Re: Camel song

Posted by Bob on December 06, 2002

In Reply to: Re: Camel song posted by ESC on December 03, 2002

: :
: : : : : : : : : : What does the phrase:
: : : : : : : : : : "A camel is a horse designed by a committee"
: : : : : : : : : : mean?

: : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : It's an ironic expression, used to show that deciding anything by committee, and therefore by taking too many opinions and wish-lists into account, will result in something that's probably vaguely similar to what was originally planned, but which won't be anywhere near as effective as was wanted. A camel and a horse are both ungulates, but the point is that the camel's both ugly and slow in comparison.

: : : : : : : : ahem...

: : : : : : : : Camels are fast and graceful. We can keep running long after horses have given out. Beauty is a beauty does.

: : : : : : : There, there. Don't get your back up.

: : : : : : There was a minority opinion on the committee and they made a second model with two humps - proof, if proof were needed.

: : : : : Let me qualify any statements I've made during this particular thread with the belated rider "present company of course excluded". I really don't want to give Ms. Camel the hump.

: : : : Indeed. I'd walk a mile not to.

: : Very chic. The natural look puts the the asymetrically sequin-embellished camelhair coat featured in the Lanvin fall 2002 pret-a-porter collection to shame.

: Does anyone remember the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees' song from "Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure"? I couldn't find the words online but, from memory, (ahem):

: When you're wrinkled and old
: And your fortunes have all been told
: And you're nobody's I LOVE YOU
: How can you be happy?
: How can you be smiling?
: How can you be anything but
: Rag bag baggy and blue
: Sad but true.

: I loved that movie -- a little strange in parts.

I do recall a camel verse:

The camel is an sexy beast
Or so some people thinks.
At the time of its annual passion
It makes rude attempts on the Sphinx.
But the Sphinx's interior passage
Is blocked by the sands of the Nile,
Which explains the hump on the camel,
And the Sphinx's inscrutable smile.

• Re: Camels in literature and song ESC 12/06/02