pass the beans

We recently went to a String Beans concert. I thought it was going to be pretty fun and exciting for the kids, being their first concert and all, but they had mixed reviews. They have four CDs, but I was cheap and didn't buy any of them. Honestly, though, I know that I'm cheap, but that's not why I didn't buy any of them - the kids just weren't all that excited about the music. If I'm going to spend money on a kids music CD, it has got to be something they really like. I can appreciate the String Beans creativity and sense of humor as you can see in the lyrics of some of their songs, particularly (my favorite), Right Here in Nebraska.

Smack in the middle of our great nation,
Is a state which requires some explanation,
To east and west coasters who’ll come up and ask ya,
“Is there anything of interest in the state of Nebraska?”
La... la...dee... da... right here in Nebraska! And there’s more...

It’s true we don’t have mountains covered in snow,
But we do have the world’s biggest live chicken show.
We’re the makers of Spam... we invented Kool Aid,
And this is where the first Rueben sandwich was made.
La... la...dee... da... right here in Nebraska! And there’s more...

Our insect... the honeybee, our bird... the meadow lark,
The strobe light, our invention, works best in the dark.
As governments go, we’re a freak of nature,
Cause we have the only one-house state legislature.
La... la...dee... da... only in Nebraska! And there’s more...

On Arbor Day, when you plant a tree,
Remember that it started in Nebraska City,
We were once called a desert, but that name didn’t take.
Since we have the country’s largest underground lake.
La... la...dee... da... right under Nebraska! And there’s more...

We have the world’s largest forest, all planted by hand,
And more miles of rivers than any state in the land.
The College World Series calls Omaha home,
And this is where the buffalo used to roam.
Until we shot them... right here in Nebraska! And there’s more...

We were the first state to finish our I-80 section,
And the first to pit two women in a gubernatorial election.
We invented 9-1-1 emergency communication,
And we’re the top producer of center pivot irrigation,
La... la...dee... da... right here in Nebraska! And there’s more...

Our woolly mammoth fossil is the largest ever found,
And our monumental “Car Henge” is bound to astound.
We have a few museums that you could call “odd,”
Dedicated to fur trading, roller skates, and sod.
La... la...dee... da... right here in Nebraska! And there’s more...

We built the world’s largest porch swing, indoor desert and rain forest,
And anyone who visits is sure to adore us...
So pack up the kiddies, the pets and the wife,
And see why Nebraska is called “the good life.”

You can see them in action in the video Beans! and any Star Wars fans out there may enjoy their newest animated video, Snowflakes. (Warning - it's not little kid friendly).