I'm My Own Grandpa Lyrics And Guitar Chords
"I'm My Own Grandpa" is a humorous and absurd song that tells the story of a complicated family relationship through a series of quirky and improbable scenarios. The song is often performed with comedic intent and has been covered by various artists, including Lonzo & Oscar in 1947, which popularized it in the U.S.
Themes and Meaning:
The Story:The song tells the tale of a man who describes how, due to marriages involving his relatives, he becomes his own grandpa. The lyrics follow a convoluted series of events:
Cultural Context:
Conclusion:"I'm My Own Grandpa" is a quirky and funny song that uses absurd family relationships to create humor. Its comedic exaggeration and playful use of language make it a classic example of folk humor and satire. The song is all about enjoying the ridiculousness of life and family dynamics, highlighting the sometimes absurd complexities of human relationships.
Themes and Meaning:
- Absurd Family Relationships:
- The song's central theme is the convoluted and nonsensical relationships within a family. The protagonist describes how, through a series of marriages and remarriages, he ends up being both his own grandfather and involved in other strange familial roles. The humor lies in the absurdity of these relationships, which defy normal logic and family dynamics.
- Comedic Exaggeration:
- The song is a satirical take on family connections and the ridiculousness that can arise from entangled relationships. The lyrics intentionally exaggerate and twist family roles, creating a situation where the protagonist ends up having multiple, paradoxical familial connections.
- Play on Words:
- Much of the humor in the song comes from wordplay and unexpected twists. Phrases like "I'm my own grandpa" are deliberately nonsensical, poking fun at the complexity of family trees and the sometimes convoluted nature of human relationships.
- Social Commentary on Marriage and Family:
- Though comedic in nature, the song also subtly comments on marriage, remarriage, and family dynamics, especially in the context of extended families. It plays with the idea of how complex and interwoven human connections can become, especially in cases of blended families.
The Story:The song tells the tale of a man who describes how, due to marriages involving his relatives, he becomes his own grandpa. The lyrics follow a convoluted series of events:
- His father marries his daughter-in-law, making him his own father-in-law.
- The protagonist’s wife then marries his own father, which complicates the relationship even further.
- Eventually, the narrator humorously declares, "I’m my own grandpa," after the tangled web of marriages is explained.
Cultural Context:
- Folk and Comedic Tradition:
"I'm My Own Grandpa" is an example of American comedic folk music, where absurd situations are exaggerated for humor. Similar types of songs with twisted relationships have appeared in various folk traditions. - Popular in the 1940s and 1950s:
The song became particularly famous when it was recorded by Lonzo & Oscar in 1947. It remains a favorite novelty song in the U.S. and beyond.
Conclusion:"I'm My Own Grandpa" is a quirky and funny song that uses absurd family relationships to create humor. Its comedic exaggeration and playful use of language make it a classic example of folk humor and satire. The song is all about enjoying the ridiculousness of life and family dynamics, highlighting the sometimes absurd complexities of human relationships.
The tab and guitar chords are my Marc Fahrbach. Written by Dwight Latham and Moe Jaffe.
Dennis Warner’s version (use capo on 2nd fret): The tin whistle sheet music notes are included.
Dennis Warner’s version (use capo on 2nd fret): The tin whistle sheet music notes are included.
ntro:
C C … C
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… ---------------- ½--------------- ½
½-1-----1------ ½-1-----1------ ½… -1-----1------ ½-1-----1------ ½
½-----0------0- ½-----0------0- ½… ---------------- ½-----0------0- ½
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… -----0--------- ½--------------- ½
½-3------------ ½-3------------ ½… -3-----0---2-- ½-3------------ ½
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… -----3--------- ½--------------- ½
[C] Many, many years ago when [G] I was twenty-three
I was married to a widow who was [C] pretty as could be
This widow had a grown-up daughter [F] who had hair of red
My [D] father fell in love with her and [G7] soon the two were [G] wed
Chorus:
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[D]pa[D*]
It may sound [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[C] I'm my [G] own grand[C]pa
D*: [x x 0 7 7 5] this chord is optional!
This [C] made my dad my son-in-law and [G] changed my very life
My daughter was my mother, 'cause she [C] was my father's wife
And to complicate the matter even [F] though it brought me joy
I [D] soon became the father of a [G7] bouncing baby [G] boy
Now the [C] little baby then became a [G] brother-in-law to Dad
And so became my uncle though it [C] made me very sad
Cause if he was my uncle then this [F] also makes him brother
To the [D] widow's grown-up daughter who was [G7] also my step-[G]mother
Chorus
[C] Father's wife then had a son who [G] kept him on the run
He became my grandchild 'cause he [C] was my daughter's son
My wife is now my mother's mother [F] and it makes me blue
Be[D]cause although she is my wife she is [G7] my grandmother, [G]too
Now [C] if my wife is my grandmother then [G] I am her grandchild
And every time I think about it [C] nearly drives me wild
For now I have become the strangest [F] case you ever saw
As [D] husband of my grandmother, I [G7] am my own grand[G]pa
Chorus
Oh, [F] I'm my own grand[D]pa[D*]
It may sound [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[C] I'm my [G] own grand, [C] I'm my [G] own grand, [C] I'm my [G] own grand[C]pa
C C … C
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… ---------------- ½--------------- ½
½-1-----1------ ½-1-----1------ ½… -1-----1------ ½-1-----1------ ½
½-----0------0- ½-----0------0- ½… ---------------- ½-----0------0- ½
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… -----0--------- ½--------------- ½
½-3------------ ½-3------------ ½… -3-----0---2-- ½-3------------ ½
½--------------- ½--------------- ½… -----3--------- ½--------------- ½
[C] Many, many years ago when [G] I was twenty-three
I was married to a widow who was [C] pretty as could be
This widow had a grown-up daughter [F] who had hair of red
My [D] father fell in love with her and [G7] soon the two were [G] wed
Chorus:
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[D]pa[D*]
It may sound [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[C] I'm my [G] own grand[C]pa
D*: [x x 0 7 7 5] this chord is optional!
This [C] made my dad my son-in-law and [G] changed my very life
My daughter was my mother, 'cause she [C] was my father's wife
And to complicate the matter even [F] though it brought me joy
I [D] soon became the father of a [G7] bouncing baby [G] boy
Now the [C] little baby then became a [G] brother-in-law to Dad
And so became my uncle though it [C] made me very sad
Cause if he was my uncle then this [F] also makes him brother
To the [D] widow's grown-up daughter who was [G7] also my step-[G]mother
Chorus
[C] Father's wife then had a son who [G] kept him on the run
He became my grandchild 'cause he [C] was my daughter's son
My wife is now my mother's mother [F] and it makes me blue
Be[D]cause although she is my wife she is [G7] my grandmother, [G]too
Now [C] if my wife is my grandmother then [G] I am her grandchild
And every time I think about it [C] nearly drives me wild
For now I have become the strangest [F] case you ever saw
As [D] husband of my grandmother, I [G7] am my own grand[G]pa
Chorus
Oh, [F] I'm my own grand[D]pa[D*]
It may sound [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[C] I'm my [G] own grand, [C] I'm my [G] own grand, [C] I'm my [G] own grand[C]pa
I’M MY OWN GRANDPA 4/4 (Moe Jaffe / Dwight Latham)
Iain MacKintosh’s version:
[C] Many, many years ago when [G] I was twenty-three
I was married to a widow who was [C] pretty as could be
This widow had a grown-up daughter [F] who had hair of red
My [D] father fell in love with her and [G7] soon the two were [G] wed
This [C] made my dad my son-in-law and [G] changed my very life
My daughter was my mother, 'cause she [C] was my father's wife
And to complicate the matter even [F] though it brought him joy
He [D] soon became the father of a [G7] bouncing baby [G] boy
But the [C] little baby then became a [G] brother-in-law to Dad
And thus became my uncle though it [C] made me very sad
Cause if he was my uncle then that also [F] made him brother
To the [D] widow's grown-up daughter who of [G7] course was my step-[G]mother
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
[C] Father's wife then had a son who [G] kept him on the run
He became my grandchild 'cause he [C] was my daughter's son
My wife is now my mother's mother [F] and it makes me blue
Al[D]though she is my wife she is my [G7] grandmother, [G]too
Now [C] if my wife is my grandmother then [G] I am her grandchild
Every time I think about it [C] nearly drives me wild
'Cause now I have become the strangest [F] case you ever saw
As [D] husband of my grandmother, I [G7] am my own grand[G]pa
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
Iain MacKintosh’s version:
[C] Many, many years ago when [G] I was twenty-three
I was married to a widow who was [C] pretty as could be
This widow had a grown-up daughter [F] who had hair of red
My [D] father fell in love with her and [G7] soon the two were [G] wed
This [C] made my dad my son-in-law and [G] changed my very life
My daughter was my mother, 'cause she [C] was my father's wife
And to complicate the matter even [F] though it brought him joy
He [D] soon became the father of a [G7] bouncing baby [G] boy
But the [C] little baby then became a [G] brother-in-law to Dad
And thus became my uncle though it [C] made me very sad
Cause if he was my uncle then that also [F] made him brother
To the [D] widow's grown-up daughter who of [G7] course was my step-[G]mother
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
[C] Father's wife then had a son who [G] kept him on the run
He became my grandchild 'cause he [C] was my daughter's son
My wife is now my mother's mother [F] and it makes me blue
Al[D]though she is my wife she is my [G7] grandmother, [G]too
Now [C] if my wife is my grandmother then [G] I am her grandchild
Every time I think about it [C] nearly drives me wild
'Cause now I have become the strangest [F] case you ever saw
As [D] husband of my grandmother, I [G7] am my own grand[G]pa
Now [G] I'm my own grand[C]pa, [F] I'm my own grand[G]pa
It sounds [C]funny I know, but [F]really it's so
[G] I'm my own grand[C]pa
I'm My Own Grandpa Tin Whistle Sheet Music Notes
