Another day, another off the wall saying.
So my father used to use the phrase “You Can’t Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd” all the time when I was growing up. Until recently I never really cared what the origin was, I used the phrase and went on.
Recently, however, the subject of my unusual phrases came up at a luncheon for one of my student assistants that had just gotten a new job as a full time staff member in another department.
So, here’s the origin. The phrase comes from a song by Roger Miller entitled, strangely enough, You Can’t Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd. For the complete lyris visit .
1 response so far ↓
1 Jan B // Aug 30, 2007 at 3:26 pm
This saying is a great metaphor for life, in a time when philosophical acceptance is the only way to deal with a bad situation, limitations, etc. Looking back, I realize what a great artist Roger Miller was, and I appreciate him, all the more!
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