Cream – "Politician" (1968)

I’m a political man

And I practice what I preach

Tomorrow is April Fools’ Day.  (“April Fool’s Day” is also acceptable.)

April Fools’ Day is observed in many countries, but it’s only an official government holiday in one city – Odessa, Ukraine.

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The term for April Fools’ Day in France and the French-speaking parts of Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada is Poisson D’Avril – “April Fish Day.”  

From a French website:

The French name for April Fools’, Poisson d’Avril, dates back to one of the first pranks played on this day.  A man was sent to the market to retrieve fish on April 1.  Fish season ended in March, so when the runner returned tired and empty handed, he earned the title of the “April fish.”

The tradition in France continues today with children spending the day trying to stick paper fish to their friends’, parents’, and even teachers’ backs unnoticed.  When they succeed with the prank, they shout “Poisson d’Avril!” 

(Those French are somethin’ else!)

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I thought Good Housekeeping was a pretty fuddy-duddy publication, but their website has a bunch of great April Fools’ pranks you can play on your friends and family.

Here’s one that’s perfect for this year’s April 1:

Swap the clear disinfectant within a container of sanitizer for clear school glue instead.  They’ll pump out a sticky surprise right into their hands . . . and wonder why it’s not evaporating as they rub.

I like this one, too:

What’s more frustrating than spinning the toilet paper roll endlessly in search of the end?  Make that exercise even harder by spraying down the loose edge of the toilet paper roll with a bit of hairspray — they can roll and roll, but won’t get the loose edge free before they lose their cool.

But this is the best of the Good Housekeeping pranks:

If you have a baby in the home, smear a diaper with chocolate candy or peanut butter; then call in a spouse or child to observe with horror as you taste the mess.

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“Politician” was released on Cream’s third album, Wheels of Fire, in 1968:

The song was co-written by Jack Bruce – the group’s bass player and lead vocalist – and a poet and performance artist named Peter Brown (who once formed a group called “The First Real Poetry Band”).

Bruce and Brown also collaborated on “Sunshine of Your Love,” “White Room,” “I Feel Free,” and “SWLABR.” 

Click here to listen to “Politician.”

Click on the link below to buy the song from Amazon: