A noun related to the term Tolypeutinae, this is a subfamily of Chlamyphoridae of the armadillo family, consisting of the giant, naked-tailed and particularly the three-banded species. Appealingly cute, and related to other ant-eating animals such as ant-eaters and hedgehogs, they can a leathery armour shell, long, sharp claws for digging and short, but fast moving legs. With South America as its natural habitat, the three-banded variety is also known as La Plata or Azara's domed armadillo, or in Brazil, tatu-bola.
But where do tolypeutine appear in song? The word tolypeutine itself is far scarcer than the creature, but there are a number of armadillo themed songs.. Pleasant sounding in lyrics, in some cases it is more or less just used as a convenient rhyme (often for ‘pillow’) But here are a few entertaining examples …
First up, Miranda Lambert:
Well, I met an armadillo out in Amarillo
And he asked me for a light
I said, "Hey, where you going?"
He said, "I don't really know"
And I said, "Brother, I've been there twice"
When he hopped up in the shotgun,
then he started rollin' one
I said, "We gonna get along fine"
The armadillo with a doobie and a coldie in a koozie
Had me drive him to the county line
Pink Floyd’s armadillo feels like a creature summoned on a psychedelic trip:
Sunlight bright upon my pillow
Lighter than an eiderdown
Will she let the weeping willow
Wind his branches round Julia dream, dreamboat queen, queen of all my dreams
Every night I turn the light out
Waiting for the velvet bride
Will the scaly armadillo
Find me where I'm hiding
For Steely Dan, it’s also a surreal image, but perhaps more heralding the word Camarillo.
You'll be riding by, bareback on your armadillo
You'll be grooving high or relaxing at Camarillo
Suddenly the music hits you
It's a bird in flight that just can't quit you
John Hegley’s comedy song at least follows a narrative path about a pet. The audio and visual on this video is out of sync, but it’s worth a listen.
My Mummy she bought me an Armadillo
I kissed him and I kept him
Under my pillow
And I cleaned him with a Brillo pad
He was shiny and tiny
And he came from Peru
His name was Amadeus
But we used to call him Toby
And finally, some fast country and bluegrass from John Arthur Martinez. Watch out what’s crossing the road …
He swerved to the right missed the 'dillo in the middle
He swerved to the left missed the puddle near the guard
Next thing you know he's comin' at me
So I dive for the bar ditch and what do I see?
A big armadillo in the middle of a little old country road …
Any further musical or lyrical tolypeutine or armadillos out there? Feel free to share anything more in relation to it, whether in music or wider culture, such as from film, art, or other contexts, in comments below.
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