I was working at the weekly San Jose Sun newspaper back then. It was just a few days before Thanksgiving. We were asked to come up with something to fill a few extra inches in the paper. We came up with Turkey Carols, Thanksgiving versions of Christmas Carols. They went into the paper and have continued to circulate among family, friends and others for more than 30 years.
Turkey Tracks (Sing to Jingle Bells)
Dashing through the streets
Kids and dads and mom
Seeing feathers fly
Chasing after tom
He'll hide behind the barn
Sneak up behind our backs
What fun it is to laugh and sing
And follow turkey tracks
Refrain: O, turkey tracks,
wings and backs
Drumsticks all the way
Oh what fun it is to chase
Tom turkey night and day
O Pumpkin Pie (sing to O Christmas tree)
O pumpkin pie, O pumpkin pie
How lovely is your custard
O pumpkin pie, O pumpkin pie
How lovely is your custard
The whipping cream -- those snowy peaks
Or ala mode for ice cream freaks
O pumpkin pie O pumpkin pie
If you only came with mustard
Turkey in the Tummy (Sing to Deck the Halls)
Deck the table with roast turkey
Gobble, Gobble, Go-bble, Gobble, Gob
Put away the old beef jerky
Gobble...
Someone say the family blessing
Gobble...
And pass along the wild rice dressing
Gobble...
See the feast before us
Gobble...
Alka-Seltzer will restore us
Gobble...
Meanwhile pass the berry jelly
Gobble...
And fill the old Thanksgiving belly
Gobble...