#53 – Pencil Thin Mustache
Day #53 – Pencil Thin Mustache
A pencil thin mustache is a very specific look. It is a bit daring, a bit creepy and incredibly iconic. I always wondered what gave Jimmy this song idea. Looking back on a quote from Jimmy’s Parrothead Handbook, Jimmy says about this song, “The thing about writing a song like this is that the older you get, the more people there are who need an explanation of the characters in the song. I shudder to think how old Sky King’s niece Penny is today, and it all started with the two-toned Ricky Ricardo jacket. I can’t wait for them to come back”. That quote gives some clarity, and indicates it was never the pencil-thin mustache that was the initial inspiration, it just became a line and the title, and then something that became very iconic for Jimmy’s songwriting career.
Several of Jimmy’s references in the song I did know and understand, but several of them I did not, including Sky King and his niece Penny. Some people could explain a few of them to me, and some I had to search for an explanation for.
It did however make me think about who came to mind for myself for people sporting pencil thin mustaches, and Clark Gable’s portrayal of Rhett Butler’s comes to mind long before Errol Flynn for myself. Other people that come to mind that sported such an iconic mustache are the late, great artist Prince, as well as Cary Elwis’s Westly in The Princess Bride, and Director and Actor John Water’s, who might have the most precise of all the pencil-thin mustaches that I can think of.
I guess that generations younger than me won’t understand any of the references in this song, nor will they understand or recognize the people I associate with the look, however I bet they will find the song catchy and fun, regardless of understanding many or any of the cultural references in the lyrics. And that is one of the things that make it a great song!
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Original post from 10/24/2023
Day #53 – Pencil Thin Mustache
Pencil Thin Mustache was released in 1974 on JB’s album Living And Dying In 3/4 Time.
Jimmy himself sported a mustache for most of his early career, although it was by no means “pencil thin”. It was rather impressive, thick and full; it rather defined his appearance. Some people will even split Jimmy’s career into two halves- Jimmy with the Mustache and Jimmy without (or after) the Mustache.
It’s a bit of a mystery what prompted the mustache to disappear and never reappear, bit sometime between Floridays in 1986 and Hot Water in 1988, it made a silent exit. In 1979’s Little Miss Magic, Jimmy mentions a few more gray hairs in his mustache, so if I had to guess, I would say it probably had something to do with that.
Long before Jimmy’s own mustache disappeared from history, he wrote a rather quirky, a bit silly, definitely funny, and absolutely memorable song about a pencil thin mustache. Perhaps it was something he aspired to, or perhaps not, but he must have admired the style to write a song about it.
The song has several pop culture references, much probably during Jimmy’s formative years, including Boston Blackie, a crook turned private investigator, Errol Flynn, a suave actor who was noted for his handsomeness, as well as naming the Sheik of Araby, portrayed by Rudolph Valentino. All three sported notable pencil thin mustaches!
More mentions unrelated to mustaches also appear, such as to Ricky Ricardo and Andy Devine, and also Brylcreem and American Bandstand and a show called Sky King, which I admit I have never heard of until yesterday. I’m learning new things every day!
Please enjoy Pencil Thin Mustache. It’s absolutely fun walk-through pop culture. I have included the link in the comments.
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And I feel like I need to mention a few other references that I found in regard to Pencil Thin Mustaches, which include a couple of beverages. As a girl who bartended for years, I found these rather fun.
The Pencil Thin Mustache is a cocktail drink made of Leblon Cachaca, Fernet-Branca, pineapple juice, lime juice, and mint syrup garnished with fresh mint. I admit, I have no idea what the two liqueurs were and had to do a bit of research. Leblon cachaca is a cognac while Fernet-branca is a liqueur that I found described as “inky, herbaceous and aggressively bitter”. Sounds tempting?
The other reference is to an ale that is brewed with Graham Crackers, vanilla and lime peel, which is described as “a liquid slice of Key Lime Pie”. That sounds a bit more up my alley.
I don’t know if either drink was inspired by Jimmy’s song, but with mentions of mint and lime in the ale, I would think that one does hint at another great way he might have inspired a little slice of everyday culture.
Stacy
Please enjoy Pencil Thin Mustache. I have included the link below. Enjoy!
The link is from Jimmy’s official YouTube channel, which I have no personal affiliation with.
