The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead
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"The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead" | ||
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Single by XTC | ||
from the album Nonsuch | ||
Released | 1992 | |
Genre | Pop Rock | |
Label | Virgin Records | |
Writer(s) | Andy Partridge | |
Producer(s) | Gus Dudgeon | |
Chart positions | ||
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"The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead" | ||
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Single by Crash Test Dummies | ||
from the album Dumb and Dumber Soundtrack | ||
Released | 1995 | |
Genre | Alternative Rock | |
Writer(s) | Andy Partridge | |
Chart positions | ||
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Crash Test Dummies singles chronology | ||
God Shuffled His Feet (1994) | The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead (1995) | He Liked To Feel It (1996) |
The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead is a single by XTC from their 1992 album Nonsuch. The song was covered and released as a single by Crash Test Dummies in 1995 for the soundtrack to the film Dumb and Dumber. Crash Test Dummies' version is notable in the fact that it was their first (of two) singles to feature Ellen Reid on lead vocals. The Crash Test Dummies version differs slightly to the XTC version, omitting the second verse.
The song follows the story of Peter Pumpkinhead, a man who comes to an unspecified town, "spreading wisdom and cash around". He is extremely popular with the people of the town, but extremely unpopular with government figures. In the end, Peter Pumpkinhead is killed by those he made enemies of, "nailed to a chunk of wood" (probably a reference to being crucified, like Jesus, possibly even comparing the two men).
[edit] Crash Test Dummies Music video
Crash Test Dummies' music video features Jeff Daniels reprising his role of "Harry Dunne" from Dumb and Dumber. In the video, Harry falls and get a Jack-o'-lantern stuck on his head. In his struggle to get it off, he foils a bank robbery and becomes a media sensation. However, he is unfairly found guilty of the bank robbery and narrowly avoids being hanged (he is saved by the pumpkin, which is placed on his head before he's put in the noose).