sounds exactly like his son Rufus...this Song is simply amazing.

[Lemonhead87]

@Mr1991ladarius You mean Rufus sounds exactly like Loudon.... Let's be honest here.

[Mr1991ladarius]

@Lemonhead87 well, like father like son.

[racerdrv1]

I think this is the greatest song. We all need to take a brake and if this dosn't do it for you I don't know what will.

[MsTobykeithfan]

my dad used to listen to this when he was a kid. )( i think)

[ArashiTheBrave]

Pure genius.

[intensetornado]

I've got this on an old 45, but nothing to play it on. Brings back memories of riding the dirt/rock roads in Kentucky!

[bassiehd]

I love it at 1:52 where he urges his band to "c'mon, STINK!!"

LOL

[boyz3512]

man this song puts the R in redneck hahaha XD

[iltis1985]

me too

[clevelandphil]

This sounds canadian.

[whittleddownbattery]

@clevelandphil

If this sounds Canadian to you, then you don´t know old American culture. This is definitely folk hillbilly comedy blues... or something like that.

[beavermantim]

I LOVE the smell of skunk! This is a great song.

[amphibianfan101]

6 people stink to high heaven

[Scott14383]

WHOA! haven't heard this one for a few decades. I guess this is what I get for looking for info on skunks.

[David32112]

@chiefashley56 Neil Rogers??? Love Uncle Neil

[chtdmt]

Is there anyone out there that was stationed in Germany, 75-77? Do you remember the band, Shell Bowling playing this song? It was our squadron theme song.

[pillroller88]

After listening to bach or muzak or top 40 all day, you might just want to crank this to 11 and light up.

[mrbw1963]

all right, let's stink!

[AdamsApple1963]

Best roadkill song ever made! "C'mon, STINK!" Lol!

[jdmeaux]

I first heard this song in high school. My children and grandchildren have heard it. This is the perfect road trip song.

[bill7920]

My anthem!!!!! Roll up you window and hold you nose!!!! LOVE IT Thanks Loudon!!

[ambashells]

saw him at leeds polytechnic in 1974 - my god havent heard this for years - watched the security guys pull out a guy from the audience take him outside ...he was great in bigfish film too !!

[johnnyboync1]

does anyone remember him from early episodes of mash? at least a couple i think.

[dinocubfan]

@johnnyboync1 this is the song that got him the part of captain spaulding in a few episodes

[r5t6y7u8]

(Does anyone else think this is actually a pretty song?)

[TomRAFC]

@r5t6y7u8 its gonna make you swoon!

[RoyFive]

@r5t6y7u8 No, it's a freakin' GORGEOUS song!

[crazytank45]

JESUS, poor skunk

[capman911]

I had a friend run over a skunk this am so this was fitting to send to her on FaceBook. Thanks for the song.

[itsok4now]

my fave 70s song... couple of cold ones and this song and we all sat around the campfire happy and grinning large

[elijah5674]

Always brings a smile to my face, as does watching him as Captain Spaulding on the early episodes of M*A*S*H...he clearly loves to perform.

[elijah5674]

Alwys brings a smile to my face, as does watching him on M*A*S*H...the guy clearly loves to perform.

[hicknan219]

dedicated to all drivers in Hastings!

[BradOlsonBemidji]

Definitely a classic song and the photos describe the song perfectly.

[KiraMiaBlood]

lol... wow... That's SOME song.... O_o

Acctually my family heard this on a camping trip, but I wasn't there, so I had to look it up cuz I thought they were lying... wow...

[00Blueman]

His name was Captain Spaulding on Mash! He also sang a song about nurses on one episode.

[jl75750]

Gee I miss hearing Loudon Wainwright III. He brings back those wonderful youthful carefree days of the 60s and 70s all over again! Dead Skunk take me back!!!!

[RCAvhstape]

Dr. Demento! Come on, stink! :-D

[lulufromzulu]

I dont understand this kind of music,( maybe this is only for usa people).every time Im listening country songs i feel like elephant in cinema.

[MrRano55]

All over the road,technicolor.

[countrysinger1952]

@MrRano55 LOL!!!!

[Sepemini]

"All over the road . . . technicolor man!"

[tl52]

i had not heard this song on air for years, but this morning the local texas mix radio station played it.

[wambajamba]

samlo098 yes that was him on MASH.

[samlo098]

Does anybody know if Louden Wainwright lll , ever appeared on the series M*A*S*H* . He sounds a lot like a character that played and sang on a couple of the episodes .

[actionsub]

@samlo098 You are right. Louden Wainwright III had a guest role on a couple of MASH episodes right about the time the "Dead Skunk" record was on the charts.

[17Hongo]

Incredible - loudon writes great songs - this is about a dead skunk on a road, and it's brilliant! only loudon could have made something so horrible so lighthearted

[liquidgee13]

An unconfirmed sentiment about American politics at its best ... stinkin' to high heaven.

[mistressbladez]

My mom turned me on to this tune when I was four years old!! It's definately a classic.

[zoggy1950]

I loved this song when it came out, I think in about 1972 or 73. Good video!!

[countrysinger1952]

@zoggy1950 It was 1973. The reason why I know is because it came out before I entered college that year.

[lmecca]

I'd forgotten this song.... great to  remember foot tap'n music and smiles.

[dope34429]

Love this song! This was on a juke box at a lunch cafe, and I used to plug the jukebox to play it to or three times before I went back to work. Delberta

[oldlitening]

That's just plain cool shit !!

[califbozo]

this is the only song I know all the words to! One of my happiest late teen years musical memories! Thanks Loudon

[mmm413]

I'm telling you, I lived in the country. Skunks think they own the place-- roads, everything.

[taffize]

I have loved tihs song forever, luv the us and what it stands for, luv the music and the south, dont listen to Robin Williams, we are a bit different down here, I sit up every monday morning our time and watch the nascar, stay coool you so called rednecks, theres a few down here too.

[mmm413]

I don't care who originally did this song. All I know is when it came out, I did live in the country. Worked 50 miles away so I drove home in the dark. Driving down Maguire Rd outside of Norman, OK, it was dark. Saw a family of skunks taking their time walking across a 2 lane country road. Threw my car in reverse & backed up as fast as I could. Also, during that time, in the country, I lived in a mobile home. Skunks got under there. Still love this song.

[BOdblsizzle]

Oh the childhood memories!

[2c4u22]

I knew there was some reason I remembered your name...(lol)

[redcrowdemon]

I heard this was a coded commentary on Watergate, topping the billboard chart right in the middle of it... I may be wrong..?

[VaVaVoomgrrl]

I always thought this song was by Arlo Guthrie -- I remember it at the same-ish time as Alice's Restaurant -- but I referred to it to a good friend, who set me straight, as he always does : ) and sent me this link today -- and I LOVE Loudon Wainwright, his whole family, and always have. Forgive me, Loudon -- rockin' this version now.

[DaveWollenberg]

Actually. Labaron, it came out at the start of '73. 1 hit wonder. Hit #16 in Billboard. God bless!

[thunderbay63]

I heard this song on the radio when I was a kid back in the early '70's. At the time, I liked it since it was funny.

The thing is, listening to it now, I'm struck by how good a song it is, musically. You'd enjoy listening to it even if it was an instrumental.

[Labaron26]

Unbelieveable...cant believe I found this song on Youtube...It has to be at least 50 years since I first heard this on the radio....They used to play it on a Pittsburgh Morning show.......

[hopbreath1960]

Im with you , I can't gauge time either

[handinside]

What station?

[BRG98]

great

[MaceMn]

Woot!

[ArkenStudios]

Wonderfully classic song. Memories of listening to it on cassette in my TR4A with the top down in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

[boggadee07]

LOL, I so remember this song. Still brings a smile to the face, LOL. COME ON STINK! LOL.

[waylon19372002]

Thanks for putting this song on youtube.I bought this record on a 45 when it first came out. Still have it but it's all scrached up and pretty much unplayable. once you hear this song you never forget it. When i see a dead skunk on the road i still sing this song. Got to be one best songs ever. ok i might be a little bit crazy,oh well comeon skunk keep stinkin'

[taffize]

how is this song not the best in whatever decade

[5871248]

@taffize yeah-- this and --Boney Fingers ...lol

[merndemrow]

RIP to my brother Mark...one of his favorite songs

[greenskeeper3000]

This post makes me think of an old family friend who after making a trip to Kentucky to see his family would always bring back the greatest pot. And we would know because he would call and say "it smells better than a dead skunk in the middle of the road" lol! Good times.

[mmm413]

He was right.

[rootedsorrow]

I went on a few dates with Loudon.

He's one of the kindest people I've ever met.

[greenskeeper3000]

I am a male but that is still very cool! How could Loudon not be a good guy , it comes through in the lightheartedness of his songs :)

[mawzaroo1]

My step daughter hit a skunk last night and her car reeked. I thought that she needed this video in her email since she has not heard the song

[RaspyOne]

That's so funny, it had me roaring with laughter! My husband is stepfather to my 2 sons & looks for funny things to do like this too! Anyway, I bet your step daughter thought it was pretty funny!

[pucksterz12]

holy crap, haven't heard this since 1978 in the 5th grade - cool shit

[djalfred58]

haha!!

[mmm413]

I lived in the country when this song came out. He's not kidding.

[subterranean47]

I think he sounds like Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon

[bbalanky]

You mean Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon sounds like him. :P

[subterranean47]

Of course

[souplover32]

I've always loved songs like this the folk genre of music.

[SueSpeedway]

Just intro'd this song to my 8yo grandchild...LOTS of laughing

[baj2235]

How observant of you captain obvious.

[seeburg220]

On this song in particular, I think Loudon sounds just like David Gray, or vice verse.

[seeburg220]

I got this 45 on my jukebox. Remember it as a kid of the 1970's as well. Think it was on my K-tel album. You know the one: 550 songs on one album and severely warped! lol

[slytomcat999]

One night in a druken stupor...I stumbled into two skunks who were raiding a garbage can...they were as big as a full grown basset hound...thank god I met them face on...

[mmm413]

Try living in a mobile home & getting one under it.  Not pleasant.

[rayholtz]

a real hillbillyish country song...as far as I'm concerned it's one of the best!

[catonasofa]

THANK YOU; i LOVE THIS SONG.

[baaWV]

Yeah, me too, a little girl ridin' down the road in dad's car, windows rolled down, no seatbelt, listening to this, I love it! Sang it at karaoke a few years ago, everybody liked it.

[therealdeathpoet]

this was a favorite among my family when we were kids... hahahahaha

[kevin21255]

ah he just wanted a clearer view of the sqwashed skunks guts

[uuaz62]

Is that Vassar Clements on the fiddle?

[Walli379]

Brings back my Texas days in 1972. My all-time favorite no. 3. Those were the days...

Gary "the captain"

[bestman879]

just loved this song for years!!  Comn,stink!