Needed: A new Thanksgiving Day song

Why is it that there are a hundred million Christmas carols out there, but no Thanksgiving music? Okay, there's one Turkey Day tune. As my old colleague David Hinckley once wrote, "A comprehensive list of Thanksgiving songs for modern times pretty much can be summed up in two words: 'Alice's Restaurant.'"

But that Arlo Guthrie tune is 18 minutes long, and not exactly suitable background music for the dinner table. Even Guthrie himself is sick of playing it; these days, the only concert he's guaranteed to play it at  is his Carnegie Hall Thanksgiving weekend concert.

While you can get anything you want in Alice's Restaurant, what I want are some Thanksgiving-specific songs. Why hasn't anybody else written some already? We desperately need a few.

First, there should be a heartwarming Thanksgiving tune,talking about the great times with family, friends and food. A song suitable as part of the soundtrack 'for a terrific meal.

Then there needs to be a rocking turkey song to be played on the radio each year as the calendar hits November. Something to get listeners fired up for the holiday.

And finally, there should be a funny, sardonic Thanksgiving song, the way "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" is for Christmas, featuring any or all of the following mishaps:

* Being hung over from staying out late the night before; Thanksgiving Eve rivals New Year's Eve for being the "drinkingest" evening of the year

* Forgetting to defrost the turkey

* Seeing a Macy's Thanksgiving Parade balloon get loose

* Cracking jokes about the cranberry sauce being in the shape of a can

* Watching the Detroit Lions lose, and the Dallas Cowboys preen

* Leaving the giblet bag in the turkey

* Sniping among family members at the dinner table

Any of these themed songs would make money over the long haul, as they get rolled out each year. So why hasn't somebody else come up with a Thanksgiving tune or two? It's a mystery for the ages, right up there with who came up with the idea of mixing marshmallows and sweet potatoes!

Comments

[Ed Leyro]

You mean you never heard of "The Thanksgiving Song" by Adam Sandler? It's a required sing-along at my Thanksgiving table for when I eat my traditional Thanksgiving Pop-Tart. Here's a link to the SNL video of Sandler singing the song. Have a great Thanksgiving, Lisa!

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/clips/update-sandler-thanksgiving-song/1179146/

[Lisa Swan]

Thanks for the linkage, but that is no Hanukkah Song.

[Lisa Swan]

Ed, that Adam Sandler song is just painful! And he did one of my pet peeves about SNL - he broke character and laughed at his own jokes. Glad I missed hearing it all this time.

[Steelers jerseys]

Of course, education is a partnership between the schools and the families.

[vibram five fingers]

there should be a heartwarming Thanksgiving tune,talking about the great times with family

[vibram five fingers]

there needs to be a rocking turkey song to be played on the radio each year as the calendar hits November.

[moncler coats]

Incredible voice, incredible smile - she sings for the joy of doing and sharing her gift! I'm in Japan too (18 years and counting) and Dre-com, along with Sazan are two joyful music making groups that make up for all the junk here ... and there ... maybe ?