[Ads-l] My work here is done

[dave@wilton.net]

Thanks for pointing out the YouTube channel.
 
I've looked at a number of episodes (but far from all; that would be a task). I did turn up a handful of episodes where the Lone Ranger says something like "Tonto, our work here is finished." Or "Tonto, our job is done here."
 
It really does look like a misremembered line along the lines of "Badges, we don't need no stinking badges." And it was hardly a routine signoff to the episodes.
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: "Stephen Goranson" <goranson at DUKE.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2023 12:17pm
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: [ADS-L] My work here is done



Another character says this about him:
"He's gone, Dad; he never stays around once his work is done."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb7ORC_sCnY
1.03
________________________________
From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of dave at wilton.net <dave at WILTON.NET>
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2023 11:53 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Subject: My work here is done


Languagehat has a nice write up on the catchphrase "my work here is done." [ https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://languagehat.com/my-work-here-is-done/__;!!OToaGQ!uETnWgs-cV_1IqMradPPA8VOBMuCCoNL_Upg7FhsfjVw02tjaWFlAFK2EAeRB1u-Hrx_DhDvBLJb$ ]( https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://languagehat.com/my-work-here-is-done/__;!!OToaGQ!uETnWgs-cV_1IqMradPPA8VOBMuCCoNL_Upg7FhsfjVw02tjaWFlAFK2EAeRB1u-Hrx_DhDvBLJb$ )

The catchphrase is almost universally attributed to the Lone Ranger, but I have been unable to find an actual example from an episode of the radio show or television series that uses the phrase.

Of course, most of the episodes are not readily available, and even fewer have been transcribed to make them readily searchable. (I listened to a number of the radio recordings but gave it up as being too time consuming before finding an example.)

There are probably examples out there, but I'm beginning to wonder if this is an example of the Mandela effect.

Does anyone have any ideas on where to look?




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