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Yertle the Turtle
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS SONG
Released On
Freaky Styley
August 16, 1985
Studio Album
Recorded On
April 8 - May 1985
United Sound Studios · Detroit, MI
Lyrics
On a far away island of Salamasond
Yertle the turtle was king of the pond
A nice little pond, it was clean it was neat
The water was warm, there was plenty to eat
Until one day the king of them all
Decided the kingdom he ruled was too small
I’m a ruler of all that I see
But I don’t see enough and that’s the trouble with me

With this stone for a throne I am too low down
I cannot look down upon the places beyond
So Yertle the turtle king lifted his hand
And Yertle the turtle king gave a command
He ordered all the turtles onto one another’s back
He piled them high into a ten turtle stack
Oh, Yertle the turtle, the things I now rule
I’m king of a cow, I’m king of a mule

Then down from below in the great turtle stack
Came a burp from a plain little turtle named Mack
Just part of the throne this burpin’ little turtle
Looked up and said “I beg your pardon, king Yertle
I’ve pains in my back, my shoulders and my knees
How long must we stand here, your majesty?”
“Silence” the king of the turtles barked back
To the bad burpin’ little turtle named Mack
I’m Yertle the turtle, oh marvelous me
For I am ruler of all that I see

Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle

Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Yertle, Yertle the turtle
Performances
Partial Performances
'Yertle the Turtle' has been also partially performed 1 time - more info >

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NOV 17

2016
TUI Arena
Hannover, Germany
SETLIST · NOTES · MEDIA · RECORDING
MAR 14

2001
Irving Plaza
New York City, NY, United States
SETLIST · NOTES · MEDIA · RECORDING
JAN 27

2000
Sydney Entertainment Center
Sydney, Australia
SETLIST · NOTES · RECORDING
JAN 11

2000
Nippon Budokan
Tokyo, Japan
SETLIST · MEDIA · RECORDING
NOV 08

1999
Arena Berlin
Berlin, Germany
SETLIST · NOTES · MEDIA
OCT 30

1999
Hartwall Arena
Helsinki, Finland
SETLIST · MEDIA · RECORDING
OCT 06

1999
Luna Park
Buenos Aires, Argentina
SETLIST · NOTES · MEDIA · RECORDING
AUG 20

1999
Butzweilerhof (Bizarre Festival)
Cologne, Germany
SETLIST · MEDIA · RECORDING
JUN 25

1999
Hollywood Palladium
Los Angeles, CA, United States
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JUN 14

1999
Spazio Antologico
Milan, Italy
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JUN 04

1999
Södra Teatern
Stockholm, Sweden
SETLIST · RECORDING
MAY 23

1999
Riverport Amphitheatre (Pointfest)
Maryland Heights, MO, United States
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SEP 20

1998
Stockton Civic Memorial Auditorium
Stockton, CA, United States
SETLIST · NOTES · MEDIA · RECORDING
SEP 19

1998
Livestock Events Center
Reno, NV, United States
SETLIST · NOTES · MEDIA
SEP 18

1998
Field of Dreams
Oroville, CA, United States
SETLIST · NOTES · MEDIA · RECORDING
SEP 06

1998
Huntridge Theater
Las Vegas, NV, United States
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SEP 05

1998
Huntridge Theater
Las Vegas, NV, United States
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SEP 04

1998
Santa Barbara Bowl
Santa Barbara, CA, United States
SETLIST · MEDIA · RECORDING
JUL 25

1998
Aragon Ballroom (Miller Genuine Draft Blind Date)
Chicago, IL, United States
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JUL 24

1998
Aragon Ballroom (Miller Genuine Draft Blind Date)
Chicago, IL, United States
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OCT 20

1992
Festival Hall
Melbourne, Australia
SETLIST · MEDIA · RECORDING
AUG 28

1992
Harriet Island (Lollapalooza Festival)
Minneapolis, MN, United States
SETLIST · MEDIA · RECORDING
AUG 15

1992
Montage Mountain Performing Arts Center (Lollapalooza Festival)
Scranton, PA, United States
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JUL 04

1992
Festivalpark (Rock Torhout Festival)
Torhout, Belgium
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MAR 01

1992
Palatrussardi
Milan, Italy
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FEB 25

1992
Theaterfabrik
Munich, Germany
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FEB 16

1992
Le Zénith
Paris, France
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FEB 15

1992
Brielpoort
Deinze, Belgium
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FEB 13

1992
Docks
Hamburg, Germany
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FEB 02

1992
Forum
Vancouver, Canada
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DEC 31

1991
Cow Palace
Daly City, CA, United States
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DEC 28

1991
Pat O'Brien Pavilion
Del Mar, CA, United States
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NOV 30

1991
Roy Wilkins Auditorium
St. Paul, MN, United States
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NOV 08

1991
Tower Theater
Upper Darby, PA, United States
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NOV 05

1991
Houston Field House
Troy, NY, United States
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NOV 02

1991
Burlington Memorial Auditorium
Burlington, VT, United States
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OCT 16

1991
Oscar Mayer Theater
Madison, WI, United States
SETLIST · NOTES · MEDIA · RECORDING
JAN 26

1991
Los Angeles City Hall
Los Angeles, CA, United States
SETLIST · MEDIA · RECORDING · PICTURES
JUN 16

1990
Greek Theatre
Los Angeles, CA, United States
SETLIST · MEDIA · RECORDING
JUN 06

1990
Brixton Academy
London, England
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JUN 01

1990
Mesa Amphitheatre
Mesa, AZ, United States
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MAR 16

1990
Texan Hotel
Daytona Beach, FL, United States
SETLIST · RECORDING
FEB 14

1990
Villa 65 (Nozems-a-gogo)
Hilversum, Netherlands
SETLIST · MEDIA · RECORDING
DEC 08

1989
Jannus Landing
St. Petersburg, FL, United States
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NOV 22

1989
Latin Quarter
Detroit, MI, United States
SETLIST · MEDIA · RECORDING
NOV 21

1989
Phantasy Theatre
Lakewood, OH, United States
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NOV 18

1989
The Boathouse
Norfolk, VA, United States
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NOV 12

1989
L'Amour
New York City, NY, United States
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OCT 27

1989
The New Ritz
New York City, NY, United States
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OCT 20

1989
The Channel
Boston, MA, United States
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OCT 09

1989
First Avenue Club
Minneapolis, MN, United States
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OCT 01

1989
Opera House
Austin, TX, United States
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NOV 26

1988
Multipurpose Room at California State University
Long Beach, CA, United States
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JUN 04

1988
Tornava Isla (Provinssirock Festival)
Seinajoki, Finland
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APR 14

1988
Mississippi Nights
St. Louis, MO, United States
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APR 08

1988
The Catalyst
Santa Cruz, CA, United States
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MAR 27

1988
John Anson Ford Theatre
Los Angeles, CA, United States
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MAR 14

1988
Montezuma Hall at San Diego State University
San Diego, CA, United States
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MAR 12

1988
Crawford Hall at University of California at Irvine
Irvine, CA, United States
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FEB 24

1988
The Ritz
New York City, NY, United States
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FEB 17

1988
Ancienne Belgique
Brussels, Belgium
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FEB 11

1988
Volkshaus
Zurich, Switzerland
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FEB 05

1988
The Loft
Berlin, Germany
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NOV 24

1987
Mississippi Nights
St. Louis, MO, United States
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NOV 09

1987
Graffiti's
Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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FEB 22

1987
Goodies
Fullerton, CA, United States
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DEC 01

1986
First Avenue Club
Minneapolis, MN, United States
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NOV 29

1986
Hoosier Ballroom
Indianapolis, IN, United States
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NOV 24

1986
Mississippi Nights
St. Louis, MO, United States
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NOV 22

1986
The Ritz
Austin, TX, United States
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MAY 02

1986
Astor Park
Seattle, WA, United States
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APR 30

1986
Beer Garden
Eugene, OR, United States
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JAN 18

1986
The Catalyst
Santa Cruz, CA, United States
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DEC 12

1985
Liberty Lunch
Austin, TX, United States
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DEC 10

1985
Theatre Gallery
Dallas, TX, United States
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DEC 05

1985
Parody Hall
Kansas City, MO, United States
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NOV 29

1985
Roosters
Nashville, TN, United States
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OCT 17

1985
Rainbow Music Hall
Denver, CO, United States
SETLIST · NOTES · MEDIA
FEB 28

1984
Ackerman Hall at University of California at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA, United States
SETLIST · MEDIA · RECORDING · PICTURES