One Toke Over The Line - Lawrence Welk - WTF! (1971)

[@Butterflypoo]

For their next Lawrence Welk performance, Gale and Dale performed "Heroin" by the Velvet Underground. Larry loved it!

[@roughman998]

While having live sex...

[@lauriepromo9345]

Followed by Clapton’s Cocaine

[@friscowolf2917]

They probably do a kick-ass cover of "Panama Red" by New Riders of the Purple Sage!

[@Butterflypoo]

@@friscowolf2917 Actually, that''s true.

[@troyevitt2437]

@@Butterflypoo There's a video, but it's really some other song on the L/W Show with Heroin as just the audio.

[@tomflorio3639]

"a modern spiritual by Gail and Dale". Preach, Brother Welk!

[@ghz24]

I was going to point that out

[@velvetbees]

Yes, but showcasing the joy of smoking pot.

[@censusgary]

It does mention Jesus and Mary …

[@velvetbees]

@@tomflorio3639 I found an explanation of the lyrics by the writer. Yes. It is about Jesus and Mary because the pot was poetically here like a sort of sacrament. It is a song about excess and to remember too much of anything, like drugs, will probably kill you. I think he brought a hint of holiness to add to the idea of doing what is right for your health.

[@digital2500]

Actually, that was Myron Floren, not Lawrence Welk.

[@stevedesopo8349]

My Dad was a drummer in the 30s and 40s and saw this performance when it aired on TV. Because of his association with so many musicians over the years, he knew full well what this song was about and laughed out loud as he watched. Our relationship reached a turning point that evening and we became much "closer" from that point forward.

[@yesthatbruce]

That is so cool!

[@nghtwtchmn129]

This is what happens when people are afraid to tell the boss what he doesn't want to hear.

[@stevanbolton5975]

Great story. I just found this version and was laughing so hard I knew I'd have to post it to my Facebook friends ASAP (many of whom went 200 tokes over the line and are still coming down LOL). I'll have to reference your story now too, it's just too good to pass up. I thinnk your father & my grandfather might've gotten along - he played accordion for 70 years and I was supposed to start a KZbin channel for him a week ago, but got sidetracked. He watched Lawrence Welk and stuck to brewing his own beer, but would have understood this ;)

[@sofaking8228]

Did you share a toke and eat Doritos with him?

[@JaRule6]

When I was a child in the seventies my mother made us go to Sunday school every weekend. One weekend the teacher told us to bring in a spiritual song that we liked or song about Jesus. I have five older sisters I have no idea how I came into possession of this song but I had it on 45. I brought it in the next weekend and I don't know if the teacher knew what it meant or if she just assumed that the other children would not know what it meant but she played the song through the class 😂😂😂😂

[@royvandevender8461]

So wholesome!

[@lars_g_sorensenswitzerfoot6677]

Play some Sabbath...

[@Ring0--]

😄

[@FargoMarc]

I bet Brewer and Shipley laughed their asses off when they got the request to use their song on the Lawrence Welk sure.

[@dannydougin3925]

Mike and Tom were not informed. Only the copyright office is. Everyone knows that! SMH

[@b.scrivner2494]

@@dannydougin3925 no, their lawyers were informed.

[@rhysthomas5811]

They were in Britain at the time. They didn't see it to many years later on you tube. if you watch a live version of one toke on you tube you can see them talking about this.

[@bowtoyoursensei554]

I bet they had NO idea what they were signing about.

[@BoltManiac]

“Some radio stations refused to play this song because of the drug references, but not everyone got this meaning. In 1971 the song was performed on the Lawrence Welk Show by the wholesome-looking couple Gail Farrell and Dick Dale, who clearly had NO clue what a toke was. Welk, at the conclusion of the performance of the song, remarked, without any hint of humor, "there you've heard a modern spiritual by Gail and Dale." “ Brewer and Shipley spent 35 years trying to find the performance. They finally found a woman in Branson, Missouri who had one. Shipley posted the clip to his KZbin account in 2007, and ever since that moment, he says he's been trying to find a way to stop the automatic notifications that come in every time a comment is left on the video's page. "It just keeps filling up my email (inbox). But at the same time, I'm reticent to pull it down because so many folks like it."

[@PatrickDraper]

Thank goodness the algorithm finally showed me this.

[@humbleevidenceaccepter7712]

40 years ago I worked at an IGA grocery store that ran "IGA Radio" over the store's overhead speakers. It once ran a Public Service Announcement saying something like "IGA is proud of our hometown young people that say 'no to drugs'" This was the very next song that came on.

[@fmagalhaes1521]

I am surprised that they didn’t play, “Puff The Magic Dragon”.

[@TheMick26]

😅😂😂 Nice!

[@toughenupfluffy7294]

That's funny. I once was shopping and The Ramones' _I Wanna Be Sedated_ came on the loudspeaker. As I shopped I heard several other people singing and whistling to it, lol.

[@sarah2.017]

@@toughenupfluffy7294 My brother, who was a college radio deejay back in the day, loves to tell about the time he heard the Buzzcocks' "Orgasm Addict" at the grocery store. Oh, and ca. 2000, I worked at a grocery store, and opened the pharmacy at 8am to the tune of King Crimson's "In The Court of the Crimson King." I've never taken acid, or wanted to, but this was close.

[@brucejones1867]

@@toughenupfluffy7294, you know that you are getting old when the great tunes of your youth become elevator music. Lol

[@jaybee831]

I have now seen EVERYTHING.

[@NancyHink-ly7sh]

Me, too

[@mikewashington-se6qw]

Yeah? Have you ever seen a man eat his own head? Well... I guess you HAVEN'T seen everything have you?

[@jaybee831]

@@mikewashington-se6qw Point taken!

[@zapkvr]

​@@jaybee831yes. And put that point back

[@edlawn5481]

@@mikewashington-se6qw "F Yeah!"

[@davidgillock6425]

Just good wholesome family entertainment as the bong gets passed around.

[@ObiPleasant]

It explains a lot... Millions of homes sat around singing along. I'd expect this more from "Sing along with Mitch"

[@sylviaross5722]

They should've sung that song while they were in the circle on "That 70's Show." Just one episode, mind you, or I'm liable to have an Elvis Presley moment, pull out my .357 magnum, & shoot my TV.😂

[@sylviaross5722]

​@ObiPleasant 😆😅🤣😂 You just dated yourself. My parents & I watched "Sing Along With Mitch" every time it came on.

[@ObiPleasant]

@@sylviaross5722 That's a good thing, because at my age I might have been a toke or 2 over the line... Once or twice. Sweet Jesus.

[@ObiPleasant]

@@sylviaross5722 Back in the day when Viceroy and Tareyton cigarettes were the sponsors. When 4 out of 5 Dr.s recommended Camels (while the 5th dr. wouldn't give up women, sorry)

[@AG-6969]

Parents and older adults were clueless in the early 70's. In 1971, when i was in 11th grade high school, my mother helped me grow a pot plant. told her it was a biology class project. I came home from school one day and my mom was so excited, she was so happy my plant had a flower! Good times, good times.

[@thejdgoodwin]

In the 60's my father had a serious conversation with my brother. He said, "Gary, have you ever smoked LSD?". My brother looked him in the eye and replied, "No dad. I have never smoked LSD, and I never will." And he never did smoke LSD.

[@SoulDaddy33]

Sometimes when I would come home from school my mom would be playing my Grateful Dead records. She'd walk around the house singing "Driving that train, high on cocaine" and had absolutely no idea, that little sweetheart.

[@AG-6969]

@@SoulDaddy33 Perfect! LoL

[@-HighTide]

Remind me of when my mom used to play my Alan Parsons album

[@fromaggiovagiola9128]

Yeah right. The term 'flower' was never used until 2008. Only dispensary Soy-Boys and Bimbos in Yoga Pants call it a flower. Plus back then the Science Fair wasn't till April or May. Students display what they learned through the year - Weed doesn't produce buds with 11+ hour days. So you had a Science Fair in 1971 in September or October? You are full of it. Serve as a Navy Seal in Nam too I bet.

[@notthatyouasked6656]

My sister's high school chorus sang this for a school production in 1971 or 72. The chorus director knew full well what it was about, as did virtually all the kids singing it. The parents heard the part about Jesus and Mary and came to the same conclusion Welk did.

[@Raymond51647]

❤

[@anidiquaojala1804]

Epic, needs to be a scene in a comedy 😊

[@charleybarley914]

While they all thought Puff the Magic Dragon must be about the WEED!, cause it said puff and paper etcet in the lyrics...At least Welk tried to make a conncetion to the younger generation and it's modern music...

[@matty1953565962]

It's actually a pretty wholesome song if you take out the drug reference.

[@patfromamboy]

What’s the song about? I never listen to lyrics because I can’t understand them.

[@ronaldbaldwin4505]

No matter how many times I watch this it is absolutely hilarious

[@gregh7400]

I love it when Welk calls it a modern day spiritual at the end.

[@upeedinalamb5297]

This lamb has this human music in heavy rotation after grazing on wonderful marijuana.

[@silikon2]

Despite the apparent wholesome appearance of the show, I'm quite certain Welk knew exactly what he was saying.

[@anidiquaojala1804]

Yes, lmao 🤣

[@Wootangtw]

@@gregh7400hahaha funny

[@BoltManiac]

“Some radio stations refused to play this song because of the drug references, but not everyone got this meaning. In 1971 the song was performed on the Lawrence Welk Show by the wholesome-looking couple Gail Farrell and Dick Dale, who clearly had NO clue what a toke was. Welk, at the conclusion of the performance of the song, remarked, without any hint of humor, "there you've heard a modern spiritual by Gail and Dale." “ Brewer and Shipley spent 35 years trying to find the performance. They finally found a woman in Branson, Missouri who had one. Shipley posted the clip to his KZbin account in 2007, and ever since that moment, he says he's been trying to find a way to stop the automatic notifications that come in every time a comment is left on the video's page. "It just keeps filling up my email (inbox). But at the same time, I'm reticent to pull it down because so many folks like it."

[@almostfm]

"by the wholesome-looking couple Gail Farrell and Dick Dale, who clearly had NO clue what a toke was" whoever wrote that didn't have a clue. Gail and Dale knew _exactly_ what the song was about. Hell, there were Amish kids who knew what the song was about.

[@humanbeing2420]

There must be a way to stop notifications every time a comment is left.

[@peyote2thumbs]

Thank you for sharing this! What a great story. ❤

[@johnnyt.sollitto512]

It's easy to stop notifications - tell Shipley just to go into SETTINGS and uncheck notifications , lol

[@cisium1184]

@@almostfm Gail and Dale absolutely did know what a toke was, and though they may have assumed Welk didn't know, Welk almost certainly knew, too. Myron Florence obviously knew, as his faux-throat-clearing introduction indicates. It's funny how naive modern people are about the past, and young people about old people. The performers on this show were sheltered babes in the wood. They were professional musicians, and they lived and moved in the world of musicians. Welk and Floren had come up in jazz and big bands in Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis; their orchestra were all jazz and big band professionals. All of these people lived, rehearsed, and recorded the show in Los Angeles. They had been exposed to drugs, or at least drug use by others, their entire adult lives. And they lived, rehearsed, and recorded the show in Los Angeles. Our arrogant belief they "had no idea what a toke was" is not just laughable, it also proves how perfectly executed the wholesome facade of Welk show was.

[@davehines3137]

I loved how the accordian player who introduces the tune is choking and having trouble keeping the smirk off his face.

[@MyFriendlyCrow]

He musta had a toke just before he made that announcement. One toke too many, one might say.

[@carlperkins4]

Lawrence Welk must have had no clue what a toke is to approve the song. Maybe a toke as we know it wasn’t made up yet.

[@AGAG262]

@@carlperkins4 actually, the guy introducing the song wasn't Lawrence. He came out after the song ended and referred to the number as a new spiritual.

[@michaelwatson8237]

@@AGAG262 True, but i doubt the accordion player knew either. Hilarious clip.

[@21stcenturyprepper96]

Oh he knew, hence the choking.

[@radgaltunes399]

This will never not be the best thing ever broadcast on Lawrence Welk.

[@twohandsandaradio]

You were never not very good at grammer were you?

[@brucenator]

​@@twohandsandaradio... says the person who can't spell.

[@Seeklip196T]

​@brucenator You go man! I'm a spelling nazi!😅

[@Milesco]

​@@twohandsandaradio Her grammar is fine. Your spelling, however, isn't.

[@davidb2206]

That and ALL the episodes with Anacani, the Mex girl in Spanish or English. OMG! That was WAY ahead of its time.

[@fhuber7507]

They knew EXACTLY what they were singing... and Lawrence Welk didn't.

[@mooonddd]

Welk knew what was up, there weren't just bubbles in that bubble machine...

[@DavidBostock-ti2fv]

I'm now guessing Alberta Hunter was too much of an intellectual for Lawrence Welk.

[@davidbolyard3065]

Lawrence was hip

[@duffbaker9554]

Lawrence certainly did know-check out his introduction again..

[@antoniograncino3506]

Oh yes he did. Lawrence may have been corny but he was hip.

[@simonharwar8083]

I was looking for this song, and came upon this . I cannot believe that this song was on this show . I used to watch this show live with my grandmother back in the 60's . I come from a time when you had to sift through your pot to get out the stems & seeds . having a seed pop always freaked me out . this is the first time that i've seen this clip and it just made my day.

[@aadams1006]

No stems, no seeds that you don't neeeeed....

[@markenriquez1486]

​@@aadams1006acapulco gold is bad ass...

[@ArmyJames]

They pulled the wool over the eyes of Lawrence Welk. He was so square he didn’t know what the word “toke” meant.

[@alanwchase7449]

What I would give to go back in time 50 plus years and watch Lawrence Welk with my Grandparents.

[@realityczar5739]

Preach.

[@poopnewman7775]

The greatest thing that ever happened on The Lawrence Welk Show.

[@norton2757]

You had to have a toke of anything just to be able to watch that sleepy show😵‍💫

[@upeedinalamb5297]

This lamb concurs.

[@helbent4]

After that was a polka cover of "Kick Out the Jams, Motherfuckers" by MC5.

[@victorpizzzola8786]

Grandma, watch this. The one who ran around like chicken little ..."they're not supposed to be on the moon they're not supposed to be on the moon"... well I thought it was the coolest thing off earth

[@danserdutz6700]

Close but this was the greatest incident on L W. kzbin.info/www/bejne/poDEgmOlha2Ae6s

[@guitbanger1]

Can't wait to see the Lennon Sisters doing The Pusher. lol

[@danielhayes7967]

Actually I'd rather hear them sing "Don't Step On The Grass Sam".

[@coralanyon757]

LOL

[@williamwood6616]

@@coralanyon757 lmaorotf

[@williamwood6616]

@@danielhayes7967 lmaorotf

[@dazedhippie8198]

😆

[@neilhudson6194]

Tank you Gail and Dick--wunnerful,wunnerful--and now we have the Andrews Sisters singing--I can't get no satisfaction (said in my best lawrence Welk impersonation)

[@normkirk65]

LMAO !!

[@thomasfoss9963]

Hilarious!!!!

[@captsorghum]

Who was the announcer? It wasn't LW. Too young and lacked LW's accent.

[@georginatoland]

Ah yes, a classic Robin Williams bit. ❤

[@elborto552]

you get the feeling Myron Floren knew PRECISELY what the song was about, and was suppressing a laugh during his intro

[@marsadale]

Even pretending to cough, lol

[@steveprestegard5151]

He and the band absolutely knew what the song was about.

[@cheyennepalisades9104]

"One of the newer songs." Bet he did.

[@upeedinalamb5297]

This lamb enjoys listening to this after grazing in the marijuana field.

[@dennishort647]

Yes, and I think Dick Dale was in on it, too, from the look he shot off to screen left (presumably at Floren), like "Hey man, you're going to give it away!" I'm betting Gail was in on it, but no way could I see anything but perfection in her delivery of it as a straight cover. I doubt Lawrence was in on the joke, not only because it was so out of character, but because the FCC could easily have come down on the show for it. I'm betting that he was convinced by the crew it really WAS a "modern spiritual." Gail could have sold him on it quite earnestly, I'm sure. No doubt he learned afterwards, however.

[@davidhatton583]

Lol… you guys knew.. I was only 10 when the song came out and until today I thought it was ‘one TOE’ 😬😂😂. Yep old Lawrence had No Idea…. That show was so straight laced it could make Disney squirm!… thanks for saving a cool part of history

[@stan-x8i]

I remember that for me, this was a difficult song to get radio exposure for ( and therefore profit$ ) when it was released in 1971. I was West Coast promotions manager for the record label that Brewer and Shipley had signed with. I met and liked the guys but most radio stations in rural areas were socially conservative, and very reluctant to alienate listeners with this " hippie lyrics " type music. Top 40 radio stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, etc, only aired true " hits ". For the record label it was a minimal performer saleswise. Brewer and Shipley have smartly made a livable income off of " One Toke "'. The song's controversial lyrics and the Lawrence Welk gaffe have given them the exposure needed to continue to tour and appear at smaller venues to this day.

[@rumproast2000]

Seems like Myron had a toke right before introducing this song! Lol...

[@TheShizue777]

+rumproast2000 I've got to agree with you there. Stifling a chuckle, maybe?

[@WinterSown]

LOL, yep!

[@ClayLoomis1958]

There is NO way the band members didn't know what this song was about, even if Gail & Dale didn't. They just never told Welk about it. An inside joke for them, perhaps.

[@goodkawz]

I had that Brewer and Shipley album and saw them once in concert. In their early days. I think they were holding on to some tradition, patriotism and sanity amidst it all. And not really using the Lord’s name in vain with this song. But it looks really different in the rear view mirror. “Fifty States of Freedom.” It was like that for some of us. At least some of the time. Like mixing “It’s a grand old flag” with “Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer”. Remember Mylon LeFevre? So glad I found this today. I’m sending it to a few people. I thought it was going to be an overdub, and was surprised when the lips matched the words. Do you think Welk ever covered ... ... .... “Freebird”?

[@norml6874]

rumproast2000 hey hey hey fat Albert

[@illmaculatechess]

Both singers were flawless on that key change, wow that was smooth

[@tomshea8382]

Laugh at the squareness all you want, but LW's performers had the goods and delivered them every week. If the band and the guests had sucked old Larry wouldn't have lasted very long.

[@feellucky271]

They were high!!!! hahaha just kidding these people are badass professionals like the guy he was saying here holy smokes they were good. But this is funny as hell

[@jimdonahue5187]

very simple...

[@MNBluestater]

“Don’cha know that we’re a waitin’ for the train”🤣🤣🤣 Sung by a Statler Brother off stage 🤣🤣

[@yori4666]

They were just one toke away from screwing it up.

[@michellebabicz7065]

"Next we have a-Bobby and a-Cissy dancing to "The Needle and the Damage Done."

[@johnhunter2294]

"And-a after that, Dale and Gale will treat us to their version of 'Cocaine' ".

[@gilbertohlson6363]

This is the only song that was recorded by both Lawrence Welk and Jerry Garcia.

[@r.p.mcmurphy6623]

Not true at all

[@RobdaVegasMailman]

@@r.p.mcmurphy6623 Garcia played on the song's b-side, called Oh, Mommy (I ain't no commie) but to my knowledge, they never covered "One Toke" live.

[@jayloving6030]

A common misconception that this is a Grateful Dead tune

[@RS3isRealscape]

The Dead never recorded it they may have played it live at one of the billions of shows they did and may of been recorded by a fan [the dead let their fans record their concerts under the condition it was not sold but traded for other Dead content]

[@kentwicker9832]

Wow. Just wow. My parents watched this every fricking week, and I often did too, when I was like 8. This explains why I am the way I am...

[@ObiPleasant]

I was 11, my sentiment, exactly.

[@CadeR48]

Well it came on right before The Wonderful World of Disney. I'm sure loads of kids watched it with their parents. That was when there was only 1 family TV and only ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS.

[@Jerry-o3c6w]

The good old days when we children were the remote control !!! 🙄😏✌️

[@ObiPleasant]

@@Jerry-o3c6w And with a T.V. Guide we knew when to change it

[@adpeace2181]

Don't you see? This song had that "sound". Classic true country sound that crossed over. When a song is really good, it crosses over. It's awesome 😎👍

[@jehovahuponyou]

WHAT A WONDERFUL OLD HYMN - SUNG BY PENNYCOSTICS AND STONERS EVERYWHERE!

[@ObiPleasant]

Number 13 in your hymnal

[@jehovahuponyou]

@@ObiPleasant LOL!!!!!!! SADLY, THAT IS TRUE, BUT IT USED TO BE PAGE ONE, MUST BE THEM ATHEIST DO GOODERS OUT THERE - LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ObiPleasant]

I've been told by people that went to a different church that they think meth is o.k. because you can praise Jesus 24/7.

[@droundyCubby]

Oh, no! I can9f stop laughing. The comments are hilarious!

[@airdriver]

I have this image in my head of it being 197?, theres a fifteen year old kid, who needs a haircut, watching Lawrence Welk with his parents, bored out of his mind when this number comes on. Then I picture this same kid, on the floor laughing his ass off and his parents not having a clue as to why hes laughing.

[@johndavid8815]

That was me

[@bobbennett2602]

that would be me

[@emilyflotilla931]

Priceless!

[@steveb9151]

0:04 Myron Floren with "One Choke Over the Line". Wunnerful!

[@sylviaross5722]

Yeah, maybe he'd just taken a toke himself. "Toke it. Toke it up."😆😅🤣😂

[@SailorAllan]

I kept thinking of Robin Williams doing his Welk impression---"play that funky music,white boys !"

[@flyingdutchman4794]

"Now it's-a time to get-a down and-a get-a funky"

[@babybloc]

Lenny Bruce got sued for his Lawrence Welk impersonations. Now I must find this Robin Williams bit!

[@kennytankersley4365]

@@babybloc Robin Williams did some of his Welk impression in the movie Good Morning Vietnam

[@GuantanamoBayBarbie3]

​@@babybloc right? I've gotta find a clip of that! Hilarious! 😂

[@wallofvideo]

awunnerful, awunnerful, now let's listen as our lovely champagne lady norma zimmer performs her rendition of "eight miles high." an'-a-1 an'-a-2 . . .

[@davidstrohl]

wallofvideo that’s the best laugh I’ve had this month. Thanks for the cola coming outta my nose. 😉

[@conniepratt2039]

I just spewed my drink EVERYWHERE...😂😂😂

[@chrisinuae1]

Hahaha that’s hilarious 😂

[@robbiecorleone13]

You are a god. Best comment ever.

[@michaelbelcher8265]

Man that is hilarious. Thanks. I needed that right now.

[@yesthatbruce]

OMG this is just so hilarious; I hadn't seen it in years. I'm in tears here from laughing, at not only the video but all these hysterical comments. 👏I agree that the song was obviously chosen because it has "sweet Jesus" in it. I'm so glad this priceless gem is preserved here for posterity.

[@1mespud]

Agreed. The "sweet Jesus" part gave it a pass.

[@JoniWagner]

"A modern spiritual" Said Lawrence Welk... he didn't realize how right he was!

[@ncisducky4ever]

Goes to show you that The Lawrence Welk show is indeed one of the few shows that was on the cutting edge of music...and the bubbles came from the bong, too.

[@jhandle4196]

A bong, and a bubbler are two different things. Every "toker" knows that.

[@velvetbees]

This was good, but Whole Lotta Love would have been better.

[@carolannpacificadam1944]

I am so old I remember this show and the actual song ... To see this is freaking hysterical.. Good ol' wholesome Lawrence Welk

[@Timmybear]

There is a story about when Maybelle Carter heard this song, and liked it. She thought it was one 'toe'. When she was told it was 'toke', she asked her grandchildren what a toke was. When they told her, she laughed and laughed and laughed. Why people thought the Carter Family were innocent and dour is beyond me. ;)

[@dbateman]

Mother Maybelle was quite a character, her son-in-law Johnny Cash really seemed to love her.

[@TheIgnatzz]

The Carter Family was around in the 1920s, when pot was legal. Their cohorts included the other country/folk/blues singers of the 1920s. Drugs were a fairly common subject for folks songs.

[@klimtklavier]

@@dbateman Johnny Cash liked weed... his vacation home in Jamaica wasn't just a coincidence.

[@robinrobyn1714]

The very fact that she didn't know what a "toke" was is why people thought the Carter's were' innocent and dour'.

[@joelbizzell1386]

She was also a hell of a guitar player. Woefully underappreciated.

[@tootall5559]

This song always reminds me of a time.. my buddy and I were way than one toke over the line, he had to catch a bus, so we're sittin in the shade up next to the bus station outside. Some old drunk was messin with us, and I couldn't stop laughing. More I laughed, the more the drunk messed with us. It just got hysterical to me. Finally the bus showed up and I bid my friend goodbye. I didn't see him again for many years. Oddly I was in need of a car part, a guy I knew said he knew a guy that might have one, so we went over there, the next town over like 7 miles away. The guy told me "this guy's kinda funny, he don't like people much, don't say too much." well lo and behold who comes out of the house, but my old friend. We talked a lot, as old friends that hadn't seen each other in a while tend to do, I asked about his sister and little brother, so on and so forth, yes he had the part I need and gave me a sweet deal on it. The guy I was with couldn't or wouldn't say a thing until on the way back. "How do you know that guy, I've never seen him sell anything that cheap before." "Oh we go way back and I mean way back. We used to run together." He just shook his head, still in a bit of disbief I guess.

[@DJK-cq2uy]

Wow. That's a great story...painful!! We all are so edified by the details of a big fat fish story. Your pants are likely getting hot!!

[@charleybarley914]

I always wonder if the lovely Gayle was from Brooklyn insted of bumfrick Iowa and Larry was from San Fransicso instead of Pig's Anus Oklahoma if they would have mentioned their hometowns.

[@jamesperry2322]

How many tokes over the line were you, when you posted this? haha!!

[@GasStationEyelashes]

​@@jamesperry2322 A lot less than me apparently, because I read the whole thing interested as hell about the outcome. 😂

[@saintsamaritan]

What does one toke over the line mean in its most innocent definition?

[@2011littleguy]

This is the definition of SURREAL.

[@TheRangerBob]

The performance that drove states to legalize grass. "If Lawrence is good with it, we all should be too."

[@emilyflotilla931]

Epic comment.

[@jd-if2fe]

New York state

[@BeefheartLynch]

This is one of the top 3 most awesome things I have ever seen.

[@r.p.mcmurphy6623]

Wow...get out of Dodge and see the world, man!

[@RC-Flight]

Hey what are the other two things??? You have my attention!!!

[@CloudStrife8894]

There is actually a verse Missing and it goes "I sail away a country mile And now I'm returning and showing off my smile I met all the girls and I loved myself a few And to my surprise Like everything else I've been through It opened up my eyes"

[@DanFiebiger]

I actually saw this show when it first aired. (See * below.) Lawrence Welk had no idea what the lyrics were really talking about, which was common for rock-pop songs in the late 60s & early 70s. They heard the phrase "Sweet Jesus" and, thinking it was a religious song, decided that it was good enough for them. Yes, note how Welk describes it as a "Modern Spiritual" at the end of the song. He really thot that's what it was! It also makes you wonder why Myron Floren almost looses his voice at the beginning. Did he know the truth? Had he been toking backstage himself? If anybody had told Welk what a 'toke" was, ahead of time, he wouldn't have allowed the song to be performed. He found out later on, much to his embarrassment, and was more careful to have someone check all lyrics of outside material from then-on. * The only reason why I saw this show was that I had became familiar with Welk's show from visiting my grandmother (my dad's mom) on Sunday evenings when we visited her. She was a huge Welk fan and watched him every week, with the volume on her TV set turned up to rock-concert levels, cuz she was hard of hearing by then, but refused to use a hearing aid. We'd sit and watch the show with her to keep her company for awhile. None of us ever toked as we watched the show, but we should have.

[@tedpeterson1156]

Dan Fiebiger I was vaguely aware that my Grandparents watched Lawrence Welk. They made a point to be at home when it was on. Everybody laughed at them. My dad later started watching it in syndication reruns at the end of his life and decided it was pretty good. I promise not to watch it. But if ole' Larry says it's a modern spiritual, who are we to argue?

[@alaskanprincess9386]

I've always wondered what Lawrence Welk thought a 'toke' was .... LOL

[@rosssmith2605]

Dan Fiebiger Cool. Check out my history lesson above yours. And yeah, you should have toked. You should have, 'consumed mass quantities,' of pot.

[@rosssmith2605]

AlaskanPrincess And, at the time, I was always thinking what was keeping him alive. Funny the things you think when you're high.

[@elderlypoodle9181]

Dan Fiebiger Yes!!! When we went to our Grandparents on Sunday night the wood paneling wood vibrate from the volume on Lawrence Well and Wild Kingdom !!

[@sm126878]

That was a real toe tapper, that one. Thank you boys and a thank you boys.

[@robertyoung5394]

Omg🤦🏻

[@donaldweiss-y6t]

I'm 72 , I've never seen this before. But my grandparents watched the show religiously every Saturday night. I'm sure they know what it was about!

[@dedejohnson168]

I grew up watching Welk with my grandma. This, this is absolutely fabulous. I just peed my pants laughing.

[@kathleenrodrigues8453]

I don't find the humor in this song.

[@Ted_James]

Wow! Dick Dale went from being King of the Surf Guitar to singing in a folk duo. The man's talents never cease to amaze me.

[@discopants68]

Is that the same Dick Dale? I saw him play at the Beat Kitchen in Chicago a couple decades ago, surf guitar of course.

[@Ted_James]

@@discopants68 Definitely not the same guy. I was just joking. Dick was and still is the King.

[@mlaursen]

@@discopants68No, it is absolutely not the same Dick Dale.

[@stillnotwoke]

😂😂😂

[@rondaleroi]

This Dick Dale was a saxophonist.

[@cyhomeontherockroberts]

As a little girl, I loved all the bubbles, flouncy dresses, Lennon Sisters, accordians & tap dancers. Sing Along with Mitch was also a favorite. But with much older sibs I also became enamoured with folk music, then added in rock & roll and pop. So I had stopped watching LW by this time and I still have the Brewer & Shipley album. Thanks for sharing!

[@Sargebri]

I love how Lawrence called it "a modern spiritual".lol. Unfortunately, this was their last year on ABC before they would go into first run syndication. It really would be funny if the one of the singers began singing "White Rabbit" or "Mother's Little Helper".

[@Missunderstood103]

Heck, I was hoping for a little Neil Young, 'The Needle And the Damage Done'.

[@Sargebri]

@@Missunderstood103 if this was a few years later they could have done "Tonight's the Night" or "Powderfinger".

[@Missunderstood103]

​@@SargebriNothing like Neil Young. I dearly hope this generation rediscovers him. Maybe they'll get a small glimpse into our past, what was swimming in our thoughts as we sang along with the album on our record players or songs blasting through our car radios as youths.

[@zachmartin1458]

RIP Mike Brewer.

[@aaronbst]

RIP Michael Brewer. Also, if you want to hear Brewer and Shipley at their best, check out their song, “I Don’t Want to Die in Georgia.”

[@Jwend392]

This is so surreal, It's like hearing Pat Boone covering Nine Inch Nails' "Closer."

[@bettyduffy8870]

That would be amazing! I would mos def need to be one toke over the line for that one!

[@ericknutson8679]

He did a whole Heavy Metal album

[@katiezee2]

@@ericknutson8679 I thought it was great when Pat Boone did his pretend metal thing, it was just bizarre, yet fun. He had a sense of humor about it that his churchy friends did not, he caught a lot of flak

[@charlescollier7217]

Hahahahahahahahaha! I would pay money to see that!

[@robertbishop9267]

Pat Boone also covered Little Richard's Turri Fruitti, AND Long Tall Sally--yeah. She's built for speed, she got evah thing unka john need.

[@kellyluck1626]

And you just know the band were sitting there, desperately trying to keep a straight face the whole time.

[@rosssmith2605]

Kelly Luck Yeah, kinda like me when I used to go to church with my high school girlfriend and her southern babtist family, at that time. Good luck, Kelly. (Please forgive me. The temptation was just too great. Or is it the pot? Oh well, it's all a spiritual experience.)

[@thomashouse6090]

LMAO. If only they got the true meaning of the song

[@zachsdad63]

LMFAO!!! I know would have been. Then fired one up after the song was over.

[@kentclark6420]

@@zachsdad63 Can you imagine the band holding back that little piece of information? What a laugh!

[@StandingBear1956]

@@kentclark6420 The band was almost certainly at least one toke over the line to be able to get their LW gig done.

[@pcm9969]

This one never gets old.

[@frederickglasser5617]

I just got out of the hospital, and watching this video, I came way too close to busting my stitches. Truth is, this is actually a great country song, and Gail probably thinks she can turn it into gospel. Brewer & Shipley must be smiling today, too.

[@trippelini1219]

Next we have Phyllis and Blanche singing "Push it", a wonderful song about childbirth followed by the Chet OckSmorkenTotson quartet with their rendition of "Afternoon Delight" a lovely song about the simple joy of fireworks

[@IHearMusic-xt8kf]

My grandparents never missed an episode. I have no doubt this song went right over their heads... as it obviously did with Lawrence Welk. 😂😂😂 So sweet that they were that old... and yet still so naive. 💕☺

[@jhansen870]

Don't kid yourself. He knew exactly what they were singing about.

[@IHearMusic-xt8kf]

@@jhansen870 Naah. I know my grandparents better than you do. Oh wait! You don't know them at all, so why are YOU even voicing an opinion? Stay in your own lane thanks.

[@dudleycunningham]

Who knew that Raggedy Ann and that server from Baskin Robbins got high?

[@keylearning5746]

You broke the internet

[@SumbDumbHandle]

This is the most wholesome thing I've seen in a long time.

[@rcplay4954]

Saw 'lawrence welk one toke" come up on search. Naaaw cant be.... aw shit it sure is! Best welk performance yet!!!! 😂

[@RevGreen]

RIP Mike Brewer passed today

[@kathyedwardson9030]

I'm sure the singers were clueless. Bet the musicians were hysterical.

[@paulmills6203]

Ha !!

[@thomaskozar8510]

the bass player especially

[@williamshryock1784]

Oh they knew ... the one who was clueless was Lawrence Welk ROFL

[@elizabethlynn400]

Not that.much of a stretch Some say that toke elicits an appointment with God

[@dcuss7294]

Wait a minute? Why would the singers not be hip to it? Like the musicians and singers hang out in two different crowds? I seen some stories about those performers on The Lawrence Welk Show, and they are not as squeaky clean as they're being presented. A gig is a still just a gig.

[@tanyahardy5065]

And now the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Rendition of Paul Anka's "Having My Baby!"🤣

[@fenderstratguy]

This was the gateway performance that introduced so many of us toddlers of the 60’s to drugs. Thanks a lot, LW....I’ll always blame you for those lost decades on heroin, meth, and crack. Half my 3rd grade class OD’ed at recess once.

[@drlarrymitchell]

One toke? You poor fool. Wait'll you see those goddamn bats!!

[@mr7wi]

We can't stop here - this is bat country!

[@williamjameslehy1341]

One toke and Lord knows how many pot injections.

[@rosssmith2605]

Dr. Larry Mitchell Well, after your comment, I thought we were talking pot, but by the time I got to Mike's, it seemed more like an acid trip. Window pane? Purple microdot? But it was orange sunshine that usually brought the bats out of my belfry.

[@willtheangrydudeist9120]

I bet they know Savage Henry...

[@lickntoads3585]

Ross Smith had some brown gel mesc one time didn't see any bats but was 15 mins from my house and was lost af lol

[@TalklikeAPirate]

Welk knew all along. He was cool and brillant. Mentions modern and spiritual to attract two audiences. $$.

[@dianebranning3438]

4-20-2020 coronavirus pandemic lockdown playlist~ Thank YOU for this on 4-20! and EVERYDAY!

[@TheRomundus]

'a modern spiritual". Good one Larry.

[@kvernon1]

(The following week, in a meeting with Lawrence and the production team): "What songs shall we include in this week's show, Mr. Welk?" "Our 'modern song' was a big hit with the audience last night. We should do another one for them!" "Yes, completely agree. I heard this song on the radio I think they'd really love!" "Do you know the title?" "Yes! It's called 'Mother's Little Helper'. With kids getting so rebellious these days, it's so refreshing to hear songs like this!" "You're so right. Great idea! Call the, uh ....?" "Rolling Stones, sir!" "Yes, I hope they won't mind Dick and Gail doing a special version of it. Maybe we can even get Myron to play along on his accordion !"

[@penpusher]

To me, the greatest tragedy about all of this is the fact that the people who would typically have been listening to this song would NEVER have watched "The Lawrence Welk Show," so they all missed out on the biggest laugh of their lives, unless they're finding it now, right here on YT!

[@elliottkolker4321]

My grandmother never watched Lawrnce Welk. Though he was "Too Square." She sang along with Mitch.

[@buckeyepilot3929]

This is absolutely sublime.

[@cherylstarker]

I remember when this was on. We laughed and knew they didn't know what they were singing about. It's still hilarious!

[@upeedinalamb5297]

This lamb would have been glad to be a fly species on the wall during this broadcast.

[@mortalclown3812]

Who could possibly give this thumbs down? 🤣😂🤣😂 It's hysterical

[@chrisbenson6683]

And sung well, too

[@patriciasalem3606]

I remember the guitar and tambourine group playing this song when it first came out for Catholic folk mass at my childhood church. Wow. Big lesson in not using words you don't know. 😅

[@jamesbeer]

Everybody's Talkin' was also sung on the Welk show, and it was from the movie Midnight Cowboy, which originally had been rated X!

[@dannunya959]

i bet lawrence had no idea what this song meant! this is like a SNL parody!!

[@polarbear2579]

I doubt they have weed in North Dakota yet, to this day.

[@danielgregg2530]

John Adams John Adams 2 minutes ago (edited) Lawrence Welk was an old-time musician from way back. He had to know perfectly well what he was doing. (I'm sure they all did. It was an industry thing. As JIMMY BUFFETT put it, in his 1950-ish nostalgia tune "I Wish I Had a Pencil Thin Mustache", "and only jazz musicians were smokin' marijuana . . . ") The joke was on all the old blue-hairs in the audience.

[@RamtownMike]

Boy it sure is so like a SNL bit. Too funny lol

[@markbrown4039]

He didn't know, until someone told him later. He was really embarrassed. Considering the Svengali-like hold he had on his show, he made sure from that point in that someone checked the lyrics on the newer songs before he'd let them be performed on his show.

[@awesomemom533]

Yeah but what about Dale and Gale? They didn’t get it either? Were they all living under a rock??

[@williamstevens1001]

Apparently Lawrence Welk had no clue what they were singing about. Otherwise Tank yew boyza for thar wunnerfula number

[@patrickpearse9769]

What a feckin gem , great find thank you .

[@canadianstudmuffin]

Holy smokes! :O

[@JJFrostMusic]

+Canadian Studmuffin ayy your channel's great. Long time subscriber. If not one this channel then must be on my other one.

[@bobbybob3865]

I love your comment! I'm glad you never told Lawrence Welk the real meaning of this "modern spiritual" or its original (alternate) lyrics or it might never have been sung on his TV show Ayy?

[@radiogeek89]

99.1 PLR talked about your comment today 3/21/18!!!!

[@azolioeroach3253]

bobby bob Some of them knew. That's why the man coughed while introducing them. Notice that it was left in. They could have done a "take 2", but didn't!😎😂😁😀😃😘😆🙄

[@scottsanders5821]

Canadian Studmuffin May I suggest Lucy in the sky with diamonds by Donnie and Marie, everybody's got something to hide except for me and my monkey by Gary Lewis and the playboys, mothers little helper by Shirley Temple, and Cocaine by Liberace?

[@fredjones7705]

It's my ring tone

[@Iron-Bridge]

Lord, this is hilarious knowing what I know about the song now. 🤣🤣

[@johnhunter7107]

Accordion guy at the beginning was hip. You can see him trying not to laugh, like "oh, we're putting one over on ol' Larry, BIG time..."

[@pc902]

Or, "We're getting something past the censors..."

[@JohnBarrylizard]

Thanks for pointing that out! You're absolutely right -- he almost laughed then pretended to cough and was breaking up he was still holding back a laugh.

[@danielgregg2530]

John Adams John Adams 2 minutes ago (edited) Lawrence Welk was an old-time musician from way back. He had to know perfectly well what he was doing. (I'm sure they all did. It was an industry thing. As JIMMY BUFFETT put it, in his 1950-ish nostalgia tune "I Wish I Had a Pencil Thin Mustache", "and only jazz musicians were smokin' marijuana . . . ") The joke was on all the old blue-hairs in the audience.

[@rebeccaball209]

Maaaan I'm weak

[@Judyp77]

@@danielgregg2530 ...nope, Welk did not know. Looking at his face when he says modern spiritual it's plain. Maybe Myron did. Welk was known for his prudish ways back then. I'm 76 and we watched all the time. I remember the big scandal when he fired the Champagne lady. I think it was because she looked too sexy when she was sitting on the piano. At least that's what we heard. 😂😂

[@jabnola]

All I know is that sweet mary in the 60's & 70's put me higher to Jesus!

[@knotheadusc]

That poor guy who announced them was about to die laughing.

[@elenaderoet4926]

Such a gem. Glad that the stuffy older Generations didn't get what the song was about. Otherwise we would never have had this version. Thank you Gayle and Dale. Honestly, I thought this was a fake.......

[@LizbethPlenty]

I saw it when it came out! That was pre-You tube or digital. A bunch of people recorded it and it got replayed, I forget which show. We teens were laughing while so many oldsters didn't have a clue. Now I am older but not stuffy. I still find it hilarious!

[@starfed64]

Amazingly enjoyable their voices and presence. 5 stars

[@foxlake02]

Been there a few times in my youth.

[@cinerama62]

I noticed how Gail skipped over this part: ....I sail away a country mile, Now I'm returnin' showin' off a smile I met all the girls and loved myself a few. Well i guess, "one shock at a time. .

[@danielgregg2530]

Good point! I didn't catch that.

[@jackobora3193]

Lawrence Welk probably made them take that line out for being too obscene.

[@lindaeasley5606]

I don't know how Welk could see it as a spiritual if he knew all the lyrics . Must have been desperate for a modern song to showcase

[@rickrudolph5506]

All the producers heard in the song was sweet Jesus and sweet Mary. Plus they didn’t know what a toke was. Way to go Lawrence Welk

[@SquigSoup]

I just realized that watching this at my grandparents' house must be why I even knew this song as a kid!

[@TearDropTravels]

Such a great spiritual about being stoned on weed.

[@justjeff53]

My long deceased Grandparents loved this show. I think of them every time I see it on TV, or in this case, the interweb. . Personally, the The Midnight Special was more to my liking.

[@winebox]

justjeff53 honestly I loved them both. Although I would never share that tidbit with my classmates

[@sharksport01]

I love the interweb.

[@ramblinralph7609]

All my great aunts ABSOLUTELY had to watch Lawrence. Torture for me. But then Gun Smoke came on after Welk, so it was all good.

[@roncanzler7726]

That was not Lawrence Welk in the beginning of this clip introducing the song.

[@TheADDFiles-yk4dc]

Me too, my friend. I miss my grandma and Pap every day.

[@carolo987]

Very funny. Thanks for the smiles!

[@case139]

How this tune makes it in to the Welk repertoire is still beyond me.

[@shadowselfCA]

The "don't you know that we're-a" at the 1:47 mark made me laugh so hard. A friend and I try to jam a "don't you know it's a..." into every song we hear.

[@joemankowski3898]

Wonnerful, Wonnerful!!

[@scottbieser]

It's got "Jesus" in it. That makes it a "spiritual." OMG LOL

[@Bevity]

Scott Bieser Even better, it has sweet Jesus. Truly holy.

[@sarahgray430]

Although they are in fact taking his name in vain...shame, shame, shame!

[@wingnutofcoolness]

Smoke the holy weed.

[@rosssmith2605]

Scott Bieser I must have said, 'Jesus,' a couple million times in my life. Jesus, that must mean I'm ready for the second coming.

[@rosssmith2605]

wingnutofcoolness 'Heal me with the holy touch.'