'The Krugman Blues': Loudon Wainwright Takes On NYT Columnist In Song (VIDEO)

Paul Krurgman, the Nobel Prize-winning NYT columnist is everywhere of late -- including in verse. Calculated Risk points us to a recent performance of "The Krugman Blues" by Loudon Wainwright III in Madison Square Park.

If you've been following the financial news lately, you've no doubt seen - or empathized with -- Krugman's dour takes on souring economy. Wainwright put this way: "I guess that I identify with that pissed off look on his face."

Here's more: "I read the New York Times, that's where I get the news. Paul Krugman's on the Op Ed page, that's where I get the blues."

Wainwright takes a shot at Princeton, where Krugman teaches :

"Sometimes when he's on the TV in the background you can spot his school logo. Yes, that's right, Paul teaches at Princeton, so Krugman ought to know."

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Comments

[AA B Always]

IWIWAL,too. LW is an excellent political poet, no matter how they spell his name.

[jennbeez]

Dead Skunk was ok but this is the best Louden Wainwright song ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLnicHqPh4A

[FearlessFreep]

He was really funny in UNDECLARED!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2XMh8gbiCU

[bdaved]

It was the first thing I ever knew him for, but I'll bet he wishes he'd never written "Dead Skunk." I remember having one drunk keep requesting it from me one night at a bar and that was enough for me. Me, I think "Men", from his "History" record is just a really fine song. But in the vein of the link you post, "Synchronicity" from "More Love Songs" is a hoot.

[bdaved]

He covered your spelling himself, in "TSMNWA", from "Career Moves".

[RobinLandseadel]

NO! This is the best Loudon Wainwright song, ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5DFragdUhI

[marcain]

I had the 45 of Dead Skunk as a kid, now forever memorized in my synapses. As an adult, the line 'station wagon car' seems redundant but I still love the song.

[bdaved]

They spelled your name wrong again.
There after the "i" there's no "n".
It's just something to you
they repeatedly do.
They spelled your name wrong again.

[bdaved]

Now they fixed it. Just trying to help, Loudon.

[bdaved]

But they've still got "Krurgman".

[jozzie]

Excellent!

[AmericanSon]

I saw Loudon at the Troubadour back in 1972 or 1973. I laughed my a$$ off.

[ppp1604]

I was listening to Loudon earlier this morning. Rufus is a Tit Man and Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road.

I listened to Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder and thought of our good friend from South Carolina, Mark Sanford.

[fairdebate]

Why would you read a Liberal newspaper.­.unless you only want 1/2 of a story

[ppp1604]

Yeah! But I'm getting the honest and truthful half.

[JohnJay60]

The correct half is the half to hear.

[raker]

The truth has a liberal bias.

[poobah]

Good sequel to Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road

[Fabini]

Loudon, I love you. Now I know you are the Woody Gutherie of the 21st century.

[YewNeekId]

Mocking Krugman is good sport for the mentally defective, but I would rather have Krugman directing our financial affairs than Geithner or Summers.

[jekyll]

What? All three believe the Keynesian fallacy that you can continue to borrow and spend your way out of debt. I would rather have someone who actually predicted this crisis and sounded the alarm years ago. I will continue to listen to the followers of the Austrian Business model.

[robadeaux]

You must've only read the liner notes on keynesian economics.­.. typical of the willfully ignorant.

[mmhlaw]

Krugman has been saying for at least 5 years that there would be a major crash, and all you conservatives called him an idiot

[bdaved]

Did you even listen to the song? Does referring to people as mentally defective make you feel smarter?

[thenextquagmire]

Loudan sure is clever, not a great singer but great writer. Unlike Bob Dylan. He has some very talented kids in Rufus Wainright and Martha Wainwright - with ex wife Kate McGarrigle - of the McGarrible sisters.

Up there with the Roche Sisters, as one of America's great Folk writers - ya know, music of the FOLKS?? which I think is making a return.

[editorjuno]

Well, I'd say an elite clam of highly educated aesthetes is a fairly long way from "the FOLKS," but they are a talented bunch. The Thompsons (genius patriarch Richard, ex-wife Linda, son Teddy, and daughter Kamila) are, however, quite a bit better imo.

[Goliadkin]

It pains me to hear an unfavorable comparison between the Wainwrights and the Thompsons. I don't think Richard T would want to get into that, at all. He's practically a freaking bodhisattva, or the Muslim equivalent (insan-i kamil). I went back stage after a concert once, just to pay my respects, and he gave me a hug that I can still feel to this day. He's on another level.

Richard and Loudon seem to be good friends, and Richard has added some tasteful guitar work to a couple of Loudon's albums. We are lucky to have both of them, and all their wives, offspring, extended families, etc.

[RobinLandseadel]

Richard Thompson produced a couple of Loudon Wainwright records. On one of the back covers of the albums I remember seeing their photos with the caption: "Loud & Rich."

[RobinLandseadel]

"An elite clam."

Sounds like something you'd get from the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

[bdaved]

You spelled his name wrong again.
With an "a" where the "o" should've been.
Happens so many times
I could run out of rhymes
You spelled his name wrong again.

[Goliadkin]

Way to go, Loudo! You are the great cosmic clown. Hilarious song!

Little known Loudon Wainwright III Facts:

Is the only person to have impregnated BOTH a McGarrigle Sister (Kate) and a Roach sister (Suzzy).

Former student of macrobiotic guru Michio Kushi.

Has perfect pitch, but only tunes his guitar "Good enough for folk music."

My favorite Loudo blues lyric: "Woke up this morning/Didn't feel too bad/Last night definitely wasn't the worst night I've ever had/I'm all right, I'm all right, I'm all right!"

[thenextquagmire]

Goliadkin wrote: "Is the only person to have impregnated BOTH a McGarrigle Sister (Kate) and a Roach sister (Suzzy)"

This has to be one of the most PIGGISH statements i've read on here in some time. Really.

[Goliadkin]

Thanks!

[ReMarker]

Nice song Loudon.

Seeing this article reminded me of my and my son's favorite song when he was 4, Dead Skunk.

Thanks for your music. It has brought me much pleasure.

[Gudrun]

I was singing Dead Skunk just the other day!

[naan]

congrats for making it onto the frontpage of huffpo.
krugman is almost too cute to be an economist.­..he looks more like a pediatrician.