I remember the year I went to camp
I heard about some lady named Selma and some blacks
Somebody put their fingers in the President's ears
It wasn't too much later they came out with Johnson's wax
I remember the book depository where they crowned the king of Cuba
Now that's all I can think of, but I'm sure there's something else
Way down inside me I can feel it coming back

Purple toupee will show the way when summer brings you down
(Purple toupee when summer brings you down)
Purple toupee and gold lame will turn your brain around
(Purple toupee and gold lame)

Chinese people were fighting in the park
We tried to help them fight, no one appreciated that
Martin X was mad when they outlawed bell bottoms
Ten years later they were sharing the same cell
I shouted out, "Free the Expo '67"
Till they stepped on my hair, and they told me I was fat
Now I'm very big, I'm a big important man
And the only thing that's different is underneath my hat

Purple toupee will show the way when summer brings you down
(Purple toupee when summer brings you down)
Purple toupee and gold lame will turn your brain around
(Purple toupee and gold lame)

Purple toupee is here to stay after the hair has gone away
The purple brigade is marching from the grave

We're on some kind of mission
We have an obligation
We have to wear toupees


Lyrics submitted by qshapadooy

Purple Toupee Lyrics as written by John Linnell John Flansburgh

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Purple Toupee song meanings
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    General Comment

    Good points, all.

    Other things, interesting: Chinese People Fighting in the Park is probably a reference to Vietnam, "we tried to help them out, no one appreciated that." I heard somewhere that it could also be a reference to Tai Chi -- the meditative stretching exercises, that kind of look like martial arts. Obviously, anyone trying to "help out" someone doing Tai Chi is going to upset them.

    The King of Cuba could be a reference to the theories that Castro put the hit out on Kennedy -- after Kennedy had tried to assassinate Castro a couple times. That action cemented Castro in his leadership roll - ie. crowned him the King (as opposed to President -- a president leaves office, whereas a king stays until he's dead).

    Could "the camp" in the first line be Boot Camp? A reference to the draft?

    I think the Purple Toupee and Gold Lame is a ref. to styles -- the whole "hippy" culture, be free, conform to our non-conformity. To support this, "we're on some kind of mission," almost sounds like the author has no idea why he's protesting or dressing up - its just "some kind of mission," but whatever the reason, he's obligated to do so.

    On second thought, I think maybe those last three lines sum up the song. Its about a former 60's protestor who is so burnt out, that he has no idea why he was even protesting at all -- and he can't even get the events right. But it was a mission...

    Sir_Larrikinon July 27, 2005   Link

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