I'm My Own Grandpa facts for kids

"I'm My Own Grandpa" is a funny novelty song written by Dwight Latham and Moe Jaffe. It was first performed by Lonzo and Oscar in 1947. The song tells a very unusual story about a man who, through a series of marriages, ends up becoming his own grandfather! It's a tricky puzzle wrapped up in a song.

In the 1930s, Dwight Latham was part of a group called The Jesters. They were known for their funny jokes and unique songs on the radio. One day, Latham was reading a book by Mark Twain. In the book, Twain wrote about how it might be possible for a man to become his own grandfather. In 1947, Latham and Moe Jaffe took this idea and turned it into the song we know today. It quickly became a popular hit for Lonzo and Oscar.

How Can Someone Be Their Own Grandfather?

The song explains a very confusing family situation. Let's break down the steps to see how the narrator becomes his own grandpa:

• The narrator marries an older woman who is a widow.
  • This means the widow's daughter becomes the narrator's stepdaughter.
• Next, the narrator's father marries the narrator's new stepdaughter (the widow's daughter).
  • Now, the narrator's stepdaughter is also his stepmother because she married his father.
  • At the same time, the narrator's father is now his stepson-in-law because he married his stepdaughter.
    • Since the narrator's wife is the mother of his stepmother, this makes the narrator's wife his step-grandmother.
      • If the narrator's wife is his step-grandmother, then the narrator himself (her husband) must be his own step-grandfather!

What About the Children?

The song gets even more complicated when both couples have children:

• The narrator and his wife have a son.
  • This son is the half-brother of the narrator's stepdaughter, as they share the same mother (the narrator's wife).
    • Since the narrator's stepdaughter is also his stepmother, this means the narrator's son is also his own (step-half-)uncle! This is because he is the (half-)brother of his (step-)mother.
      • This also makes the narrator's son a (half-)brother-in-law to the narrator's father. This is because he is the (half-)brother of the father's wife.
• Then, the narrator's father and his wife (who is the narrator's stepdaughter) have a son.
  • This child is the narrator's (step-)grandson because he is the son of his (step-)daughter.
    • This son is also the narrator's (half-)brother because they share the same father.

It's a lot to think about, but it's all part of the funny puzzle in the song!

Who Else Sang This Song?

Many artists have recorded "I'm My Own Grandpa" over the years.

• The first popular version was by Lonzo and Oscar in 1947.
• Guy Lombardo and The Guy Lombardo Trio had a hit version in 1948.
• Other famous singers like Phil Harris, Jo Stafford, and Homer and Jethro also recorded it.
• In 1976, a funny version was performed by the Gogolala Jubilee Jugband on The Muppet Show.
• Ray Stevens included it on his 1987 album Crackin' Up.
• In the movie The Stupids, the character Stanley Stupid sings the song.
• Even Willie Nelson performed it on his 2001 album The Rainbow Connection.
• The song was a favorite of Grandpa Jones, who sang it on the Grand Ole Opry and the TV show Hee Haw.
• Many other folk and country artists, like David Grisman, Michael Cooney, and Steve Goodman, have also shared their versions.
• It's also a popular song for Barbershop Quartets to sing.