14 Goofy Bits You Should Know from the Smothers Brothers

14

‘Mom Always Liked You Best’

Tom tries to open up about his insecurities with an objectively stupid song, and it devolves into sibling bickering over the terrible treatment Dick and their mother subjected him to.

13

‘Church Bells’

The boys discuss the importance of religious tolerance, and how folks in their hometown lived in literal harmony.

12

‘Side by Side’

They start out singing the 1927 hit “Side by Side,” until Tom makes a surprise announcement that they’re breaking up. He then launches his solo career as The Smother Brother.

11

‘Boil That Cabbage Down’

10

‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’

Tom announces that Dick won’t be available for the season finale of their show, but that’s fine, because he doesn’t need family when he’s got show business in his blood. Dick makes an emotional, triumphant return mid-song, and the boys immediately air out some dirty laundry.

9

‘If I Had a Ship’

Tom stutters through the introduction to this folk song by The Kingston Trio. The audience enthusiastically joins in — except for one guy, who Tom “heard not singing, clear as a bell.” This spurs them to do some extended crowdwork to root out the culprit. 

8

‘Michael Row the Boat Ashore’

Dick asks the crowd to sing along, to “create a mystical magical power of love, of brotherhood.” This inspires Tom to adopt the enthusiastic mannerisms of a preacher, and immediately demand money from the audience.

7

The Yo-Yo Man

6

‘Mediocre Fred’

Tommy sings this ballad of the most boring man in the world — who happens to have one teeny tiny little secret.

5

‘Since My Canary Died’

In an attempt to add a song “with some substance and some depth” to their repertoire, they perform this ode to a dead bird — and vow to murder the cat who killed it.

4

‘Jenny Brown’

3

‘Mule Train’

2

‘Crabs Walk Sideways’

1

‘Population Explosion’

As a quick intermission during one of their live shows, Tommy explains his brilliant plan to combat global overpopulation.