The Riddle Song

Joe Katzman is amazed that The Riddle Song, now, I guess, best known for being strangled off by “Bluto” Blutarsky in the movie, Animal House, is a real song and I’m amazed at his amazement. I guess it just shows that I’m from a different generation (or, maybe, different cultural background) than Joe is.

The song is an old one: at least the 15th century. I don’t know who collected it first or recorded it first. I know it was recorded in 1941 by Burl Ives on his original The Wayfaring Stranger album and has been recorded since then by musicians as diverse as Pete Seeger and Sam Cooke.

We had the album around the house when I was growing up on old 78’s, my mom probably still has it (unless one of my sisters has glommed onto it), and I don’t remember a time when I didn’t know and sing the song. I think I can probably still sing all of the English, Scottish, and American folk songs on that album. Tam Pierce. Streets of Laredo. Cotton-Eyed Joe. I Know Where I’m Going (a special favorite of mine).

Burl Ives and his music were phenomenally popular during the 1940’s and he had a remarkable movie career but I guess he’s best-known now for supplying the voice of Sam the Snowman in the television stop-motion animation cartoon version of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (which I think of as a Gene Autry song).

1 comment… add one
  • Tom Strong Link

    I learned the Riddle song as a kid, and was very surprised to hear it in “Animal House” years later. I think I’m younger than both you and Katzman, so it’s not necessarily an age thing.

Leave a Comment