"Toking" with Lawrence Welk

[MrJohnnycrabcake]

The guy who introduced them had a big ol' wad of coke snot roll down the back of his throat hahaha

[sweetgirlness]

The song has the word "Jesus" in it, so it must be a spiritual!

[woodbell67]

Far out

[woodbell67]

Lawrence Welk flying the flag for freakdom... after the shattering, revelatory "LSD" experience that shook him to his very core.

[pammylunn]

This couple clearly had no idea what they were singing about..that's what makes this such a classic! Hilarious!

[2300skiddoo]

The accordion guy, maybe, but Gayle and Dale wouldn't know a toke from a joke.

[send2meez]

The accordian guy at the beginning DEFINITELY knew what was up! He looked like he was having a hard time keeping a straight face, and then had to give a little "smokers cough"!! Hee Hee!

[LordAaronus]

I used to play the accordion like that, and then I took a toke in the line.

[johnhrey52]

don't you just miss those 70' when even Lawrence Welk played this song.

[martinw1200]

All of the comments are great but GooglFascists' "No wonder Grandma got run over by a reindeer" is my favorite.

[GooglFascists]

Bunch of old blue-hairs tokin' Ex Lax & sniffin' Vicks.

No wonder Grandma got run over by a reindeer.

Ol' Larry Welk musta been pretty senile by that time.

Post the video of when they did: "The Mighty Quinn".

[buffspringfield]

How about Panama Red

[frisco21]

The announcer could barely suppress a laugh, knowing what they were getting away with.

[minnowpd]

You should here them do "Don't Bogart that Joint"

[tinagrvtwn]

weeeelll-sometimes you can get spiritual,lol'

what cracks me up is how back in the day the song was banned from the radio(no shit) and then the other day I find this video by accident. all I can say is hahahaha! how ironic! :)

[RustyRazor2010]

What in hell were they thinking at the production meeting??

[NickB1967]

@RustyRazor2010: "Gayle and Dale" and that accordion guy were thinking: "Can we sneak this past the censors?"

[johnhamilton08]

I would've love to have been the producer that told Lawrence was the song was actually about.

[halfcuban0512]

This is much funnier if you're one toke over the line

[tinagrvtwn]

@halfcuban0512 I disagree-it's ALWAYS funny,if you knew the real story.

It was banned from the radio back in the day

[BadChizzle]

Sterilized Muzak with zee phony smiles.

[etherjames]

The "sweet Mary" lyric is misinterpreted as well...

[blackladee87]

Sittin' down in the railway station waitin for the next shipment of Mendacino Greeno.

[skunkhead2007]

i always have one two many tokes over the line as much as i can

[speechandposture]

The accordion player at the beginning is the only one who gets it....

[NickB1967]

@speechandposture: I think "Gayle and Dale" got it too. Look at those silly grins--they know what they are sneaking past the censors.

[hyperphoenix1]

"Modern Spiritual?" No wonder why most of the people I know are potheads.

[mewmaster151]

does he even know what "toke" means?

[debbieward2]

be sure to listen to Welk's comment at the end!

I wonder who got the royalty on this performance?

[debbieward2]

be sure to listen to Welk's comment at the end!

[TheCabCheese]

I wish she'd bounce on my leg like that!



[josephebacon]

After watching this, I need to break out the bong!

[nancyschimmel]

She can barely open her eyes against the weight of those lashes.

[hangas1]

@nancyschimmel no, she's just totally baked

[TheSaltydog07]

I don't think they know what "toke" means. The song has JESUS and SWEET MARY in it, so that explains it all.

[frastephen]

A "modern spiritual"??? LOL

[EdTracey347]

This song was an 'extra tune' for Brewer & Shipley; one they used when they ran out of songs. A Carnegie Hall show saw they play it, and their record company president said "You gotta record this!" - and who knew it'd become their signature/old-age pension song? Oh, the name of the Buddah Records president? Why, it was .... Neil Bogart.

[uke52]

he even made coughing charming

[peeterpoon]

I am sorry that Lawrence Welk never had the chance to do his version of the Pussycat Dolls' "Don't Cha!

[WillisProvidence]

it sounds like the accordion player had a toke before his into

[coolsweetgroovy]

Shoutout to Tom Shipley you've got a very good sense of humor

[sisterdebmac]

Tea for Two i ain't.

[tulllguy]

I wonder if these folks know they're singing about dope?

[Wrenn00]

@tulllguy Not sure if the singers were aware. The writers (Brewer and Shipley)of the song definitely were. It's on their 'Tarkio' album, and the instrumental introduction of the song is done on steel string guitar by Jerry Garcia.

[LOL4Polio]

Was that really her forehead or was I looking through a bubble?

[usmc451]

This video is how a schizophrenic sees the world around them.

[Quaaludedude714]

0nly 0ne ? :} QC

[FinallyunderstandU]

a spiritual by gail and dale the tokin white rastafarians

[coolsweetgroovy]

@FinallyunderstandU LOL CC good one

[coolsweetgroovy]

Lawrence I think knew what toke means this just proves he's got a sense of humor

[FinallyunderstandU]

@coolsweetgroovy hahahahaha agreed definitely lol great message whata toke

[coolsweetgroovy]

@FinallyunderstandU Thanks CC

[FinallyunderstandU]

@coolsweetgroovy you just made my day

[coolsweetgroovy]

@FinallyunderstandU you're welcome

[coolsweetgroovy]

@FinallyunderstandU :)

[bigslowmover1]

This song reminds me of K-Mart cafeteria

[sickprogfunk]

Even back then, these Family Values people were ignorant of how ignorant they were!

[SenorSpode]

When these guys do "Baby Got Back" or "The F*** Shoppe", I'll have seen everything. Then my head will implode. Who wants my Nissan?

[Mrnewvision7777]

the accordian player is choking on a toke

=0}}}



[SuperMaverick55]

Well ahhh....well ahhhh.....man that's ahhhhh.....I painted my Chevy primer gray....ahhhh.....where are the nachos dude.....

[jackbdead]

Did anyone ever like this? This is some square bidnass

[THEpooleman]

lol we know why they were smilling

[fivethumbsfrank]

I took a toke over the line once and I swear I saw Jesus face in my toast.

[bloatiq]

A "Modern spiritual!"

[uk7769]

One toke over the line sweet {tiny baby} jesus,

One toke over the line.

Gonna get a little weed at the railway station,

One toke over the line....

[torchkit]

SOME body on the show HAD to know what this song meant, and they were laughing their ass off

[Alleycat169]

I hear they did "God Damn The Pusher Man" as an encore.

[jimlowell]

@Alleycat169 ..followed by the Welk 'basso profundo' Larry Hooper, singing "Don't Bogart That Joint"..

[yogarific1]

@Alleycat169 Gee Willikers! The Pusher Man!

[BrianMChampion]

Welk knew what marijuana was. Even if he ran a tight ship and his guys were pretty straight, they were still musicians for heaven's sake, and they would have known about plenty of other musicians who were dopers.

[goblinob]

Quite frankly.... im a little tired of this Lawrence Welk shit!!!

[meg61535]

@goblinob ...and I don't think I'm alone here...LOL!!!

[MrHongKongBuffet]

We can't stop here! This is bat country!

[krelbar]

This chick needs to get fucked...badly...and not by him.

[NeoTheo2]

See LW was more hip than we thought in the 60's

[Johngalt43]

Is this the stuff that turned certain people into conservatives?

[TheBwh51]

Lmao!! Lawrence should have just had a toke, then it wouldn't have put him under!

[DyoFT]

Typed in Toke to find this shit lol

[leeshalu1]

hahaha



[HugeGene]

After seeing this, I need a toke..

[crazymarf]

what is this im -1

[iowa61]

Singing about grass, when they're clearly on acid...

[spinat45]

This was a real "one hit" wonder!!

[Cline3911]

Never thought I'd agree with Lawrence Welk, but this is a spiritual...

[Cline3911]

The singer strayed from faith and religion "a country mile" (a long way). He experienced life, probably good and bad. Now he's back with a renewed faith and a glad heart. "showin' off a smile". With his eyes open, by golly, he can see The Way...

...and he's ready for the train to take him home.

[Cline3911]

In the first line, second verse, again he's talking to Jesus when he says, "Who do you love, hope it's me" And at some point everyone who believes in God says 'I can be better, I'll change." This is the next line, "I've bin a changin', as you can plainly see". The 'Joy' and the 'Pain' that his 'momma said' is, I think, teachings, stories and hardships learned from the Bible...easy to read...hard to obey.

[Cline3911]

I think this song is talking about the end of life...ready for death to come and take you away.

In the first line, he is waiting for the train to take him home...he's talking to "sweet Jesus". Obviously in this case, 'home' is heaven. In the 5th line, he's talking to "sweet Mary".

[GBev2K]

a "modern spiritual?" That was a joke, right?

[geojorge1369]

Freaking hilarious!

[gropingwithastoker]

Sweet Jesus, but this is hysterically funny.

[blablaidontcarewhour]

Frankly, and I don't think I'm alone here... I'm really tired of this Lawrence Welk shit.

[ryanmshepard92]

@blablaidontcarewhour I agree, it's terrible. But that's the reason why it's funny. Why are you here if you're tired of it.

[blablaidontcarewhour]

@ryanmshepard92 It's a quote from American Beauty. I'm not actually tired of Lawrence Welk because I don't know who the hell he is. I was just seeing if anyone would catch my reference.

[Sheri451]

OH COME ON! This was California! EVERYONE knew what weed was way back in the 1930s. Or was Lawrence that stupid!

[popomczowzow]

@Sheri451 you should know, you were there

[sownzgr8]

Sweet Jesus!

[mjgross2]

Ha! When I was in college, I had a roommate who was born-again and really into his Christianity. One of his favorite songs was "Jesus he knows me" by Genesis. I suspect he never really listened to the lyrics, or caught on to the true meaning. The way Gail and Dick smile when they sing this kind of reminds me of him.

[crowe78]

@HelloWorld73013: look for "Dick Dale Nitro" there is a video from 2009. Dick Dale rocks.

[crowe78]

@HelloWorld73013 Dick Dale is an amazing guitarist. I *think* he's still with us but if not, his music is on YouTube forever (I hope). Check him out. I once saw him rip a surf song on his guitar, playing it upside down AND backwards.

[snoojie]

Gail and Dale: The Adam and Eve of Trolls.

[alpino22]

You can tell it was the early 70s since even the "squares" started growing out their sideburns.

[c3bhm]

"A modern spiritual..." WORD!

[wccrispy]

Seriously?

[sergioalpert66]

Welk had a very talented group of musicians and singers. He should've let them cut it loose a little more often. Still, it was a great show. Ran for 27 years on network tv and now another 25 years or so on PBS.

[Soulthinker2007]

It was hilarious. Seems no one told Welk what the song really means.

[yohji62]

like... O... M... G!

[mitchdfla]

Wonder how many fatties Lawrence rolled over the years...

[Tint301]

There's no way in hell the announcer didn't know what the song was about.

[myswedishprince]

OMG...I wonder how 'stoked' they were to be the first to do this on public television...hee hee,..ya know.?

[joed1966]

The tambourine player may be toking.....he's got as much 'time' as a broken watch...

[rtotoian]

TANK YOU BOY'S.

[roguehk]

"...and now-a, pass me the skull-a bong, pleeeese..."

[degentrified]

HAHAH!

[MrBeautifulba1]

This is why america goes to war every 25 years or so.

[bender1958]

If only "The Lawrence Welk Show" had done a tribute to the Rolling Stones.......

[0scarG]

A modern spiritual. I surely wonder who arranged for that performance.

[REDTEXGAL]

A little somethin for the kiddo's and a one-a and a two-a.....

[mitchdfla]

The guy with the accordian obviously was choking as he couldn't hold his smoke too well

[fanofming]

"A modern spiritual"... LMFAO! And what is that wood thing they're leaning against? Something to hold up that fake tree?

[snugglebunny469]

And a one and a Toke..............

[GraveDiggerIII]

@snugglebunny469

haha

[terrryc]

THIS IS SOOOO CLASSIC!

[rckrchck]

Where's the bubbles?

[cuauhtemoc130]

Just one? Poor bastards.



[computerpurple]

If ya miss this show there is SORT OF a modern one around now it's called The Huckabee Show.

[hemiglos]

Modern spiritual? Criminy. Did anyone ever sing Inna Gadda Da Vida or Spirit in the Sky on LW?

[chkrat22]

Tank you Gale and Dale vor dat wunnerful spiritual. Give me a hit on dat nummer... and a wun and a two...

[gpost2800]

Now we know how Lawrence Welk died: Right after this show aired, someone told him what "toke" means.

[mindspring57]

@gpost2800 This could be. During the war, Lawrence could not understand why his orchestra members objected to being called the tuity-fruity boys.

[vjwileycat]

@gpost2800

Ha ha. I watched it again and realized Lawrence Welk is acting like he's just endured the side effects of toking.

I think he knew for sure. Too funny. I like their version better, too!

[redfordforpresident]

@gpost2800 It means taken.

[gpost2800]

@redfordforpresident Oh really???!!!

[UppsalaBaronen]

"sWEEDen likes this"

[MadDawg60]

Brewer and Shipley wrote the tune on a whim. I have seen this video so many times and it still makes me laugh. These two are so "White Bread" cute and, obviously, not aware of what the are really saying in the song, especially the chorus; its only "redeeming" quality to the show's producers was that it mentions Jesus! Way to go Gale and Dale! Don't beaugart that joint, my friends!

[NickB1967]

@MadDawg60: Oh, but they are aware of what they are singing. The ear-to-ear grins, and the "cough" of the accordion guy introducing them, indicate they knew fully well what they were getting past the censors.

[tinagrvtwn]

@NickB1967 TRUE!

[snugglebunny469]

And a one and a Toke..............

[mitchflorida]

I really like this version .. better than the original.

[rbert16000]

I heard he died before his producers would let him do any Frank Zappa!

[dstruck0622]

@rbert16000 I would pay very good money to see Zappa on Lawrence Welk.

[MrLogoman007]

@dstruck0622 Lawrence Welk has been gone since '82. 

[Born2bRedeemed]

That is hilarious!!! It's hard to fathom that NO ONE involved in this show knew what this song was about

[babybloc]

It does not appear to be fake, amazingly enough: Check the  brewerandshipley website for backup. (I'm sure others have said this.)

[bayc908]

nice modulation!

[slimturnpike]

cmon people it's fake

[TheCandySlayer]

Drugs are bad. Mmkay.

[kachina333]

i think they are actually TWO tokes over the line !!!

[yummyvoo]

Ha Ha Ha Lawrence says "there you heard a modern spiritual by Dale and Gayle". Laughed so hard it gave me tears.

[louisVAogden]

Sweet Jebus, I think that stoner Dale was attempting to cop a cheap f**lie. See what happens when you smoke that devil's weed!

[bisonblaine]

This song does mention sweet Jesus

[JimBites]

The Welk band was unrivaled for its remarkable ability to suck out all of the life and heart and soul from any song they played.............

[mynamehappy]

@JimBites For truth. Pretty funny shit though. They obviously have no clue what a toke is.

[baddog52]

come on baby ~ get bizzy wit dat rite han

[gitardoofus]

Friggin' classic - you can't make up stuff like this, stoned or otherwise! PTL and LW!

[RockyBDemilleFan]

Now I see where the idea for *bubblers* came from! Who knew? =o)

[fortuenti]

Amazing this slipped past the network censors :) Nice!

[RossM3838]

This was posted by Tom Shipley himself. That makes it doubly funny

[chaosinside333]

i live in durant OK!!!!!!!!!

[abcLarrodefRojo1963]

I'm awstruck......

I'll be chuckling all day long.

And did ya notice how Myron Flouren's introduction to the next act had him coughing (from some hallucigen? [spell check]

Oh, which one was Dale? LOL

[krumelicious]

:D :D :D niiiice

[mickeyl01]

Hahahahahaahaaaaaa Gimme a toke and more bubbles.....wunnerful wunnerful!

[MrUnidyne]

Happy 4-20 everyone!

[nlpinstitutearizona]

Whow! They sure do play that straight! I kept thinking they were going to start making out in some sort of stoned frenzy as they stared into each others eyes right there at the start.

[jimmydcap]

Lawrence Welk really thought this was a Gospel song.. Well to some it is"lol" He really had no clue it was a drug song..lol I'm sure there a few people in his band that knew what it meant.. ... More than a FEW!!

[paytpowell]

with outfits like that I bet they are more than one toke over the line

[crowe78]

I LOVE Dick Dale!

[Eldrytch75]

Happy 420

[ChaLeeShen]

Adding Comments To This Video Has Been Disabled

[commventam]

"Modern Spiritual". Poor old Lawrence. Went right over his head. The song is about smokin' dope!!! Brewer & Shipley wrote it after they sat stoned in a coffee house and one of them said...."man, I"m one toke over the line....." in a grass-induced haze!

[WastedProductions420]

Lololol, anyone know where I can download this?

[pianomanmaestro]

whats the guys name who play's the accordion????

[MrAccordionPimp]

@pianomanmaestro MYRON FLOREN

[mightybisons]

@pianomanmaestro Myron Floren

[Sethian7]

MORE COWBELL!!!

[Anomki]

Virtue is a middle position between two vices, one of excess and the other by default. - Aristotle

Be very careful about locating good or God, right or wrong, legal or illegal, at your favorite level of consciousness. - Timothy Leary