Big Bad Tor

(This is a little tribute I wrote about a year ago to wrestler/actor Tor Johnson. Sung to the tune of "Big Bad John")

Big Tor
Big Tor

He stood solid and he walked with a powerful stride,
Stood six-foot-three, weighed three-eighty-five
He was broad at the shoulder and broader at the hip
And everybody knew you couldn’t give the slip to big Tor

Big Tor
Big Tor
Big Bad Tor
Big Tor

Everybody knew Tor from the Matinee show
From scary old pictures where the kids used to go
He was gentle and sweet but don’t push him too far
If he spoke at all he’d just say ‘RAR!’ Big Tor.
He’d worked for mad doctors on the drive-in screen
Till his heart would go soft for a screamin’ queen
With a crashing blow and a wrestler’s squeeze
He’d bring many a hero down to his knees. Big Tor

Big Tor
Big Tor
Big Bad Tor
Big Tor

Now most of his pictures weren’t all that good
They were by Colman Francis and old Ed Wood
But knees were quaking and hearts beat quick
Everyone knew it was gonna be slick with Big Tor
Through the lights and the smoke of science-born hell
Walked a giant of a man that the kids knew well.
With his big, bald head and his whispery yell
Many men fought him, and many men fell to Big Tor.

Big Tor
Big Tor
Big Bad Tor
Big Tor

And with all his strength he did his best
To show kids things they’d not forget
With Rathbone, Lugosi, and Carradine
He made his mark on the silver screen, Big Tor
Well, he quit doing movies as he got to the end
Everybody who knew him called him a friend
He’d been in the films since ‘thirty-four
And he’ll be remembered forever more, as Big Tor

Big Tor
Big Tor
Big Bad Tor
Big Tor

Now he passed away some years ago,
And everyone was sorry to see him go
But the films keep playin’ and as long as they’re lit
Nobody will ever forget that Big, Big Man. Big Tor.

Big Tor
Big Tor
Big Bad Tor
Big Tor