I just recently learned that the author of that song was the principal of the Millersville Normal School in Lancaster Cnty. back in the 1800s. The school is now Millersville University. His name was Eliphalet Lyte.
A walking group I belong to was going to go near, but not close enough to, a dock on Roanoke Street. I said, “Too bad, because I wanted to say ‘Row, row, Roanoke, gently down the stream.’” Sometimes these puns just write themselves.
I humbly apologize for putting Mister Rogers and Rat in the same universe, let alone the same conversation, but I submit this for your morning entertainment.
By the third panel one knew that a pun was forthcoming … seeing the roe, scream and so forthworth … i got the stream, but not the rest before my eyes glanced down to the answer. Nuts …
If he adds 4 pictures of Mary Lee (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0497847/), an issue of Life magazine, a picture of an isthmus and a picture of Terius Youngdell Nash (aka The-Dream), he’ll have the whole song.
BE THIS GUY over 4 years ago
Definitely not a dream.
Sherlock Watson over 4 years ago
Next on the list: Four pictures of Gent’s daughter, Mary Lee.
Charliegirl Premium Member over 4 years ago
Wonder how long it took him to think this up.
Templo S.U.D. over 4 years ago
not so merrily, life is but a nightmare when it comes to Pastis’ punny phrases (according to the “Pearls” zoological cast)
DavidHenna over 4 years ago
Probably while drinking coffee. Pastis is the genius of our times.
B UTTONS over 4 years ago
Rat, give Pastis the BOOT and LEE him DOWN death ROE.
Concretionist over 4 years ago
Oh good. I was starting to fear that Pastis had lost his touch. But no. Just lost his mind. Or, I guess, more like it’s still lost.
alaskajohn1 over 4 years ago
I saw this coming at the end of panel 3.
Bilan over 4 years ago
I was going to say that I don’t see The Scream, but that’s probably what Rat did to Stephan and the censor cut that out.
boydpercy Premium Member over 4 years ago
I see Leigh Rubin is trying to horn into your territory in today’s Rubes!
wiatr over 4 years ago
I just recently learned that the author of that song was the principal of the Millersville Normal School in Lancaster Cnty. back in the 1800s. The school is now Millersville University. His name was Eliphalet Lyte.
Troglodyte over 4 years ago
I doubt if the Pearls Before Swine movie will win any Oscars, though!
GabryelFrost over 4 years ago
Rat has a point !
hariseldon59 over 4 years ago
No baseball bat in the last panel? Rat’s getting soft.
Major Matt Mason Premium Member over 4 years ago
Saw it coming in Panel 3.
Gent over 4 years ago
Now that was unbearably punGent!
zerotvus over 4 years ago
when he comes up with one for “you shook me all night long” i’ll be interested……
Breadboard over 4 years ago
Case of Beer for that one ! … Croc Power !
Zebrastripes over 4 years ago
LOL! LOVE this! Give credit…how many of us can come up with daily ideas like Stephan does! Brilliant!
TheodorFælgen over 4 years ago
Call my impressed. Reversing the order was not something I saw coming.
Masterskrain over 4 years ago
Come on…admit it…you secretly LOVE a good Pastis groaner. And the worse the pun, the MORE you love it!
Jeffin Premium Member over 4 years ago
What was this strip aboot anyway?
lodernr Premium Member over 4 years ago
this is great! I love it when he’ does these.
Michael Snellings Premium Member over 4 years ago
You sir. Have a warped mind. For which I am grateful.
e.groves over 4 years ago
I can’t imagine how he comes up with this stuff. Someday these strips will be used as teaching aids in colleges.
JudyAz over 4 years ago
What did the sailor sing as he cut the grass that was growing on the deck of his ship?
“Mow, mow, mow your boat…”
robcarroll1213 over 4 years ago
Wow, so unfunny.
Linguist over 4 years ago
Stephen doesn’t have a boat…he’s just a little dingy!
jonesbeltone over 4 years ago
Where s the bat?
Cary Rodda Premium Member over 4 years ago
As John Mellencamp would says, “It hurts so good.” :D
Ellis97 over 4 years ago
That took some brains to come up with.
LKrueger41 over 4 years ago
I’m with Rat!
P51Strega over 4 years ago
Love it
ashleyworks over 4 years ago
I think it’s brilliant.
The Moose Group over 4 years ago
Saw that one coming by the third scene.
Sensei Le Roof over 4 years ago
Four photos of Ms. Monroe, an old magazine with a short title, one potato, a small dwelling, and 500 sheets of paper wait on another table.
KEA over 4 years ago
I actually saw that one coming… and yet couldn’t stop myself from finishing it.
Patricia Posito Premium Member over 4 years ago
I love this guy!
mpolo11 Premium Member over 4 years ago
New high water mark!
Ermine Notyours over 4 years ago
A walking group I belong to was going to go near, but not close enough to, a dock on Roanoke Street. I said, “Too bad, because I wanted to say ‘Row, row, Roanoke, gently down the stream.’” Sometimes these puns just write themselves.
skipper1992 over 4 years ago
I humbly apologize for putting Mister Rogers and Rat in the same universe, let alone the same conversation, but I submit this for your morning entertainment.
http://www.neighborhoodarchive.com/music/songs/propel_craft.html
PO' DAWG over 4 years ago
Mr. Lee.. Mr. Lee. The Bobbettes 1957 ( omg)
Call me Ishmael over 4 years ago
This incredibly labored “pun” is to wit as Trump is to …wit. It stinks of desperation.
Call me Ishmael over 4 years ago
BTW: I generally LIKE “Pearls”.
gmu328 over 4 years ago
By the third panel one knew that a pun was forthcoming … seeing the roe, scream and so forthworth … i got the stream, but not the rest before my eyes glanced down to the answer. Nuts …
El Cobbo Grande over 4 years ago
This was the best “Pastis” ever!!!!
donwestonmysteries over 4 years ago
I can read the first panel and glance the dialogue in other panels to know a bad pun is coming and just go the the punch line panel for the bad joke.
WCraft Premium Member over 4 years ago
I saved time and skipped to the last 2 panels. I could tell by the length of the setup and the amount of text it was headed for Punland…
txmystic over 4 years ago
I usually try to resist figuring out the pun during the setup, but the three piles of roe kinda gave it away
BlakeSarnecki over 4 years ago
Rat starts listing them off, then realizes. Wait a minute. Stephan, why’d you put me up to this?
Bruce388 over 4 years ago
Is Mr. Lee missing a foot?
BlakeSarnecki over 4 years ago
OMG! I just realized how many likes this one has!
marilynnbyerly over 4 years ago
At first I thought this was an elusion to Gent the Bear who frequents the cartoon comments section.
zeexenon over 4 years ago
What did you do with Traveller, for goodness sake? www.civilwarprofiles.com/traveller-and-little-sorrel-the-war-horses-of-lee-and-jackson/
Purple People Eater over 4 years ago
If he adds 4 pictures of Mary Lee (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0497847/), an issue of Life magazine, a picture of an isthmus and a picture of Terius Youngdell Nash (aka The-Dream), he’ll have the whole song.
wingrest over 4 years ago
fantastic ! ! ! !
Solaricious Premium Member over 4 years ago
He didn’t telegraph a coming pun one bit!
Kali over 4 years ago
Could be worse. He could tell the story about a Russian named Rudy who could predict rainstorms.
Because Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear….
JamesRobinson over 4 years ago
You know…. I blame myself…. I saw it coming and damn if I didn’t keep reading anyways…
magdala666 over 4 years ago
LOVE IT!
asrialfeeple over 4 years ago
Snoots over 4 years ago
From the very second frame we knew something was coming…
TurbosDad over 4 years ago
Hey Gent. You’re being referenced in the second panel. Care to weigh in?…
Robert Miller Premium Member over 4 years ago
I didn’t read this as much as sang it…with a bit of Scottish accent…and I finished it up with, “Throw yer matey overboard, and listen to him scream”….
falcon_370f over 4 years ago
Lmao
PBS1! over 4 years ago
I only read up to Rat’s line in panel 2, and already I know a pun is coming.
mrrescueguy51 over 4 years ago
Don’t ever stop strips like this. They are my favorite
Sisyphos over 4 years ago
This one wasn’t even challenging; the pun was evident already in panel 1.
So, instead the challenge must be to Cartoon-Boy: pistols, 20 paces, at dawn in the park, sucker!
jdbligh over 4 years ago
My sense of dread built from panel to panel…
57BelAir over 4 years ago
This is the most abhorrent pun….EVER!!!! It’s an insult to puns it’s so bad!!!
aussie399 Premium Member over 4 years ago
This is a CLASSIC
Darkknight55 about 4 years ago
So Pearls Before Swine improved safety regulations on Comic Strips?
LilPeruna over 3 years ago
Why do I think panel 7 was written for the Canadian audience?!
Goat from PBS over 3 years ago
Seeing Rat get the pun line brings me so much joy.