After Penn spent 5 weeks in Nov 2011 in New York City as a cast member of Celebrity Apprentice dealing with the filming of the show and all the goings-on with his fellow celebrity cast members, he felt a song coming on. He had told Denny about his upcoming appearance before he left for New York. Months later while the show was airing, Penn, now back in Las Vegas, called Denny and invited him and Biddy to write the song with him, which he wanted to get right out while the show was still airing.
In short order the three wrote the song, went right into the recording studio and came out with “Clay Aiken By Penn Jillette” by Penn Jillette, performed by Penn Jillette and produced by Randell and Schippers, which Penn, Denny and Biddy released on their own label, Viva Las Records, along with a video for which Emery Emery was tapped to produce at light speed. Penn then introduced the song and video on his new and fast growing weekly podcast, Penn’s Sunday School.
During the time Penn was into writing about his experience on Donald Trump’s then current Celebrity Apprentice series, there was a lot of news coming out about problems at the plant in China where Apple computers were being turned out, due to harsh working conditions for those employees living at the work site and struggling to get by. This news had a great impact on Penn’s outlook on what a celebrity goes through making a 7 day week, 16 hour a day non-stop production compared to what an employee at the apple plant in China goes through everyday. As many people have asked for the lyric, it’s included below.
The video includes guest appearances by a number of Penn’s fellow celebrities on the show. They are Debbie Gibson, Tia Carrere, Dee Snider Lisa Lampanelli, Paul Teutul Sr, Adam Carolla and, of course, Teller is in there too.
Just months after the release of “Clay Aiken By Penn Jillette” when Randell and Schippers were back in the studio with their then latest song and production project, “This Time I Got It” by award winning magician John Thompson, The Great Tomsoni, Penn and Teller made a cast star Cameo appearance in that video, giving all of them another chance to work together and do some wild stuff.
Clay Aiken By Penn Jillette
by Penn Jillette, Denny Randell, Biddy Schippers
© Jillette, Randell, Schippers
Intro
(Spoken) I have never felt so set up in my life
Vs 1
(Sung) You got your iPad 3, you got your iPhone 4,
Had the iPad 2, the iPhone before.
Steve Jobs is dead, Apple jobs overseas,
Dormitory living, working factories.
Leave their families behind,
For the plastic they’re makin’,
While I’m having public heart to hearts with Clay Aiken
Ch 1
That’s my job, a bit pathetic’ly,
That’s my job, I’m a celebrity.
If working life gets you to the point of breakin’
You’re not hanging with Arsenio and Clay Aiken
Yeah, You’re not on Celeb with Arsenio and Clay Aiken
(Spoken) Meanwhile, back in The Jungle.
Vs 2
You got a diamond from your love, you’ll be dressed to the nines.
Yeah, the diamond is forever, like the treacherous mines.
Paying no money, with the child labors,
Around Zimbabwe, and their African neighbors.
Fam’lies left behind for the carbon they get,
They’re not hangin with Arsenio, the Hulk and Penn Jillette,
And a thousand dollar sandwich on a million dollar set.
Ch 2
That’s my job, a bit pathetic’ly,
That’s my job, I’m a celebrity.
If your working life makes you suffer and sweat,
Can’t have fun bein’ fired like Dee and Penn Jillette.
Bridge
Those five weeks in New York City
With the art of the deal, begging for Trumps’ imprimatur.
Five weeks in New York City in No-vember could feel
Like a mere 5 minutes – Underwater
(Grp) Yey, yey, yey, yey__, yey. (Penn) Cut it out!
(Grp) Yey, yey, yey, yey__, yey.
Vs 3
There’s an out-break, Oow, and there ain’t no cure,
Gotta send some doctors to Ku-a-la Lum-pur.
American heroes, some hexachlorophene,
Emergency measures, and quar-an-tine.
While they’re barely hanging on there’s no mistakin,
They ain’t playin’ the apprentice game with Penn and Clay Aiken
Ch 3
That’s my job, (Grp) That’s a job?, (Penn) a bit pathetic’ly,
That’s my job, (Grp) Some Job! (Penn) 2-bit celebrity.
While you’re going from one bad job into another,
We’re having public heart to hearts with each other.
Ch 4
That’s my job, (Grp) Oh Yeah? (Penn) a bit pathetic’ly,
That’s my job, (Grp) Gim-me that job, (Penn) I’m a celebrity.
If you’re given it your all but you’re still getting’ taken,
You ain’t having heart to hearts with Me and Clay Aiken.
Tag
If your world is shaken,
You ain’t having heart to hearts with Adam, Penn and Clay Aiken.
If your goose is cooked from bringin’ home the bacon,
You ain’t having heart to hearts with me, the Hulk and Clay Aiken.
(Spoken) Meanwhile – back in The Boardroom
(Grp (Spoken) Now tell it to me Penn
Penn (Spoken) I really hated those heart to hearts with Clay Aiken
Grp (Spoken) What about Clay then?
Penn (Spoken) He really hated those heart to hearts with Penn Jillette, –
I’m so condescending.
© 2012 Penn Jillette, Denny Randell, Biddy Schippers
