I Can't Spell Schenectady

In which Emily makes a Christmas present for her father by singing "I Can't Spell Schenectady."

Emily is aware that she is a terrible singer.

Thanks to all my uncles for helping out!

MP3 of the real song by Big Jon and Sparky:
http://bit.ly/5ICzrP

LYRICS:
I'm so very smart in all my lessons,
Reading, writing and geography;
But when it comes to spelling, I'm confessing There's just one word that stumps me constantly.

I can spell Dakota, can handle Minnesota, but
I can't spell Schenectady,
I can spell Havana and figure out Savannah,
But I can't spell Schenectady
Why, one time at a spelling bee
Said teacher all at once,
"Now, Sonny, spell 'Schenectady',"
I felt just like a dunce!

I spelled Anaconda and even Tonawanda,
So what do they expect of me ?
'Cause I can't spell Schenectady.

I can spell Pomona, Seattle and Tacoma, but I can't spell Schenectady
I've mastered Ypsilanti and Agua Caliente, but I can't spell Schenectady

I spelled Anaconda and even Tonawanda,
So what do you expect of me ?
'Cause can't spell Schenectady.

I can spell Missoula and even Ashtabula, but I can't spell Schenectady
I find Corpus Christi as easy as Poughkeepsie, but I can't spell Schenectady

Although it's such a pretty place,
Yet isn't it a shame,
They had to go and give it
Such an awfully funny name ?

There is just one answer. As quickly as I can sir,
I'm going to move to Albany.
'Cause I can't spell Schenectady

I can spell Beethoven and Reginald DeKoven, but I can't spell Schenectady!
I can spell Puccini and make with Toscanini, but I can't spell Schenectady.

Just try me on musician's names,
And I'll get through them all,
I used to stick the posters up
Outside Carnegie Hall.

I've juggled with Toplitsky
and worked out Koussevitski,
But one word gets the best of me.
'Cause we can't spell Schenectady!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• chateauofadoubt
• schenectady
• christmas present
• i can't spell schenectady

[lv2chuckle]

I was born and raised in Schenectady and I never heard this song before tonight. I love it, and since I now live in Alabama, I'll be visiting this page often. GREAT JOB!! I just read down a little further, and you might not let me post, (ha ha)because I went to Linton, back when it was still Linton.  :>) Seriously though, I love the video of the Mont Pleasant area. Thanks for a taste of HOME. I grew up on Wagner Ave.

[ChateauOfADoubt]

@lv2chuckle oh! I'm actually visiting my parents right now, but they're sleeping. I'll mention it to them tomorrow. I substitute in the district, so I get to work in both your old high school and my parents'. I made another video about MPHS and how it was exactly how I'd imagined it would be based on my parents' and uncles' stories, though that's usually not the case with things.

How great that you've stumbled upon my video! Thanks:D

[lv2chuckle]

@ChateauOfADoubt The only other thing I wanted to say is that my daughter is a SpEd teacher here in Alabama....... Do you find it hard to work in the schools now? Yeah, "back in the day" we had so much fun in school. MP was always killing Linton in football......but it didn't really seem to matter. Oh well, please tell your parents I said hello and Kill the Hill..... I'm sure they'll say Stomp the Swamp. Have a blessed night and thanks for writing back.

[ChateauOfADoubt]

@lv2chuckle Schools now is really all I know! There is a certain sense of entitlement that I'm surprised to find among kids, but I haven't been teaching long enough to know if this is a new development or just how certain kids are.

[DardanellesBy108]

This is great! I literally have not heard this song for decades... since the old radio program Big Jon and Sparkie! People would look at me like I was crazy when I'd try and tell them about this song.  Thanks for posting it.

[ChateauOfADoubt]

Great! I was hoping that beyond being a present for my dad, that it would be that for people. Thanks for letting me know! :)

[lv2chuckle]

@ChateauOfADoubt I went back to play your video again and was really happy to see your message..........You have made my day, and really my year, with all the pics, etc. I'm a little older than your parents, having graduated in 1968. I got married right after high school, lived in Hickory, NC for a while (HATED IT) and then we moved back HOME.... We've lived in Bama since 1979; At first I thought you lived away, but I see that you sub. That's great. I'm running out of room.

[charlottepoet]

too cute!

[genericfirstname]

Ah that makes a lot of sense.

[GMPNY]

When I was a senior your Dad was in 10th grade. I graduated in '68.