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One of my favorite oldies of all time is "Elenore" by the Turtles. Released in September of 1968, the song (a satire on love songs, specifically their own hit "Happy Together") had some of the quirkiest rhymes in pop music history and was meant to be a joke. No matter what the group's original intentions were nothing could keep this from being a cute, infectious frothy cup of bliss that never fails to put a smile on my face...I love it!


About the song band member Howard Kaylan once said:

"Elenore was a parody of 'Happy Together.' It was never intended to be a straight-forward song. It was meant as an anti-love letter to White Whale, who were constantly on our backs to bring them another "Happy Together." So I gave them a very skewed version. Not only with the chords changed, but with all these bizarre words. It was my feeling that they would listen to how strange and stupid the song was and leave us alone. But they didn't get the joke. They thought it sounded good. Truthfully, though, the production on 'Elenore' WAS so damn good. Lyrically or not, the sound of the thing was so positive that it worked. It certainly surprised me."^[4]

Take a look at the lyrics:


You got a thing about you
I just can't live without you
I really want you, Elenore, near me
Your looks intoxicate me
Even though your folks hate me
There's no one like you, Elenore, really

[Chorus:]
Elenore, gee I think you're swell
And you really do me well
You're my pride and joy, et cetera
Elenore, can I take the time
To ask you to speak your mind
Tell me that you love me better

I really think you're groovy
Let's go out to a movie
What do you say, now, Elenore, can we?
They'll turn the lights way down low
Maybe we won't watch the show
I think I love you, Elenore, love me

[Chorus:]
Elenore, gee I think you're swell
And you really do me well
You're my pride and joy, et cetera
Elenore, can I take the time
To ask you to speak your mind
Tell me that you love me better

Elenore, gee I think you're swell ah-hah
Elenore, gee I think you're swell ah-hah
Hah