Steve Martin - King Tut

First performance: 19/05/1978


Coverinfo

Bruce used the song only once:
 
 
1978-05-19 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
  
Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour rehearsals with no members of the public present. A brief rendition of the song "King Tut" is performed (often mistakenly identified as "Wooly Bully"). Apparently, the performance of "King Tut" results from an episode they saw of "Saturday Night Live" with comedian Steve Martin on April 22, 1978. Martin opened the show with the song, in an elaborate production number. The response to the song was so great Martin released a single in July that made the Top 10.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Songinfo

"King Tut" is a novelty song performed by Steve Martin and the Toot Uncommons (actually members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). It was released as a single in 1978, sold over a million copies, and reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Martin previewed the song in a live performance during the April 22, 1978 episode of Saturday Night Live. The song was also included on Martin's album A Wild and Crazy Guy. "King Tut" paid homage to Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun and presents a caricature of the sensational Treasures of Tutankhamun traveling exhibit that toured seven United States cities from 1976 to 1979. The exhibit attracted approximately eight million visitors. In the Saturday Night Live performance of "King Tut," loyal subjects appease a joyful King Tut with kitchen appliances. An instrumental solo is delivered by saxophone player Lou Marini, who steps out of a sarcophagus—painted gold—to great laughter.
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

King Tut (King Tut)
Now when he was a young man
He never thought he'd see (King Tut)
People stand in line to see the boy king. (King Tut)

How'd you get so funky? (Funky Tut)
Did you do the monkey?
Born in Arizona
Moved to Babylonia (King Tut)

(King Tut) Now, if I'd known
They'd line up just to see him, (King Tut)
I'd taken all my money
And bought me a museum. (King Tut)

Buried with a donkey (Funky Tut)
He's my favorite honkey!
Born in Arizona
Moved to Babylonia (King Tut)

Dancin by the Nile, (Disco Tut)
The ladies love his style, (Boss Tut)
Rockin for a mile (Rockin' Tut)
He ate a crocodile. (Ooh)

He gave his life for tourism. (King Tut)

(Tut, tut) (Tut, tut) Golden idol!
(Tut, tut) (Tut, tut)
(Tut, tut) He's an Egyptian
(Tut, tut) (Tut, tut)
They're sellin' you (King Tut)

Now, when I die
Now don't think I'm a nut, (King Tut)
Don't want no fancy funeral
Just one like ol' King Tut. (King Tut)

He coulda won a Grammy, (King Tut)
Buried in his jammies
Born in Arizona, moved to Babylonia
He was born in Arizona, got a condo made of stone-a
King Tut!