THE UKE and THE BOX and ME

If you were a teenager in the late 1940s and early 1950s you'll probably look at the crate above and say to yourself, "I used to know a song about a wooden crate." And if you were like me, you would have remembered that you used to play it on your ukulele and everyone would have a rollicking good time singing along with you. Those were good years to be a teenager. See if you can remember the tune - and get your uke out if you still have it:

THE THING – Phil Harris 1950

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While I was walkin' down the beach one bright and sunny day

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I saw a great big wooden box a-floatin' in the bay

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I pulled it in and opened it up and much to my surprise

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Oh, I discovered a ! ! !, right before my eyes

Oh, I discovered a ! ! !, right before my eyes

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I picked it up and ran to town as happy as a king

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I took it to a guy I knew who'd buy most anything

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But this is what he hollered at me as I walked in his shop

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"Oh, get out of here with that ! ! !, before I call a cop

Oh, get out of here with that ! ! !, before I call a cop”

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I wandered all around the town until I chanced to meet

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A hobo who was lookin' for a handout on the street

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He said he'd take most any old thing, he was a desperate man

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But when I showed him the ! ! !, he turned around and ran

Oh, when I showed him the ! ! !, he turned around and ran

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I wandered on for many years a victim of my fate

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Until one day I came upon St. Peter at the gate

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And when I tried to take it inside he told me where to go

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“Get out of here with that ! ! !, and take it down below

Oh get out of here with that ! ! !, and take it down below”

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The moral of this story is: if you're out on the beach

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And you should see a great big box, and it's within your reach
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Don't ever stop and open it up, that's my advice to you
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'cause you'll never get rid of the ! ! !, no matter what you do

Oh you'll never get rid of the ! ! !, no matter what you do

A special thanks to Phil Harris for this song and for the memories that warm the cockles of our aging hearts!