Lyr Req: Shit, I've Forgotten the Words

Subject: SONG CALLED 'SHIT, I FORGOT THE WORDS'
From: Ian HP
Date: 27 Jun 98 - 05:29 PM

A long time ago I heard someone in a folk club sing a wonderful song called 'Shit, I forgot the words'. Does anyone know it, can give me the words/tune, or know a recording of it, please?

Subject: RE: SONG CALLED 'SHIT, I FORGOT THE WORDS'
From:
Date: 27 Jun 98 - 06:04 PM

"Shit I've forgotten the words" is track 5 of "More and Merrier" on a label called Lochshore which is part of KRL. The CD is number CDLDL 1238. It features Hamish Imlach, Murial Graves and Kate Kramer. The author of this song is listed as unknown. It seems to me that the tune is, in fact, an old one (especially the chorus) but I'm not sure of it's original name.

Frank Phillips

Subject: RE: SONG CALLED 'SHIT, I FORGOT THE WORDS'
From: Kiwi
Date: 28 Jun 98 - 06:33 AM

Frank, do you happen to have the words? I'd be very interested in them if you could please post the lyrics..

Sla/n, Kiwi

Subject: RE: SONG CALLED 'SHIT, I FORGOT THE WORDS'
From: RS
Date: 28 Jun 98 - 07:39 AM

Reminds me of the Sesame Street song, sung by Forgetful Jones, that goes "La de dah de dah, la de dah de dah, What's the name of that song?"

Subject: RE: SONG CALLED 'SHIT, I FORGOT THE WORDS'
From: John Nolan
Date: 29 Jun 98 - 07:53 AM

I have the Hamish Imlach tape with the words, which I'll post this evening, unless someone cares to do the honors first.

Subject: Lyr Add: SHIT, I'VE FORGOTTEN THE WORDS
From: John Nolan
Date: 01 Jul 98 - 05:50 PM

1. My heart is a-pounding within my breast,
Ah know the first line, forgot all the rest,
A memory like mine is a hell of a pest,
Shit, I've forgotten the words.

Chorus
On a packet of fags I'd written them down,
Threw them away as I drove into town,
Now I feel a bit of a clown,
'cos shit, I've forgotten the words.

2. The last time I sang them they went down a treat,
Dogs were a-howling out on the street,
And I spilt my beer all over my feet,
'cos shit, I've forgotten the words.

3. Sometimes they come back line by line as I sing,
Tonight I can't seem to remember a thing,
Ian McCalman will know, I'll give him a ring,
Oh shit, I've forgotten his number.

4. So come all you singers, practice your verse,
If you do not, you surely will curse,
But I remembered the tune so it could have been worse,
Next time I'll remember the words.

Subject: RE: SONG CALLED 'SHIT, I FORGOT THE WORDS'
From: Kiwi
Date: 01 Jul 98 - 07:40 PM

Great song! Can you give me an idea as to the melody? If so, I think that I and a minstrel friend of mine would have fun singing it...

Slán, Kiwi

Subject: RE: SONG CALLED 'SHIT, I FORGOT THE WORDS'
From: John Nolan
Date: 01 Jul 98 - 09:59 PM

The tune is The Muckin o' Geordie's Byre

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Also click here

Subject: Lyr Add: SHIT I'VE FORGOTTEN THE WORDS
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 04:32 PM

Joe, I see you beat me to the tune of the Hamish Imlach song. However, I checked the lyrics (just in case anyone is going to add them to the DT), and this is what Hamish sings on his last album, 'More and Merrier' (on CD and still available from KRL Lochshore), and the scant info he was able to give:

SHIT I'VE FORGOTTEN THE WORDS
(Anon)

Chorus:
On a packet of fags I'd written them down
I threw them away as I drove into town
Now I feel a bit of a clown
Shit, I've forgotten the words

My heart is a-pounding within my breast
I know the first line, I forgot all the rest
A memory like mine is a hell of a pest
Shit, I've forgotten the words

The last time I sang them they went down a treat
Dogs were howling out on the street
I spilt my beer all over my feet
'Cos shit, I've forgotten the words

Sometimes they come back line by line as I sing
Tonight I can't seem to remember a thing
Ian McCalman will know, I'll give him a ring
Oh shit, I've forgotten his number

So come all you singers, practise your verse
If you do not you surely will curse
But I remembered the tune, it could have been worse
Next time I'll remember the words

[1995:] Learnt from Murray Lewis of Bracknell who sang it to me in a pub in Stony Stratford. (Notes Hamish Imlach, 'More and Merrier')


I'd be interested to hear if there is anything in Leadfingers' info on the author. Also, I fondly hope the automatic line breaks work!

Subject: RE: SONG CALLED 'SHIT, I FORGOT THE WORDS'
From: Leadfingers Mom
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 07:13 PM

Pm Me as leadfingers and I will give you whT i HAVE i HAve the info
on the song from Bob Hambleton who worked with Murray WHOS IS NOW
SADLY DECEASED

Subject: RE: SONG CALLED 'SHIT, I FORGOT THE WORDS'
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 13 Oct 02 - 11:11 AM

I've heard a similar one to the tune of "Heigh ho!" (Snow White &c.)

"Oh shit, Oh shit, I can't remember it
As I sing this song the words have gone
Oh shit, oh shit oh shit
oh shit oh shit, what was the other bit...."

AllI can remember for now!
Nigel

Subject: Lyr Add: OH SHIT, OH SHIT (John English)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 13 Oct 02 - 11:47 AM

Once started I had to check if I had the whole thing!

OH SHIT, OH SHIT
(John English)

Oh shit, Oh shit, I can't remember it
As I sing this song, the words have gone.
Oh shit, oh shit oh shit
Oh shit oh shit, what was the other bit
For the life of me it's a mystery
Oh shit, OH SHIT.

published in "... and then 3 come along together" (ISBN1-870824-44-X) a reprint of the three standard UK 'Filk' hymnals in one, ringbbound volume.
NP
Originally published in "The Drunken Rabble Project" (Feb 1990)

Subject: Lyr Add: FORGOTTEN THE WORDS (Murray Lewis)
From: GUEST,BobHambleton
Date: 14 Oct 02 - 12:43 PM

The song "OH SHIT, I'VE FORGOTTEN THE WORDS," was written my old friend, Murray Lewis with whom, as Leadfingers said, I played as a duo for several years. When he died his daughter gave me the manuscript book in which he wrote down most of the songs.

Hamish did record a version, or at least I heard it oh 'Folk on 2' but he had altered it from the original, using one of the verses as a chorus as I recall. Having said that, I change the odd phrase to make it scan better.

Here's the lyrics as Murray wrote them:-

"FORGOTTEN THE WORDS"    by Murray Lewis 1980
(Murray couldn't bring himself to write the real title, "Oh Shit! I've forgotten the Words.)


1
My heart is a pounding within my breast!
I know the first line but I've forgotten the rest,
A memory like mine is one hell of a pest,
Oh Shit! I've forgotten the words.


2
Last time I sang it it went down a treat,
A dog was a howling outside in the street,
And I dropped me beer mug all over my feet,
Oh Shit! I've forgotten the words.

3
Sometimes they come back by line as I sing,
But tonight I cannot recall a damned thing,
Bob's* sure to know 'em I'll give him a ring,
Oh Shit! I've forgotten the words.
(* substitute the name of the compere or someone in the audience.)

4
On a packet of fags I had 'em wrote down,
But I threw it away as I came through the town,
And now by an feeling one hell of a clown,
Oh Shit! I've forgotten the words.


5
So come on all you singers and practise your verse,
For if you do not then you surely will curse,
And if you follow me well you cannot do worse,
Oh Shit! I've forgotten the words.


(Note: the first letters of each verse make "M. L. S. O. S." which is the author's initials plus 'Help!' This is one song it's best not to forget!)

Subject: Forgotten the Words
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 14 Oct 02 - 06:54 PM

Just to report that Mr Hambleton sang Murray Lewis's song at Herga this evening and remembered the worda, and the verses in the right order.