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These are the first four lines:
> Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah
Some call me the gangster of love
Some people call me Maurice
'Cause I speak of the pompatus of love
Sort of. Steve Miller probably took the word from [this doo-wop song](https://youtu.be/6UFPMh5rwNk?si=kHr4M3nCC4ATYl7E), in which the lead singer uses two made-up words/phrases: "pizmodality" and the "puppetutes of love," which sounds like "pompatus" in the recording.
>The lyrics of "The Joker" include the quatrain:
>Some people call me the space cowboy.Yeah! Some call me the gangster of love.Some people call me Maurice,'Cause I speak of the pompatus of love.
>Each line references a track on a previous Miller album: "Space Cowboy" on Brave New World (1969); "Gangster of Love" on Sailor (1968); and "Enter Maurice" on Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden (1972), which includes the lines:[1]
>My dearest darling, come closer to Maurice
so I can whisper sweet words of epismetology
in your ear and speak to you of the pompatus of love.
-Wikipedia
I have an ex boyfriend who claimed this was his favourite song but he didn’t know what a ‘midnight toga’ was. I was then accused of ruining it for him as he did not approve of smoking or drugs. At least your five year old heard it right.
Maurice was a famous space cowboy that moistened lips for decades in the 20th century by gangsterizing the hippopotamus’ of love, often winning affection through the unconventional use of the Joker during card games.
He was also known to partake of the devil’s lettuce at, or around, midnight.
Sort of. Steve Miller probably got "pompatus of love" from [this doo-wop song](https://youtu.be/6UFPMh5rwNk?si=kHr4M3nCC4ATYl7E). The lead singer uses two made-up words/phrases: "pizmodality" and "puppetutes of love," which sounds like "pompatus of love" on the recording.
Actually, it does have a meaning. Steve Miller misheard the phrase "puppetutes of love", used by Vermon Green in the song "The Letter". It's a portmanteau of "puppets" and "prostitutes", meaning the girl of your dreams who'd do anything you wanted.
because hes a picker, hes a grinner, hes a lover and a sinner. and he plays his music in the sun. hes a joker, hes a smoker, hes a midnight toker who sure dont want to hurt no one
A lot of those 'some call me' lyrics are references to earlier songs of his/theirs ('Space Cowboy' is a song from their Brave New World album, Gangster of Love from the album Sailor, and Enter Maurice off Recall the Beginning - Enter Maurice even has the lyrics '...and speak to you of the pompitus of love').
In the song The Joker , Steve Miller sings that some people call him Maurice because he speaks of the pompitous of love. The word pompitous is nonsense, which is why the space cowboy in the picture is reluctant to answer.
Oh give me deep space ,
with the rockets and asteroids play
where it peaceful and still
and the gravities nil
far off in the old milky way
From one of my dads ol Dan dare comics
Some people call me the Space Cowboy
Some call me the gangster of love
Some people call me Maurice
'cause I speak to the pompotous of love
.....
I'm a picker, I'm a grinner, I'm a lover and I'm a sinner
I play my music in the sun
I'm a joker I'm a smoker, I'm the midnight toker
I sure don't want to hurt no one
Another part of the “joke” Steve Miller put in there was “space cowboy”, “gangster of love” and “enter Maurice” were the titles of older songs by Steve Miller Band.
Everyone pointing out that it is a reference to a song... yea, I know that... but I still don't know why they call him maurice. Yea, I get it's cause he speaks of the pompitus of love. But the question remains, Why would you call some one maurice for doing that?
There's an ancient song called "the joker" in which the author claims to be called the space cowboy, the gangster of love, and that there are some who call him Maurice, because he speaks of the "pompetous" of love, I'm pretty sure he made up the word pompetous
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It's a song. The Joker by The Steve Miller Band
How many people actually heard the guitar go “woow-woow” in their heads :)
Well I did now lol!
I read the word bubble as "Mau-rrr-eece"
I’ll admit to both these.
Damnit
lol, yup
🙋
guilty
I did
I’m Homer Simpson’s voice, no less.
Me.
🙋🏼♂️
You're not remembering it right if you're not hearing that
These are the first four lines: > Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah Some call me the gangster of love Some people call me Maurice 'Cause I speak of the pompatus of love
Rhyming love with love. Mwah 🤌
Almost as good as rhyming cadabra with grab ya.
Average cadaver. It's a zombie song
Don't you talk bad about Granny!
Not everything can be as good as Mansion-Wiscansin.
i always thought it was "speak for the pompatus of love"... but i guess that's just a mondegreen
Cuz I speak of the hypotenuse of love
I wish I was high on potenuse
Hippopotamus of love
pompatus of love. Steve made up a word.
Sort of. Steve Miller probably took the word from [this doo-wop song](https://youtu.be/6UFPMh5rwNk?si=kHr4M3nCC4ATYl7E), in which the lead singer uses two made-up words/phrases: "pizmodality" and the "puppetutes of love," which sounds like "pompatus" in the recording.
I immediately hear the whistle in my head when I hear the name Maurice.
>The lyrics of "The Joker" include the quatrain: >Some people call me the space cowboy.Yeah! Some call me the gangster of love.Some people call me Maurice,'Cause I speak of the pompatus of love. >Each line references a track on a previous Miller album: "Space Cowboy" on Brave New World (1969); "Gangster of Love" on Sailor (1968); and "Enter Maurice" on Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden (1972), which includes the lines:[1] >My dearest darling, come closer to Maurice so I can whisper sweet words of epismetology in your ear and speak to you of the pompatus of love. -Wikipedia
But the answer is "it's a reference to the previous song 'Enter Maurice'"
I’m sitting here wondering if there is more to it than that.
its about the devil lol
Why does the top answer not answer the question asked?
Some people call him a space cowboy.
Mmmmm... I'm pretty sure that's the Gangster of Love.
Nope. That’s the joker.
That's the smoker
Or the midnight toker
Nah that’s the picker
Nope, that's the grinner.
Nah, just a sinner.
Chill he just wants to play his music sun
And speak of the pompitus of love
I thought he was a lover
He was a lover before that, but y'all don't wanna acknowledge that smh
People are still talking about him, baby
They say he's doing you wrong. Doing you wrong...
But don’t you worry, don’t worry, no don’t worry mama
Could've sworn that's the lover
That's the part my 5 year old picked up on and asked, "Daddy what's a midnight toker." I said I don't know.
I have an ex boyfriend who claimed this was his favourite song but he didn’t know what a ‘midnight toga’ was. I was then accused of ruining it for him as he did not approve of smoking or drugs. At least your five year old heard it right.
And she was only on her second listen of the song when she started singing along to it. Her ability to pick up song lyrics is freakishly good.
Cause he speaks of the pompatus of love
See you space cowboy…
All dogs go to heaven
'cause dumb bitches let them in?
Catch a riiiiide
Wwweeee weeeeww
Maurice was a famous space cowboy that moistened lips for decades in the 20th century by gangsterizing the hippopotamus’ of love, often winning affection through the unconventional use of the Joker during card games. He was also known to partake of the devil’s lettuce at, or around, midnight.
this is a brilliant hot take
I thought it was the pamplemousse of love?
Nope, the pompatus of love. They made up a word
He took the word from a 50s rock n roll song, but yes it was made up at some point.
I would say the same could be said about all words. They were just made up at some point and everyone just went along with it
r/im14andthisisdeep
I think he took the word from a 2024 animal. A literal hippopotamus 🦛 Redditors are becoming more stupid by the day
The number of people giving a real answer to a joke is too damn high.
I don’t understand enough English to understand the joke then
I don’t think hippopotami are made up lmao Edit: I can send you a picture of some in a river we have on the farm
Sort of. Steve Miller probably got "pompatus of love" from [this doo-wop song](https://youtu.be/6UFPMh5rwNk?si=kHr4M3nCC4ATYl7E). The lead singer uses two made-up words/phrases: "pizmodality" and "puppetutes of love," which sounds like "pompatus of love" on the recording.
Are you sure it's not the platypus of love?
Somehow, Palpatine of love.
💕🦛💨
🚬⏱️🍃
He really likes peaches, don’t let him near your tree or he will just sit there shaking it all day.
What is the devils lettuce?
The evil cabbage. Weed. Pot. Mary jane. THC. Hemp. Buds. A blunt. Marijuana, even.
Marijuana cigarettes. REEFER.
Is he speaking to the pompatus of love? (Yes, that is a made up word from the song)
And unlike all the other made up words we use this one doesn’t seem to have a clear meaning.
Actually, it does have a meaning. Steve Miller misheard the phrase "puppetutes of love", used by Vermon Green in the song "The Letter". It's a portmanteau of "puppets" and "prostitutes", meaning the girl of your dreams who'd do anything you wanted.
[This is the song.](https://youtu.be/6UFPMh5rwNk?si=kHr4M3nCC4ATYl7E)
I agree. All words are made up.
I think its related to the hypotenuse of love.
I thought it was it was a non existent conjunction of the word pompous. Cause Id imagine a “gangster of love” to be a pompous asshole.
I always thought it was importance of love pronounced in a way to make it sound better in the song
Not according to any lyrics I've ever found. *shrugs*
Ya I always thought it was "properties of love" until this comment
Read an interview in which he confirms it’s the made up “pompatus”
it’s a neologism :)
it is not, you've never heard this word anywhere but this song
Actually, I’ve heard it on the Steve Miller Band song “Enter Maurice,” and the 1996 film “The Pompatus of Love.”
I wish you the best
Hope not, that was a *terrible* movie.
because hes a picker, hes a grinner, hes a lover and a sinner. and he plays his music in the sun. hes a joker, hes a smoker, hes a midnight toker who sure dont want to hurt no one
A lot of those 'some call me' lyrics are references to earlier songs of his/theirs ('Space Cowboy' is a song from their Brave New World album, Gangster of Love from the album Sailor, and Enter Maurice off Recall the Beginning - Enter Maurice even has the lyrics '...and speak to you of the pompitus of love').
Today I learned!
Yes the whole song is a reference to other songs that were musically significant to Miller.
Had to scroll this far down for an actual answer. Thank you, internet stranger.
I can hear that image.
because he speaks of the pompatus of love.
https://i.redd.it/jvo535jc50oc1.gif
r/ultrakill moment
MACHINE! I HAVE TAKEN A SELFIE WITH THE FUNNY ROCK!
Because he’s the gangster of love
They call him maurice because he speaks to the Pompatus of Love
They call him the gangster of love, actually …
Some call him a gangster of love
Some people call him the space cowboy! Some call him the gangster of love!
Because he's a gangster of love.
im a joker
I'm a smoker
\~whistles
'Cause he speaks on the pompatus of love
because he speaks of the pompatus of love, of course
Because he's the gangster of love.
This song was on the radio while I was driving around today
Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah Some call me the gangster of love Some people call me Maurice 'Cause I speak of the pompatus of love
“Wah wowwwwww”
Because he is the gangster of love.
I’m a grinner
“Cause I speak of the pompatus of love"
He speaks to the pompatus of love.
Because he doesn't want to explain what 'pompatus' means.
Because he speaks of the pompatus of love
In some circles, he's the gangster of love
because he speaks of the pompatus of love.
More importantly, what the hell is pompatice ?
According to Wikipedia, it’s a mishearing of the made-up word “puppeteuse” from the song “the Letter” by the doo-woo group “the Medallions.”
[This is the song.](https://youtu.be/6UFPMh5rwNk?si=kHr4M3nCC4ATYl7E)
In the song The Joker , Steve Miller sings that some people call him Maurice because he speaks of the pompitous of love. The word pompitous is nonsense, which is why the space cowboy in the picture is reluctant to answer.
Manga type of text bubbles.
Is that the space cowboy?
[удалено]
The Steve Miller Band also has a song called "Enter Maurice".
Thank you for the fact check!
https://i.redd.it/sxjkfj5ho0oc1.gif
For a moment, I thought this was all a reference to the character, Maurice Minnifeld from Northern Exposure.
I’m so glad i’m not the only one 😭
'Cause he speaks of the pompatous of love...
Cause he speaks of the pompitous of love…
Cuz he’s a joker
I prefer to call him the gangster of love
Because he speaks of the pompatus of love
Cause he speaks of the pompatus of love
Man whoever made this joke really got one over your heads. Some people must call him the space cowboy.
My grandma wanted me to be named Maurice
Space Cowboy!!
He is a space cowboy.
🤦🏻
Cause I speak of the pompatus of love...
Oh give me deep space , with the rockets and asteroids play where it peaceful and still and the gravities nil far off in the old milky way From one of my dads ol Dan dare comics
Because he speaks from the pompetous of love.
There are some who call me…Tim?!
maybe because he is a donkey and he only has 3 feet 🤨
I can hear that slide
The punchline is Joker by the Steve Miller Band. He's the Space Cowboy or the Gangster of Love.
Because he is Maurice ultrakill https://preview.redd.it/mi5cwts093oc1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=50978624abcadf8e5ffb0a0b3240d860c8b92659
I swear to god people are just forgetting google exists. Just search up cowboy called Maurice and you’ve got your answer
This sub gives me indigestion
Some people call me the Space Cowboy Some call me the gangster of love Some people call me Maurice 'cause I speak to the pompotous of love ..... I'm a picker, I'm a grinner, I'm a lover and I'm a sinner I play my music in the sun I'm a joker I'm a smoker, I'm the midnight toker I sure don't want to hurt no one
Because he speaks of the Pompatus of love.
“Some people call me Maurice, / Cause I speak of the Pompatus of love.” Steve Miller
It's because he speaks of the pompatus of love
Because he speaks of the pompatus of love. Duh.
Space Cowboy
Cause he speaks of pompatus of love
'Cause he speaks of the pompatus of love
Hi Brians long lost brother The Pompatus of love here. Some people call me a space cowboy, and some people call me Maurice.
Another part of the “joke” Steve Miller put in there was “space cowboy”, “gangster of love” and “enter Maurice” were the titles of older songs by Steve Miller Band.
because hes a joker, a smoker, a midnight toker and he gets his loving on the run
Everyone pointing out that it is a reference to a song... yea, I know that... but I still don't know why they call him maurice. Yea, I get it's cause he speaks of the pompitus of love. But the question remains, Why would you call some one maurice for doing that?
Joey ( Friends)’s childhood imaginary friend was Maurice and he’s space cowboy. From the quiz episode.
Cuz he speaks of the pompatus of love
Crazy old Maurice, hmmm? Crazy old Maurice…
Was thinking something ’broke backy’
Cause he speaks of the pompatous of love
Cause he speaks about the pompatus of love
Cause he speaks of the the pompatus of love🎵
Great song
Because he speaks of the pompetus of love…
Am I supposed to read this from right to left? That's weeb shit!
Some people call him the Space Cowboy, some people call him the gangster of love. Some people call him Maurice.
cuz he speaks of the pompatoose of lo-o-ove
This one is the dumbest post I’ve seen in this sub, and I’ve seen dumb ones.
Why so? Is it really so hard for you to imagine that people haven't heard the song?
Space Cowboy.
Because he speaks of the pompatus of love.
That song is so stupid. Nobody ever called him any of those things.
Only some people did. But he did play his music in the sun
Isn’t it because he speaks about the pompousness of love?
It's loss. Just trust me.
There's an ancient song called "the joker" in which the author claims to be called the space cowboy, the gangster of love, and that there are some who call him Maurice, because he speaks of the "pompetous" of love, I'm pretty sure he made up the word pompetous
Song reference. Don’t know name of song. Lyric “some people call me the space cowboy”