Tuesday

One Week

Chickity China the Chinese chicken, you have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin'.
~ The Barenaked Ladies

Coming back from Boston, my companion and I decided that we were up for a little adventure; so instead of driving back through New York along the I-90, we veered North early and drove along the I-91 through Vermont and then up through Quebec. The scenery was breathtaking, as we drove the hilly and winding roads lined with fir trees and rock cliffs. Part of the experience of road tripping is to find fun music, play it loudly and sing it badly... so that's what we did! Our radio station of choice was XM satellite radio's 90's on 9 (although it wasn't our exclusive station as we cycled through the 40's, - 90's) 90's music is the music of our youth and many of the songs were recognizable and singable. The video below shows me rockin' out to The Barenaked Ladies' One Week. This song reminds me of when I was working in a record shop during my high school years; the Canadian band, Barenaked Ladies, were at the height of their career, gaining global popularity, when One Week was released. I remember Stephen Page, their front man at the time, being interviewed and telling a story of meeting Oasis - Liam Gallagher allegedly turned to his brother and said "Hey, this is the 'Chickity China' band!" How's that for recognition?!

The only problem is that the lead singer sings so quickly at times that I don't know what all of the words are! So, I'm going to make it my mission to find out. Today's question is: what are the lyrics to The Barenaked Ladies' One Week?

A:
One Week was released in 1998 and was the group's best performing single in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It reached number 1 on Billboard's top 100 and made it to number 5 on the UK Singles chart. Apparently, I'm not the only one who couldn't keep up with the lyrics, the song was featured in an advert for the Mitsubishi Lancer which featured a group of young people in the car seeming to sing along until they could not keep up with the rapid-fire lyrics.

"One Week"

It's been one week since you looked at me
Cocked your head to the side and said "I'm angry"
Five days since you laughed at me saying
"Get that together come back and see me"
Three days since the living room
I realized it's all my fault, but couldn't tell you
Yesterday you'd forgiven me
but it'll still be two days till I say I'm sorry

Hold it now and watch the hoodwink
As I make you stop, think
You'll think you're looking at Aquaman
I summon fish to the dish, although I like the Chalet Swiss
I like the sushi
'cause it's never touched a frying pan
Hot like wasabe when I bust rhymes
Big like LeAnn Rimes
Because I'm all about value
Bert Kaempfert's got the mad hits
You try to match wits, you try to hold me but I bust through
Gonna make a break and take a fake
I'd like a stinkin achin shake
I like vanilla, it's the finest of the flavours
Gotta see the show, cause then you'll know
The vertigo is gonna grow
Cause it's so dangerous,
you'll have to sign a waiver

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad
Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Can't understand what I mean?
Well, you soon will
I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
I have a history of taking off my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me
Threw your arms in the air
and said "You're crazy"
Five days since you tackled me
I've still got the rug burns on both my knees
It's been three days since the afternoon
You realized it's not my fault
not a moment too soon
Yesterday you'd forgiven me
And now I sit back and wait til you say you're sorry

Chickity China the Chinese chicken
You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin'
Watchin' X-Files with no lights on
We're dans la maison
I hope the Smoking Man's in this one
Like Harrison Ford I'm getting frantic
Like Sting I'm tantric
Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy

Like Kurasawa I make mad films
Okay, I don't make films
But if I did they'd have a Samurai
Gonna get a set a' better clubs
Gonna find the kind with tiny nubs
Just so my irons aren't always flying off the back-swing
Gotta get in tune with Sailor Moon
'Cause the cartoon has got the boom anime babes
That make me think the wrong thing

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad
Tryin' hard not to smile though I feel bad
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Can't understand what I mean?
Well, you soon will
I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
I have a history of losing my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me
Dropped your arms to your sides
and said "I'm sorry"
Five days since I laughed at you and said
"You just did just what I thought you were gonna do"
Three days since the living room
We realized we're both to blame,
but what could we do?
Yesterday you just smiled at me
Cause it'll still be two days till we say we're sorry

It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry
It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry
Birchmount Stadium, home of the Robbie

I leave you with the official video:

http://youtu.be/fC_q9KPczAg


Sources:

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