The Apologue of Hot Rod Duncan

The Apologue of Hot Rod Duncan
Written by	Joe Hawley
Appears on	Joe Hawley Joe Hawley
Sung by	Ross Federman, Anthony Vittorio, Joe Hawley
Genre	Folk
Language	English

The Apologue of Hot Rod Duncan is a song by Joe Hawley. It features the first documented case of Ross Federman singing (intelligible) lead vocals on a studio recording.

Trivia

• The vocal sample at the end appears to be from the 1973 production of Charlotte's Web.

Lyrics

In an amblin' van lived a banjo man 
and his name was Hot Rod Duncan
He didn't know why they called him that 
but he just went along with it

Hot Rod Duncan always felt ashamed
Hot Rod Duncan didn't know his name

(Poor Hot Rod)

Now Hot Rod had a savvy dad 
who died for the business part
The instrument was relevant 
as long as it played like art

Hot Rod Duncan di'n't know how to string it
Hot Rod Duncan opted just to wing it

(Oh well)

Soon Hot Rod was the best because 
he traveled well and wise
The van was actually 
an electric spaceship in disguise

Hot Rod Duncan hail'd from the Appalachians
Hot Rod Duncan transcend'd global nations

(Yee-ha)

(Go, Hot Rod. Take it, Hot Rod.)
(He said take it.)
(What's the matter, can't take it? You gotta remember to string up that banjo. I tell you what.)

One time he flew his banjo to 
the planet Jupiter
Among the rife intelligent life 
he managed to locate her

Hot Rod Duncan found his unicorn
Hot Rod Duncan: magically reborn

Eventually he came to see 
the banjo was his friend
He help'd that girl to spacey whirls
she learn'd him how to bend

Hot Rod Duncan strung that banjo well
Hot Rod Duncan played it purty swell

(You know what I'm talkin' 'bout?)

When Hot Rod came to know his name
he returned to planet Earth
and this is where (by just a hair) 
he finally glean'd his worth

Hot Rod Duncan: legend in his time
Hot Rod Duncan reasond with a rhyme

(They adopted a dog named Cloister)

The he and she would guarantee
a gleeful galaxy
They were so happy he phoned her pappy
and the rest is history