Deteriorata

Deteriorata is a famous parody of Les Crane's 1971 spoken word recording of Desiderata, the early 20th century poem by Max Ehrmann. (Desiderata is a Latin word meaning "things to be desired"; the word deteriorata is a portmanteau of "desiderata" and the verb to deteriorate.) The parody was written by Tony Hendra for National Lampoon, and was recorded as part of the National Lampoon Radio Dinner album, released in 1972. Voiceover talent Norman Rose read the "poem" and Melissa Manchester (little known at the time) was a background singer on the chorus section of the song. Christopher Guest wrote the music.