"Dead Skunk" is a 1972

novelty song A novelty song is a type of song built upon some form of novel concept, such as a gimmick, a piece of humor, or a sample of popular culture. Novelty songs partially overlap with comedy songs, which are more explicitly based on humor, and w ...

Loudon Wainwright III Loudon Snowden Wainwright III (born September 5, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actor. He has released twenty-six studio albums, four live albums, and six compilations. Some of his best-known songs include "The Swimmin ...

. Released as a single in November 1972, it eventually peaked at number 16 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart on March 31, 1973 and appears on Wainwright's 1972 album '' Album III''.

Background

The song is musically a simple

folk song Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be ca ...

based on

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and in modern forms is usually made of plastic, where early membranes were made of animal skin. ...

, accompanied by guitar, drums and fiddle. The lyrics describe a dead

skunk Skunks are mammals in the family Mephitidae. They are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent from their anal glands. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or gi ...

in the middle of a road and the smell it produces for people as they drive by. Wainwright has said that the song came out of an actual accident involving a skunk, and that he wrote it in 15 minutes. ("Someone had already killed it, but I ran over it)". Although the single was released in November 1972, it was not until well into 1973 that it caught on with radio stations, and its number 16 peak on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart was not reached until the week ending 31 March 1973. It peaked at number 12 on the ''Cashbox'' charts on April 14. It was the only record to chart for Wainwright. "Dead Skunk" also reached number 8 in Canada and number 12 in Australia. In 1974, a Dutch version was issued called "Een witte eend op het midden van de weg" ("A white duck in the middle of the road"). The song was performed by Ciska Peters & Ronnie Tober.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{authority control 1972 songs 1972 singles Loudon Wainwright III songs Novelty songs Songs about mammals Songs about death Columbia Records singles