German-Hollywood Connection > PETER LORRE > FILMS > MR. MOTO
A Musical Tribute to Peter Lorre
 |
I didn't even know what filk or filkers were until I ran across Tom Smith’s song about Peter Lorre in 2003. The Ann Arbor, Michigan musician wrote the song in 1988 and won the 2006 Pegasus award for Best Classic Filk Song for “I Want to be Peter Lorre,” which appears on his filk album “Homecoming: MarCon 2005.”
“I Want To Be Peter Lorre”
Words and Music © 1988 Tom Smith - Used by permission
(Hear this song in the video clip below.)
The curse of my existence is the “heroes” that I see,
And I can't do much for them not doing very much for me.
I can't identify with Magnum, P. or I. –
Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford, and Michael Douglas leave
me bored.
Mel Gibson is too rugged, Matthew Broderick's too cute,
Clint Eastwood is so cocky, I could punch him in the snoot.
No, I'll look back in time to a gentleman sublime,
Whose wit and style are seldom mentioned –
(in Lorre voice)
– But never failed to attract attention!
When I grow up, I want to be Peter Lorre,
I want to snivel and sneer in a nasal whine.
I want to cringe and curse, and maybe threaten worse –
(in Lorre voice)
– And if that doesn't work, I've got a laugh that'll petrify
your spine!
Who wants to be a handsome, stuffy playboy?
Who wants to face the bad guys all alone?
The last thing that I need is to be a romantic lead,
I want to grow up to be Peter Lorre and steal the girl for my own!
When I grow up, I want to be Peter Lorre,
I'll tell Nemo where Kirk Douglas went to hide.
(in Lorre voice)
Now, I didn't mind old Kirk, but Ned Land was such a jerk,
And between a mad scientist and a jock, who would you want
on your side?
I want to sell the Bird to Sydney Greenstreet,
I want to cheat with Vincent Price's wife,
And if I want more kicks, I'll make Mister Moto flicks,
I want to grow up to be Peter Lorre and have a wonderful life!
(in Lorre voice)
When I grow up, I want to be Peter Lorre,
I'll stalk the streets of Dusseldorf and Pairee,
Waiting for some dame who has no sense of shame
To foolishly make that one mistake and hang around with me.
I want to whistle music from old operas
As I am slowly strangling some pre-teen,
I long for days gone by, (in Lorre voice) and that winking,
blinking eye,
I want to grow up to be Peter Lorre,
You pretty boys are gonna be sorry,
I'll be the best Peter Lorre you've ever seen!
(Alternate verses)
In concert, Tom changes lines 3-6 often, depending on who's big at the movies that week. Some examples:
Arnold thinks his pecs are at least as good as sex,
And if there's one more Bruce Willis flick,
you won't believe I got that sick.
Michael Douglas is a weenie, Steven Seagal is a nut,
I'm tired of hearing Kevin Costner's got a real cute butt.
I wish that Sly Stallone would leave well enough alone,
And is there one soul who believes
In Johnny Depp or Keanu Reeves?
Jean-Dolph Seagal-enegger keeps on cranking out those
thrill-'ems,
Bruce Willis has one problem: he appears in all his fil-ums.
Words and Music © 1988 by Tom Smith. (Reproduced here by permission.) See the latest lyrics and Tom Smith’s Filker Site.
WEB > Tom Smith (filker) - Wikipedia
NEXT > Peter Lorre Biography
MORE > Peter Lorre Filmography
VIDEO: Tom Smith sings
“I Want To Be Peter Lorre”
NEXT > Peter Lorre Biography
MORE > Peter Lorre Filmography
MORE > German-Hollywood Connections
Peter Lorre in Print
- The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre - A 2005 biography by Stephen D. Youngkin. Hardcover, 680 pages.
- Peter Lorre (Midnight Marquee Actors Series) - Gary J. Svehla, editor. A survey of Lorre’s films. Paperback, 320 pages.
- The Complete Mr. Moto Film Phile: A Casebook by Howard M. Berlin. Paperback, 240 pages, 2005.
Related Pages
- Peter Lorre Biography
- Peter Lorre Filmography
- Peter Lorre as Mr. Moto
- Famous German Movies - Films from Germany have made their mark on world cinema—and influenced Hollywood
- Germans (and Others) in Hollywood - About the three main waves of Germanic immigration to Hollywood
- Berlin City Guide - Sights, history
- German Cinema - From the German Way book
- Famous Germans, Austrians and Swiss
- Famous Graves - The graves and cemeteries of the famous
LORRE ON THE WEB
- Peter Lorre - Internet Movie Database
- Peter Lorre - Wikipedia
- Peter Lorre - Hollywood's Sinister Star - A site by Teresa and Tracy Murray
- The Peter Lorre News Blog by Cheryl Morris
- Peter Lorre at Reel Classics - Information, photos and links
- Filker Tom - Tom Smith wrote "I Want to be Peter Lorre"
MORE > German-Hollywood Connections
|
|||
| Find a famous person poster! | |||
|
