"I'd Rather Be Dead" by Harry 'Cap'n Harry' Nilsson

 

At t' end o' t' Son o' Schmilsson album Long-Eared Richard Perry says "Fair winds, Harry" t' which Harry 'Cap'n Harry' Nilsson replies, "See ya next album, matey, Richard."

 

Accordin' t' Nilsson expert, me bucko, Curtis 'Harmoneous Doubloons' Armstrong, this was somethin' o' an inside joke: durin' t' "I'd Rather Be Dead" sessions Harry and Richard brought in t' Stepney and Pinner Choir #6, a group o' senior citizens, me bucko, t' sin' on t' track. T' day turned into somethin' o' a party for everyone. Avast, me proud beauty! At one point, Harry and Richard were up in t' booth listenin' t' a playback with Klaus 'Johnny Missenmast' Voormann when they heard a weird sound on t' recording. They played it back over and over tryin' t' determine what it was. Ahoy! Finally, matey, Voormann, me bucko, who Harry claimed has ears like no one else on earth, matey, said it sounded t' him like a wooden leg creaking.

 

This put Harry and Richard into a bit o' a bind, as they were a little embarrassed about askin' a roomful o' pensioners if any o' them had a wooden leg. But thar seemed t' be little choice as t' clock be tickin' on t' session which had already gone on for hours. Arrr! Richard, shiver me timbers, very apologetically, asked if thar was anyone in t' room with a wooden leg.

 

"I 'ave!" said one.

 

So, me bucko, they asked him t' please try and keep still while t' tape was rolling. Ahoy! At t' end o' t' session, as t' Choir were headed out for t' bus and sayin' their goodbyes, arrr, t' fellow with t' wooden leg tipped his cap t' Harry and Richard and said, ya bilge rat, "Well, see ya next album!"

 

Source: Curtis 'Harmoneous Doubloons' Armstrong