The single “I’m a Nut” / “Knee Deep” by Leroy Pullins, released in June 1966, stands as a notable example of country novelty music. Leroy Pullins, both the writer and performer, crafted “I’m a Nut” with a humorous and whimsical style reminiscent of Roger Miller, leading to frequent misattributions to Miller.
The song achieved considerable success, reaching number 18 on the U.S. Billboard Country chart and crossing over to the pop charts, peaking at number 57 on the U.S. Hot 100 and number 71 on the Canadian RPM chart. The lyrics of “I’m a Nut” employ self-deprecating humor and clever wordplay to portray the narrator as delightfully
eccentric, embracing his quirks and idiosyncrasies. This approach encourages listeners to find humor in their own peculiarities and to celebrate individuality . The song’s catchy melody and playful lyrics have contributed to its enduring popularity, with over a million views on YouTube, despite ongoing misattributions to Roger Miller.
Credits
- Arranged By – Cliff Parman
- Producer – B.E. Wheeler, R. Lissauer
- Photography – Shearard
The B-side, “Knee Deep”, is also written by Leroy Pullins and in my opinion, the best of the two songs. It’s a song about a man contemplating suicide, but after he jumps in the water, he realizes the croaking of a bullfrog was a warning that the water was only knee deep, showing him how dumb he had been.
Leroy Pullins was an American country singer-songwriter best known for his 1966 novelty hit “I’m a Nut.” Born Carl Leroy Pullins on May 12, 1940, in Berea, Kentucky, he began writing songs at the age of twelve and formed a rock band called the LeSabres at nineteen. The band included guitarist J.P. Pennington,
who would later become a member of the country-pop group Exile. In the 1960s, Pullins moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he pursued a career in music. He signed with Kapp Records in 1966. He returned to his hometown of Berea, Kentucky, where he worked as a firefighter until his death from a heart attack on May 5, 1984, at the age of 43.
Although his time in the spotlight was brief, Pullins left behind a collection of songs that showcased his unique blend of humor and country music. His discography includes two albums: I’m a Nut (1966) and Funny Bones & Hearts (1967). In 2007, Bear Family Records released a compilation album titled I’m a Nut, which featured all of Pullins’ known recordings, preserving his contribution to the country novelty genre.
I'm A Nut
Beedle-dee-bah, beedle-dee-bah, beedle-dee-ree-pa-dom...
[Chorus]
I'm a nut, I'm a nut
My live don't ever get in a rut, whoop-whoop-whoop-whoop
The head on my shoulders is sorta loose
And I ain't got the sense God gave a goose
Lord, I ain't crazy, but ...I'm a nut
Is is wetter under water, if you're there when it rains?
Is it shorter to New York, than it is by a plane?
Between myself and I, I wonder who's the dumber
Is it hotter down south, than it is in the summer?
[Chorus]
I drove my Cadillac to Vegas to satisfy my lust
Wheelin', dealin', left ol' Vegas on a Greyhound bus
I shouldn't have set the woods on fire while I was there
But remember only forest fires prevent bears
[Chorus]
The poverty war will be over, when I begin to fight
If it took a dime to go 'round the world
I couldn't get out of sight
I don't mind to take the girls out
If they don't mind to go Dutch
Makes me feel like a million dollars
And I bet I ain't worth half that much
[Chorus]
Oh, crazy man! I'm a nut!
Oh, Lordy, Lordy Lordy, Lordy
I'm crazy, I'm a nut!
Knee Deep
I went down to the river
My knees begin to quiver
Contemplating jumping in.
When an old bullfrog,
Sittin' on a old log,
Sorta threw me a weird type grin.
My life I couldn't face
So I stripped to the waste
And flung myself in the stream.
Then the bulldog spoke in a deep down croak
He made a lot of sense it seemed.
[Chorus]
Knee Deep, that the trouble your in
Knee Deep, this ain't no way to mend
Just yell if you want another chance to win
But Knee Deep trouble your in
I fought the water like fire
'Til I was too tired
And I hollered as I faced the end.
But no sooner had I quit
But the bottom I hit
Knee Deep was the water I's in.
So one more time that little friend of mine
Showed me how dumb I'd been.
And you can bet, I'll never forget
How he winked as he said my friend
[Chorus]
Knee Deep, Knee Deep, Knee Deep, Knee Deep
Further Reading
Sources
- Wikipedia “I’m a Nut” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I’m_a_Nut
- 45 Cat https://www.45cat.com/
- The Rock & Country Encyclopedia & Discography “Leroy Pullins” https://www.rocky-52.net/chanteursp/pullins_l.htm
- Bear Family Records “Who was/is Leroy Pullins ? – CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more” https://www.bear-family.com/pullins-leroy/
