by Helen Langdon
Yes, yes, Monty Python are one of the greatest comedy troupes to have ever existed. But they didn’t just write and perform – they also sang. Now, if you’ve seen the films, you’ll be familiar with songs like Knights of the Round Table and Every Sperm is Sacred. But did you know that Monty Python released a whole host of albums? Basically, what we’re trying to say is that it’s entirely possible to have a party playlist just made up of Monty Python songs. With that in mind, here are some of their best!
Yes, yes, Monty Python are one of the greatest comedy troupes to have ever existed. But they didn’t just write and perform – they also sang. Now, if you’ve seen the films, you’ll be familiar with songs like Knights of the Round Table and Every Sperm is Sacred. But did you know that Monty Python released a whole host of albums? Basically, what we’re trying to say is that it’s entirely possible to have a party playlist just made up of Monty Python songs. With that in mind, here are some of their best!
Knights of the Round Table
From the moment that Patsy disparages the knights’ awed reactions to Camelot by saying, “It’s only a model”, you know this is going to be great. The rhymes in the song for “Camelot” and “table” are truly staggering – who would have thought to rhyme “table” with “Clark Gable”? The frenetic dancing makes Camelot look fun, although it is a silly place.
From the moment that Patsy disparages the knights’ awed reactions to Camelot by saying, “It’s only a model”, you know this is going to be great. The rhymes in the song for “Camelot” and “table” are truly staggering – who would have thought to rhyme “table” with “Clark Gable”? The frenetic dancing makes Camelot look fun, although it is a silly place.
Medical Love Song
This song is an album-only song, but it’s a thing of beauty. The lyrics were co-written by Graham Chapman, who was a qualified doctor and hence knew a lot about sexually transmitted diseases. If the lyrics weren’t talking about “inflammation of the foreskin” and “syphilitic sores”, it might be quite a nice love song.
This song is an album-only song, but it’s a thing of beauty. The lyrics were co-written by Graham Chapman, who was a qualified doctor and hence knew a lot about sexually transmitted diseases. If the lyrics weren’t talking about “inflammation of the foreskin” and “syphilitic sores”, it might be quite a nice love song.
Bruces' Philosophers Song (Bruces' Song)
Technically, this doesn’t appear on Monty Python’s Flying Circus. It’s the coda to a sketch featuring lecturers (all called Bruce) from the fictional Australian University of Woolloomooloo. Basically just a list of philosophers, calling them all alcoholics, this song is great if you need to remember facts about philosophers in a pinch (although remember that Descartes’ thing is “I think”, rather than “I drink”).
Technically, this doesn’t appear on Monty Python’s Flying Circus. It’s the coda to a sketch featuring lecturers (all called Bruce) from the fictional Australian University of Woolloomooloo. Basically just a list of philosophers, calling them all alcoholics, this song is great if you need to remember facts about philosophers in a pinch (although remember that Descartes’ thing is “I think”, rather than “I drink”).
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
Probably the most famous Monty Python song, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life comes from the very end of Monty Python’s Life of Brian. A song about facing the inevitability of death and remaining optimistic, it’s the third most popular song Britons want played at their funeral. It’s probably the deepest song Eric Idle ever wrote, with its brand of cheery resilience resonating with audiences and becoming famous outside of its source film.
Probably the most famous Monty Python song, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life comes from the very end of Monty Python’s Life of Brian. A song about facing the inevitability of death and remaining optimistic, it’s the third most popular song Britons want played at their funeral. It’s probably the deepest song Eric Idle ever wrote, with its brand of cheery resilience resonating with audiences and becoming famous outside of its source film.
Lumberjack Song
It’s a song from a man who always wanted to be a lumberjack, who sings while clutching his woman to his side and surrounded by Mounties. But they all walk off after his singing slowly reveals his transvestite tendencies. What makes The Lumberjack Song even better is the fact that it’s got an official German version, where Michael Palin sings about his “Büstenhalter” (German for bra) and “Uncle Walter”. Palin had to learn the song phonetically, but it comes off rather well.
It’s a song from a man who always wanted to be a lumberjack, who sings while clutching his woman to his side and surrounded by Mounties. But they all walk off after his singing slowly reveals his transvestite tendencies. What makes The Lumberjack Song even better is the fact that it’s got an official German version, where Michael Palin sings about his “Büstenhalter” (German for bra) and “Uncle Walter”. Palin had to learn the song phonetically, but it comes off rather well.
Penis Song (Not the Noel Coward Song)
From Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, this song might just be a list of synonyms for penises, but it’s insanely catchy. The twinkly piano accompaniment makes the song bounce along, and Eric Idle is doing an absolutely spot-on impersonation of dramatist and singer Noel Coward.
From Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, this song might just be a list of synonyms for penises, but it’s insanely catchy. The twinkly piano accompaniment makes the song bounce along, and Eric Idle is doing an absolutely spot-on impersonation of dramatist and singer Noel Coward.
Spam Song
It’s kind of difficult to hear the Vikings singing under the dialogue, but the Spam Song deserves a mention. As a woman argues that she doesn’t want any Spam in her meal, the Vikings start singing about “lovely Spam, wonderful Spam”. Without this song, who knows what we’d call unwanted email?
It’s kind of difficult to hear the Vikings singing under the dialogue, but the Spam Song deserves a mention. As a woman argues that she doesn’t want any Spam in her meal, the Vikings start singing about “lovely Spam, wonderful Spam”. Without this song, who knows what we’d call unwanted email?
Every Sperm Is Sacred
Also in Meaning of Life, this is a song about how Catholics believe artificial contraception and masturbation are sins. Possibly nobody but the Pythons would see that as the occasion for a big, Oliver-style musical number, with masses of choreographed extras on the streets of Halifax (extra bit of knowledge – Michael Palin actually sang “at the end of my sock” and “cock” was later dubbed in, because of all of the children in the scene).
Also in Meaning of Life, this is a song about how Catholics believe artificial contraception and masturbation are sins. Possibly nobody but the Pythons would see that as the occasion for a big, Oliver-style musical number, with masses of choreographed extras on the streets of Halifax (extra bit of knowledge – Michael Palin actually sang “at the end of my sock” and “cock” was later dubbed in, because of all of the children in the scene).
Eric the Half-a-Bee
John Cleese’s favourite sketch, it’s another album-only song. On the album, it follows the sketch where Cleese’s character tries to get a licence for a series of pets – one of whom is half a bee. It’s another philosophical song about life, with the song starting with the words, "Half a bee, philosophically, must ipso facto half not be.”
John Cleese’s favourite sketch, it’s another album-only song. On the album, it follows the sketch where Cleese’s character tries to get a licence for a series of pets – one of whom is half a bee. It’s another philosophical song about life, with the song starting with the words, "Half a bee, philosophically, must ipso facto half not be.”
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