Chances are future music archaeologists are going to be turned inside out by this one. But here’s how a song that became better known as a band evolved. Neil Innis and his English art school buddies formed the Bonzo Dog Dada Band, which became the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band before they just shortened it to the Bonzo Dog Band. It was the 60s, after all.
They sounded like what Frank Zappa raised in a British music hall. Paul McCartney heard them, and would produce some of their music under the name Apollo C. Vermouth. They appeared in the Beatles film Magical Mystery Tour, singing a sleazy striptease song that would inspire another band a few decades down the line.
From their first album “Gorilla” in 1967, The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band perform Death Cab for Cutie.
That night Cutie called a cab
-Baby don't do it
She left her East Side drum so drab
-Baby don't do it
She went out on the town
Knowing it would make her lover frown
-Death cab for Cutie
-Death cab for Cutie
Someone's going to make you pay your fare
The cab was racing through the night
-Baby don't do it
His eyes in the mirror, keeping Cutie in sight
-Baby don't do it
When he saw Cutie it gave him a thrill
Don't you know Baby, curves can kill
-Death cab for Cutie
-Death cab for Cutie
Someone's going to make you pay your fare
Cutie, don't you play with fate
Don't leave your lover alone
If you go out on this date
His heart will turn to stone
Bad girl Cutie, what have you done
-Baby don't do it
Slipping sliding down Highway 31
-Baby don't do it
The traffic lights changed from green to red
They tried to stop but they both wound up dead
-Death cab for Cutie
-Death cab for Cutie
Someone's going to make you pay your fare
Someone's going to make you pay your fare
Someone's going to make you pay your fare
Someone's going to make you pay your fare
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Neil Innes / Vivian Stanshall
Death Cab for Cutie (2007 Remaster) lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Wixen Music Publishing
Share this post