Girl: Do you know my dad's band?
Duke: What's the name of his band?
Girl: I can't tell you. It has a naughty word in it.

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While packing up after a show, I was hat-less and a girl wandered back in to talk to me.  She was very sweet and there was not a hint of cruelty in the way she told me her honest opinion:  "I liked you better with your hat on." 

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Duke: "Here's your tambourine."
Girl: "My name's not Marine. I'm Emma."

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A little girl recently asked me, "What's your real name again?"  I whispered to her, "Noah."  Her face lit up with joy and shocked delight; then tilted her head and made certain she heard me correctly:  "Snowball?!?!"  Needless to say, she walked away a little disappointed...

 

 

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Little Boy: "Who are your parents?"
Duke: "Don and Esther."
Little Boy: "Hmmmm...Never heard of them."

 

 

 

Duke: What kind of dog do you think I have?
Girl: A Vegetarian?

 

 

 

At the end of my show during Q&A--and after a few questions had already been answered--a little boy asked politely: "um...uh....um...uh....could you...uh...um...hurry up a bit? I have a swimming lesson."

 

 

 

 After playing "Creepy Crawly Love" I asked the kids in what way I should have told the girl that I liked her rather than throw worms at her. I received the usual responses of "write her a letter," "buy her a ring," "give her flowers," "just tell her!" and "kiss her."

Then, this suave, 9-year old boy raised his hand and said in the most cool and calm manner, "Let her come to you, man."

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More practical advice from the "Creepy Crawly Love" question, this time from a very serious boy:

"Stare at her until she comes over by you and asks, 'Why are you staring at me?' "

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"Do you have a man cave, or a lounge, or a studio where you write your songs?" 

- 7-year old boy

 

 

 

During "Good Good Jobby Bird" today at Sharon Library, the kids got to use their imaginations and fly to wherever they wanted. After the song I asked them where they went. The very first boy (about 6) said, "Vegas!"

 

 

 

"Because of your song, I learned to love eating Brussels sprouts!" -young boy 

 

 

 

...and then there are moments like today after my Walworth Library show:

Little Girl With Blonde Hair: "I love you!....Hug!"

 

 

 

Duke: Does anybody know what "entomology" is?......It is the study of.....?"

6-year old Boy: "Entomology is entomology and nothing will ever change that."

 

 

 

Duke: What should I have done differently rather than throw a worm at a girl to show her I liked her?

8-yr Old Boy: Write her a message on the worm.

 

 

 

Then, after the show the same boy approaches me:

Boy: "For the animal song, I wanted you to sing 'wife.'"

Duke: "Oh yeah? What sound does a wife make?"

Boy: (in a high-pitched voice) "Honey!"

 

 

 

"Duke Otherwise is my favorite singer...after Johnny Cash."

-Olive, 9

 

 

 

Post-concert critique from a 2nd grader today at Waller Elementary:

"I wish you would've played heavy metal."

 

 

 

Duke: "These songs come from my silly brain. Does anybody here also have a silly brain?"
Pretty Little 3-year old Girl: "I don't have a brain under my hair."

 

 

 

After the final rambunctious dance number at last night's show, a small boy with severe wet-from-sweat head approached me:

"Can I borrow your hat? I want to wipe my head with it."

 

 

 

Duke: How did that song make you feel?
6-year old boy: It made me feel so laughy that I had to sneeze.

 

 

 

3rd grade Boy: Do you play country music?
Duke: Not really.
Boy: You look country with your hat.
Duke: This is a fedora, not a cowboy hat. (Of which I remove my hat to show them and put it back on my head. Much unexpected laughter from the whole group.)
Boy: Can you take off your hat again? (I do. Much laughter once again.) 
3rd grade Girl: Put it back on!!! Put it back on!!!

 

 

 

Duke: "This next one is about your favorite food!"
An adorable and gentle little 4-year old girl raises her hand... "My dad's favorite food is beer."

 

 

 

A cute 1st-grader told me this today after my show. (She was very sweet in telling me. She was not mean or bratty, but rather matter-of-fact.)

Girl:  "You were doing that stuff on purpose to make the other kids laugh."

Duke:  "Yup, I was."

Girl:  "I don't laugh at that kind of stuff."

 

 

 

"I didn't get up to dance because I'm a princess."

 

 

 

Duke: What would you do if you were face to face with a cheetah?
Kid: I'm from Chicago so I can't say out loud what I would do.