Friday, October 6, 2006

Hey Henry,

Here are some lyrics to songs about the Yeti. The first is by "stoner metal" band High On Fire, from their 2002 album Surrounded by Thieves; it's very, very heavy and I don't think you'd really appreciate the song itself but I thought I should pass along the lyrics anyway. They seem to suggest that the yeti has some connection to extraterrestrial life; I confess that I don't know if this theme has yet been suggested or explored by others, beyond certain yeti-style aliens on Dr. Who and whatnot. So anyway, here they are:

The Yeti [Ballad of]

Beyond the mountains of ice,
Exists a creature of frost.
His secret lies in the skies.
Eternal legend survives.
His powers unknown by man.
To catch a glimpse if he can.
Wandering deep polar caps.
Communication with saucer.
Abominable nomad.
The ancient monks know his clan.
The time of yeti will rise.
Because his ways have always been wise.
The yeti's feet take fight,
Upon the tundran ice.
Carries the saucer's key,
Upon the space-bound seed.

And if you prefer Yeti songs that offer a more clear-eyed, down-to earth perspective, there's Jonathan Richman's "Abominable Snowman in the Market," of which you may already be aware. I think that there's a good chance you'll like this one a lot if you've never heard it.

Abominable Snowman in the Market

Well look, see, there's an abominable snowman in the supermarket
And apparently the housewives have never seen anything like that before
Hear the housewives complaing to the manager,
"Get that snow thing out of this store."

Abominable snowman in the market,
That's right, you heard me right, gang.
And the housewives, they all remarking,
"Looks like a dirty marshmallow with fangs."

Well, there's an abominable snowman in the market,
Now he's down by the peas and carrots.
Abominable snowman in the market.
And they cannot chase him away.

Abominable snowman in the market.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Abominable snowman in the market.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

See, there's an abominable snowman in the market,
And the situation is grave.
Well, the housewives hurt and confuse him,
And I can't see him treated this way.

Well, there's an abominable snowman in the market,
And I think he's a real nice guy.
I like the snowman, I want to help him out,
I don't want to see him hurt this way.

Well, Abominable snowman in the market.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Abominable snowman in the market.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Look, we have to talk to this abominable snowman man.
And we have to say something that he can understand.

There's an abominable snowman in the market,
And he's doin' better every day.
I know it's helped him to have a more tolerant feeling.
And I like to see him treated this way.

Well, there's an abominable snowman in the market,
And he's down by the peas and carrots.
There's an abominable snowman in the market,
And that is what I now say.

Abominable snowman in the market,
all right Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Abominable snowman in the market
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

There's an abominable snowman in the market
Down by the peas and carrots.
Abominable snowman in the market
He just arrived by plane yesterday.

There's an abominable snowman in the market
And the housewives never seen something like that before.
Housewives treat him like a stranger,
They want him away from the supermark't door.

Abominable snowman in the market.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Abominable snowman in the market

-- Sean