Mister Richard Smoker
"Mister Richard Smoker" is a song by Ween from the album 12 Golden Country Greats.
Song Details[edit | edit source]
Recording and Composition[edit | edit source]
"Mister Richard Smoker" is in the key of C major. The song is notable for being one of their few to feature a key change, with the ending shifting to D major, then E major, and finally on F# major.
The lead vocals are sung by Gene Ween.
Meaning[edit | edit source]
Dean Ween once said the song was about their old landlord.[1] The song's title is a play on 'Dick Sucker', with Dick being short for Richard.
Crank Yankers Version[edit | edit source]
Ween had originally recorded a 90-second version of "Mister Richard Smoker" for the Comedy Central show, "Crank Yankers" , before going with "Hey There Fancypants[2]". Deaner explains more in an old ween.com post in the Audio section:
The producers of an upcoming show on Comedy Central requested that we perform a 90 second version of this song to be used in an upcoming puppet show that will air weekly on Comedy Central. They asked that Aaron and I perform it with no accompaniment and edit out the dirtiest verses. When the censors at the network heard the song minus the "you smoke big dick" verse, they still said "no fucking way". We're doing another tune instead, but here's our original contribution---I really like this arrangement of this song.[3]
Live Performances[edit | edit source]
"Mister Richard Smoker" was debuted by Ween with the Shit Creek Boys on the 1996 12 Golden Country Greats tour.[4] Two recordings from this period, from 10/11/1996 and 10/23/1996, can be found on the albums Paintin' the Town Brown and Live in Toronto Canada, respectively. After that tour, Ween has continued to play the song frequently.[5] A 7/7/2000 recording from the White Pepper tour is heard on Live at Stubb's.
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo bow
Mr. Richard Smoker
You're a poopy poker
Chardonnay and cocaine in the spa
Cigarettes and coffee breath
Little boys on crystal meth
Tonight we'll tango in the street
You eat dark meat
Mr. Richard Smoker
You're a chicken choker
Tonight you're gonna let it all hang out
Pantyhose and aquanet
Smokin' menthol cigarettes
Tonight we'll tango in the street
You eat dark meat
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo bow, smoke
You eat dark meat
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo bow
Mr. Richard Smoker
You're an Ono Yoker
Cognac and black coffee with the boys
Dancin' in your buster browns
Whirlin' to the techno sounds
Your hands are wet, your hair is slick
You smoke big dick
Mr. Richard Smoker
You're a velvet coker
Bruce and Jeff will pick you up at ten
Goin' out, dancin' in the city
Friday night, gotta look pretty
Tonight we'll tango in the street
You eat dark meat
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo bow, woah
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo bow, yeah
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo bow, smoke
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo
Boopity ba boo bow
Song Themes[edit | edit source]
Alcohol/Drugs, Homosexuality, Poop, Profanity/Swearing, Sex, Sung by Gene Ween