In a recent reflection on “victory laps” – those bonus years beyond a significant milestone – I found myself pondering the importance of resisting the ever-present pull towards seriousness, a concept I aimed to embody when starting this blog. Somewhere along the way, that intention faded a bit. So, in an effort to recapture that lighter spirit, I want to delve into something delightfully unexpected: a hilarious twist on the “Happy Birthday to You” song that was recently introduced to me. It’s a version that’s not just funny on the surface; it’s funny in a way that sparks deeper thought, at least for someone like me who enjoys dissecting humor.
The song, sung to the familiar tune we all know, goes like this:
May you live a thousand years
May you drink a thousand beers
Get plastered
You bastard
Happy birthday to you.
This little ditty has been bringing a smile to my face since I first heard it. It was shared by a fellow resident at my senior living community, a woman who, with a twinkle in her eye, described her background as “ecumenical,” hinting at a life rich with diverse experiences. She serenaded me with it right there in front of the elevators. That very evening, I couldn’t resist sharing it with my church choir during practice.
But what makes this version so funny? This is where I often diverge from the crowd. Most people chuckle, enjoy the surprise, and move on. For me, the laughter is just the starting point. The humor, I believe, lies in the clever setup and unexpected punchline. The opening lines, “May you live a thousand years / May you drink a thousand beers,” evoke a sense of traditional, almost poetic well-wishing. It’s reminiscent of the Irish Blessing, with its “May the road rise to meet you…” and similar sentiments. Our minds, anticipating this familiar vein of heartfelt cheer, are delightfully ambushed by what follows.
Drawing on Max Eastman’s insightful book, The Enjoyment of Laughter, humor often arises when we anticipate one thing, and something entirely different, yet playfully incongruous, occurs. The traditional opening of this birthday song parody sets a specific expectation.
The second line, “May you drink a thousand beers,” subtly begins to deviate. While structurally similar to the first, the pairing of “thousand years” with “thousand beers” introduces a slight dissonance. We start to sense a shift, moving from a clear understanding of the tone to a delightful uncertainty about where it’s headed. This adjustment in expectation is crucial for the comedic payoff.
The real comedic punch lands squarely in lines three and four: “Get plastered / You bastard.” The phrase “get plastered” is decidedly colloquial and modern, a stark contrast to the traditional tone established earlier. There’s absolutely nothing poetic or formal about it. Furthermore, the term “bastard,” delivered with faux affection, perfectly complements “plastered.” The emotional tone remains celebratory, yet the form of expression undergoes a sudden and hilarious transformation.
Beyond the shift in vocabulary and tone, there’s also a rhythmic change. The first two lines possess a slightly formal cadence, almost trochaic in feel, bringing to mind lines like “Till Burnham wood remove to Dunsinane.” While not perfectly mirroring iambic pentameter or any strict meter, they lean towards a more measured, traditional rhythm. This rhythmic formality abruptly dissolves in the final two lines. They become shorter, punchier, and decidedly informal, mirroring the shift in social tone. This swift transition in rhythm amplifies the comedic impact, contributing to the overall surprise and delight.
Finally, we arrive at the seemingly conventional closing: “Happy birthday to you.” Yet, by this point, we all know the song isn’t truly about conventional birthday sentiments. It’s about the playful subversion of those sentiments, the unexpected twist, and the sheer fun of a well-executed comedic surprise. This parody of the “Happy Birthday To You Song” is a perfect example of how humor can be found in the unexpected, in the delightful clash between tradition and irreverence.
