Sit on My Face
Encyclopedia
"Sit on My Face" is a short song by the members of the comedy troupe Monty Python
which originally appeared on the album Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album
. It was later included in the album Monty Python Sings
, and was sung in the Python concert filmed and released as Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
. It was also performed at the Concert for George
; at the end of this rendition the four men performing it, who were dressed as waiters in long aprons (or perhaps as a Barbershop Quartet), turned their backs to face a portrait of George Harrison
, thereby revealing their naked buttocks and effectively mooning the Royal Albert Hall
audience.
The song's lyrics are sung to the melody
of "Sing as We Go
" by Gracie Fields
. The opening gives way to multiple male voices singing "Sit on my face and tell me that you love me." The remaining lyrics contain numerous references to fellatio
and cunnilingus
, such as "when I'm between your thighs you blow me away" and "life can be fine if we both 69".
received legal threats for alleged copyright infringement
due to the use of the tune of "Sing as we Go". Nonetheless, the Pythons decided to retain the song.
The US Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) has ruled that the song is "actionably indecent", concluding that "despite English accent and 'ambient noise' … the lyrics were sufficiently understandable". In 1992, it pursued legal action against KGB-FM
, a San Diego, California
classic rock
radio station
, for playing the song, eventually forcing the station to pay US$9200 in fines.
rendition of the song presented in Edinburgh
in 2003 translated the title as "Cum in my Mouth". According to producer
Rémy Renoux, "Cum in my Mouth is … what Monty Python
would have written today." Renoux also pointed out that a literal translation into French would not have fit the melody of the song, and claimed that the translation met with the approval of the Monty Python team.
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
which originally appeared on the album Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album
Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album
Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album is an album released by Monty Python in 1980, a mixture of songs, new sketches and some rerecorded pre-Python work. As the title suggests, the album was put together to complete a contract with Charisma Records...
. It was later included in the album Monty Python Sings
Monty Python Sings
Monty Python Sings is a comedy album of songs written by the Monty Python team.The song "Oliver Cromwell" was never released prior to this album...
, and was sung in the Python concert filmed and released as Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl is a 1982 concert film in which the Monty Python team perform many of their greatest sketches at the Hollywood Bowl. The show also included filmed inserts which were mostly taken from two Monty Python specials, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, which had been...
. It was also performed at the Concert for George
Concert for George
The Concert for George was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 29 November 2002 as a memorial to George Harrison on the first anniversary of his death. The event was organized by Harrison's widow, Olivia, and son, Dhani, and arranged under the musical direction of Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne...
; at the end of this rendition the four men performing it, who were dressed as waiters in long aprons (or perhaps as a Barbershop Quartet), turned their backs to face a portrait of George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
, thereby revealing their naked buttocks and effectively mooning the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
audience.
The song's lyrics are sung to the melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
of "Sing as We Go
Sing as We Go
Sing As We Go is a 1934 British musical film starring Gracie Fields and Stanley Holloway. The script was written by Gordon Wellesley and J. B. Priestley; it was directed by Basil Dean....
" by Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields
Dame Gracie Fields, DBE , was an English-born, later Italian-based actress, singer and comedienne and star of both cinema and music hall.-Early life:...
. The opening gives way to multiple male voices singing "Sit on my face and tell me that you love me." The remaining lyrics contain numerous references to fellatio
Fellatio
Fellatio is an act of oral stimulation of a male's penis by a sexual partner. It involves the stimulation of the penis by the use of the mouth, tongue, or throat. The person who performs fellatio can be referred to as the giving partner, and the other person is the receiving partner...
and cunnilingus
Cunnilingus
Cunnilingus is an oral sex act performed on a female. It involves the use by a sex partner of the mouth, lips and tongue to stimulate the female's clitoris, vulva, or vagina...
, such as "when I'm between your thighs you blow me away" and "life can be fine if we both 69".
Legal issues
Prior to the album's release, Monty PythonMonty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
received legal threats for alleged copyright infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
due to the use of the tune of "Sing as we Go". Nonetheless, the Pythons decided to retain the song.
The US Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) has ruled that the song is "actionably indecent", concluding that "despite English accent and 'ambient noise' … the lyrics were sufficiently understandable". In 1992, it pursued legal action against KGB-FM
KGB-FM
KGB-FM is a classic rock radio station in San Diego, California. It is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications.-History:...
, a San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, for playing the song, eventually forcing the station to pay US$9200 in fines.
French adaptation
A French languageFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
rendition of the song presented in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 2003 translated the title as "Cum in my Mouth". According to producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Rémy Renoux, "Cum in my Mouth is … what Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
would have written today." Renoux also pointed out that a literal translation into French would not have fit the melody of the song, and claimed that the translation met with the approval of the Monty Python team.