The Cellar - Where is this from????

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- - Where is this from???? (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=23865)

Where is this from????

I've tried Google, to no avail.

Quote:

"blatt, blatt, blatt go the blattidae"

Is it from some demented novel or short story, or is it part of a comedy routine?

Where is this from????? (yes, it's an additional question mark urgent by now.)

(it came up at work tonight. Someone read an article from The Onion about the King of the Roaches concerned about the bedbug invasion, and this just leapt into my brain, worse that getting stuck on The Chicken Dance for hours and hours. Please, someone help me!)

The Trolley Song may well be the source of the rhythm of the line.

Quote:

Musical: Meet Me In St. Louis
Song: Trolley Song

[ding ding ding]
[ding ding ding]

[ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding]

All:
clang, clang, clang
went the trolley
ding, ding, ding
went the bell
zing, zing, zing
went my heartstrings
as we started
for huntington dell

chug, chug, chug
went the motor
bump, bump, bump
went the brake
thump, thump, thump
went my heartstrings
as we glided
for huntington lake

the day was bright,
the air was sweet
the smell of honeysuckle
charmed me off my feet
i tried to sing
but couldn't squeak
in fact, i felt so good
i couldn't even speak

buzz, buzz, buzz
went the buzzer
time to all disembark
time to fall
went my heartstrings

as we got off
at huntington park
as we got off
at huntington park

some guy shouts:
hey! look who's coming!

Esther:
with my high-starched collar
and my high-topped shoes
and my hair piled high upon my head
i went to lose a jolly
hour on the trolley
and lost my heart instead

with his light brown derby
and his bright green tie
he was quite the handsomest of men

i started to yen
so i counted to 10
then i counted to 10 again

clang, clang, clang
went the trolley
ding, ding, ding
went the bell
zing, zing, zing
went my heartstrings
from the moment
i saw him, i fell

chug, chug, chug
went the motor
bump, bump, bump
went the brake
thump, thump, thump
went my heartstrings
when he smiled,
i could feel the car shake

All:
clang, clang,clang

Esther:
he tipped his hat
and took a seat
he said he hoped he hadn't
stepped upon my feet
he asked my name
i held my breath
i couldn't speak because
he scared me half to death

Guy:
hiya, johnny!

Esther:
chug, chug, chug
went the motor
plop, plop, plop
went the wheels
stop, stop, stop
went my heartstrings
as he started to go
then i started to know
how it feels
when the universe reels

All [except ester]:
the day was bright
the air was sweet
the smell of honeysuckle
charmed you off your feet
you tried to sing
but couldn't squeak
in fact, you loved him so
you couldn't even speak
ooohhh

Esther:
buzz, buzz, buzz
went the buzzer
plop, plop, plop
went the wheels
stop, stop, stop
went my heartstrings

as he started to leave
i took hold of his sleeve
with my hand
and as if it were planned
he stayed on with me
and it was grand
just to stand
with his hand holding mine
to the end of the line!

All:
zing, zing, zing
went my heart
heart!

If I could remember the context, I'd be able to get closer. I hesitate to contaminate my ask-the-audience, but I have three strong candidates in mind

Some routine by Lenny Bruce, shortly before he became unfunny, a Harlan Ellison Short Story, or maybe something in one of Woody Allen's books ... didn't he do some demented take-off on Kafka's Metamorphosis? I'm sure it wasn't anything to do with Archy and Mehitabel.

Found that. Only actual hit when you google the quote. Reassured me that I do remember it correctly, but not from whence it came. The mindworm only bored in more deeply with that.

Let me get that for yo---OH LOOK! A PONY!!!!!

blattidae - scientific name for the cockroach family

blat (couldn't find blatt) - Blat \Blat\, v. t. To utter inconsiderately. [Low] If I have anything on my mind, I have to blat it right out.

blat, blat, blat go the cockroaches.

Yes, I know what it means. I know that blattidae is cockroach. But where's it from? What's the original reference? That's what's making me nuts.

Kafka, maybe?

Edit: oh, just noticed your highlightable section, you thought of that already...

I went and wandered through IMDB... no hits in the quotes section, but humorous movies that contained large roaches include Joe's Apartment and Men In Black...

Or maybe that X-Files episode, "War of the Coprophages."

It's not the final segment of Creepshow, either.

Maybe it was one of your patients?

Nope. I checked the Full Moon Manifestoes. Nada.

Not much help, but here's another mention:

Quote:

Is it not time for you to become learned, instead of always blat blat blat like the blattidae?

halfway down the comments

http://blogs.chron.com/immigration/a.../post_403.html

oh, and now I found your query on kindleboards. You're Cheating On Us!