Yes, And I Want A Pony, Too

February 12, 2008 10:46 AM

What's the origin of "how does it feel to want?" in response to somebody expressing a desire?

I've been using this expression forever, and my coworker asked me today what it was from, and I couldn't tell him. As nearly as I can tell, I heard it somewhere, but Googling isn't doing me much good. It doesn't seem to be a quote from a movie, for what that's worth, although I'm dead certain it's been used in movies.

The exchange usually goes something like:

Person A: "I want you to dress up like a monkey and sing show tunes."
Person B: "Yeah, how does it feel to want?"

The request is usually something improbable or unlikely, or something that Person B is well-known as being against. Person B usually responds in a snarky manner.

posted by scrump to Grab Bag (4 answers total)

Best answer: Hmm, I usually say "Get used to dissappointment." in my best Cary Elwes.

But for this, the interwebs are telling me that a radio show character by the name of Duane Ingalls Glasscock started it.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:02 AM on February 12, 2008

That's so interesting. My dad used to (annoyingly) say this to me all the time. I thought it was in general usage - this radio persona is an odd source. Wonder where he heard him?
posted by Miko at 12:18 PM on February 12, 2008

That's funny. I always heard this as "It's good to want things," or something like that.
posted by sweetkid at 12:23 PM on February 12, 2008

I seem to recall Stewie Griffin from Family Guy saying this at some point. But Google is turning up blank (or myspace, which is just as bad). Also, you seem to be suggesting an older genesis of this phrase.
posted by Xoder at 1:46 PM on February 12, 2008