Subject: Lyr Add: THE HIGHWAYMAN From: Slag Date: 08 Oct 10 - 06:16 PM I'm a little surprised that no one has mentioned this one, a poem to be sure, but if it doesn't have the feel of All Hallow's Eve, then what does? The Highwayman The wind was a torrent of darkness upon the gusty trees, The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas, The road was a ribbon of moonlight looping the purple moor, And the highwayman came riding-- Riding--riding-- The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door. He'd a French cocked hat on his forehead, and a bunch of lace at his chin; He'd a coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of fine doe-skin. They fitted with never a wrinkle; his boots were up to his thigh! And he rode with a jeweled twinkle-- His rapier hilt a-twinkle-- His pistol butts a-twinkle, under the jeweled sky. Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard, He tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred, He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there But the landlord's black-eyed daughter-- Bess, the landlord's daughter-- Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair. Dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked Where Tim, the ostler listened--his face was white and peaked-- His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay, But he loved the landlord's daughter-- The landlord's black-eyed daughter; Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say: "One kiss, my bonny sweetheart; I'm after a prize tonight, But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light. Yet if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day, Then look for me by moonlight, Watch for me by moonlight, I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way." He stood upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand, But she loosened her hair in the casement! His face burnt like a brand As the sweet black waves of perfume came tumbling o'er his breast, Then he kissed its waves in the moonlight (O sweet black waves in the moonlight!), And he tugged at his reins in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west. He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon. And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise of the moon, When the road was a gypsy's ribbon over the purple moor, The redcoat troops came marching-- Marching--marching-- King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door. They said no word to the landlord; they drank his ale instead, But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed. Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets by their side; There was Death at every window, And Hell at one dark window, For Bess could see, through her casement, the road that he would ride. They had bound her up at attention, with many a sniggering jest! They had tied a rifle beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast! "Now keep good watch!" and they kissed her. She heard the dead man say, "Look for me by moonlight, Watch for me by moonlight, I'll come to thee by moonlight, though Hell should bar the way." She twisted her hands behind her, but all the knots held good! She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood! They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years, Till, on the stroke of midnight, Cold on the stroke of midnight, The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers! The tip of one finger touched it, she strove no more for the rest; Up, she stood up at attention, with the barrel beneath her breast. She would not risk their hearing, she would not strive again, For the road lay bare in the moonlight, Blank and bare in the moonlight, And the blood in her veins, in the moonlight, throbbed to her love's refrain. Tlot tlot, tlot tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hooves, ringing clear; Tlot tlot, tlot tlot, in the distance! Were they deaf that they did not hear? Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill, The highwayman came riding-- Riding--riding-- The redcoats looked to their priming! She stood up straight and still. Tlot tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot tlot, in the echoing night! Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light! Her eyes grew wide for a moment, she drew one last deep breath, Then her finger moved in the moonlight-- Her musket shattered the moonlight-- Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him--with her death. He turned, he spurred to the West; he did not know who stood Bowed, with her head o'er the casement, drenched in her own red blood! Not till the dawn did he hear it, and his face grew grey to hear How Bess, the landlord's daughter, The landlord's black-eyed daughter, Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there. Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky, With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high! Blood-red were his spurs in the golden noon, wine-red was his velvet coat When they shot him down in the highway, Down like a dog in the highway, And he lay in his blood in the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat. And still on a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees, When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas, When the road is a gypsy's ribbon looping the purple moor, The highwayman comes riding-- Riding--riding-- The highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door. Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard, He taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred, He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there But the landlord's black-eyed daughter-- Bess, the landlord's daughter-- Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair. Alfred Noyes http://www.poemhunter.com/ More information about the poem The Highwayman Reader comments on the poem The Highwayman More information about the poet Alfred Noyes |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: Slag Date: 08 Oct 10 - 06:25 PM PS It was that Rapaire's name had been mentioned in the one about the Quarry. I didn't see it but I knew his name was mentioned a couple of times here in The Highwayman. Enjoy |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: GUEST,Alison Date: 23 Oct 10 - 03:58 PM I, too am looking for all of the lyrics to "When You're All Alone in the Country." Here is all I can remember: When you're all alone in the country and the night is dark as pitch, don't shout out because you know there's no such thing as a Witch! When you hear a howl in the country and you're hiding in the ditch, shout OH- HO!! because you know there's no such thing as a Witch! Skeletons and goblins are only make-believe. Folks dressed up in costumes. Just trying to scare you Boo Ooh. ?????????? ?????????? Just be bold cuz you've been told there's no such thing as a witch. |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: GUEST,Emilie Date: 29 Oct 10 - 10:45 AM "THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A WITCH" FULL PIANO MUSIC AND LYRICS HERE... http://fireflyanswers.blogspot.com/2008/10/theres-no-such-thing-as-witch-and-when.html |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: LadyJean Date: 30 Oct 10 - 12:45 AM I sing the John Jacob Niles version of "The Unquiet Grave", which is pleasantly creepy. Or, sing this to the Russian Theme from the 1812 Overture: Hail Transylvania Thy sons are we. Our hearts in loyal love We pledge to thee. True to the crimson flag Through all our days. Hail Transylvania, we sing thy praise. It's the Transylvania College Alma Mater. I know because I went there for 2 years. (And there's a crypt in the administration building.) |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: Valmai Goodyear Date: 30 Oct 10 - 04:38 AM We've got a Halloween evening at the Lewes Saturday Folk Club tonight (30th. October). We are lighting the log fire and candles, and I'm making soul cakes. Peter Collins is making one of his magnificent pumpkin lanterns, and there will be some songs from the excellent Moose Rosser. Everyone is welcome, especially if you'd like to sing or play; entrance £3. I think I'll do Willie's Lyke-Wake if I get the chance, and maybe Faithful Johnny if someone else doesn't get in first. Other appropriate songs would be Lady Margaret & Sweet William's Ghost, Lyke-Wake Dirge, any of the night visiting songs in which the visitor is a revenant, the Suffolk Miracle, Young Benjie, The Wife of Usher's Well ..... there are a huge number of traditional songs which deal with ghosts and the fate of the dead. Valmai (Lewes) |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: Pierre Le Chapeau Date: 30 Oct 10 - 10:24 PM Hpllpween Soul cakes? Never heard of em? But on ash Wednesday "I make Ask Cakes? |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: Susan of DT Date: 31 Oct 10 - 09:03 AM Our song circle is meeting this afternoon. While we do not declare topics for this sing group, I know what topic I'm sticking to today and at least one other person will as well (I expect that everyone will do at least one Halloween song). It is a small group, so we go around a lot of times (unless we get to chatting too much). I am going to do: Unquiet Grave Suffolk Miracle Grey Cock Willie's Fatal Visit Rolling of the Stones Black Fox Mrs. Ravoon |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: Valmai Goodyear Date: 31 Oct 10 - 09:40 AM Pierre: Soul Cake song & custom YEAST SOULE CAKES 'Three pounds flour, quarter pound butter (or half pound if the cakes are to be extra rich) half pound sugar, two spoonsful of yeast, two eggs, allspice to taste, and sufficient new milk to make it into a light paste. Put the mixture (without the sugar or spice) to rise before the fire for half an hour, then add the sugar, and allspice enough to flavour it well; make into rather flat buns, and bake.' This is the recipe of Mrs. Mary Ward, who is known to be the last person who kept up the old custom of giving 'Soul Cakes' at Pulverbatch. She died in 1853 at the age of 101. Shropshire Cookery Book, compiled by the Shropshire Federation of Women's Institutes, c. 1955 Quoted by Elizabeth David, English Bread & Yeast Cookery, 1977 METHOD Like a lot of old recipes, this one presupposes that we already know how to manage yeast doughs. This is what I do: 3 pounds strong white flour - that's bread flour 2 eggs about a pint of milk 4 ozs caster sugar - I find half a pound is a bit much and can make the dough sticky A heaped tablespoon of ground allspice (not mixed spice) Yeast: I'd use a double sachet of fast action yeast for this amount of flour. You mix it dry into the flour; you don't have to put it in water and wait for it to come to life before using it. Milk: beat the eggs with a fork and add enough milk to make a pint and a half of liquid. The milk should be lukewarm, not cold from the fridge, or the yeast won't get going. Rub the butter into the flour. Mix flour, yeast and egg & milk to make a soft but not sticky dough. Add the last quarter pint of liquid gradually as you may not need it all. It should feel like Playdough. Knead it on a floured work surface until smooth. Put it in a big bowl sprinkled with flour and cover it loosely with a plastic bag. Leave it in a warm place such as an airing cupboard to rise for 60-90 minutes; it should double in size as the yeast works. This is the first rising. When it's doubled, put the dough on a floured work surface, sprinkle on the sugar and spice and knead it thoroughly again to mix them in. You might need to add a bit more flour if it goes sticky. Divide it up into 24- 36 lumps. Heavily grease a couple of large baking trays. Roll the lumps of dough into balls - you can do one in each hand - and then flatten them slightly. Put a dozen on each tray, well spaced out as they should spread and rise. Mix a tablespoon of milk with a tablespoon of flavourless oil such as sunflower oil and brush the buns with it. Turn on the oven to 200 deg C and put a couple of shelves in the middle. Keep the buns in a warm place while the oven heats up. They will take about half an hour to double in size - this is their second rising - by which time they are ready to cook. Be guided by the size of the buns, not by the time the oven has reached the temperature set. Brush them with the mixture again, then cook them for the first five minutes at 200 deg. C. Then turn the oven down to 180 deg C and cook them for a further fifteen minutes. Don't open the oven door while they are cooking. When they are done they should be lightly brown and should sound hollow if you tap them on the base. Give them a few more minutes if necessary. Put them on a rack to cool. You can eat them as they are, or split and buttered. |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: GUEST Date: 01 Nov 10 - 01:44 PM Trying to find lyric for 2 Halloween songs I learned in elementary school back in the 80's. Catmobile...went something like this "Calling all cats (meow)Calling all cats (meow) it's time to get behind the wheel, it's Halloween night let make a big fright. The other song is Where's the witch ha ha where's the witch who's head is bald Where's the rat squeak squeak where's the rat squeak squeak Anyone have any idea?? |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: GUEST,Guest Date: 04 Feb 11 - 11:14 PM OMG! Was looking for the same song! Didn't see a response...was there one? Please email me at johnnyroyal4@hotmail.com Please include CATMOBILE in subject heading |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: mg Date: 05 Feb 11 - 12:53 AM I had the honor of hearing Kate L.'s Halloween song again at Rainycamp. It is awesome..about a child with some deformity who only gets to feel normal on Halloween and waits for it to come and then has to wait another year...it is very subtle...p.m. me and I will give further details. mg |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: GUEST,xibiwitz Date: 17 Jul 11 - 12:17 AM THE WOBBLIN' GOBLIN The wobblin' goblin with the broken broom, could never fly too high, For Every time he'd take off, another piece would break off, And soon he'd be a- danglin' in the sky. Each evening just as he would leave the ground His radio would sayyyyyy... Control tower to goblin, your broomstick's a- wobblin' You'd better make a landin' right awayyy. And soon it got so he could only ride, when the witches took him piggy-back!...Until one day he used his brain, and bought himself an aero- plane! So if you looook for him on halloweeeen, you'll see him zip and zoom. No harm can befall him, no longer can they call him, The wobblin goblin with the broken broooommmmmmm! |
Subject: RE: halloween songs: Jack o' lantern From: GUEST,Wm W Date: 04 Oct 11 - 12:08 PM The way I learned the song was: Jack-o-lantern burns his candle bright, through the wintry night Witches on their broom sticks ride By the Jack-o-lantern's light. Owls upon the swaying tree tops hoot through the wintry night Brownies dance on Halloween By the Jack-o-lantern's light. |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: Genie Date: 22 Oct 11 - 04:28 PM Any new (or new old) songs to suggest for Halloween? |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: open mike Date: 28 Oct 12 - 05:08 PM I have posted my October/Halloween radio show which features songs about ghosts as well as songs about apples...www.orovilleradio.org... is where you can find the archived stream to listen to as well as a detailed list of all the songs in the playlist. |
Subject: Lyric correct: Anne Boleyn From: Genie Date: 28 Oct 13 - 02:01 PM In the song "Anne Boleyn" (With 'Er 'Ead Tucked Underneath 'Er Arm," there appear to be several different mondegreens of the last line of the next-to-last verse. The line is actually "How the sweet ça* ne fait rien do I know who you are ..." "Ça ne fait rien" is French for "It doesn't matter" or, idiomatically, "Never mind." It appears to be a French phrase that made its way into British idiom (at least of a certain era). When I heard the Kingston Trio's recording of this song, I thought they were singing, "How the sweet Sam Perry, Anne, do I know who you are ..." Many lyrics websites online have it as "How the sweet san fairy ann ..." (which makes absolutely no sense to me). Now we have another, "How the sweet Sam Perryham ..." *In case the French diacritical mark doesn't show up properly on all operating systems, that's a "c" with a cedilla. |
Subject: Anne Boleyn mystery lyric From: Genie Date: 28 Oct 13 - 02:10 PM John Bartlett explained the "mystery lyrics" to "Anne Boleyn" a number of years ago: British adoption of "ça ne fait rien" British troops picked up that French phrase during WWI. |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: GUEST,DTM Date: 28 Oct 13 - 03:27 PM Hallowe'en (at YouTube) (lyrics) Best ever Halloween song. Lyrics by Violet Jacob and tune by Jim Reid. Sung eloquently by these two worthy Scottish songstresses, Sheena Wellington and Karine Polwart |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: Gutcher Date: 28 Oct 13 - 04:17 PM AULD DUNROD. [1] Noo Auld Dunrod wis a guisty auld carle As ever ye micht see And gin he wisnae a warloch wicht There wis nane in the hale countree. [2] Noo Auld Dunrod strack in a pin A bourtree pin in the waa And when he wanted his neebours milk He jist gied the pin a thraw. And so on for another four verses, at least I know and sing six verses although I was reliably informed at one time that the ballad has twenty or so verses. |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: GUEST,Rahere Date: 28 Oct 13 - 04:38 PM The latest addition is, of course, Bella Hardy's Drunken Butcher of Tideswell. Sometimes reality can threaten art, I find. |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: GUEST,Rahere Date: 29 Oct 13 - 10:24 AM Then there's the old Scottish ballad of Kate Dalrymple - whose maiden beauty is portrayed in the National Portrait Gallery, positively bewitching when young. However, it would seem age was not kind. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL + BURKE AND HARE From: Jim Carroll Date: 29 Oct 13 - 01:45 PM Slightly late for Halloween, but the beautifully atmospheric 'Wife of Usher's Well' was always a favourite at our club(s) THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL There lived a wife at Usher's Well, And a wealthy wife was she; She had three stout and stalwart sons, And sent them o'er the sea. They hadna been a week from her, A week but barely ane, Whan word came to the *carline wife That her three sons were gane. They hadna been a week from her, A week but barely three, Whan word came to the *carlin wife That her sons she'd never see. 'I wish the wind may never cease, Nor *fashes in the flood, Till my three sons come hame to me, In earthly flesh and blood.' It fell about the Martinmass, When nights are lang and mirk, The *carlin wife's three sons came name, And their hats were o' the *birk. It neither grew in *syke nor ditch, Nor yet in ony *sheugh; But at the gates o' Paradise, That birk grew fair eneugh. 'Blow up the fire, my maidens! Bring water from the well! For a' my house shall feast this night, Since my three sons are well.' And she has made to them a bed, She's made it large and wide, And she's ta'en her mantle her about, Sat down at the bed-side. Up then crew the red, red cock, And up and crew the gray; The eldest to the youngest said, "Tis time we were away.' The cock he hadna craw'd but once, And clapp'd his wings at a', When the youngest to the eldest said, 'Brother, we must awa' 'The'cock doth craw, the day doth daw, The *channerin worm doth chide; Gin we be mist out o' our place, A sair pain we maun bide. Fare ye weel, my mother dear Farewell to barn and byre! And fare ye weel, the bonny lass That kindles my mother's fire!' Carline = Peasant; Fashes = storms; Birk = birch; Syke = brook; Sheugh = ditch; Channerin = gnawing. This one always went down a bomb as well. BURKE AND HARE William Burke it is my name I stand condemned alone. I left my native Ireland In the county of Tyrone. And o'er to Scotland I did sail, Employment for to find; No thought of cruel murder Was then into my mind. At Edinburgh trade was slack, No work there could I find; And so I took the road again, To Glasgow was inclined; But stopping at the West-port To find refreshment there, 0 cursed be the evil hour I met with William Hare! With flattering words he greeted me And said good fortune smiled; He treated me to food and drink And I was soon beguiled; He said:"There's riches to be had, And fortune's to be made, For atomists have need of us. So join me in that trade. Hare he kept a lodging-house Therein a man had died, His death went unreported And of burial was denied We put the dead man in a cart And through the streets did ride. And Robert Knox,the atomist, The dead man he did buy. To rob the new dug graves by night It was not our intent; To be taken by the nightwatch Or by spies was not our bent. The plan belonged to William Hare And so the plot was laid, He said that "murder's safer Than the resurrection trade." Two women they were in the plot The wife of William Hare, The other called McDougal, And travellers they did sanre; They lured them to the lodging house And when they'd drunken deep, Hare and me, we smothered them As they lay fast asleep. At first in fear and dread I was But later grew more bold, In nine short months we killed fifteen And then their bodies sold. The doctors did not question us, But quickly paid our fee, The price they paid,it prospered us, Both William Hare and me. But soon our crimes they were found out In jail we were confined, And cruel guilt it tore my heart And much despairs my mind; And Hare, who first ensnared me And led me far astray Has turned King's evidence on me And sworn my life away Jim Carroll |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DUNDEE GHOST (Matt McGinn) From: Jim Carroll Date: 29 Oct 13 - 02:41 PM And then of course, the great Matt McGinn song The Dundee Ghost By Matt McGinn Noo a deid man seldom walks, he very rarely talks, (dead) It's no very often you'll see him running aroond, But I'm a refugee from a graveyard in Dundee And I've come tae haunt some houses in Glasgow Toon And I've come tae haunt some hooses in Glasgow Toon. Noo the reason I arose was to get masel' some clothes, (myself) For I really get helluva cold below the ground, And I whispered tae masel', "ah, I think I might as well Hang aroond a while and ha'e some fun, I'll hang around a while and ha'e some fun". Noo a chap put oot his light on a cold and frosty night, I showed him one of ma eyes and I skelped his head, (smacked) He said "Oh", and I said "boo" he says, "who the hell are you" ? I said, "don't be feart, I'm on'y a man that's deid, (afraid) Oh no, don't be feart, I'm only a man that's deid". Well the feller knelt and prayed and this is what he said; "Oh why, in the name of God have you picked on me" ? So I battered him on the lug and I pulled awa' his rug. (ear) "The reason", I said "is just tae let you see". "The reason" , I said, "is just tae let you see". Well he brought the polis in and I belted him on the chin, (police(man) The polis turned aroond and he blamed my friend. And he marched him aff tae jile and he'll be in there quite a while, (off to gaol) But I'll see naebody taks his single end, (House of one apartment, flat) Oh, no, I'll see naebody taks his single end. Noo the polis thought him daft and a lot of people laughed When the feller said a ghost was in his hoose, But what the feller said was true and I might be visiting you, So just remember. I'm still on the loose, Aye, just remember, I'm still on the loose. Jim Carroll |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GHOST AND HONEST JOE From: Jim Dixon Date: 02 Nov 14 - 01:56 PM This is the song that Farvit referred to back on 28-Oct-2001. My transcription from Spotify: THE GHOST AND HONEST JOE As recorded by Pee Wee King and His Golden West Cowboys, with vocalist Gene Stewart, 1949. Reissued on "Country Cowboy Classics" 1. While I was pickin' cotton way down in Lou'sian', I met the 'fraidest, scaredest kind of cotton-pickin' man. One night as he passin' by the graveyard of the dead, He thought he saw a ghost jump out, and Joe jumped up and said: CHORUS: "O Lord, help your wayward child," old Honest Joe did moan. "Don't leave me here with this here ghost; I'd rather be alone. It ain't that I'm afraid, but you know, I ain't havin' no fun. My head tells me to stay right here but my feet tells me to run. 2. "Look here; I ain't done nothin'; I just as honest as can be. You go and crawl back in your grave; don't pull no pranks on me. You just tryin' to haunt old Honest Joe; come on, now; you go away." But the ghost just stood in the middle of the road and old Joe began to pray: CHORUS 3. "Now whose ghost is you?" old Joe cried. "Could you be old Bill Cross? If that's you, Bill, y'ought to know, I didn't steal your hoss. I only borrowed that old nag; so come on, give old Joe a break." But the ghost just stood in the middle of the road and old Joe began to shake. CHORUS 4. "I know you now," old Joe cried out; "You's my good friend Rufus Brown. I didn't want your chickens; they just followed me aroun'. Now, go on back where you belong before you gets upset." But the ghost just stood in the middle of the road and Joe's knees began to sweat. CHORUS |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE From: Jim Dixon Date: 19 Nov 14 - 07:05 PM THE LITTLE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE Words by Harold Adamson; music by Bernard Hanighen, 1939. "Based on an original quatrain by Hughes Mearns." As recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra, 1939. [The singing is preceded by jazzy whistling.] SPOKEN/RECITED: —Hello there, Texas! What d'you say? Are you whistlin' in the dark just to scare the ghosts away? —I know there's somethin' followin' me that I can't see. Someone sure laid an awful hex on me. —A hex? Aw, Tex, that's pretty far-fetched. Man, I think you're just a little bit tetched. —If you'd 'a' got a load of what I saw last night, You'd 'a' passed the Yankee Clipper on its maiden flight. SUNG: Last night I saw upon the stair A little man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today. Oh, how I wish he'd go away! When I came home last night at three, The man was waitin' there for me, But when I looked around the hall, I couldn't see him there at all. Go away; go away; don't you come back any more. Go away; go away, and please don't slam the door. Last night I saw upon the stair A little man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today. Oh, how I wish he'd go away! Other early recordings were made by Larry Clinton and His Orchestra, Bob Crosby and His Orchestra, and Mildred Bailey and Her Orchestra. There is also a recording by Jack Teagarden and His Orchestra that has this alternative spoken intro: Now there's a thing that just keeps botherin' me, 'Cause I don't know what it's all about. It's a crazy thing I happened to see. Now maybe you can help me out. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE NIGHTMARE (from Cab Calloway) From: Jim Dixon Date: 20 Nov 14 - 10:57 AM THE NIGHTMARE Billy Meyers; Al Handler; Len Riley. ©1926 As sung by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, 1931 Slumber never comes around till dawn. My head starts a-reelin'. I dreamed that I'm kneelin'. It seems that I'm kneelin' On the ceilin' of my room. Nightmare sure have got me in the air, And it's no use denyin', And there's no denyin', I dreamed that I'm dyin' And I'm goin' in my tomb. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BOOGIE MAN (Coslow/Johnston) From: Jim Dixon Date: 20 Nov 14 - 10:31 PM You can hear this at YouTube; it's also on Spotify. THE BOOGIE MAN From the motion picture, "Many Happy Returns" (1934) Words by Sam Coslow; music by Arthur Johnston. As recorded by Todd Rollins and His Orchestra, with Chick Bullock, vocalist, recorded 1934-05-18. Boo! I'm the boogie man, The terrible, horrible boogie man. I come in the middle of the night and frighten Bad little girls like you. Beware! Better have a care. I'm going to follow you everywhere. I crawl through the ceiling and the wall and call on Bad little girls like you. I'll torture you and haunt you. I've got you where I want you, A victim of my dark and dirty plot, And at the slightest whim, I'll tear you limb from limb. In other words, I'll put you on the spot. Boo! I'm the boogie man, The terrible, horrible boogie man. I come in the middle of the night and frighten Bad little girls like you. |
Subject: Lyr Add: DANCING THE DEVIL AWAY (Harbach/Kalmar/.. From: Jim Dixon Date: 20 Nov 14 - 11:08 PM YouTube has several recordings of this song. So does Spotify. DANCING THE DEVIL AWAY Words by Otto Harbach and Bert Kalmar, music by Harry Ruby; ©1927 As recorded by Victor Arden, Phil Ohman and Their Orchestra, 1930 When you are down with the blues, It means that the devil got into your shoes. You'll find them easy to lose, Dancing the devil away. Just grin and don't let him in. Whenever he tries to get under your skin, Pick up your feet and begin Dancing the devil away. That evil spirit is nothing but the voodoo. Just tap your feet on the ground and shake your hoodoo. Now that you know how it's done, Keep out of the shadows and stay in the sun. Come on and join in the fun, Dancing the devil away. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DEVIL WITH THE DEVIL (Larry Clinton) From: Jim Dixon Date: 21 Nov 14 - 10:22 AM THE DEVIL WITH THE DEVIL Words and music by Larry Clinton, ©1939. As recorded by Larry Clinton and His Orchestra, 1938-11-11 Here comes the devil. Oh, here comes the devil. Oh, here comes the devil. Oh, the devil with the devil, says I. Look out for the devil. Look out for the devil. Look out for the devil. Oh, the devil with the devil, says I. You're so afraid of old man Satan, Now why don't you stop your hesitatin'? You're gonna be a long time dead, So the devil with the devil, says I. You're always givin' me the dickens, Tellin' that life's no easy pickin's, But just as long as I have fun, Why the devil with the devil, says I. You can have your social teas and bingo for your fun, But the things I like to do, you stop me one by one. Now even if you make me stronger, That ain't gonna make me live no longer, So even if I go to ----shh!---- The devil with the devil, says I. Look out for the devil! Look out for the devil! Oh, the devil with the devil, says I. Another early recording was done by The Johnny Messner Music Box Band. |
Subject: Lyr Add: GHOST IN THE GRAVEYARD (Prairie Ramblers) From: Jim Dixon Date: 21 Nov 14 - 03:11 PM GHOST IN THE GRAVEYARD As sung by the Prairie Ramblers, 1938. It was a dark and stormy night. Not a star was in sight In a graveyard by a church way up on the hill. Well, a ghost come out to play. Then I thought I heard one say: "I've got you; I'll keep you; I always will. "Now I've got you where I want you. I'm gonna keep you where I've got you, For you the one that shot my great-grandpa; And I told you I would get you. Now if I saw you, now I've got you, For you the one that stole my great-grandma." Now on that very same night, That ol' tomcat started a fight, And this is the way it all did sound to me: [vocal cat-fighting sounds] SPOKEN: Now you know I couldn't stand there. I didn't like them cats—you should know that—and I didn't like them ghosts either. So I looked down to my feet, and I said: "Feet, now come on and do your duty and carry me home." But that ol' ghost looked up to me and said: "I've got you where I want you. I'm gonna keep you where I've got you. For you the one that shot my great-grandpa." |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED (Rose/Adlam) From: Jim Dixon Date: 22 Nov 14 - 11:30 AM THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED Words by Billy Rose; music by Basil G. Adlam, ©1934. As recorded by various artists* Lights are soft and low tonight. Summer breezes blow tonight, And to think that we're apart! Knowing you refuse to love Someone that you used to love, There's a chill within my heart. I hate to be alone when evening falls. I'm so afraid of all {those/these} empty halls, Doors and walls. The house is haunted by the echo of your last goodbye. The house is haunted by mem'ries that refuse to die. I can't get away from a vision that brings Intimate glimpses of intimate things. A voice in my heart like a torch singer sings: "I wonder who's kissing {her/him} now." The house is haunted by the echo of your fav'rite song. The place is cluttered up with {roses/mem'ries/keepsakes} that have {lived/stayed} too long, Much too long. The ceiling is white but the shadows are black. A ghost in my heart says {she'll/he'll} never come back. The house is haunted by the echo of your last goodbye. * The lyrics here are a composite of several recordings; hence, I have indicated variations within {braces}. Complete versions are sung by Gracie Fields, the Chenille Sisters, The Studebakers, and Claire Austin. Abbreviated versions, lacking the first part, are sung by Mel Torme, Kay Starr, and Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra. All these are on Spotify. There are also other songs with the same title. |
Subject: Lyr Add: CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT From: Jim Dixon Date: 29 Oct 15 - 02:02 PM I listened to a radio show today whose theme was Halloween, and this song seemed particularly goofy, so I had to collect it: CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT As recorded by Les Brown & His Orchestra, with vocalist Doris Day, 1941. Celery stalks at midnight, Lurking in the moonlight. What's this funny nightmare all about? Celery stalks at midnight, Mounted on their broomsticks, Sliding through the treetops in and out. It's like a bad dream, A crazy kind of mad dream. Must have been something that I ate, no doubt. Celery stalks at midnight, Lurking in the moonlight. What's this very funny nightmare all about? |
Subject: Lyr Add: MONSTER IN THE CLOSET (Tom Hunter) From: Jim Dixon Date: 29 Oct 15 - 02:24 PM Open mike mentioned this back in 2001, but nobody came through with lyrics, so.... MONSTER IN THE CLOSET As recorded by Tom Hunter on "Still Growing" (2005) The teacher told a story in my nurs'ry school today About a great big monster that came to dance and play. As she talked, I knew I wanted one that I could keep, But now I have to close my eyes and try to go to sleep. CHORUS: And there's a monster in the closet; the ghosts are on the wall. Why do you keep on tellin' me there's nothin' there at all? I know they're there; it's clear to me; I see them ev'ry night, And all I want is when I'm scared, you come and hold me tight. Last night I had a good dream; the sun was shining bright. My little dog and all all my friends went out to fly a kite. The grass was green; the wind was warm; the flowers all were red, But now it's hard to think of that 'cause I have to go to bed. And you've told me how you hate it, the times I carry on, And sure I cry when I'm hurt and scared, but not for very long, But when I think of monsters and all that other stuff, My dolly and the bathroom light really aren't enough. CHORUS: 'Cause there's a monster in the closet.... So please come and tuck me in; goodnight; I love you, mom. Here's a hug and a kiss for you and another one for Tom. I'll try to be a good kid and sleep the whole night through, But if I wake and start to cry, can I come and sleep with you? CHORUS: 'Cause there's a monster in the closet.... |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: Thompson Date: 29 Oct 15 - 06:55 PM They say that the women are worse than the men Rifle, rifle, tiddy-fi-day For one went down to Hell and was sent back again With a rifle-ay, tiddy-fi-day, rifle, rifle, tiddy-fi-day… |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAN WITH THE WEIRD BEARD (Hoffman/... From: Jim Dixon Date: 18 May 16 - 03:53 PM I ran across this today— THE MAN WITH THE WEIRD BEARD Words and music by Al Hoffman / Jerry Livingston / Milton Drake As recorded by Arthur Godfrey with the Too Fat Trio (1949). 1. Straggly, raggly hair on his chin, Battered and tattered and ugly as sin, Eagle-eyed and floppy-eared, He's the man with the weird beard. 2. Who is he? What is he? Nobody knows. Both of his heels are as bare as his toes. Never had his whiskers sheared, He's the man with the weird beard. BRIDGE: It ain't black; it ain't white. It ain't short; it ain't long; it ain't right. It's the craziest garden of hair. Seven robins live in there. 3. Walk with him; talk with him; what do you find? More on his chin than he's got on his mind. That's the story that I heared, 'Bout the man with the weird beard. REPEAT VERSES 1 & 2. BRIDGE 2: It ain't green. (Uh-uh!) It ain't gray. (Uh-uh!) It ain't oats; it ain't corn; it ain't hay. (Nay, nay!) It's a jungle that hangs from his ears. He ain't seen his feet for years. 4. Look at him; look at him dressed in his best, Wearin' a beaver instead of a vest. You ain't lived until you've heared 'Bout the man with the weird beard. [Also recorded by: Ray Bauduc and His Orchestra with vocalist Debby Claire, in a "Soundie" from 1946; Ray Charles on "Have a Smile with Me" (1964); Heather Bishop on "Bellybutton" (1982); The Play-Rite Boys on "Doggone Good Time" (2006).] |
Subject: Songs for Halloween? From: GUEST,Pseudonymous Date: 26 Oct 18 - 07:17 AM Halloween will soon be upon us. What suitable songs can Mudcatters suggest for this season? I'll start with 'Strange Brew' by Cream. |
Subject: RE: Songs for Halloween? From: FreddyHeadey Date: 26 Oct 18 - 07:31 AM I can only think of Jake Thackray's Castleford Ladies' Magic Circle |
Subject: RE: Songs for Halloween? From: oldhippie Date: 26 Oct 18 - 08:37 AM "John's Garden" - Peter Mayer |
Subject: RE: Songs for Halloween? From: JHW Date: 26 Oct 18 - 10:44 AM Tamlane |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: FreddyHeadey Date: 26 Oct 18 - 11:22 AM another thread suggests using other search terms "supernatural" & more thread.cfm?threadid=40152 |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: SuperDave Date: 30 Oct 18 - 01:19 PM I have heard The Highwayman performed as a song. It was the theme song for Coleman Day at the Swordsman Coffeehouse in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Cole pretty well couldn't do a set without someone requesting The Highwayman. Unfortunately, I don't recall it well enough to give you the melody or chords. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DRUNKEN BUTCHER OF TIDESWELL From: Jim Dixon Date: 14 Nov 18 - 01:01 AM From The Ballads & Songs of Derbyshire, ed. by Llewellyn Jewitt (London: Bremrose and Sons, 1867), page 67: THE DRUNKEN BUTCHER OF TIDESWELL Oh, list to me, ye yeomen all, Who live in dale or down! My song is of a butcher tall, Who lived in Tiddeswall town. In bluff King Harry’s merry days, He slew both sheep and kine; And drank his fill of nut brown ale, In lack of good red wine. Beside the Church this Butcher lived, Close to its gray old walls; And envied not, when trade was good, The Baron in his halls. No carking cares disturbed his rest, When off to bed he slunk; And oft he snored for ten good hours, Because he got so drunk. One only sorrow quelled his heart, As well it might quell mine— The fear of sprites and grisly ghosts, Which dance in the moonshine; Or wander in the cold Churchyard, Among the dismal tombs; Where hemlock blossoms in the day, By night the nightshade blooms. It chanced upon a summer’s day, When heather-bells were blowing, Bold Robin crossed o’er Tiddeswall Moor, And heard the heath-cock crowing: Well mounted on a forest nag, He freely rode and fast; Nor drew a rein, till Sparrow Pit,[1] And Paislow Moss[2] were past. Then slowly down the hill he came, To the Chappelle-en-le-firth,[3] Where, at the Rose of Lancaster, He found his friend the Smith: The Parson, and the Pardoner too, There took their morning draught; And when they spied a Brother near, They all came out and laughed. “Now draw thy rein, thou jolly Butcher; How far hast thou to ride?” “To Waylee-Bridge,[4] to Simon the Tanner, To sell this good cow-hide.” “Thou shalt not go one foot ayont, ’Till thou light and sup with me; And when thou’st emptied my measure of liquor, I’ll have a measure wi’ thee.” “Oh no, oh no, thou drouthy Smith! I cannot tarry to-day: The Wife, she gave me a charge to keep; And I durst not say her nay.” “What likes o’ that,” said the Parson then, “If thou’st sworn, thou’st ne’er to rue: Thou may’st keep thy pledge, and drink thy stoup, As an honest man e’en may do.” “Oh no, oh no, thou jolly Parson! I cannot tarry, I say; I was drunk last night, and if I tarry, I’se be drunk again to-day.” “What likes, what likes,” cried the Pardoner then, “Why tellest thou that to me? Thou may’st e’en get thee drunk this blessed night; And well shrived for both thou shalt be.” Then down got the Butcher from his horse, I wot full fain was he; And he drank ’till the summer sun was set, In that jolly company: He drank ’till the summer sun went down, And the stars began to shine; And his greasy noddle was dazed and addle, With the nut brown ale and wine. Then up arose those four mad fellows, And joining hand in hand, They danced around the hostel floor, And sung, tho’ they scarce could stand, “We’ve aye been drunk on yester night, And drunk the night before; And sae we’re drunk again to-night, If we never get drunk any more.” Bold Robin the Butcher was horsed and away; And a drunken wight was he; For sometimes his blood-red eyes saw double; And then he could scantly see. The forest trees seemed to featly dance, As he rode so swift along; And the forest trees, to his wildered sense, Resang the jovial song. Then up he sped over Paislow Moss, And down by the Chamber Knowle:[5] And there he was scared into mortal fear By the hooting of a barn owl: And on he rode, by the Forest Wall, Where the deer browsed silently; And up the Slack, ’till, on Tiddeswall Moor, His horse stood fair and free. Just then the moon, from behind the rack, Burst out into open view; And on the sward and purple heath Broad light and shadow threw; And there the Butcher, whose heart beat quick, With fear of Gramarye, Fast by his side, as he did ride, A foul phantom did espy. Uprose the fell of his head, uprose The hood which his head did shroud; And all his teeth did chatter and girn, And he cried both long and loud; And his horse’s flank with his spur he struck, As he never had struck before; And away he galloped, with might and main, Across the barren moor. But ever as fast as the Butcher rode, The Ghost did grimly glide: Now down on the earth before his horse, Then fast his rein beside: O’er stock and rock, and stone and pit, O’er hill and dale and down, ’Till Robin the Butcher gained his door-stone, In Tiddeswall’s good old town. “Oh, what thee ails, thou drunken Butcher?” Said his Wife, as he sank down; “And what thee ails, thou drunken Butcher?” Cried one-half of the Town. “I have seen a Ghost, it hath raced my horse, For three good miles and more; And it vanished within the Churchyard wall, As I sank down at the door.” “Beshrew thy heart, for a drunken beast!” Cried his Wife, as she held him there; “Beshrew thy heart, for a drunken beast, And a coward, with heart of hare. No Ghost hath raced thy horse to-night, Nor evened his wit with thine: The Ghost was thy shadow, thou drunken wretch! I would the Ghost were mine.” 1 Sparrow Pit is a small hamlet about two miles from Chapel-en-le-Frith, situated at the “four lane ends,” where the Buxton and Castleton and the Chapel-en-le-Frith and Tideswell roads intersect each other. 2 Paislow Moss, about half way between Sparrow Pit and Sandy Way Head. 3 Chapel-en-le-Frith is a considerable and important market town, about six miles from Buxton. 4 Whaley Bridge, near Chapel-en-le-Frith. 5 Chamber Knoll is. about half a mile from Peak-Forest Bella Hardy recorded this song on her album “The Dark Peak and the White” (2012) but she shortened it a bit, and she changed a few words. |
Subject: Lyr Add: PUMPKIN HEAD HARVEY (Dennis Morgan) From: Jim Dixon Date: 20 Nov 18 - 08:47 AM This was mentioned by GUEST,Bobbi Jo back on 16-Oct-2007. I found it on Spotify and transcribed it. I have omitted some patter. PUMPKIN HEAD HARVEY Written by Dennis Morgan As recorded as a single by Dennis Morgan, 2011. CHORUS: Pumpkin Head Harvey, Pumpkin Head Harvey, He comes alive when it’s Halloween time. Pumpkin Head Harvey, Pumpkin Head Harvey, He sends a shiver right up your spine. Look in the sky! It’s a big yellow moon. Halloween time is comin’ soon. It’s the season of the goblins and the witches on brooms, And Pumpkin Head Harvey. From the cold dark ground Pumpkin Head resurrects. He’s grouchy and scary and hungry as heck. You’d better check the bushes by the neighbor’s doorstep, And watch out for Pumpkin Head Harvey. CHORUS He’s got fire in his eyes, and sharp jagged teeth, And kids do you know what he likes to eat? They say his fav’rite thing is children who trick-or-treat. “Mmmmm,” says Pumpkin Head Harvey. I heard a story once, not to cause you no fear, But ol’ Pumpkin Head snapped at a kid who got too near, And it turned him bright orange from his toes to his ears. It’s the curse of Pumpkin Head Harvey. CHORUS Well, he likes kids dressed in funny ol’ hats, Pirates and cowboys and black-caped bats, White-sheety ghosts and Dracula masks. You can’t hide from Pumpkin Head Harvey. Ones who wear fake noses and goblin gowns With big waxy teeth that stick way out, Monkey suits, army boots, and Baskerville hounds— He loves ‘em all, Pumpkin Head Harvey. CHORUS So if you gotta go out trick-or-treatin’ tonight, Don’t get too close or he’ll take a bite. Remember, he’s got a big appetite And he’s waitin’ out there for you. But hey, don’t worry; if you keep your mouth shut tight, I’ll tell you a secret that’ll save your life: It’s only kids who candy that he likes. All the ones who don’t, go free. Don’t eat any candy, kids! CHORUS |
Subject: Old Banshee Recording From: GUEST,Scull School North Huntingdon PA Date: 22 Jan 19 - 02:21 PM Does anyone remember hearing an old record that told a story about the Banshee? It was played around Halloween in Grade School in the early 80s. I can't find it anywhere!!! |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: GUEST Date: 10 Jun 19 - 10:26 PM Finally proof that this song isn't only a product of my imagination! Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins, Pumpkins on parade. On a frosty midnight, They are not afraid. Witches try to scare them, All the whole night through, But they keep wearing crooked smiles, As jack-o-lanterns do. Harvest moon is rising. Lighting up the sky. Mister Owl is counting, pumpkins passing by. Little ghost is dancing, everywhere he goes. If he doesn't, Old Jack Frost, will nip his little toes! But that's all I remember... |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: kendall Date: 15 Sep 19 - 06:19 AM There are too many entries to go through but I want to post a song by Dave Goulder titled One night at the church I was stealing some coal, over the ground and under the ground, what did I see I'll tell you it all over and under the ground.
A sleepy ol miner was making his way home, over ...
he ranted and cursed and he swore...
I'm losing it. |
Subject: Lyr Add: TEN DEAD FINGERS (Thomas Baxter) From: Jim Dixon Date: 30 Oct 19 - 07:16 PM I heard someone sing this at a singaround recently, so I searched for it with Google and found it here. Sorry, I can’t remember the tune, and I don’t know anything more about the song. TEN DEAD FINGERS Copyright 1997 Thomas Baxter 1. Late at night, while the sexton slept, One dead finger from the graveyard crept, Crept to his kitchen, had a few drinks, And fell asleep among the sausage links. CHORUS: Ohhh, oh. Ohhh, oh. Up from the graveyard watch it go, Creeping its way into the night, One dead finger in the pale moonlight. 2. Late one night, little fingers two Hopped a ride upon the sexton's shoe, Wriggled up his body inside his clothes, Popped out his collar and tweaked his nose. CHORUS: Ohhh, oh. Ohhh, oh. Up from the graveyard watch them go Creeping their way into the night Two dead fingers in the pale moonlight. 3. Late one night, little fingers three Strolled to the sexton's library, Found a book unread for ages, And the fingers went a-walking through its yellowed pages. 4. Late one night little fingers four Climbed way up into the sexton's drawer, Tied his underwear into knots, And mismatched all his favorite formal socks. 5. Late one night around the midnight hour, Five dead fingers climbed the old clock tower, And when at twelve the carillon tolled, The sexton heard them playing “Heart and Soul.” 6. Late one night, when he was tucked in bed, Six fingers climbed onto the sexton's head And kept him awake with their ghoulish prances— Six dead fingers doing Morris dances. 7. Late one night in the cold and damp, Seven fingers climbed up to the sexton's lamp, And 'round and 'round each other they crawled, And cast scary shadow pictures on the wall. 8. Late one night, when he was by himself, The sexton saw them sitting on his shelf— A horrible sight, which made him shudder, Eight bored fingers just a-twiddling each other. 9. Late one night little fingers nine Marched onto the table when the sexton dined. Around the dinner plate marched that group, Then they went skinny dipping in his noodle soup. 10. Late one night, in the moonlight cold, Ten dead fingers from the graveyard rolled, But nobody's seen them after that, Not since the sexton got himself a cat. |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: keberoxu Date: 31 Oct 19 - 05:19 PM refresh |
Subject: RE: halloween songs From: The Sandman Date: 03 Nov 19 - 02:43 PM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-ogTQqP6NQ |
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