Ag Pleez Deddy
Encyclopedia
Ag Pleez Deddy is a classic South African song from 1961 sung by Jeremy Taylor
. The song was written by Taylor's best friend, Pip, who was killed in the Rhodesian Bush War
. Sung with a strong accent, it is full of references to places, brands, and entertainment popular among working-class white South Africans. The single sold more copies in South Africa than any single by Elvis Presley
.
In the first four verses, a boy asks his father to take him and his friends to the drive in, fun fair, wrestling, and finally to Durban
, with a chorus starting "Popcorn
, chewing gum
, peanut
s and bubblegum
". The boy also mentions how much he and his friends love "Niggerballs" (Liquorice flavored jawbreakers). The father remains silent until the abortive fifth verse, when he shouts "voetsek!" When the song resumes, the boy complains that since his father won't take him out, he will have to entertain himself by beating up the boys next door.
Jeremy Taylor (singer)
Jeremy Taylor is an English folk singer and songwriter who has spent much of his life in South Africa, originally as a teacher of English in southern Johannesburg, but since 1994 has lived in Wales and in France. Part stand-up comedian, part singer, Taylor has used his talents to confront the...
. The song was written by Taylor's best friend, Pip, who was killed in the Rhodesian Bush War
Rhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
. Sung with a strong accent, it is full of references to places, brands, and entertainment popular among working-class white South Africans. The single sold more copies in South Africa than any single by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
.
In the first four verses, a boy asks his father to take him and his friends to the drive in, fun fair, wrestling, and finally to Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, with a chorus starting "Popcorn
Popcorn
Popcorn, or popping corn, is corn which expands from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Corn is able to pop because, like sorghum, quinoa and millet, its kernels have a hard moisture-sealed hull and a dense starchy interior. This allows pressure to build inside the kernel until an explosive...
, chewing gum
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is a type of gum traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene. For economical and quality reasons, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle...
, peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s and bubblegum
Bubblegum
Bubblegum is a type of elastic chewing gum, designed to be blown out of the mouth as a bubble.-History:In 1928, Walter Diemer, an accountant for the Fleer Chewing Gum Company in Philadelphia, was experimenting with new gum recipes. One recipe was found to be less sticky than regular chewing gum,...
". The boy also mentions how much he and his friends love "Niggerballs" (Liquorice flavored jawbreakers). The father remains silent until the abortive fifth verse, when he shouts "voetsek!" When the song resumes, the boy complains that since his father won't take him out, he will have to entertain himself by beating up the boys next door.