He's maybe a snake-oil salesman, maybe's got a cure-all-y'all's-ills potion - some kind of old-fashioned scammer, beating on a skillet with a hammer to attract attention (up they come"), a "showman whanging on a ballyhoo drum" ("ballyhoo: blatant or sensational promotion; hoopla, hype, plug, promotional material, publicity.") Sweet-talking and chatting up his prey (Come on up, honey...mighty fine weather...") He's a "flim-flam man;" a con man, with nothing of real value, just a lot of hoopla and humbug - "this chicken show ain't worth a damn.". He's got a singing boy who's part of the show; he's actually pretty good, has a real hit record - draws a crowd for this fast-talking salesman.
@Cherokeeridge I have since read that this song is specifically about "Colonel" Tom Parker - the fast-talking flim-flam man who controlled Elvis Presley, the country boy with the hit record. Parker (as far as I know) was never an actual travelling salesman with a worthless product, but he was a con-man for sure, and MK draws the parallel so delightfully.
@Cherokeeridge I have since read that this song is specifically about "Colonel" Tom Parker - the fast-talking flim-flam man who controlled Elvis Presley, the country boy with the hit record. Parker (as far as I know) was never an actual travelling salesman with a worthless product, but he was a con-man for sure, and MK draws the parallel so delightfully.
@Cherokeeridge "In addition to general deceiving or tricking, the verb "flimflam" is often used specifically to refer to swindling someone out of money" - which Parker definitely did to Elvis.
@Cherokeeridge "In addition to general deceiving or tricking, the verb "flimflam" is often used specifically to refer to swindling someone out of money" - which Parker definitely did to Elvis.
He's maybe a snake-oil salesman, maybe's got a cure-all-y'all's-ills potion - some kind of old-fashioned scammer, beating on a skillet with a hammer to attract attention (up they come"), a "showman whanging on a ballyhoo drum" ("ballyhoo: blatant or sensational promotion; hoopla, hype, plug, promotional material, publicity.") Sweet-talking and chatting up his prey (Come on up, honey...mighty fine weather...") He's a "flim-flam man;" a con man, with nothing of real value, just a lot of hoopla and humbug - "this chicken show ain't worth a damn.". He's got a singing boy who's part of the show; he's actually pretty good, has a real hit record - draws a crowd for this fast-talking salesman.
@Cherokeeridge I have since read that this song is specifically about "Colonel" Tom Parker - the fast-talking flim-flam man who controlled Elvis Presley, the country boy with the hit record. Parker (as far as I know) was never an actual travelling salesman with a worthless product, but he was a con-man for sure, and MK draws the parallel so delightfully.
@Cherokeeridge I have since read that this song is specifically about "Colonel" Tom Parker - the fast-talking flim-flam man who controlled Elvis Presley, the country boy with the hit record. Parker (as far as I know) was never an actual travelling salesman with a worthless product, but he was a con-man for sure, and MK draws the parallel so delightfully.
@Cherokeeridge "In addition to general deceiving or tricking, the verb "flimflam" is often used specifically to refer to swindling someone out of money" - which Parker definitely did to Elvis.
@Cherokeeridge "In addition to general deceiving or tricking, the verb "flimflam" is often used specifically to refer to swindling someone out of money" - which Parker definitely did to Elvis.