Giving Thanks for Fred the Somerville Turkey…in song

Fred the Somerville Turkey has become something of a local institution. (Here's a great piece about why there are turkeys in Somerville that also features our song.) Official Turkey spokesperson Rachel Leah Blumenthal has provided us with the photo on the left. Sophia and I are, of course, bandmates with Rachel in The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library. Together, we traveled from Philadelphia and back in a car driven by Joel Edinberg of Somerville Symphony Orkestar for the MJEML appearance at the Philly F/M Fest. On our way back to Boston, armed with a ukulele, a notebook, and our love for Fred, we wrote a song paying tribute...


The song got some coverage in the Boston Globe (twice even!), Wicked Local, Universal Hub, Union Square Main Streets, UPI, and the Davis Square Livejournal!

Fred hasn't been spotted for a few days. Let's hope he's just on vacation with Skippy, the Mummified Squirrel of Elm Street and will return soon.

"Ode to the Somerville Turkey (Fred's Song)" written by Rachel Leah Blumenthal, Sophia Cacciola, Joel Edinberg, and Michael J. Epstein

performed:
Rachel Leah Blumenthal - vocals, flute, gobbles
Sophia Cacciola - additional
Joel Edinberg - vocals, bass
Michael J. Epstein - vocals, ukulele

Engineered, mixed, and mastered by Michael J. Epstein at The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library Studios lyrics

Fred, Fred, the Somerville Turkey
Just flew in from Albuquerque
Feelin’ fresh and oh so perky
Gobblin’ round our town

Walking down Porter Street
Flapping those wings, tapping those feet
Looking much too cute to eat
Whistlin’ a happy tune

Eating some Fluff to stay real strong
Atop Spring Hill Fred sings a song
The neighborhood dogs like to bark along
With their new turkey friend

Fred, Fred, the Somerville Turkey
Just flew in from Albuquerque
Feelin’ fresh and oh so perky
Gobblin’ round our town

All Fred’s cousins live in Brookline
Fred’s in Somerville having a great time
Going to Honk! Fest, playing in a drum line
Fred supports the arts

Fred, Fred, the Somerville Turkey
Just flew in from Albuquerque
Feelin’ fresh and oh so perky
Gobblin’ round our town

Going to a movie at the Somerville Theatre
Putting a quarter in your expired meter
Helping old ladies cross the street
First in line to volunteer for ArtBeat
Fred goes local to spend his cash
Fred does the mash...the Monster Mash

Fred, Fred, the Somerville Turkey
Just flew in from Albuquerque
Feelin’ fresh and oh so perky
Gobblin’ round our town

Fred, Fred, the Somerville Turkey
Please don’t make Fred into jerky
Keep Fred happy, keep Fred perky
Somerville is Fred’s home

Fred, Fred, the Somerville Turkey
Fred’s real fun, Fred’s real quirky
Don’t go back to Albuquerque
Somerville is your home

Wild Turkeys In The City | Wonderland Spectacle Co. - WONDERLAND

Wonderland Spectacle Co. A new art and nature video for kids from Wonderland Spectacle Co.: When a family of wild turkeys visited our backyard in Greater Boston, we wondered how the birds came to live in the city.

Wild Turkeys In The City | Wonderland Spectacle Co. - WONDERLAND

Wonderland Spectacle Co. A new art and nature video for kids from Wonderland Spectacle Co.: When a family of wild turkeys visited our backyard in Greater Boston, we wondered how the birds came to live in the city.

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