Dead Skunk
Encyclopedia
"Dead Skunk" is a 1973 novelty song
by Loudon Wainwright III
.
The song is musically a simple folk song based on acoustic guitar
, but accompanied by drums and strings. The lyrics, which literally interpreted describe a dead skunk
in the middle of a busy road and the smell it produces for pedestrians, have often been seen as an attack on then-president Richard Nixon
. Wainwright himself has never confirmed or denied this claim, but has said the song was an accident written in fifteen minutes.
Although the single was released in November 1972, it was not until well into 1973 that it caught on with radio stations, and its number sixteen peak on the Billboard Hot 100
chart was not reached until May 1973. It was the only record to chart for Wainwright.
Novelty song
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions...
by Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Snowden Wainwright III is a Grammy Award-winning American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor. He is the father of musicians Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche, brother of Sloan Wainwright, and the former husband of the late folk singer Kate McGarrigle.To...
.
The song is musically a simple folk song based on acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, but accompanied by drums and strings. The lyrics, which literally interpreted describe a dead skunk
Skunk
Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. General appearance varies from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...
in the middle of a busy road and the smell it produces for pedestrians, have often been seen as an attack on then-president Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. Wainwright himself has never confirmed or denied this claim, but has said the song was an accident written in fifteen minutes.
Although the single was released in November 1972, it was not until well into 1973 that it caught on with radio stations, and its number sixteen peak on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart was not reached until May 1973. It was the only record to chart for Wainwright.