Rodney Dangerfield "Rappin Rodney"

[Whi$tlin' Pete]

I understand that Rodney Dangerfield was in a coma, and recently passed away. R.I.P.

In late 1983, he hit the Hot 100 with "Rappin Rodney." You had to laugh when you listened to the lyrics of this song.


I tell ya I'm alright now
But last week I was in rough shape
But I don't get a break with nuthin'

I played hide and seek when I was three
(no respect, no respect)
Why they couldn't even look for me
(no respect, no respect)
I was an ugly kid I never had fun
(no respect, no respect)
They put me through a dog showand I won!
(no respect, no respect)
When I was born I brought no joy
(no respect, no respect)
My old man said he wanted a boy
(no respect, no respect)
I was an ugly kid always alone
(no respect, no respect)
Halloween I had to trick or treat over the phone
(no respect, no respect)
Friends don't call
My phone don't ring
I don't get a break with anything!
(whatsamatta rodney?)
Ah death, where is my sting?!

CHORUS:
It's just Rappin' Rodney
Ain't that your type
No, no
Rappin' Rodney
Get out of sight
It's just
Rappin' Rodney
Make no mistake
Or old
Rappin' Rodney
Can't get a break!

I'm getting old it's hard to face
(no respect, no respect)
Well during sex I lose my place
(no respect, no respect)
Steak and sex my favorite pair
(no respect, no respect)
I have 'em both the same way...very rare
(no respect, no respect)
I know I'm old I could go any minute
(no respect, no respect)
I got a kidney shaped pool with a stone in it
(no respect, no respect)
Doctor Vinnie Boombah that's another one
(no respect, no respect)
I said I wanted to stop aging he gave me a gun
(no respect, no respect)
I told him I got water on the knee
He gave me a sponge and raised his fee
(whatsamatter rodney?)
Ahhhh, It ain't easy bein' me

(CHORUS)

Ah, give me a break
Play somethin' from the forties

Now what kind of music is this?
And how 'bout stardust?

Hey what are you doin'?
That's not stardust!

Listen to this will ya?!
I mean where are the flutes?

What a band...
Hey, don't quit your day jobs!

Look at this!
The drummer carries the melody

Hey tell the bass player
I like his instrument

Hey boys, keep it goin'
Lay it on me
I'm in the groove!

Nothin' goes right I just can't fight it
(no respect, no respect)
Well Eastern Airlines thanked me for flying United
(no respect, no respect)
I got some money what did I do?
(no respect, no respect)
I bought some quicksand the deal fell through
(no respect, no respect)
My car broke down I called Triple A
(no respect, no respect)
They left the car and towed me away
(no respect, no respect)
I can't take it no more I'm getting too old
(no respect, no respect)
I called suicide prevention they put me on hold
(no respect, no respect)
Winter, Summer, Spring, and Fall
I'm always up against the wall
(whatsamatta rodney?)
Ahhh, I don't get no respect at all

(CHORUS)

It's getting worse
It's caving in
The happiness I can't take it no more
It's all over
Hey, where are my kids?
Somebody help me
Hey bartender!
Hey! Who's that guy with my daughter?
Where's my wallet?
How do I get out of here?
Stop that dancin'!

I remember our local radio station playing this song, quite a bit for a short time. What a cool tune, by a cool guy. I'll miss his humor.

[Nick]

R.I.P. Rodney.


I remember the music video with a cameo from rock diva Pat Benatar. That was cool.

[BillboardBoy]

I had forgotten all about this song until you mentioned it.

Yeah, that's too bad about Rodney. I remember him best from "Caddyshack," "Back to School" and playing Mr. Burns' son on "The Simpsons."

[johnnywest]

I know that his signature line is "I don't get no respect," or something like that. But where did he first say that? Was it in a movie?

[mst3k]

johnnywest said:

I know that his signature line is "I don't get no respect," or something like that. But where did he first say that? Was it in a movie?

It was part of his stand-up routine for most of his career:

In a 1986 interview, he explained the origin of his "respect" trademark:

"I had this joke: `I played hide and seek; they wouldn't even look for me.' To make it work better, you look for something to put in front of it: I was so poor, I was so dumb, so this, so that. I thought, `Now what fits that joke?' Well, `No one liked me' was all right. But then I thought, a more profound thing would be, `I get no respect.'"

[Bob]

where did it peak, in the 80s or something?

[mst3k]

#83

[johnnywest]

Such fun novelty.

[tico]

I remember seeing the video on HBO when they used to have Video Jukebox. Gosh, I'm old.

[stevie nice]

tico said:

Gosh, I'm old.

Hey Tico, that's my line.

[dth1971]

Rodney Dangerfield had another 45 in 1986 with a cover of "Twist and Shout" but it failed to make the Billboard Hot 100 chart although the re-release of the Beatles' "Twist and Shout" did make the Hot 100 late Summer 1986 and made the Top 40 August-September 1986!

[areyoureadytojump]

Just saw this video on Facebook



Is that Pat Benatar is the video?

[areyoureadytojump]

40 years ago this week, "Rappin' Rodney" debuted at #96 on the December 3, 1983 Billboard Hot 100.

Live:



One Hit Wonder VH1 clip:



en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rappin%27_Rodney