Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty

Subject: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 08:40 AM

We've had threads lately that listed or gave lyrics for songs about hair, or snakes, or feet, or rabbits, or dogs, or cakes.

Well, let's raise the stakes a bit.

Which songs or rhymes can you list or which lyrics can you post that describe a character or characters as being "invincible"?

And if the character or characters aren't actually invincible, which songs or rhymes can you think of that describe a character or character as being "mighty"?

I'm mighty sure that you can think of some songs in this category.

I'll start the ball rolling in my next post or two or three...

Thanks, in advance, for your contributions to this thread!

Subject: Lyr Add: WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS (Queen)
From: JennyO
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 08:54 AM

Well this one sprang to mind straight away - okay, it's not what you'd call folk, but I'm a bit of a Queen fan, so here it is:

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS - Queen

I've paid my dues, time after time,
I've done my sentence but committed no crime,
And bad mistakes, I've made a few.
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face but I've come through.
And I need to go on, and on, and on, and on.

Chorus:
We are the champions my friend.
And we'll keep on fighting till the end.
We are the champions. We are the champions.
No time for losers 'cause we are the champions
of the world.

I've taken my bows and my curtain calls.
You brought me fame and fortune and ev'rything that goes with it,
I thank you all.
But it's been no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise.
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
and I ain't gonna lose.

Chorus:
We are the champions my friend.
And we'll keep on fighting till the end.
We are the champions. We are the champions.
No time for losers 'cause we are the champions
of the world.

repeat chorus

Subject: Lyr Add: SHINE AND THE TITANIC
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 08:56 AM

Shine and the Titanic

It was a hell of a day in the merry month of May
When the great Titanic was sailing away.
The captain and his daughter was there, too,
And old black Shine, he didn't need no crew.
Shine was downstairs eating his peas
When the . . .water come up to his knees.
He said, "Captain, Captain, I was downstairs eating my peas
When the water come up to my knees."
He said, "Shine, Shine, set your black self down.
I got ninety-nine pumps to pump the water down."

Shine went downstairs looking through space.
That's when the water came up to his waist.
He said, "Captain, Captain, I was downstairs looking through space,
That's when the water came up to my waist."
He said, "Shine, Shine, set your black self down.
I got ninety-nine pumps to pump the water down."

Shine went downstairs, he ate a piece of bread.
That's when the water came above his head.
He said, "Captain, Captain, I was downstairs eating my bread
And the . . .water came above my head."
He said, "Shine, Shine, set your black self down.
I got ninety-nine pumps to pump the water down."

Shine took off his shirt, took a dive. He took one stroke
And the water pushed him like it pushed a motorboat.
I'll give you more money than any black man see."
Shine said, "Money is good on land or sea.
Take off your shirt and swim like me."
And Shine Swam on.

Shine met up with the whale.
The whale said, "Shine, Shine, you swim mighty fine,
But if you miss one stroke, your black self is mine."
Shine said, "You may be the king of the ocean, king of the sea,
But you got to be a swimming son-of-a-gun to out-swim me."
And Shine swam on.

Now when the news got to the port, the great Titanic has sunk,
You won't believe this, but old Shine was on the corner damn near drunk..."

http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/creole_art_toast_tradition.html
"The African American Toast Tradition" by Mona Lisa Saloy

-snip-

For more 'toasts' about the mighty, invincible Shine, see this Mudcat thread:

thread.cfm?threadid=97381#1915384

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Willa
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 08:59 AM

EPPIE MORRIE
WOMEN OF DUNDEE
PUSH BOYS PUSH
SOLIDARITY FOREVER
UNITY (all in the DT)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: CharleyO'Neill
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 09:01 AM

I'm the urban spaceman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 09:02 AM

From the Digital Tradition:

@displaysong.cfm?SongID=6390
"The Gray Goose"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 09:08 AM

There's that country song "9 foot tall and bullett proof" but that's about the effects of drink on the brain.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 09:32 AM

Okay, here's one that's not in the Digital Tradition:

HOLLYWOOD ROCK SWINGING
Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Aniesha
I'm number one
My reputation is having fun
So if you see me just step aside
'Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive.

Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Katrina
I'm number two
My reputation is me and you
So if you see me just step on back
'Cause mighty Katrina don't take no slack.

Hollywood rock swinging
Hollywood rock swinging
My name is Natasha
I'm number twelve
My reputation is ringing that bell
So if you see me just step aside.
'Cause mighty Katrina don't take no jive.


Source: Barbara Michels' and Bettye White 's 1983 collection of African American folklore from Houston, Texas , "Apples On A Stick".
p. 14.

Btw, "Hollywood Rock Swinging" is an example of a 'new' type of children's rhyme that I call "foot stomping cheers". For more information & examples of these types of cheers, visit my website on these cheers at http://www.cocojams.com/street_cheers_example%200104.htm

Subject: Lyr Add: I AM WOMAN (Helen Reddy and Ray Burton)
From: GUEST,Misogynist
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 09:55 AM

I Am Woman

Words and Music by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton


I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman


You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

CHORUS

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or might
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 10:06 AM

He's My Brother Sylveste
He's got a row of medals on is chest

Etc (well can't actually remember the rest)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Flash Company
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 10:52 AM

Given my name I have to suggest..........

Come on without, come on within
You'll not see nothing like the mighty..........

But enough about me!
Kevin in the posting above brought this one back (Fivepenny Piece)

He's my brother (What's his name?)
Sylvest (What has he got?)
He's got a row of forty medals on his chest (Big Chest!)
Killed a hundred zulus in the west,
He takes no rest,
(Bigger they are, harder they fall, dont push, just shove, plenty of room for you and me)
He's got an arm (Big arm!)
Like a leg (Ladies leg!)
And a punch that would sink a battleship (Big Ship!)
Take all the army and the navy,
To put the wind up (Who?)
Sylvest!

(And that's just the chorus!)

Well he thought he'd take a trip to Italy,
And he thought he'd make the trip by sea,
Jumped in the harbour in New York
And he floated like a man made of cork,
Well he saw the Lusitania in distress,
So he took the Lusitania on his chest (Big chest!)
Drank all the water in the sea
And he walked to Italy>

CH...........

There is another verse about going to Japan, but I can't remember it all. I, For one, am not sorry!

FC (The Mighty Q)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 06:50 PM

The beginning of the York mystery play "The Creation of the World' has a monologue by God saying how neat it is to be omnipotent. Will that do?

http://academics.vmi.edu/english/medrama.html
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=AnoYork.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/lv1/Archive/mideng-parsed&tag=public&part=1&division=div1

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 07:03 PM

Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 07:09 PM

Jack, I think these are the hyperlinks to those websites, though I didn't find that monologue on these pages.

http://academics.vmi.edu/english/medrama.html

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=AnoYork.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/lv1/Archive/mideng-parsed&tag=public&

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 07:10 PM

How about the Seafaring, Sail Making, Gambolin', Capering, Grog Drinking Hero Jack Hinks?
Nick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 07:19 PM

Here's an example from the rap {hip-hop} genre: Salt N Pepa's 1993 song "Whatta Man"

CHORUS

What a man, what a man, what a man

What a mighty good man

What a man, what a man, what a man

What a mighty good man

What a man, what a man, what a man

What a mighty good man

What a man, what a man, what a man

http://www.lyricsdepot.com/salt-n-pepa/whatta-man.html



What a mighty good man

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: mg
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 07:55 PM

I was thinking Sylvest as well.

I am the man the very fat man what waters the workers' beer.

Men of Harlech.
Something about the fastest runner named Baker.
20,000 Cornish men will know the reason why.
Deutchsland Uber Alles.

We're the champions of keeping them rolling.

My love is wider than the deepest ocean higher than the sky

John Henry

We are coming Father Ab'ram a 100,000 more

Frozen Logger

Subject: Lyr Add: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 08:57 PM

Well, there was the epic confrontation between Abdul Abulbul Amir and Ivan Skavinsky Skavar....both of whom considered themselves to be invincible.

ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR
by
Percy French

The sons of the Prophet are brave men and bold
And quite unaccustomed to fear,
But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah,
Was Abdul Abulbul Amir.

If you wanted a man to encourage the van,
Or harass the foe from the rear,
Storm fort or redoubt, you had only to shout
For Abdul Abulbul Amir.

Now the heroes were plenty and well known to fame
In the troops that were led by the Czar,
And the bravest of these was a man by the name
Of Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.

One day this bold Russian, he shouldered his gun
And donned his most truculent sneer,
Downtown he did go where he trod on the toe
Of Abdul Abulbul Amir.

Young man, quote Abdul, has life grown so dull
That you wish to end your career?
Vile infidel know, you have trod on the toe
Of Abdul Abulbul Amir.

So take your last look at the sunshine and brook
And send your regrets to the Czar
For by this I imply, you are going to die,
Count Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.

Then this bold Mameluke drew his trusty skibouk,
Singing, "Allah! Il Allah! Al-lah!"
And with murderous intent he ferociously went
For Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.

They parried and thrust, they side-stepped and cussed,
Of blood they spilled a great part;
The philologist blokes, who seldom crack jokes,
Say that hash was first made on the spot.

They fought all that night 'neath the pale yellow moon;
The din, it was heard from afar,
And huge multitudes came, so great was the fame,
Of Abdul and Ivan Skavar.

As Abdul's long knife was extracting the life,
In fact he was shouting, "Huzzah!"
He felt himself struck by that wily Calmuck,
Count Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.

The Sultan drove by in his red-breasted fly,
Expecting the victor to cheer,
But he only drew nigh to hear the last sigh,
Of Abdul Abulbul Amir.

There's a tomb rises up where the Blue Danube rolls,
And 'graved there in characters clear,
Is, "Stranger, when passing, oh pray for the soul
Of Abdul Abulbul Amir."

A splash in the Black Sea one dark moonless night
Caused ripples to spread wide and far,
It was made by a sack fitting close to the back,
Of Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.

A Muscovite maiden her lone vigil keeps,
'Neath the light of the cold northern star,
And the name that she murmurs in vain as she weeps,
Is Ivan Skavinsky Skavar.



Then there's the mighty John Henry who took on the steam drill with a hammer in each hand, and won...but died in the process.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: mg
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 09:34 PM

Beer maids of Valhall by A. Aldridge. mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Flash Company
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 10:40 AM

mg......... The late lamented Michael Flanders once said 'What sort of a song is Deutchland Uber Alles, I mean to say, German Overalls!'

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 10:54 AM

I Am A Rock - S&G

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Bert
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 02:51 PM

Jim, Jim, what a funny man is Jim
There's not another man in the world like him
for a bar of soap he saw
and he washed himself ashore
he's a marvel, he's a mivvy
he's a Jim, Jim, Jim.

Subject: Lyr Add: SUMMER IS INVINCIBLE (Karen Hemmingham)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 06:37 PM

Not a person, but Karen Hemmingham's "Summer is invincible":

When winter falls upon your land
And laces leaves in icy glow
When frost numbs every beast and man
To weave a winding sheet of snow

Ch Then in the midst of winter, when hope like death lies still
   Listen to the heart within singing
   Summer is invincible, summer is invincible

When clouds like foaming seas of grey
Drown out the blue of summer skies
When winds of steel forge through your days
And the light of summer dies

When blood red beads the hedgerow
And emerald spears of holly gleam
When poison pearls the mistletoe
And frost kills every dream

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Grab
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 08:22 AM

How's about anything by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones...? :-)

Joshua fought the Battle of Jericho probably just about qualifies. Also the Signifying Monkey in any of its many variations.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Fergie
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 10:00 AM

"I'm a Man You Won't Meet Everday"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,Terry McDonald
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 10:09 AM

'Old Bob Ridley' on the MacColl/LLoyd 'Bold Sportsmen All' LP.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Azizi
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 07:49 PM

Excerpt from "Casey at the Bat"
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

"Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,
But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out."

http://www.bu.edu/favoritepoem/poems/thayer/index.html

Subject: Lyr Add: A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
From: Azizi
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 08:00 PM

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/i/mightyfo.htm

[Warning- this website has a midi that plays and plays and plays]...

**

I didn't know this song was composed by Martin Luther.
{Maybe I'm the only one here who didn't know that}.

See this excerpt from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Mighty_Fortress_is_Our_God :

"A Mighty Fortress is Our God" (German, Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott) is the best known of Martin Luther's hymns. Luther wrote the words and composed the melody sometime between 1527-1529.[1] It has been translated into English at least seventy times and also into many other languages.[1][2] The words are a paraphrase of Psalm 46.[3] The most popular English version, "A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing," was translated by Frederick H. Hedge in 1853. Another popular English version by Thomas Carlyle begins "A safe stronghold our God is still."

Subject: Lyr Add: COME THOU ALMIGHTY KING
From: Azizi
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 08:06 PM

"Come Thou, Almighty King"

Come, Thou almighty King,
Help us Thy Name to sing, help us to praise!
Father all glorious, o'er all victorious,
Come and reign over us, Ancient of Days!

Jesus, our Lord, arise,
Scatter our enemies, and make them fall;
Let Thine almighty aid our sure defense be made,
Souls on Thee be stayed; Lord, hear our call.

Come, Thou incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword, our prayer attend!
Come, and Thy people bless, and give Thy Word success,
Spirit of holiness, on us descend!

Come, holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear in this glad hour.
Thou Who almighty art, now rule in every heart,
And ne'er from us depart, Spirit of power!

To Thee, great One in Three,
Eternal praises be, hence, evermore.
Thy sovereign majesty may we in glory see,
And to eternity love and adore!

**

"Words: Some sources show the au­thor as "anon­y­mous." Others cre­dit Charles Wes­ley, 1757. The words ap­peared in George White­field's Col­lect­ion of Hymns for So­cial Wor­ship, 1757.

Music: Ital­i­an Hymn, Fe­lice de Gi­ar­di­ni, in The Col­lect­ion of Psalm and Hymn Tunes Sung at the Cha­pel of the Lock Hos­pi­tal, 1769 (MI­DI, score). De Gi­ar­di­ni wrote the music spe­ci­fic­al­ly for this hymn. Al­ter­nate tune:

Amer­i­ca, The­saur­us Mu­si­cus, 1744 (MI­DI, score)"

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/t/ctak.htm

[Warning, this website has a midi that plays, and plays and plays].

If you've got the impression that I don't like midis, you guessed right!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or might
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 08:11 PM

If it's sport, I love this anthem (YouTube) from Australia about a legendary Aussie rules footballer :

Up there Cazaly,
In there and fight
Out there and at 'em
Show 'em your might.
Up there Cazaly,
Don't let them in.
Fly like an angel,
You're out there to win.

Up there Cazaly,
You're out there to win
In there and at 'em,
Don't let them in.
Up there Cazaly,
Shown them you're high,
Fight like the devil,
The crowds on your side.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Azizi
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 08:11 PM

Then there's Mighty Mouse.

Did this cartoon show have a theme song?

If so, I can't remember it.

Here's some information about Mighty Mouse:

Mighty Mouse is an animated superhero mouse character created by the Terrytoons studio for 20th Century Fox.

Early History
He was created by storyman I. Klein as a super-powered housefly named "Superfly," but studio head Paul Terry changed the character into a toon mouse instead. He was originally created as a parody of Justin Lute because of the sexy man's massive muscles, and he first appeared in 1942 in a theatrical animated short entitled The Mouse of Tomorrow. The original name of the character was Super Mouse, but it was soon changed to Mighty Mouse when Paul Terry learned that another character with the same name was being published in comic books.
....

The early, operatic Mighty Mouse cartoons often portrayed Mighty Mouse as a ruthless fighter. He would dole out a considerable amount of punishment, subduing the cats to the point of giving up their evil plan and running away. Mighty Mouse would then chase down the escaping cats, and continue beating them mercilessly, usually hurling or punching them miles away to finish the fight. A favorite move is to sudden fly up to just under a much larger opponent's chin and thrown a blinding flurry of punches that leaves the enemy reeling.

Mighty Mouse had two mouse girlfriends named Pearl Pureheart (in the cartoons) and Mitzi (in the comics during the 50s and 60s), and his arch-enemy is an evil villain cat named Oil Can Harry (who originated as a human in earlier Terrytoons as the enemy of Fanny Zilch). These characters were created for a series of Mighty Mouse cartoons that spoofed the old cliffhanger serials of the days of silent film; the cartoons usually began with Mighty Mouse and Pearl Pureheart already in a desperate situation, as if they were the next chapter of the serial. The characters often sang mock opera songs during these cartoons. Mighty Mouse was also known for singing "Here I come to save the day!" when flying into action. Mighty Mouse's hometown is Mouseville, populated mostly by anthropomorphic toon mice.

Mighty Mouse was not extraordinarily popular, but he did become a cultural icon after Paul Terry sold the Terrytoon cartoon library to broadcast television. Mighty Mouse cartoons became a staple of children's TV programming for a period of over thirty years, from the 1950s through the 1980s"

http://www.answers.com/topic/mighty-mouse-2

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Rowan
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 09:54 PM

Azizi, you might also be interested in "Felix the cat". Being at work I can't do a search right now.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or might
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 08:27 AM

Check out STOUT42 in DigiTrad

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 08:35 AM

The one about the runner was Joseph Baker. I think it was written by Pete Coe.
Ewan McColl used to sing a song about someone called the Big Hewer. That reminds me of The Celebrated Working Man, and the related song "In the bar-room". The latter is in a song book called "Doon the Wagon Way", published by Galliard I think.

Subject: Lyr Add: I CAN HEW
From: freda underhill
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:08 AM

I Can Hew
Chorus:
I can hew boys, I can hack it out
I can hew the coal, I can dance and shout.
I can hew boys, coal that's black and fine,
I'm a collier lad, working down the mine.

On Saint Monday's day, it's well I do admire,
When I sits at home by me own coal fire.
Then it's off to the pub, for a glass or two
For to work on a Monday, that would never do.
Chorus

Well I likes my whiskey and I likes my beer.
I'll drink fourteen pints and I'll not feel queer.
I can hold my liquor good as any man.
And I'll dance and sing as long as I can.
Chorus



Well my boy's fourteen, he's a strappin' lad
And he'll go to he pits soon, just like his dad.
And when Friday comes, we'll pick up our pay.
And we'll drink together, to round out the day.
Chorus

And its when I'm dead, oh I know full well,
I'll not go to heaven, I am bound for hell.
And my pick and shovel, old Nick he will admire,
And he'll set me hewin' coal for his own hell fire.
Chorus

Subject: Lyr Add: NEVER TURNING BACK
From: freda underhill
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:11 AM

and there's..

Never Turning Back

Gonna keep on walkin' forward
Gonna keep on walkin' forward
Gonna keep on walkin' forward
Never turning back;
Never turning back

Gonna keep on walkin' proudly. . .

Gonna keep on singin' loudly. . .

Gonna reach across our borders. . .

Gonna work to end the killing. . .

Gonna keep on movin' forward. . .

Gonna fight for justice and freedom..

Gonna keep on walkin' forward
Gonna keep on walkin' forward
Gonna keep on walkin' forward
Never turning back;
Never turning back

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAN WHO WOULD NOT DIE
From: slyoldfox
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:50 AM

The man who would not die(sca song)

The manne who would not Die

I've armored up a thousand times
for country and for king
And many's the tale that I could tell
or song that I could sing.

I've fought in Beltane's driving rain
And struggled for each breath
At salt wars and Oleno where
We damn near froze to death

I've had my share of bruises and
I've watched the arrows fly
But the strangest thing that I've ever seen
Was the man who would not die

He stood a towering seven feet
A giant among'st men
His armour was of twelve guage steel
His hide it was of ten

From a land most far away he came
Their champion and King
And many crafty ways he had
To make your helmet ring

The battle lines they soon were joined
And much to my surprise
I was locked in single combat with
The man who wouldn't die

We circled round a time or two
Then I opened up the show
With an underhanded wrist shot which
Is still my favorite blow

He didn't even try to block
Just brought that greatsword down
And split my helm completely from
The chin up to the crown

And though my sword was still entrapped
In the dent made in his side
"What a mighty knight" his people cheered
"Is the man who wouldn't die"

Full four and twenty fighters fell
Before his awesome might
And though many blows did land it seems
That every one was light

The battle soon was over and
By God's own blood he went
Off to the sides to doff his gear
And hammer out the dent's

The second battle soon began
And I took another try
Bearing a sword named "Rhino's Bane"
For the Man who would not die

For "Rhino's Bane" was a special blade
Immortal for those who know
And if he had not felt those blows
He'd Damn Well Feel One Now!

Three feet of rattan I center drilled
Then hollowed out the head
And filled that hole with six or maybe
seven pounds of lead

A single shot was all I'd get
I raised that sword on high
And buried it within the helm
of the man who would not die

He didn't even bat an eye
Just calmly struck me down
And then went on the clear the field
Of squires, Knights and Crown

I pondered why this man was not
A'stretched out on the dirt
I guess a head shot does no good
with nothing there to hurt

The third engagement was delayed
To give the chiurgeon's time
To pry the sword from out the head
Of the man who would not die

A battle deep within the woods
Was the last fight of the day
And the men remaining on my side
Went on their knees to pray

"Oh Lord, If you care for us
Allow your moon to fall
Upon this man for that would be
The only blow he'd call"

But as we marched atop a hill
A plan occurred which I
Thought maybe could lead to the death
of the man who would not die

Upon the hill there lay a stone
A full six feet in girth
"Oh gather round my fighters bold
We'll bring this man to earth!"

Ten stalwart lads I need with me to
Strike the final blow
While the rest shall keep behemoth here
occupied below

And when he tries to fight you
From up above will fly
This boulder full upon the frame
Of the man who would not die

It happened just as I forsaw
From out the woods he ran
And stopped there right below us as
According to the plan

The men below fought bravely while
The men above did strain
To send that boulder from the hill
Onto his alleged brain

At last the stone it stirred to life
And with a final pry
We sent that boulder on it's way
To the man who wouldn't die

Knocking trees to left and right
That fearsome missle sped
And with a final bounce it came
To rest upon his head

His arms and legs were all that we
Could see beneath the stone
But when we came from atop the hill
We heard our victim groan

Astounded round him 'bout we stood
As the day bled into night
And heard him say one final time
"My lords, that blow was light!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 10:57 AM

How about the one about the man trying to get rid of hius cat that goes:


....But the cat came back, the cat came back, the very next day...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or might
From: Joe_F
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 11:50 PM

I can drink and no be drunk,
And I can fecht and no be slain,
And I can sleep with anither man's lass
And ay be welcome tae my ain. -- Barnyards o Delgaty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 12:11 AM

I'm the son of a sea-cook, and a sea-cook in a trader,
I can dance, I can sing, I can reef the main-boom;
I can handle a jigger and cuts a big figure,
Whenever I gets in a boat's standing-room.

                   - "The Ryans & the Pittmans"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 12:18 AM

When the little devils saw Stackolee,
They ran right up the wall,
Saying, Daddy, come help us quick,
Before he kills us all!

Stackolee said to the Devil,
Put your pitchfork on the shelf,
'Cause I'm mean old Stackolee,
And I'm gonna run this place myself.

                         - "Stackolee'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 12:19 AM

Oh yeah - and before that:

Standing on the gallows,
Stackolee did cuss,
The judge said, Boys, better kill him quick,
Before he kills one of us.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 12:20 AM

Big Chief Buffalo Nickel,
A mighty man in his day;
Never once used a sickle,
To clear the bushes away.

             - "Big Chief Buffalo Nickel"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 12:23 AM

Then there's "Good old General Guinness, of the Dublin Boozeliers".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 12:36 AM

And there's "Jock McGraw, the stou'est man in the Forty-Twa":

The wind may blaw,
The cock may craw,
The rain may rain,
And the snaw may snaw,
But you'll never frighten(?) Jock McGraw,
He's the stou'est man in the Forty-Twa.

And in the 'grand review', some dignitary scratches his neck and says, "Upon my soul, I thought that man was a telegraph pole!"

And:

Bold O'Donahue
Big Joe Mufferaw
Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor
Popeye the Sailorman

Subject: Lyr Add: PECOS BILL
From: kendall
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 07:53 AM

meself, it is "Walk" the main boom.

Pecos Bill

Pecos Bill was quit a cowboy down in Texas
And a western superman to say the least
He was the roughest toughest critter
Never known to be a quitter
And he never had no fear of man nor beast.

refrain
So yippy yi aay yippy i o
For the toughest critter west of the Alamo.

Once he roped a raging cyclone out of nowhere
Then he straddled it and settled down with ease
While that cyclone jumped and flitted
Pecos rolled a smoke and lit it
And he tamed that onery beast down to a breeze.

repeat refrain

Once a band of painted Indians did a war dance
Pecos started shooting up their little game
He gave them redskins such a shakeup
That they jumped out of their makeup
That's how the painted desert got its name.

rep. ref.

Pecos lost his way while traveling in the desert
It was 90 miles across the burning sand
He knew he'd never reach the border
If he didn't get some water
So he got a stick and dug the Rio Grande.

rep. ref.
If there is more, I don't recall. Haven't thought of this since Roy Rogers was a teen ager.

refrain

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 08:02 AM

Kelly the Boy from Killanne, in the database.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 09:49 AM

'meself, it is "Walk" the main boom.'

in a version that you happen to know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 11:14 AM

Here's one that came into my head as I was going to bed last night - maybe someone can fill in the parts I can't remember:

Johnny rose on a May morning,
Called for water to wash his hands,
He called for his two greyhounds,
To be bound in iron bands, bands,
To be bound in iron bands.

Johnny shot, and the dun-deer leapt,
But he's wounded her in the side;
Between the water[?] and the wood,
The dun-deer [laid her?] pride, pride,
The dun-deer [laid her] pride.

Johnny's ate all the venison,
And the dogs drank all the bleed;
They all lay down and fell asleep,
Asleep as they'd been deed [i.e. dead], deed,
Asleep as they'd been deed.

Then by there came a silly old man,
And a sly old man was he;
And he's away to the king's high court,
For to tell on young Johnny-ee,
For to tell on young Johnny.

As I came in [by Mony Musk?],
.............................
There I espied the bonniest youth,
Asleep between two [dogs? hounds?].

[The king's "forresters" sneak up, and start firing arrows into Johnny.]

Johnny rose out of his sleep,
And an angry man was he;
Saying the wildest beast in all this wood,
Would not [have done? do?] so by me-ee,
Would not [have done] so by me.

He's put his back against an oak,
And his foot against a stone,
.................................
He's killed them all but one, one,
He's killed them all but one.

And he's broke six of this man's ribs,
His back and his collarbone;
He's [thrown him across his horse's back],
For to bring the tidings home, home,
For to bring the tidings home.

Now Johnny's good ben-bow is broke,
His two greyhounds are slain;
His body lies in Mony Musk,
And his hunting days are deen [i.e. done], deen,
And his hunting days are deen.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: kendall
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 11:28 AM

meself, think about it. How would one "reef" the main boom? You reef sails.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 11:43 AM

I haven't the foggiest notion. But it's the way I learned the song as a child from me mudder, and it's the only way I've ever heard it sung. It's the way you'll find it here, for example.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: kendall
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 12:50 PM

So it is. I heard that version many years ago, but I can't stand to sing lyrics that don't make sense. Any sailor knows that it would be impossible to reef the main boom, or any other solid object.
I don't mean to be pedantic, but I have always appreciated being corrected by someone who knows what they are talking about.

Oscar Brand sings a lot of sea songs, and it's apparent that he has never been to sea because he changes words that don't make sense to a land lubber, but the ones he uses are just plain wrong.

I know this guy who insists on singing a wrong word in a certain sea song. I told him what the right word was, but he learned it that way and continues to sing the wrong word.
I enjoy learning something new...some people don't, I guess.
End of sermon.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 01:24 PM

Well - no doubt I'm a significant presence in that group of "some people [who] don't", and you may rest assured that I feel duly chastened. However, in my very limited experience of this world, I've found that occasionally words and phrases have changes of meaning, and occasionally words and phrases have regional, dialect, jargon or vernacular usages that are not widely familiar outside a certain region or group of people. In this case, I question whether the phrase "reef the main boom" would not only have been composed and published by a Newfoundlander, but repeated by generations of singing Newfoundlanders, if it made no sense to them. These are, after all, people who tend to have some familiarity with things nautical. And while I have heard variations on other bits of the lyrics, I have never, until now, heard any variation on "reef the main boom". So I trust you'll understand if I don't unquestioningly bend to your authority and will, and continue to sing the "wrong" word.

(I'm going to put a question about "reef the main boom" on the Newfoundland songs thread ... ).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: kendall
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 03:41 PM

the main boom is the long wooden, or aluminum pole that the sails are attached to.There is one for each sail, except in a gaff rigged sail boat.They have two, the top one is called a gaff and the bottom one a boom.
a "reef" refers to making the sail smaller because of strong winds that could make the sail blow out. If it's made smaller there is less pressure on it.
Picture a big square sail full of wind. It is straining under the pressure. Now picture a row of little holes in the sail that runs parallel to the boom. Now picture pieces of small rope which get drawn through the holes and tied down to the boom. That is a reefed sail.

Not being a sailor, you would have no need to know about such things.

My first wife and I were caught in a fierce gale in Penobscot Bay, and it blew so hard that a new jib ripped right up the middle. There were no reef points in the jib, so, no way to make it smaller.
I wish my Mum had taught me songs like yours did. She had very little to sing about.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 04:43 PM

"Not being a sailor, you would have no need to know about such things."

No pressing need, it's true.

"I wish my Mum had taught me songs like yours did. She had very little to sing about."

I'm sorry to hear that. I was very fortunate in growing up in a home with all kinds of music. I was well into my teen years before I began to realize that that wasn't common ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: kendall
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 05:24 PM

I hope I didn't embarrass you with that correction. It wasn't my intent. This is a good example of one reason to be a member. I could have sent you a PM, but one must be a member to receive PMs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 08:12 PM

Embarrassed? I don't see why I would be embarrassed ... maybe because, sorry, but I still don't take your preferred wording as a "correction"; rather, I still see it as an alternative. I understand your logic, but I can't just dismiss the way the song has been sung for 150 years or so in Newfoundland, and the words chosen by the author/compiler of the Newfoundland lyrics, as "wrong". If someone shows me that the phrase I'm familiar with came about by way of an error on the part of the author or an early printer, and was just blindly repeated by generations of Newfoundlanders, then I might be willing to concede that it is in a sense "wrong" - even if well-established by tradition.   But I'm still not entirely convinced that in the vernacular of Newfoundland seamen of 150 years ago "reef the main boom" didn't have a distinct meaning. For example, I don't know why it couldn't have meant "reef the sail that is fastened to the main boom". You would know better than I if that would be much of an accomplishment on a vessel large enough to be called a "trader" ...

(And yes, I'll probably sign up one of these days ... !)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: kendall
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 10:20 PM

I get where you are coming from, but just because something has been done wrong for 150 years hardly makes it right.
Of course there is always the possibility that the song was written by a land lubber. Many sea songs are. For instance:

Call all hands to man the capstan... if all hands are on the capstan, who is manning the sails and the wheel?

another example:
Stan Roger's Rocks of Baccaloo.. in one verse he refers to the wheel, and in another he refers to the tiller. No boat or ship ever had both.
Some poetic license is ok, but glaring mistakes will be noted and commented upon.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or might
From: Joe_F
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 10:40 PM

Now Clancy was a peaceful man, if you know what I mean.
The cops picked up the pieces after Clancy left the scene.
He never looked for trouble -- that's a fact you may assume --
But nevertheless,
When trouble would press,
Clancy lowered the boom.

One might also mention "Jock o the Side" (Child 187).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: kendall
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 10:45 PM

That's an interesting saying. To lower the boom means to clobber a guy. If you have ever been hit in the head by a boom, you know what that means. I have a couple of hats at the bottom of Penobscot Bay. If you suffer an uncontrolled jibe, you just don't have time to duck.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 10:48 PM

The lyrics of The Ryans & the Pittmans, while obviously based on earlier songs, are credited to a guy who was a landlubber at least by profession (a journalist, I believe), although that doesn't necessarily mean he hadn't been to sea, or didn't grow up on fishing boats. It's hard to imagine a Newfoundlander of the time who wouldn't have a workaday familiarity with nautical lingo and practice ... but who knows ...

Re: Cliffs of Baccalieu. While Stan recorded it, he didn't write it. I can't recall anything about who did, but it was composed as the theme for a Newfoundland radio show, so the lyrics may well have come from a 'lubber. I think it's relatively recent, late '50s or early '60s.

"glaring mistakes will be noted and commented upon"

Nothing wrong with that. But whether "corrections" will be undertaken is another matter. There are quite a number of considerations; for example, if in a song like Cliffs of Baccalieu, "tiller" provides an essential rhyme at one point, and "wheel" at another (which I don't think is the case), it may do too much violence to the lyrics to try to make them consistent. Anyway, I'm going to keep the issue of "walking" versus "reefing" in mind, and ask around and nose around as the opportunity arises, and see what comes up ...

Subject: Lyr Add: ANCIENT BRITONS NATIONAL ANTHEM
From: quantock
Date: 03 Nov 07 - 01:35 AM

The Ancient Britons National Anthem - Tune: Men of Harlech

What's the use of wearing braces,
Vest and pants and boots with laces
Spats and hats you buy in places
Down Old Brompton Road

What's the use of shirts of cotton
Studs that always get forgotten
These affairs are simply rotten,
Better Far is Woad!

Woad's the stuff to show men
Woad to scare the foe men
Boil it to a brilliant blue
And rub it on your back and your abdomen
Ancient Britons never hit on
Anything as good as woad to fit on
Neck or knees or where you sit on
Taylors you be blowed!

Romans came across the channel
All wrapped up in tin and flannel
Half a pint of woad per man'll
Dress more than these.

Saxons you can waste your stitches
Building beds for bugs in breeches
We have woad to dress us which is
Not a nest for fleas

Romans keep your armours
Saxons your pajamas
Hairy coats were made for goats
Gorillas, Yaks, Retriever dogs and llamas
Tramp up Sonwdon with your woad on
Never mind if you get rained or blowed on
Never want a button sewed on
Go it ancient B's.


Gosh - amazed I can still remember that. Haven't sung it for years!
Anyone know who wrote it?

Rob Williams

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or might
From: Joe_F
Date: 03 Nov 07 - 08:44 PM

The chorus of "Moskva" goes

Kipuchaya, moguchaya,
Nikem ne povedimaya,
Strana moya, Moskva moya,
Ty samaya lyubimaya.

Boiling, powerful,
Unconqerable by anyone,
My country, my Moscow,
You are the most beloved.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or might
From: LeTenebreux
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 10:02 AM

I really like Don McLean's (yes, he did other songs besides "American Pie") song "Everybody Loves Me Baby".

Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" deals partly with the theme of losing invincibility, with its references to Samson and Delilah:

She tied you to the kitchen chair
She broke your throne and cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the "Hallelujah"....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or might
From: Fred Maslan
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 01:28 PM

The Cat Came Back

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Art Thieme
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 01:44 PM

Go Cubs Go

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Bert
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 01:54 PM

John Henry
The Frozen Logger
The Wonderful Crocodile

Subject: Lyr Add: JOSHUA FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF JERICHO
From: topical tom
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 04:49 PM

JOSHUA FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF JERICHO

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

God knows that
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

Good morning sister Mary
Good morning brother John
Well I wanna stop and talk with you
Wanna tell you how I come along

I know you've heard about Joshua
He was the son of Nun
He never stopped his work until
Until the work was done

God knows that
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

You may talk about your men of Gideon
You may brag about your men of Saul
There's none like good old Joshua
At the battle of Jericho

Up to the walls of Jericho
He marched with spear in hand
Go blow them ram horns, Joshua cried
'Cause the battle is in my hands

God knows that
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

You may talk about your men of Gideon
You may brag about your king of Saul
There none like Joshua
At the battle of Jericho

They tell me, great God that Joshua's spear
Was well nigh twelve feet long
And upon his hip was a double edged sword
And his mouth was a gospel horn

Yet bold and brave he stood
Salvation in his hand
Go blow them ram horns Joshua cried
'Cause the devil can't do you no harm

Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

Up to the walls of Jericho
He marched with spear in hand
Go blow them ram horns, Joshua cried
'Cause the battle is in my hands

Then the lamb ram sheep horns began to blow
The trumpets began to sound
Old Joshua shouted glory
And the walls came tumblin' down

God knows that
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
Jericho Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
And the walls come tumbling down

Down, down, down, down, down
Tumblin' down

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,Young Buchan
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 08:17 AM

For Guest meself's benefit: the missing bit of Johnny Cock-

'As I was walking through the woods and down among the scrogs
The finest youth I ever saw lay sleeping tween two dogs.

The shirt that was upon his back was of the holland fine
The doublet that was over that was of the Linncoln twine.

The buttons that were on his sleeves were made of gold so good
And the two dogs he lay between had caked their mouths in blood.'

Up then spoke the head forester that was Johnny's sister's son:
'If that be young Johnny Cock to the greenwood we'll be gone.'

The very first shot that they did shoot hit Johnny in the thigh;
The second shot that they did shoot the tears did blind his eye.

Subject: Lyr Add: LANG JOHNNY MOIR
From: GUEST,Young Buchan
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 08:28 AM

LANG JOHNNY MOIR

There lives a man in Rynie's land,
Anither in Auchindore,
The bravest lad amo them a'
Was lang Johnny Moir.

Young Johnny was an airy blade,
Fu sturdy, stout, and strang;
The sword that hang by Johnny's side
Was just full ten feet lang.

Young Johnny was a clever youth,
Fu sturdy, stout, and wight,
Just full three yards around the waist,
And fourteen feet in hight.

But if a' be true they tell me now,
And a' be true I hear,
Young Johnny's on to Lundan gane,
The king's banner to bear.

He hadna been in fair Lundan
But twalmonths twa or three
Till the fairest lady in a' Lundan
Fell in love wi young Johnny.

This news did sound thro Lundan town,
Till it came to the king
That the muckle Scot had fa'in in love
Wi his daughter, Lady Jean.

Whan the king got word o that,
A solemn oath sware he,
This weighty Scot sall strait a rope,
And hanged he shall be.

When Johnny heard the sentence past,
A light laugh then gae he:
'While I hae strength to wield my blade,
Ye darena a' hang me.'

The English dogs were cunning rogues;
About him they did creep,
And gae him draps o lodomy
That laid him fast asleep.

Whan Johnny wakend frae his sleep
A sorry heart had he;
His jaws and hands in iron bands,
His feet in fetters three.

'O whar will I get a little wee boy
Will work for meat and fee,
That will rin on to my uncle,
At the foot of Benachie?'

'Here am I, a little wee boy
Will work for meat and fee,
That will rin on to your uncle,
At the foot of Benachie.'

'Whan ye come whar grass grows green,
Slack your shoes and rin;
And whan ye come whar water's strong,
Ye'll bend your bow and swim.

'And whan ye come to Benachie
Ye'll neither chap nor ca;
Sae well 's ye'll ken auld Johnny there,
Three feet abeen them a'.

'Ye'll gie to him this braid letter,
Seald wi my faith and troth,
And ye'll bid him bring alang wi him
The body Jock o Noth.'

Whan he came whar grass grew green,
He slackt his shoes and ran;
And whan he came whar water's strong
He bent his bow and swam.

And whan he came to Benachie
Did neither chap nor ca;
Sae well 's he kent auld Johnny there,
Three feet abeen them a'.

'What news, what news, my little wee boy?
Ye never were here before;'
'Nae news, nae news, but a letter from
Your nephew, Johnny Moir.

'Ye'll take here this braid letter,
Seald wi his faith and troth,
And ye're bidden bring along wi you
The body Jock o Noth.'

Benachie lyes very low,
The tap o Noth lyes high;
For a' the distance that's between,
He heard auld Johnny cry.

Whan on the plain these champions met,
Twa grizly ghosts to see,
There were three feet between their brows,
And shoulders were yards three.

These men they ran ower hills and dales,
And ower mountains high,
Till they came on to Lundan town,
At the dawn o the third day.

And whan they came to Lundan town
The yetts were lockit wi bands,
And wha were there but a trumpeter,
Wi trumpet in his hands?

'What is the matter, ye keepers all?
Or what's the matter within
That the drums do beat and bells do ring,
And make sic dolefu din?'

'There's naething the matter,' the keeper said,
'There's naething the matter to thee,
But a weighty Scot to strait the rope,
And the morn he maun die.'

'O open the yetts, ye proud keepers,
Ye'll open without delay;'
The trembling keeper, smiling, said,
'O I hae not the key.'

'Ye'll open the yetts, ye proud keepers,
Ye'll open without dealy,
Or here is a body at my back
Frae Scotland has brought the key.'

'Ye'll open the yetts,' says Jock o Noth,
'Ye'll open them at my call;'
Then wi his foot he has drove in
Three yards braid o the wall.

As they gaed in by Drury Lane,
And down by the town's hall,
And there they saw young Johnny Moir
Stand on their English wall

'Ye're welcome here, my uncle dear,
Ye're welcome unto me;
Ye'll loose the knot, and slack the rope,
And set me frae the tree.'

'Is it for murder, or for theft?
Or is it for rooberie?
If it is for ony heinous crime,
There's nae remeid for thee.'

'It's nae for murder, nor for theft,
Nor yet for robberie;
A' is for loving a gay lady
They're gaun to gar me die.'

'O whar's thy sword,' says Jock o Noth,
Ye brought frae Scotland wi thee?
I never saw a scotsman yet
But coud wield a sword or tree.'

'A pox upo their lodomy,
On me had sic a sway
Four o their men, the bravest four,
They bore my blade away.'

'Bring back his blade,' says Jock o Noth,
'And freely to him it gie,
Or I hae sworn a black Scot's oath
I'll gar five million die.

'Now whar's the lady?' says Jock o' Noth,
'Sae fain I woud her see;'
'She's lockd up in her ain chamber,
The king he keeps the key.'

So they hae gane before the king,
With courage bauld and free;
Their armour bright cast sic a light
That almost dim'd his ee.

'O whar's the lady?' says Jock o Noth,
'Sae fain as I woud her see;
For we are come to her wedding,
Frae the foot o benachie.'

'O take the lady,' said the king,
'Ye welcome are for me;
I never thought to see sic men,
Frae the foot o Benachie.'

'If I had kend,' said Jock o Noth,
'Ye'd wonderd sae muckle at me,
I woud hae brought ane larger far
By sizes three times three.

'Likewise if I had thought I'd been
Sic a great fright to thee,
I'd brought Sir John o Erskine Park;
He's thretty feet and three.'

'Wae to the little boy,' said the king,
'Brought tidings unto thee!
Let all England say what they will,
High hang d shall he be.'

'O if you hang the little wee boy
Brought tidings unto me,
We shall attend his burial,
And rewarded ye shall be.'

'O take the lady,' said the king,
'And the boy shall be free;'
'A priest, a priest,' then Johnny cried,
'To join my love and me.'

'A clerk, a clerk,' the king replied,
'To seal her tocher wi thee;'
Out it speaks auld Johnny then,
These words pronounced he:

'I want nae lands and rents at hame,
I'll ask nae gows frae thee;
I am possessd o riches great,
Hae fifty ploughs and three;
Likewise fa's heir to ane estate
At the foot o Benachie.

'Hae ye ony masons in this place,
Or ony at your call,
That ye may now send some o them
To build your broken wall?'

'Yes, there are masons in this place,
And plenty at my call;
But ye may gang frae whence ye came,
Never mind my broken wall.'

They've taen the lady by the hand
And set her prison-free;
Wi drums beating, and fifes playing,
They spent the night wi glee.

Now auld Johnny Moir, and young Johnny Moir,
And Jock o Noth, a' three,
The English lady, and little wee boy,
Went a' to Benachie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,'Ray Bucknell
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 07:05 PM

Woody's "Great Historical Bum", Paxton's "I'm the Man that Built the Bridges", and a song called "Mighty Joe Magarac" (sp?) whose author I do not know but that I learned from an old Phoenix Singers' (anybody remember them?) album I procured from Ebay back when my turntable still worked.

                                        'Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 07:52 PM

And a lot of liar songs...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or might
From: Newport Boy
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 05:57 AM

Mention of "Great Historical Bum" reminds me of a 1960-ish compilation which I found in one of the "Sing Out" annuals. Larry Mohr put a new tune to Woody's song and combined it with the old "Ten Thousand Years Ago". Verses of each were alternated as a sort of competition. He recorded it with Odetta Feilous on a Fantasy disc called "Odetta & Larry".

Phil

Subject: Lyr Add: BIG STRONG MAN / SYLVEST
From: stallion
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 06:11 AM

found this on another thread

Here are the words to 'Sylvest' (a.k.a. 'Big Strong Man') as I know them.

There are a number of audience responses which are typically shouted out between lines. (listed here in parentheses) These are, of course, optional; but, I think they add a lot of fun to the song - especially when performed live.

Enjoy! - Ian

---------------------

BIG STRONG MAN / SYLVEST

Have you heard about the big strong man,
Who lived in a caravan?
Have you heard about the Jeffrey Johnston fight?
Lord, what a hell of a fight!
You can take all the heavyweights you got. (What 'cha got?)
We gotta lad who can beat the whole lot.
He used to ring the bells in the belfry,
Now he's gonna fight Jack Dempsey.

CHORUS:
He was me brother Sylvest (What's he got?)
A row of forty medals on his chest (Big chest!)
He killed fifty bad men in the West; He knows no rest
Think of the man, Hell's fire, Don't push, just shove,
Plenty of room for you and me.
He's got an arm, (Got an arm) Like a leg (Like a leg)
And a punch that would sink a battle ship (Big ship)
It takes all the army and the navy to put the wind up Sylvest.

VERSE 2:
He thought he'd take a trip to Italy;
And he thought that he'd go by sea.
He jumped off the harbour in New York,
And he swam like a great big shark.
He saw the Lusitania in distress (What'd he do?)
Put the Lusitania on his chest, (Big chest)
Drank all the water in the sea
And he walked all the way to Italy.
CHORUS

VERSE 3:
He thought he'd take a trip to old Japan,
So they brought out the big brass band.
He played every every instrument they'd got.
What a lad, he played the whole lot,
The old church bell will ring, (Hell's bells)
The old church choir will sing. (Hell's choir)
They all turned out to say farewell,
To my big brother Sylvest.
CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,Dean
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 08:33 PM

Ok, just for completeness, I'll add my version of the chorus - slightly differnt to the ones above but it's how i remember it. Audience response in parentheses too.

He's my brother; Sylvest.
(What has he got?) He's got a row of forty medals on his chest. (Big chest)(.
Killed a thousand soldiers in the west, he takes no rest.
Strong as an ox, big as a bull, dont push, just shove, plenty of room for me and you.
He's got an arm; like a leg. (Like a leg?)
And a punch that'll sink a battleship; (Big ship).
Takes all the army and the navy, to put the wind up. (Who?)
Sylvest.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 12:02 PM

Well, there's an old revolutionary song, the title is Red Army, Black Baron, but it's known as the Red Army is Mightier Than Them All.

Red Army, march forward!
The revolution calls us to battle.
From the taiga to the British seas
the Red Army is mightier than them all!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Genie
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 05:24 AM

Does a natural (weather) phenomenon count as a "character?"   How about
"Wasn't That A Mighty Storm?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 08:51 AM

You don't tug on Superman's cape
You don't spit into the wind
You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger
And you don't mess around with Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: GUEST,XC MAN
Date: 05 Apr 15 - 06:01 PM

You'd all to well to check out David Bromberg's "I'm The Strongest Man In The World."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: mg
Date: 05 Apr 15 - 06:18 PM

cliffs of baccalieu ?? written in 1934 by Jack Withers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 06 Apr 15 - 03:43 AM

This was written by a late friend back in the 70s (now deceased) - it is based on the Fenian Legend of Finn and the two-headed giant.
Jim Carroll

O'REILLY AND THE BIG McNEIL      
Donneil Kennedy
tune: based on The Garden where the Praties Grow.

Well, the day I met O'Reilly it was thirty-two below,
The sparks were flying off me pick, I was up to me neck in snow.
His footsteps shook the basement slab, I saw the sky grow black
As he roared out, 'I'm your ganger now, so dig until you crack!'

He was bigger than a dumper truck, with legs like concrete piles,
His face was like a load of bricks, his teeth were six inch files;
His eyes they shone like danger lamps, his hands were tough as steel,
But a man as small as that was never a match for Big McNeil.

When the tea came round at dinner time, He grabbed a gallon tin.
I said 'you'd better drop that fast if you would save your skin,
You may be called O'Reilly, but I will to you reveal
That the cup you've got your hands on, it belongs to big McNeil.

Well, he laughed at me and carried on as if I hadn't spoke,
He said 'A man from Dublin town can always take a joke,'
But when he picked a shovel up, wee Jimmie gave a squeal.
'You'd better drop that teaspoon, it belongs to Big McNeil.'

Well, everything the ganger touched we said to leave alone,
Or else McNeil would grind him up and make plaster of his bones,
As last O'Reilly lost his head and said he'd make a meal
Out of any labourer in the squad, especially Big McNeil.

We said McNeil was home in bed, and told him where to go,
The boys all dropped their tools and went along to watch the show,
And when we got to Renfrew street wee Jimmy danced a reel
To see him thundering at the door, to fight the big McNeil.

When the ganger got inside he saw a monster on the bed,
A mound as big as a stanchion base with a barrel size of head,
He punched it and he thumped it and he hit about with zeal,
Till the missus cried - 'Don't hurt the child, or else I'll tell McNeil.'

He was bigger than a dumper truck, with legs like concrete piles,
His face was like a load of bricks, his teeth were six inch files,
His eyes they shone like danger lamps, his hands were tough as steel,
But a man as small as that was never a match for Big McNeil.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about being invincible or mighty
From: eftifino
Date: 06 Apr 15 - 09:42 AM

How about '16 Tons' by Tennessee Ernie Ford.

As a bit of a gag, here's Mac Davis' 'Lord, its hard to be humble"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYKWch_MNY0