Off Beat - Ol' Ben Lucas

He's a true renaissance man. If indeed, someone so politically incorrect could be one. Kinky Friedman started out in a band called King Arthur and The Carrots while a student at the University of Texas. In 1971, he formed his second band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys and gained a following on the coat tails of Gram Parsons, the Flying Burrito Brothers and other country rock groups.

The difference with Kinky's music was how politically incorrect his lyrics were. Songs like Asshole From El Paso and Get Your Biscuits In the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed had audiences rolling in the aisles. His songs were so out there that in 1975 he and his group taped a show for Austin City Limits that never aired.

In 1976 Kinky toured with Bob Dylan and his Rolling Thunder Review but by the 80s his music career was going nowhere and he turned to writing. He started cranking out detective novels and they're some of the funniest books you'll ever read.

He wrote an ongoing column for Texas Monthly magazine until he ran as an independent candidate for governor in 2006. Rumour has it he'll run as a Democrat in 2010. Asked about his stand on abortion Kinky is reported to have said, "I'm not pro-life and I'm not pro-choice, I'm pro-football".

These days Kinky sells his own brand of cigars and salsa and runs the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch. For those who want to visit or drop him a note he can be found at his website. Here's the Kinkster performing Ol' Ben Lucas...

Ol' Ben Lucas had a lot of mucus

Comin' right out of his nose.

He picked and picked till it made you sick

But back again it grows.

Well, ol' Ben Lucas had a lot of mucus

Comin' right out of his nose.

He picked and picked till it made you sick,

But back again it grows.

When it's cotton picking time in Texas,

Boys, it's booger picking time for Ben.

He'd raise that finger mean and hostile

Stick it in that waitin' nostril,

Here he comes with a green one once again.

All right, pick it, Eric!

Ol' Ben Lucas had a lot of mucus

Comin' right out of his nose.

He picked and picked till it made you sick,

But back again it grows.

Everybody!

Ol' Ben Lucas had a lot of mucus

Comin' right out of his nose,

He picked and picked till it made you sick

But back again it grows.