An Indian chief was feeling very sick, so he summoned the medicine man. After a brief examination, the medicine man took out a long, thin strip of elk hide and gave it to the chief, instructing him to bite off, chew and swallow one inch of the leather every day. After a month, the medicine man returned to see how the chief was feeling. The chief shrugged and said, "The thong is ended, but the malady lingers on....

Groan
Exactly.These come from a site of real groaners.
I don't get it.
A play on ' the song has ended but the melody lingers on'.
I have found a site with dozens of these.
Ah Ha!
Yeah, it's not a song I'm familiar with...good try, tho.
A play on words for the song "the love is gone" ? That's my best guess.
Thank you again Will.
So not funny. Sorry Blewy.