The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota
Encyclopedia
"The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" by "Weird Al" Yankovic
is a lengthy folk-type song about a family road trip to a tourist location in Minnesota
. The song was meant by Yankovic as a style parody of the storytelling songs of Harry Chapin
and Gordon Lightfoot
,, and the structure and chord changes closely mirror the Chapin song "30,000 Pounds of Bananas
". The song refers to a real tourist attraction, a large ball of twine
in Darwin, Minnesota
, that Yankovic has visited on at least one occasion.
The song begins as the unnamed narrator recalls his trip to the titular attraction. After working all year at Big Roy's Heating and Plumbing he accumulates some vacation time. One night at the dinner table, he asks his kids where they would like to go on vacation. The kids excitedly inform him that they would like to see The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota. The very next day the family loads up their 1953 DeSoto
and begin a trip that takes three days (no point of origin is given). After naming off several place that the family has visited in the past (all of which are real places), the narrator recalls the excitement of the trip which includes picking up a foul-smelling hitchhiker who calls himself Bernie. On Wednesday evening at sunset, the family arrives at the twine ball, which they regard with a kind of rapturous spirit of worship but also questions about why someone would want to make a giant ball of twine the first place. The family then gives their camera to Bernie to take their picture, which he promptly runs away with. The family isn't bummed about the theft because "at least we got our memories". Back to the twine ball, the narrator is so overwhelmed by the mass of the ball, that he falls to the ground and begins weeping, which prompts security to throw the family off the premises. The song ends with the family looking at one another and agreeing that they will visit the ball again next year.
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
is a lengthy folk-type song about a family road trip to a tourist location in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. The song was meant by Yankovic as a style parody of the storytelling songs of Harry Chapin
Harry Chapin
Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter best known in particular for his folk rock songs including "Taxi", "W*O*L*D", and the number-one hit "Cat's in the Cradle". Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger; he was a key player in the creation of the...
and Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s...
,, and the structure and chord changes closely mirror the Chapin song "30,000 Pounds of Bananas
30,000 Pounds of Bananas
"30,000 Pounds of Bananas", sometimes spelled "Thirty-Thousand Pounds of Bananas", is a song by Harry Chapin from his 1974 album, Verities & Balderdash. The song became more popular in its live extended recording from Chapin's 1976 concert album, Greatest Stories Live that started the phrase...
". The song refers to a real tourist attraction, a large ball of twine
Biggest ball of twine
There are several claims to the world's biggest ball of twine record.-Largest sisal twine ball built by one person:Darwin, Minnesota is the home of a ball by Francis A. Johnson. It is 4 meters in diameter and weighs 4,900 kg . He started his obsession in March 1950 and wrapped four hours...
in Darwin, Minnesota
Darwin, Minnesota
Darwin is a city in Meeker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 350 at the 2010 census. It is known primarily for purportedly having the world's biggest ball of twine, which is located across from the public park on Main Street in the center of town.-Geography:According to the...
, that Yankovic has visited on at least one occasion.
The song begins as the unnamed narrator recalls his trip to the titular attraction. After working all year at Big Roy's Heating and Plumbing he accumulates some vacation time. One night at the dinner table, he asks his kids where they would like to go on vacation. The kids excitedly inform him that they would like to see The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota. The very next day the family loads up their 1953 DeSoto
DeSoto (automobile)
The DeSoto was a brand of automobile based in the United States, manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961. The DeSoto logo featured a stylized image of Hernando de Soto...
and begin a trip that takes three days (no point of origin is given). After naming off several place that the family has visited in the past (all of which are real places), the narrator recalls the excitement of the trip which includes picking up a foul-smelling hitchhiker who calls himself Bernie. On Wednesday evening at sunset, the family arrives at the twine ball, which they regard with a kind of rapturous spirit of worship but also questions about why someone would want to make a giant ball of twine the first place. The family then gives their camera to Bernie to take their picture, which he promptly runs away with. The family isn't bummed about the theft because "at least we got our memories". Back to the twine ball, the narrator is so overwhelmed by the mass of the ball, that he falls to the ground and begins weeping, which prompts security to throw the family off the premises. The song ends with the family looking at one another and agreeing that they will visit the ball again next year.
External links
- Lyrics to the song