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Song Parodies -> "Backtracking"

Original Song Title:

"White Wedding"

 (MP3)
Original Performer:

Billy Idol

Parody Song Title:

"Backtracking"

Parody Written by:

Wendy Christopher

The Lyrics

This parody was inspired by seeing Minstrel's parody "Warmong'ring Tendencies" - however you guys in the US might feel about Obama, I felt that I couldn't let the UK's own (sordid) involvement in the whole thing go un-pointed-out either. Please don't hate the British people for it - we have a corrupt government that we can't get rid of, no matter how hard we try.
You can listen to the original song here. (I've also added a few explanatory footnotes for some of the things I've written in the parody.)
Hey there Gaddafi, thought it was fun
Crazy Gaddafi when we sold you guns*
We never thought you’d get to using them
Frankly old chum you’re just abusing them
We’re gonna get you now, son!

It’s a nice way to shaft a friend
It’s a nice day for some backtracking
‘Cause we’re both two-faced in the end

You there Gaddafi, you can’t use our guns
For killing your oppressed civilians
You bent the rules and now we’re so mad
You showed us up and made us look so bad
Messed up our weapons conference!

So we say it’s a big disgrace
It’s a nice day for some backtracking
It’s the one way to save our face

(Bring it on!)
Kick your ass, oh yeah!

Hey there Gaddafi, open your purse
You and Mugabe, our best customers**
Our package for dictators (love it!)
Five mil’, no small potatoes (profit!)***
But now you’ve made it all worse!

So we’ll just say it’s rotten luck
Oh yeah, it’s a nice day for some backtracking
It’s the best way to pass the buck

So we’re selling arms to the world, yeah
Every despot in the whole world
‘Til they start to piss off the world
Then we’ll be the first in the world
To declare we’re saving the world -
Once again!

Because it’s a nice day for some backtracking
It’s a nice way to shaft a friend
And we’re outraged but it’s pretend
‘Cause we’re all two-faced in the end
* ....Just a few months before it all kicked off in Libya, actually. And by 'guns' we mean 'sniper rifles.' ** Yep - we've sold arms to Robert Mugabe as well, from 1984 right up to the year 2000. *** Britain secured a £5million arms trade package with Libya in 2007, which included, among other things, armoured personnel carriers and water cannons. We've since traded tens of millions of pounds more.
And the most ironic thing of all? Government cuts mean we can't afford to supply our own troops with decent equipment... so we send them out to fight with crappy, out-of-date gear that doesn't work properly. Whilst the enemy troops get to use the quality weapons we sold them just a few short months ago. Mad, bad, crazy world we live in.....

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Voting Results

 
Pacing: 4.3
How Funny: 4.3
Overall Rating: 4.3

Total Votes: 6

Voting Breakdown

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User Comments

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Old Man Ribber - March 29, 2011 - Report this comment
Wendy - Fine parody. It appears our nations share more than a language and a system of laws. Keep the faith. ;D
AFW - March 29, 2011 - Report this comment
Good shot of political spoofing
John Barry - March 29, 2011 - Report this comment
Your last comment in the footnotes sums it up nicely.
Cold Warrior - September 05, 2011 - Report this comment
Hi Wendy. Great parody of a great song by a great rocker who isn't called "Idol" for nothing. He puts on wild shows. Do you remember how Saddam Hussein was a "great buddy" then in 1990 he was "worse than Hitler"? At that time the brash and brilliant Rolling Stones put out a Gulf War-bashing hit "Highwire". Unfortunately the radio stations were bullied to not play it as much as it deserved to be.

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