Lyr Req: Sing in the Spring (Utah Phillips)

Subject: lyrics needed: 'Sing in the spring, sing
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 09:39 PM

I recently learned that this song, which I first heard from the Limelighters I think, is a Bruce Phillips song.

So I've gotta learn it and work it in to a story time, in memoriam.

Sing in the spring, sing in the fall,
Sing when I hear my baby bawl
Sing all day, all night too,
If you hush your cryin' I'll sing for you.

I need some of the verses, about all the different animals ...

It is not on Utah's page where I would have expected it.

M.A.

P.S.: was there no thread about Folklife this year?

Subject: RE: lyrics needed: 'Sing in the spring, sing
From: Mark Ross
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 10:40 PM

It is a Utah Phillips song. I have the album he recorded it on in the early '60's. When I find it I'll post the lyrics.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: lyrics needed: 'Sing in the spring, sing
From: Mark Ross
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 12:40 AM

"Once I had a tall giraffe,(2X)
He liked to sing and liked to laugh,
And lived on beer and bubble bath,

Sing in the spring.........


I had a parrot all yellow and green(2X),
Stupidest bird I've ever seen,
And he could swear like a big marine,

Sing in the spring..........."

There's more, I'll remember them later.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: lyrics needed: 'Sing in the spring, sing
From: MAG
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 10:38 AM

Thanks, Mark, I suppose I could always make up some new ones, in true folk fashion.

One was, I had a dog his name was Blue -

Subject: RE: lyrics needed: 'Sing in the spring, sing
From: Peace
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 12:30 PM

I bet you five farthings
He's an excellent canine, too.

Subject: RE: lyrics needed: 'Sing in the spring, sing
From: GUEST,MA at work
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 01:54 PM

Nah that wasn't it (yes I get the joke) but I can't remember what it WAS ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sing in the Spring (Utah Phillips)
From: MAG
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 08:43 PM

refresh -- I still need more verses!

Subject: Lyr Add: SING IN THE SPRING (Utah Phillips)
From: Ken Schatz
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 12:55 AM

Hi MAG,

I remember, from Utah singing live...


I had a mule, his name was Jack (2X)
And when I climbed upon his back,
He damn near died of a heart attack

CHORUS
Sing in the spring, sing in the fall
Sing when you hear my baby bawl
Sing all day, all night too
If you hush your cryin', I'll sing for you

I had a canary, all yeller and green (2X)
The prettiest bird you've ever seen
But it could swear like a big Marine

I had a horse, his name was Tex (2X)
He signed his name with an "X"
And made his livin' forgin' checks

Once I had a tall giraffe (2X)
He liked to sing, and he liked to laugh
He lived on beer and bubble bath

I had everything, short and tall (2X)
Round or square, big or small
I guess my baby's the best of all


Cheers,
Ken

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sing in the Spring (Utah Phillips)
From: MAG
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 09:43 AM

Thanks, Ken -- I should have remembered the mule verse. Have to edit them all for kids, I guess --

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sing in the Spring (Utah Phillips)
From: GUEST,ted itzov
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 06:18 PM

Regarding "giraffe" (2nd last verse?) the song goes

"... my how that giraffe could laugh.
He put beer in his bubble bath..."

Regrding "parrot" (first verse):

"I had a parrot all yellow and green
(chorus repeats the same)
Silliest bird you've ever seen
He could swear like a big marine.

This is followed by:
"Had a canary all white and blue
(chorus)
I'll tell you all that bird could do was ply the harp, and yodel, too.
(instrumental passage follows)

Then:
"I had a horse, and his name was Tex.
(chorus)
Signed his name with an 'X,' and mand his living forgin' checks."
Next:
"I had a lamb I used to keep
(chorus)
When I told him to go to sleep, he counted people instead of sheep.
Next: the giraffe verse, followed by the baby verse.

Q.: was this written before or after "Mule Skinner Blues?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sing in the Spring (Utah Phillips)
From: Mark Ross
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 08:22 PM

I had a bear who sang the blues
I had a bear who growled the blues
He hocked his pants and he hocked his shoes,
He hocked everything but his press reviews.


On Rosalie Sorells Grammy nominated STRANGERS IN ANOTHER COUNTRY she does this song with a bunch of Twin Cities pickers with these extra verses;

Once I had a brontosaurus
A brontosauros name of Horace,
When we play golf he'll caddie for us,
And he likes to sing tenor in the clubhouse chorus.

Once I had a lettle shrimp,
An inky, dinky, stinky shrimp,
He tried to make love to a blimp,
And now he's walking with a limp.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sing in the Spring (Utah Phillips)
From: MAG
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 08:43 PM

Great, guys. I just found this refreshed.

It seems like time to think of those we've lost this year.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sing in the Spring (Utah Phillips)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 05:58 PM

Do you have the chords for this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sing in the Spring (Utah Phillips)
From: GUEST,MAG at work
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 08:19 PM

It's your basic three chord song: I usually do things in C or G.

If you know the tune, you can figure it out in about 2 minutes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sing in the Spring (Utah Phillips)
From: GUEST,iancarterb
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 11:14 PM

The kids and a few seditious teachers at my daughter's elementary school a decade ago, plus some, must have made up a few verses that I didn't see here. I'll try to update this thread when I again get ahold of the Collected Island School String Band Songs - I can't find my copy at the moment.
Carter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sing in the Spring (Utah Phillips)
From: GUEST,Warren Dodsdale
Date: 01 Apr 10 - 10:20 PM

I had a mule, his name was Jack (2X)
And when I climbed upon his back,
He damn near died of a heart attack

CHORUS
Sing in the spring, sing in the fall
Sing when you hear my baby bawl
Sing all day, all night too
If you hush your cryin', I'll sing for you

I had a canary, all yeller and green (2X)
The prettiest bird you've ever seen
But it could swear like a big Marine

I had a bear who sang the blues,
I had a old bear and he wailed the blues,
He hocked his pants, hocked his shoes,
Hocked everything but his press reviews

I had a horse, his name was Tex (2X)
He signed his name with an "X"
And made his livin' forgin' checks

Once I had a tall giraffe (2X)
He liked to sing, and he liked to laugh
He lived on beer and bubble bath

I had me a lamb I used to keep,
Little bitty lamb I used to keep,
When I'd tell him to go to sleep,
He counted people instead of sheep.

I had everything, short and tall (2X)
Round or square, big or small
I guess my baby's the best of all