Subject: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Leadbelly Date: 10 Apr 09 - 03:11 PM Lonnie Donegan did it in "Long John". Any other ideas where singers mention their own name? |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: bobad Date: 10 Apr 09 - 03:24 PM Jesse Winchester in "Yankee Lady" |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Darowyn Date: 10 Apr 09 - 03:25 PM Bo Diddley-- now what was the song called......? |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Dave Sutherland Date: 10 Apr 09 - 03:31 PM Geordie Ridley in "The Blaydon Races" |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Steve Shaw Date: 10 Apr 09 - 03:32 PM Christy Moore in Lisdoonvarna. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Rog Peek Date: 10 Apr 09 - 03:44 PM Phil Ochs did 'The ballad of John Train' Rog |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Rog Peek Date: 10 Apr 09 - 03:59 PM Tom didn't actually write this verse to 'Last Thing On My mind', but I've seen him include it live a couple of times in recent years, and it's on his 'Live in the UK' CD. Well I met this young girl at a folk club, Like you do, like you do. So I bought her a drink and we chatted, Wouldn't you, wouldn't you, And then after the show she invited me home, And she said we were two of a kind, Then she played me every record That Tom Paxton ever made, And you know that was the last thing on my mind. Rog |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Adrian Owlett Date: 10 Apr 09 - 04:02 PM Jerry Lee Lewis - Lewis Boogie Cliff Richard - Whole Lotta' Shakin'(live version) |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 10 Apr 09 - 04:20 PM Erm... uhhhhh... David Soul |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Rog Peek Date: 10 Apr 09 - 05:04 PM The Big Bopper in 'Chantilly Lace'. Rog |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Uncle Phil Date: 10 Apr 09 - 05:15 PM David Allan Coe singing Steve Goodman's "You Never Even Call Me by My Name", aka the perfect country and western song. Well, I've seen my name a few times in your phone book, And I've seen it on signs where I've played, But the only time I know, I'll hear David Allan Coe, Is when Jesus has his final judgement day. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Bainbo Date: 10 Apr 09 - 05:26 PM Al Dexter, in his Pistol Packin' Mama, curiously, appears to narrate the story from beyond the grave: Now there was old Al Dexter, He always had his fun, But with some lead she shot him dead - His honkin' days are done. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Little Robyn Date: 10 Apr 09 - 06:15 PM Quite a few of Eric Bogle's songs are autobiographical eg Leaving Nancy - his Mum. Robyn |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Rog Peek Date: 10 Apr 09 - 06:35 PM Can you give an example of his name being mentioned? Rog |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Rog Peek Date: 10 Apr 09 - 06:38 PM Having said that, I'm wondering now whether I've read too much into it, perhaps Leadbelly could clear that up. Rog |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Jack Campin Date: 10 Apr 09 - 06:49 PM In one of the genres of Turkish folksong it's standard for the poet to put their name in the last verse - almost all of the songs of the 16th century insurrectionary mystic Pir Sultan Abdal are "signed" like that. There are literally thousands of examples. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Beer Date: 10 Apr 09 - 07:02 PM Jesse Winchester in "Nothing But A Breeze". Beer (adrien |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Susanne (skw) Date: 10 Apr 09 - 10:26 PM Iain MacKintosh in his version of The Folker and (first name only) in his own For the Special Friends and about a dozen others. As to Eric Bogle: I actually found one song where he refers to himself by name, Them Old Song-Writin' Blues: I try to write my songs deep and esoteric But they just come out the same old Eric Oh mama, got them old song-writin' blues He's also written Eric and the Informers - autobiographical, but his name is only mentioned in the title. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: BobKnight Date: 10 Apr 09 - 11:07 PM Craig David |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: catspaw49 Date: 10 Apr 09 - 11:21 PM Someone mentioned one particular Jerry Lee Lewis song. Tell ya' what, if you listen to any Jerry Lee performance he mentions his own name or "Killer" in about every other song! That's Jerry Lee....... Spaw |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Golightly Date: 11 Apr 09 - 08:01 AM In her song 'The Mind of Love' from the album 'Ingenue', kd lang sings 'where is your head kathryn?' |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Bobert Date: 11 Apr 09 - 08:09 AM Robert Johnson in "Crossroads Blues"... |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Sttaw Legend Date: 11 Apr 09 - 08:26 AM harriWatts in "harriWatts is back in town" |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Dave the Gnome Date: 11 Apr 09 - 08:49 AM Me in 'Martin said to his Man'. I heard yours truly (or inset name) sing in tune Fie, an, fie I heard yours truly sing in tune Who's the fool now? I heard yours truly sing in tune with everyone in the folk club room Thou hast well drunken, Man Who's the fool now? DeG |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Cpt Colin Date: 11 Apr 09 - 11:32 AM John Prine in that song about him dying- "Please Don't Bury me" or some such title. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: curmudgeon Date: 11 Apr 09 - 11:58 AM Paddy Ryan in "The Moonshine Can." "Now, here's to the man who wrote this song, I'm sure he was not lyin' And if you wants to know his name, his name be Paddy Ryan." |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Leadbelly Date: 11 Apr 09 - 02:36 PM Correction: Lonnie's song is called "Lost John" instead of "Long John". "If anybody asks you Who sung this song Tell 'em Lonnie Donegan Been here and gone" Rog: Ideally, a singer should mention his complete name in a song. Surname or first name only might be second best. But it's alright, too. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: john f weldon Date: 11 Apr 09 - 02:52 PM Billy Gashade (sp?) in Jesse James |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Nicholas Waller Date: 11 Apr 09 - 06:27 PM Al Stewart is sometimes very autobiographical, and names himself (I assume it is him and not some other Al) in the chorus "And yes I was doing all right up until now/ I'm beginning to think you should have listened to Al" in You Should Have Listened To Al |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Art Thieme Date: 11 Apr 09 - 07:14 PM My name is old Art Thieme--I come from Charleston town, I've traveled this wide world over--I traveled all around, I got so hell-fired hungry I could hide behind a straw, But I never knew what misery was -- 'til I hit ol' Arkansas. That's sort of the way I did it for close to 40 years. But I had to paraphrase myself --- after doing it all that time. Just can't seem to dredge up the right words. Whew? Art |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: mg Date: 11 Apr 09 - 08:34 PM MacPherson's lament? mg |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Howard Kaplan Date: 11 Apr 09 - 10:12 PM Spencer the Rover |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST Date: 12 Apr 09 - 11:09 AM Christy Moore in Welcome to the Cabaret |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Uncle Phil Date: 12 Apr 09 - 11:30 AM Now, my name is Jock Stewart, I'm a canny gaun man, And a roving young fellow, I've been. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: fumblefingers Date: 12 Apr 09 - 05:42 PM Hank Williams Jr. and Jerry Lee Lewis do it in a lot of their songs. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Marion Date: 12 Apr 09 - 05:49 PM Stan Rogers, in "Song of the Candle", has the waitress say "Buy another coffee, Stan..." full lyrics here Marion |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Cool Beans Date: 13 Apr 09 - 09:36 AM Didn't the real Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter) do it somewhere? |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Valmai Goodyear Date: 13 Apr 09 - 11:41 AM How about all the 'goodnight' ballads written by, or at least put into the mouths of, various villains on their way to the gallows? They usually end with a warning not to do what they have done (rather than to make sure you don't get caught). Valmai (Lewes) |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: C. Ham Date: 13 Apr 09 - 02:49 PM Leonard Cohen's song, "Famous Blue Raincoat," is sung as a letter. He ends the song by singing, "Sincerely, L. Cohen." |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: PoppaGator Date: 13 Apr 09 - 03:06 PM Lightnin' Hopkins, in more of his songs than not. He usually refers to himself as "Po' Lightnin'." |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Smokey Date: 13 Apr 09 - 03:33 PM JS Bach did it instrumentally with German notation. (BACH) |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Leadbelly Date: 13 Apr 09 - 04:23 PM Grayson and Whittler in Tom Dooley (1929). "This world and one more then where do you reckon I'll be If it hadn't been for Grayson I'd have been in Tennessee". Cool Beans: Cannot remember a song of Lead Belly where he did it. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Cool Beans Date: 13 Apr 09 - 08:07 PM Pearl Bailey singing "Solid Gold Cadillac" sang "All Pearl needs is a solid gold Cadillac." |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 14 Apr 09 - 11:05 AM Frank Bolar, the old bachelor who narrates "Starving to Death on my Government Claim" or "The Lane County Bachelor." |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Gerry Date: 15 Apr 09 - 12:18 AM Kristina Olsen does a song, Love, Kristina. In Gotta Serve Somebody, Dylan writes, "You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy." Then again, he also wrote, "My name, it means nothing." Frank MacNamara, aka Frank the Poet, wrote a poem, For The Company Under Ground, where every stanza ends, "MacNamara shall work that day/For the company under ground." I've heard it recited, don't know whether anyone's ever put a tune to it. I don't suppose you'd count the Peter, Paul and Mary recording of A-soalin', with the line, "One for Peter/Two for Paul." |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: ClaireBear Date: 15 Apr 09 - 02:42 AM Not sure if this counts, because June Tabor didn't write it (Les Barker did) and Les Barker doesn't sing it (June Tabor does), but "The January June" is about the one who sings it and also mentions the one who wrote it: The January June she walks abroad in sombre mood and boots of leather, The February June she sings a song About a pigeon getting lost. The June of March may briefly smile, But only for a little while; It's good to get it over. In April, it's the Easter Tree; This June's degree's in misery; a master's; In May the June of May may say The June of June is due this afternoon. Too soon the June of June's come true To do as June Junes used to do; Les Barker, you're a bastard. (There's more, elsewhere in the forum) |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: JedMarum Date: 15 Apr 09 - 09:32 AM I sing two (didn't write either) where the lyrics call for "Insert Your Name Here" sort of-thing. Sporting Life Blues: "My mother used to, say to me You're so young and foolish, I can't see Oh, Jed - hey there Jed why don't you change your ways" The other one is Spancil Hill. I know singers often use "Johnny" instead of inserting their own name, but I like it this way: "She threw her arms around me saying 'Jed, I love you still.'" I am very careful to leave a suitable pause when singing this, between "Jed" and "I" - in order to avoid accidentally referencing a set of sci-fi warriors. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: SINSULL Date: 15 Apr 09 - 10:08 AM Dylan, again: The President said "My boy Bob. What do we need to make this country grow?" I said "President Kennedy, Brigitte Bardo, Anita Ekberg, Sophia Loren. Country will grow." |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: John P Date: 15 Apr 09 - 10:27 AM Jimi Hendrix in Fire. I do it all the time. Whenever I learn a song where the narrator uses his/her name, I change it to mine if at all possible. |
Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: bobad Date: 15 Apr 09 - 10:30 AM James Taylor in "Sweet Baby James"? Goodnight you moonlight ladies Rockabye sweet baby james Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose Wont you let me go down in my dreams And rockabye sweet baby james |
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