Sunday, December 7, 2025

The Ultimate Earworm

tinyurl.com/ultimate-earworm

[Inspired by Fritz Leiber's 1958 short story, "Rump-Titty-Titty-Tum-TAH-Tee".]

Here’s a little story that I think is sad:
Had a nasty headache left me feeling bad,
Headed for a coffee at a diner pad,
Heard a silly jingle in a TV ad —

     “Rump-titty-titty-tum-TAH-tee
     Rump-titty-titty-tum-TAH-tee
     Rump-titty-titty-tum-TAH-tee
     Rump-titty-titty-tum-TAH-tee”

Bouncing in my head all day, it wouldn’t stop;
On and off my feet, the rhythm made me hop;
Sounding through the night, it made my sleep a flop;
By the new day’s dawn, it had me fit to drop —

     “Rump-titty-titty-tum-TAH-tee
     Rump-titty-titty-tum-TAH-tee
     Rump-titty-titty-tum-TAH-tee
     Rump-titty-titty-tum-TAH-tee”

Down I went to diner pad to have a go
Setting straight the jingle mess that caused my woe;
On the TV there they played a single row:
All it said was, “Tah‑titty‑titty‑TEE‑toe.”

Wasn’t paid a penny for my day of sweat;
Didn’t even ask one for my sleep unslept;
All I asked and took in payment for that debt:
Throw into the alleyway that TV set!

© 2025 by C. M. Joserlin, “Raven”

[The Suno AI has composed and performed a tune for this song:]

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