“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Weird Al” Yankovic
Before recording this satire of Amish life, “Weird Al”, as with all parodies he does, got the permission from the original artist, Coolio…or so he thought
As it turns out, Coolio didn’t actually give permission (or at least that’s what he claims). Since there is no need for any permission to record...
[Verse 1]
As I walk through the valley where I harvest my grain
I take a look at my wife and realize she's very plain
But that's just perfect for an Amish like me
You know, I shun fancy things like electricity
At 4:30 in the mornin' I'm milkin' cows
Jebediah feeds the chickens and Jacob plows, fool
And I've been milkin' and plowin' so long that
Even Ezekiel thinks that my mind is gone
I'm a man of the land, I'm into discipline
Got a Bible in my hand and a beard on my chin
But if I finish all of my chores, and you finish thine
Then tonight we're gonna party like it's 1699
[Chorus]
We been spending most our lives
Living in an Amish paradise
I've churned butter once or twice
Living in an Amish paradise
It's hard work and sacrifice
Living in an Amish paradise
We sell quilts at discount price
Living in an Amish paradise
[Verse 2]
A local boy kicked me in the butt last week
I just smiled at him and I turned the other cheek
I really don't care, in fact I wish him well
'Cause I'll be laughing my head off when he's burning in Hell
But I ain't never punched a tourist even if he deserved it
An Amish with a 'tude? You know that's unheard of
I never wear buttons but I got a cool hat
And my homies agree, I really look good in black, fool
If you come to visit, you'll be bored to tears
We haven't even paid the phone bill in 300 years
But we ain't really quaint, so please don't point and stare
We're just technologically impaired
[Pre-Chorus]
There's no phone, no lights, no motorcar
Not a single luxury
Like Robinson Crusoe
It's as primitive as can be
[Chorus]
We been spending most our lives
Living in an Amish paradise
We're just plain and simple guys
Living in an Amish paradise
There's no time for sin and vice
Living in an Amish paradise
We don't fight, we all play nice
Living in an Amish paradise
[Bridge]
Hitchin' up the buggy, churning lots of butter
Raised a barn on Monday, soon I'll raise another
Think you're really righteous? Think you're pure in heart?
Well, I know I'm a million times as humble as thou art
I'm the pious guy the little Amlettes wanna be like
On my knees day and night scoring points for the afterlife
So don't be vain and don't be whiny
Or else, my brother, I might have to get medieval on your heinie
[Chorus]
We been spending most our lives
Living in an Amish paradise
We're all crazy Mennonites
Living in an Amish paradise
There's no cops and traffic lights
Living in an Amish paradise
But you'd probably think it bites
Living in an Amish paradise
[Outro]
(Ooh, ooh, yech!)
Amish Paradise was written by “Weird Al” Yankovic & Coolio & L.V. (South Central Cartel) & Stevie Wonder & Doug Rasheed & Sherwood Schwartz & George Wyle.
Amish Paradise was produced by “Weird Al” Yankovic.
“Weird Al” Yankovic released Amish Paradise on Tue Mar 12 1996.
Weird Al told GQ:
‘Amish Paradise’ was one of my first hip-hop/rap songs. People, you know, are curious about what the Amish actually thought of the video. And I found out the Amish, as a rule, aren’t big MTV watchers. Yeah, I haven’t gotten a lot of Amish feedback.
I did my own stunt in that one,...