Aine's Mudcat Songbook PermaThread

Subject: RE: Aine's Mudcat Songbook PermaThread
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Apr 11 - 09:56 PM

Well, that's three hundred posts in this thread. I guess it's time to post another space-filler message, in case I missed a song. If somebody would like to volunteer to double-check this to make sure I didn't miss any songs, please let me know.
Thanks.
-Joe-

Subject: SB: Valley Of The Towering Shadows (Genie)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 12:58 AM

Valley Of The Towering Shadows by Genie
(sheet music available upon request via email -- [e-mail])
(2/4 time - moderate pace)

G             F          C                         D
On our / journey / to the promised / land, /
G                         Em          C          D
Ambushed by an / unseen / outlaw / band, /
Em                                             Am
Most of us sur- / vived, but so / many fell that / day,
             D          D7          C          D          G
Many / sisters, / brothers / perished in the / fray. /

         F         C             F               G
In / shock, / anguish, / terror and / dread, /
G          Em                           C                       D
Vision / blurred -- couldn't / see the road a- / head--,
          Em                                        Am                                   D
We / knew it was a / crossroads; / nothing more was / clear. /
                         D                         C          D          G
Couldn't find our / way through the/ smoke / and our / tears. /     /

                    G                    F               G
Through The / Valley Of the / Towering / Shadows, /
               G#                    G                    D          D7
Could we / move ahead in / spite of our / fears? /
                  Em                                             Am
Could we / feel beyond the / hate? Could we / see our way / clear?
                    D                    D7                       C     D7             G
Could we / reach beyond our / rage, / See the way through our / tears? /

(Repeat melody of last line of chorus instrumentally)

                G               F            C                         D
We'd been / living in a / garden, / rich beyond com- / pare. /
                    G                 Em                       C                       D7
Some had / called it the / promised land and / wanted to stay / there. /
                Em                                                  Am
But there / is no promised / land when there is / want outside the / wall
               D               D7             C          D          G
And the / dream is / "liberty and / just-i- / ice* for / all,"     /     /     /

                      G                         F                    G
So we said, / "Even through the / Valley Of the / Shadow,
          G#             G                    D7
We'll / move a- / head in spite of / fear--     /     /
Em               Am
Dust in our / eyes, / eyes on the / prize--
          D                            C        D7             G
The / promised land worth / all our toil and / tears." /     /     /

                  F               C             F                     G                    G
Then the / skyline on / fire, the / smoke and the / screams!  /     /
                  Em            C                              D7
Buildings / crumbling / with our hearts and / dreams!/     /
          Em                                   Am
Now / some of us are / cowering, /     frozen in our / tracks.     /
D                                        D7            C            D               G
Many cry for / vengeance!  /     Some /  say we / must turn / back. /     /

                      G                    F               G
Through The / Valley Of The / Towering / Shadows, /
               G#                     G                    D7
Can we / move ahead in / spite of all our / fears? /
               Em                                        Am
Can we / feel beyond the / hate? Can we / see our way / clear, /
   D                         D7                    C     D7             G
Reach beyond our / rage, / See the way / through our / tears? /

(Repeat melody of last two lines of chorus instrumentally.)

G                                   F          C                 D
Now, once more we're / moving, / anger justi- / fied,
          G               Em        C          D7
As- / sured that / God is / on our / side, /
          Em                                        Am                                   D
But / have we got our / bearings e- / nough to compre- / hend /
                              D7        C         D                G
Just where we're / going, / where / it all might / end?  /

             G                      F                    G
Is the / garden now the / Valley Of The / Shadow? /
                G#               G               D7
Will to- / morrow be / hostage to / fear? /
               Em                                      Am
Are we / guided more by / hate or by / all we hold so / dear?*
                D                 D7                  C        D7               G
Can we / channel this / rage, see the / way / through our / tears? /

            G                         F                    G
Yes,  / even through The /Valley Of The /  Shadow, /
             G#                   G               D7
We'll / move a- / head in spite of / fears. /     /
  Em                         Am
Tears in our / eyes, / Eyes on the / prize, /
          D                            C        D7          G
The / promised land, the /  hope of all the /years.
  Em                         Am
Tears in our / eyes, /  Eyes on the / prize, /     /
          D                           C          D7          G
The / promised land, / the hope /  of all the / years. /     /     /



* With each measure getting 2 beats, the word "justice" uses 3 beats and the word "for" uses one.
**Alternate lyrics:
     Verse four: "Then our world crashed down, as from a great earthquake,
     Would our faith now shatter like the buildings in its wake."
     Next to last chorus: "Are we greater than this hate?
     Will the dream again be clear?

Words and music by Jeanene Pratt ©2001, 2002; All rights reserved.

Subject: SB:Vhere Da Rippling Vaters Flow (Lloyd Michalsen)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:00 AM

Vhere Da Rippling Vaters Flow by Lloyd Michalsen (Lloyd62)
(July 6, 2000 - Key of G)

Vell I vent to Min-ne-so-ta , vhere da rip-pling va-ters flow,
It t'was a sommer hol-i-day, a fish-ing ve vould go
But, Opal she had other plans, to Rochester ve vill go
She vanted me to visit the clinic of May-yoo. (O N0) 

Chorus:
I lost my little prostate where da rippling vaters flow,
Now here I sit for ten days in a bag my pee vill go.
I came to Min-ne-so-ta, to fish the vaters blue
Now here I am in Min-ne-so-ta held together vit string and glue. (YA)

Da little lady doctor at my testicles she did stare,
She said not to vorry, just a little swelling going on down there.
O No, she is going to take it too, but Opal said, Not True,
And if she did, vhy vorry, you know dat you have twooo. ( O NO)

(Chorus)

When Gabriel blows his Trumpet , on Resurrection Day
The dead in Christ will all arise, Perfect in every way.
I will have to excuses my self, when the Mill-enn-i-um starts
I need to go to Min-ne-so-ta to find my missing parts. (YA)

(All together, one last time on the chorus.)
I lost my little prostate where da rippling vaters flow,
Now here I sit for ten days in a bag my pee vill go.
I came to Min-ne-so-ta, to fish da vaters blue
Now here I am in Min-ne-so-ta held together vit string and glue. (YA)

Subject: SB: The Virus Song by Mbo
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:01 AM

The Virus Song by Mbo

We must make haste
We must make haste
We need some RNA reverse transcriptase!

We'll dethrone your chromosomes
We'll steam your genes
We'll steal you alleles!

Your rough ER and your smooth ER
They try their best
But here we are!

Your nucleus and lysosomes
They try to throw things at us
But we're busy disassembling your Golgi apparatus!

We all have protein capsules
And some have spores to boot
We can lie asleep for 10,000 years
And still wake up and go up your snoot!

© Matthew Richards 2000

Subject: SB: We Can't Take Any More by Mary G
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:02 AM

We Can't Take Any More by Mary G

Mary G's Comments:  Here's a song about refugee kids I worked with . . . names are real.

Maybe from Galway and maybe Saigon
The ships to American sail right along
And the first words they hear on America's shore
Go away go away we can't take any more

Chorus:
For it's getting too crowded here under the flag
And you're noisy and dirty and carry the plague
So we will tell you what our folks heard before
Go away go away we can't take any more

Someday I'll ask every young refugee
Where did you come from and what did you see
What sorrow what famine what slaughter what war
How much did you take till you couldn't take more

So Carlos and Dang and Phat and Rashid
And Tuck and Mohammed grow up with good speed
And forget when we met you we ranted and swore
Go away go away we can't take any more

And when you are citizens duly sworn in
You'll go down to where others before you have been
And greet the next ship to America's shore
Go away go away we can't take any more.

Subject: SB: We Need More Administrators by BSeed
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:06 AM

We Need More Administrators by BSeed (Charles Kratz)


BSeed's Comments:  The labor movement. In 1975, the teachers in the Berkeley Unified School District (California) struck when the district threatened to cut salaries, at a time when the district was paying 50K a year in fines because we had too many school administrators. The strike began on the first day of classes in September, and lasted for 21 days before we went into arbitration; we won the arbitration battle but lost the war--at the end of the year the district laid off about 10% of the teachers.  During the strike I escaped the tedium of the picket line as a member of a group called the Board Erasers. We went from school to school riding in the back of a yellow Mazda pickup truck to lead the strikers in singing strike songs. Members of the group and a few other strikers wrote dozens of songs at the time. I wrote about a dozen myself, and if you don't start submitting some of your own, I'm going to add one of my each day until I run out. Then I'll write some more.  Songs from any movement are welcome: peace, labor, civil rights, homeless advocates, environmental, gay rights, or even such things as anti-affirmative action or english only, if you sing about such points of view.   But I'm getting ahead of myself. I went to the first strike meeting armed with a new song, written to the tune of "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys Are Marching":

I'm the sixth assistant paper inventory analyst
And you know I've got just too much work to do,
Watching thirteen secretaries,
Three accountants and a clerk
Counting all those composition books for you.

First Chorus
We need more administrators
We just outnumber teachers three to one.
Screw the teachers, cut their pay,
Schools don't need them anyway.
Oh, we'll put them in their place before we're done.
It's a tough and vital job counting composition books,
There's an element of danger in it, too:
You might get slivers in your bum
Or mess your pants with bubblegum;
Why, just last week I got a thumbtack in my shoe.

Second Chorus
We need more administrators
Creative education is our aim
If the funds are getting low
We can let some teachers go--
Everybody knows that they're the ones to blame.

Subject: SB: We Will Meet Again by Amergin
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:07 AM

We Will Meet Again by Amergin

My soul is in the heavens
My body's on the ground
The stars are all calling
Me as I look around
My journey is beginning
To where I do not know
To where I do not know

It's 3 in the morning
When you answer the call
You're eyes turn moistly red
The tears stream down your face
I want to hug and tell you
Please don't weep for me
Please don't weep for me

My sickness is now over
The pain is now all gone
Yet your body is shaking
With the tears in your eyes
Feed on to our memories
Until we meet again
We will meet again

Subject: SB: We're Alright Jack by The Shambles
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:08 AM

We're Alright Jack by The Shambles

The Shambles' Comments:  The thinking behind the song is fairly simple.  It could be expressed as 'put up or shut up'.  I can understand why an individual would not wish to get actively involved in a cause or campaign.  The choice is theirs.  There is only so much time and one would soon be worn out if you were not selective in where you placed your limited energy.  What I don't understand is why some people, who maybe generally in favour of the overall objective and who recognise the scale of the problem, are motivated to spend their time and energy to publicly place some nit-picking criticism of the methods that are being used by those who are actively involved.  Doing this without making any positive alternative suggestions or accepting that others may not have the luxury of choosing if they wish to be actively involved.  The original criticisms are usually justified by a claim that the methods used are counter-productive and/or risk making the situation worse.  Not recognising that for a victim, things could not get much worse or that expressing these negative criticisms is the most counter-productive action and risks diverting attention away from the real problem.  I possibly do understand why this is done, I do not however understand why this is considered to be a respectable position?  Or why when such negative views are expressed, these are then followed with 'sheep-like' agreement from others?  Or are expressed, because it is felt to be expressing a collective, if undemonstrated view or feeling?  No one is above criticism or above making mistakes but are there not better ways of dealing with this, ones that do not risk confusing the issue or diluting the strength of the message?  This song reflects my personal experiences with the Public Entertainment Licensing issue, over the past 2 years, but can be applied to many wider issues.  An obvious example is the present situation with Iraq.

We're alright Jack, so don't bother us
It may affect us too, if you go kicking up a fuss
I can see you are wounded
Not in the best of health
But we all agree, you must have brought it on yourself

Am I not entitled, just like all of you
To speak from what I see, my personal point of view?
I'll question those who try to get the problem solved
And criticise those who would get me involved

We're alright Jack, so don't bother us
It may affect us too, if you go kicking up a fuss
I can see you are wounded
Not in the best of health
But we all agree, you must have brought it on yourself

These fears of mugging are simply overblown
Didn't get mugged, when I went out alone
Ignore the statistics, ignore the traumatised
In my opinion, its over dramatised

We're alright Jack, so don't bother us
It may affect us too, if you go kicking up a fuss
I can see you are wounded
Not in the best of health
But we all agree, you must have brought it on yourself

The victims of this crime may not think I am right
Many now, if able, would not go out at night
My support may give some consolation
I'll leave them in their lonely isolation

We're alright Jack, so don't bother us
It may affect us too, if you go kicking up a fuss
I can see you are wounded
Not in the best of health
But we all agree, you must have brought it on yourself


©Roger Gall – September 2002

Subject: SB: What Did I Do? by Mbo
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:11 AM

What Did I Do? by Mbo
(Words & Music by Matthew Richards)


Mbo's Comments:  Here's another one o' my songs for the Mudcat Songbook. This one is completely written by me(!). This is going to be heard on Mudcat Radio one of these days--I just need to get around to recording it. It's HUGELY influenced by The Electric Light Orchestra and The Beatles, but it still has a very folksy sound--almost like skiffle.

Hey girl, where did you come from?
Just one sight of you nearly struck me dumb
You appeared like the brightest star in my sky
You came to me, and I still don't know why

Prechorus:
How did you know
I was alone?
How did you hear
My falling tears?
You're so very smart
You knew what was in my heart

Chorus:
What did I do to deserve a girl like you?
You take away the clouds and rain, and make my whole sky blue
What did I do to deserve a girl like you?
You take away the clouds and rain, and make my whole sky blue

Hey girl, how do you know me?
My name from your lips came so easily
I'll never understand it, but I realized just then
My life would never be the same again

Prechorus

Chorus

Hey girl, please tell me quick
What made you choose me when you could have had your pick
Of all the million guys that are better by a longshot?
But in any case, I'm glad it's me you got

Prechorus

Chorus

Hey girl, listen to what I say
I'm gonna tell you just how much I love you every day
All of your sweet dreams, I will try to fulfill
To stay right by your side for life. That I will!

Prechorus

Chorus

Chorus

Matthew Richards (1999)

Subject: SM: Where the Lilies Used to Spring (Gray/Mbo)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:17 AM

WHERE THE LILIES USED TO SPRING
Poem by David Gray, melody by Mbo

When the place was green with the shaky grass
And the windy trees were high
When the leaflets told each other tales
And the stars were in the sky
When the silent crows hid their ebon beaks
Beneath their ruffled wing—
Then the fairies watered the glancing spot
Where the lilies used to spring!

When the sun is high in the summer sky
And the lake is deep with clouds
When gadflies bite the prancing kine
And light the lark enshrouds—
Then the butterfly, like a feather dropped
From the tip of an angel's wing
Floats wavering on to the glancing spot
Where the lilies used to spring!

When the wheat is shorn and the burns run brown
And the moon shines clear at night
When wains are heaped with rustling corn
And swallows take their flight
When the trees begin to cast their leaves
And the birds, new-feathered, sing—
Then comes the bee to the glancing spot
Where the lilies used to spring!

When the sky is grey and the trees are bare
And the grass is long and brown
And black moss clothes the soft damp thatch
And the rain comes weary down
And countless droplets on the pond
Their widening orbits ring—
Then bleak and cold is the silent spot
Where the lilies used to spring!

--Mbo

---

Click to play

Subject: SB: Whistlebinkie by Mbo
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:18 AM

Whistlebinkie by Mbo
(Click here for tune)


Well I've rambled nearly all my life 
And all across this land 
With nothing but the clothes upon my back 
And my whistle in my hand 
I play my whistle from town to town 
To earn my daily bread 
And if some folks like the way I play 
Tonight I'll sleep in a bed 

Chorus: 
Oh I stepped and danced so merry and light 
Much to the ladies' grand delight 
And I played my whistle so cheerfully 
That all the folks danced along with me 
Ah! The life of a whistlebinkie! 

I've played at parties in Inverness 
In pubs in Kingussie 
They've offered my positions there 
But I've got to be free 
Itinerant, wand'ring musicians, we 
Make music in the street 
Our playing draws folks from miles around 
To hear our tunes so sweet 

I've whistled at many a wedding feast 
I deem they are the best 
Everyone's so kind to you 
The treat you like a guest! 
Well, there's food and drink and cake 
And prayers for the happy couple--and more: 
I get to lead each bridesmaid out 
In a dance across the floor 

So don't you dare insult us 
Or try to put us down 
Whistlebinkies were there on your first birthday 
We'll be there when they put you in the ground 
Oh, traveling whistlebinkies 
We rove from here to there 
As long as we've got our whistles & tunes 
We're welcome everywhere!

Subject: SB: Whitby Coming Home by McGrath of Harlow
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:21 AM

Whitby Coming Home by McGrath of Harlow

McGrath of Harlow's Comments:  Here's a song I made up at Whitby for folk week.  I sang it before the week was out.  The tune that set itself to it is a bit reminiscent of a hymn tune used for O Jesus Christ Remember in Catholic srvices, and the Churches One Foundation, I believe, in the CofE.  That struck me the other day as I was driving along and checking that I remembered the words.  But other people might not see the similarity.  Not that it matters.  If anyone feels like singing it and has a tune they like better, feel free.  I've put in a RealAudio song file to give an idea of the tune. (In fact I sing it using G chords capoed up so it's in the key of A.)


Perhaps the seagulls woke me, but I could not sleep that night
So I walked down to the harbour, to see the harbour lights,
And the harbour lights were shining, and the night was calm and clear -
But I'll tell you one more reason I'll be coming back next year
To Whitby in the summer, together or alone,
To Whitby, where it's always coming home.

And rising in the morning, I climbed two hundred stairs
To sing there in St Mary's, and to listen to the prayers,
With the bells so sweetly ringing, and the seagulls wheeling by,
And high above the harbour we were singing in the sky
In Whitby in the summer, together or alone,
In Whitby, where it's always coming home.

With the singing and the dancing, and the music in the streets,
And the welcome always shining in the faces that you meet,
Why, Whitby in the summer is like moving through a dream,
But there's something there in Whitby that is deeper than it seems.
In Whitby in the summer, together or alone,
In Whitby, where it's always coming home.

And in the Seaman's Mission, as I sat and drank my tea
The sailormen up on the walls were looking down at me
And standing in the evening so high above the shore
I seemed to see those little ships go sailing out once more
Go sailing out from Whitby, together and alone
Knowing some of them would never make it home.

And all through the streets of Whitby you can hear the seagulls cry
Don't they say they are the spirits of lost sailors long gone by?
So when we sing the old songs, it is more than just a game,
We wake the memory of the past, and welcome them back home
To Whitby in the summer, together or alone,
To Whitby, where it's always coming home.

©Kevin McGrath, August 19th 2002

Subject: SB: Whitby Fisherman by bill\sables
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:22 AM

Whitby Fisherman by bill\sables

bill's Comments:  When I was spending an evening with Sandy and Caroline Paton in August 1999 they sang an American Hymn called "Blessed Quietness".  I liked the tune and the chorus prompted a thought about the "coble" fishermen of Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland in the North East of England, so I strung a few words together and this is what came up.  I have used the same tune and chorus of the origional Hymn. Whitby is a fishing town on the Yorkshire coast famous for being the starting point of Captain Cook when he discovered Australia, and the annual Whitby Folk Festival Week held every August.


I'm a fisherman from Whitby, keep my boat down on the shore
And I fish the banks for herring as my father did before
When we leave the land at sunset for to plough the northern sea
It's the peace of moonlit waters that brings thoughts of home to me

Blessed quietness, Holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul
On the stormy sea speaking peace to me
How the billows cease to roll

When I'm standing in the wheelhouse in the subdued compass glow
I can find a peace unequalled, while the crew's asleep below
And the stars are there to guide me and to help me through the night
Mingling with the lights of comrades sailing for the morning light

When we shoot our nets at daybreak praying for a bumper haul
Then the sun shows in the heavens spreading brightness over all
And the seagulls wheel above us as we turn the boat around
'Cos the nets are full of silver and tonight we're Whitby bound

We'll unload our catch in the harbour and make sure all is tied down
Then it's home, a bath, then supper and a stroll down into town
We will pass around the bottle in a pub down on the quay
And we'll praise the Lords protection and His gift of Peaceful seas

Bill Sables

Subject: SB: Why Barky's Not At Work Today by Mbo
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:24 AM

Why Barky's Not At Work Today by Mbo

Oh dear Infamous Amos, how could you be so mean? 
By sitting here a-writing songs on your computer screen? 
While Barky-lass is out now at the setting of the sun 
And fixing computers or Saturday night instead of having fun?

Oh the hard life of a teenager--it never ends, I fear 
I'm still feeling it myself, though older by 6 year 
Yer parents make you work all night when you wish to play

**accidentally drops pick in guitar** Dang, come on you little blighter! **Shakes the guitar violently upside-down until pick skitters out** Ahh.. now where was I?

And when you do they chew you out, in a most annoying way 
While secretly you're not listening to a single word they say!

And worst of all, and most of all, they always get upset 
When you're supposed to work and instead you surf the net! 
And especially the Mudcat, with all it's grace & charms 
Will draw you like a magnet into it's awaiting arms!

So parents all around the world, take this word from me 
Berate not your poor children, for I'd much rather see 
Us kids all surfing Mudcat, writing songs and more 
Because the work we have to do is really quite a bore!

Matthew Richards (2000) 

Subject: SB: Wild and Free by mousethief
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:25 AM

Wild and Free by mousethief

mousethief's Comments:  Here's one I wrote when I was about 17 years old, more or less.

While sleeping on a summer night
Beneath a broad oak tree
I woke to find a unicorn
Running wild and free
Running wild and free
(repeat this phrase after each verse)

I held my breath and turned to watch
The show he gave for me
Dancing gracefully beneath the stars
And running wild and free 

And when at last his dance was done
He shyly came to me
And bid me climb upon his back,
Go running wild and free 

And so we ran beneath the moon
The unicorn and me
So clean and pure that summer night
We were running wild and free 

I often think back to that night
And what it meant to me
How dull men's lives are when compared
To running wild and free! 

(C) 1979 Alex E. Riggle. All Rights Reserved

Subject: SB: The Wild Rover (reformed) by The Shambles
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:28 AM

The Wild Rover (reformed) by The Shambles

The Shambles' Comments:  With love and affection to and for all parties.

I've been a 'Wild Rover', now I've seen the light
I won't be 'Leaving Liverpool' every night
I've packed up my songbook, and you'll understand
I'll not tie it up with a 'Black Velvet Band'

If they call out for a 'Jug Of Punch'
Tell them politely that I'm out to lunch
I'll leave Captain Farrell alone in the bar
From now on the 'Whiskey' can stay 'In The Jar'

My fingers were only for holding my beer
But now I know better, they fit in your ear
Now its worthy tradition and a very hard slog
Where once it was only 'All For Me Grog'

I'll not 'Tell me Ma' when I get home
I'll not be in 'Dublin's Fair City' alone
No more will a week be 'Seven Drunken Nights'
But long songs about tokens till they turn out the lights

You may have thought things couldn't get worse
But I've nearly remembered the 31st verse
When I can remember the full 93
There's nothing on earth that is stopping me

Its hard to be saying, goodbye old guitar
When I've been for so long, 'County Down's Star'
I will no longer, make those 'Fiddler's Green'
By slipping, now and then, a song in between

The session's loss is the sing-around's gain
For I never will play the 'Wild Rover' again
I may be missed when I'm no longer around
Don't look for me to get your 'Lobby Washed Down'

You won't find me staying on that 'Holy Ground'
But awaiting my turn, at the next sing a round
I know that this news will fill you with joy
I may still bring along my old pal 'Danny Boy'

And its, no nay never, no nay never no more
Will I play the Wild Rover
No never no more – Until the next time.

Subject: SB: The Wilderness Trail by Amos
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:31 AM

The Wilderness Trail by Amos
(Tune:  With God On Our Side - click here to play)

Come ye people of conscience,
Of awareness and Mind.
And please heed a warning,
Nor take it unkind
For your mind it will tumble,
And your spirit may fail,
If you walk unprepared on
The Wilderness Trail

Past the ranges of language
And the songs of the heart,
Where beliefs all are ending,
And something else starts
You may feel like a prisoner,
Released from his jail
When you first turn your mind to
The Wilderness Trail

Leave your fine mathematics,
Leave your poetry, too;
Walk away from the notions
You've presented as You;
Banish all preconceptions,
And your mind starts to pale;
When it sees your are bound for
The Wilderness Trail.

Turn away from the icons,
You have held for too long;
Cast off every image
Used to make others Wrong;
Bid farewell to fond formulas
You have run out of bail;
And your time is beginning
On the Wilderness Trail.

I was born in the suburbs,
Where the grasses are tame;
Raised into a fortune,
Brought up under a name.
I was promised fine schooling,
At Harvard and Yale
But I turned my face elsewhere--
To the Wilderness Trail.

Now the men that you find there
Are not of your kind;
For the space-winds have burned them,
And their faces are lined
But they see through your pity
And your heart's tongue may wail
You may curse your beginning
Down the Wilderness Trail

I have crossed every pitfall,
Scaled the windfalls of time;
Crossed the Ethical Mountains,
And left them behind;
I have vanquished the Maiden
And her cold bed of nails;
But there's country beyond her,
On the Wilderness Trail.

The trailhead is near you,
Not more than a day;
But as you love your comfort.
Turn away, turn away!
Let your heart keep its Answers;
Let your eyes keep their scales.
For there's nothing but Change
On the Wilderness Trail.

Subject: SB: Without The Song (There's No Show) - Shambles
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:33 AM

Without The Song (There's No Show) by The Shambles

The Shambles' Comments:  I always feel better after I sing this one but I do have to carefully explain to the audience that it is about a particular place and time and is not about them. Otherwise they are usually gone before the end of the song. It was a place where songwriters could go and perform to an audience that consisted of other songwriters. The idea was that they, of all people would provide a sympathetic audience for original material. It was a disaster of course as they were too busy either preparing to perform or flushed with success after they had performed, to actually listen to anybody else and just went through the motions, clapping dutyfully at the end of songs.


I saw no storm clouds appear
Is that the sound of thunder I hear?
Or the sound of warm applause?
No, it's just the roars
Of clashing egos and crashing bores

You know you're the best
So why not listen to the rest?
Don't sharpen your claws
Don't join the roars
Of clashing egos and crashing bores

Small fishes, small ponds
They wait for you to go on
They even call out for more
Then join the roars
Of clashing egos and crashing bores

The singers come and go
But without the song, there's no show
How can you sell, what's not yours?
Don't join the roars
Of clashing egos and crashing bores

The bottle may be shattered
But it's the message that matters
So if it washes on your shore
Don't join the roars
Of clashing egos and crashing bores

Roger Gall 1997 

Subject: SB: Would You Like To Dance? by jeffp
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:34 AM

Would You Like To Dance? by jeffp (submitted on Valentine's Day 2000)

jeffp's Comments:  Here's my first song, written for my wife for Valentine's Day.


CHORUS:
Would you like to dance, make some sweet romance 
Would you take a chance with me? 
We'll spin around the floor once or twice or more. 
I love you can't you see? 
Dance with me.

When I first met you many years ago, 
who could tell what would transpire? 
Neither you nor I knew as time went by 
you would set my heart on fire?

CHORUS

We went our separate ways, while the music played
Some sad and happy tunes.
Before the dance was through I came back to you
And we kissed beneath the moon.

CHORUS

Now if you'll just step into my arms
We'll waltz all around this hall.
Then no matter what the future brings
I'll be there each time you call.

CHORUS

by Jeff Porterfield

Subject: RE: Aine's Mudcat Songbook PermaThread
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:37 AM

This is another one of those place-holder-thingy messages, posted to make recovery easier if I make a mistake. Gee, I just finished "W," which would make one thing I'm almost done. Trouble is, there are other sections.....


Oh, well, onward and upward. I'm trying to finish "z" today, and go on to another section another day....

Subject: SB: e Brave Troubadour by Mbo
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:38 AM

Ye Brave Troubadour by Mbo

In the golden days of yore 
In a simple time that is no more 
There was a lively troubadour 
Who loved to turn a tune 

He lived for many kinds of song 
From galliards to ballads long 
And never known to play a note wrong 
Under the sun or under the moon 

He was the knight's and guard's delight 
They all rejoiced at just one sight 
In the dark there burned a light 
Of intellect and wit 

A large, round, tawny lute he played 
A great one he himself had made 
With fancy-crafted wood inlayed 
And for it, many works were writ 

At the castle, at the fort 
He even graced the King's own court 
With songs and dances of every sort 
Never would he quit 

And when the King went off to war 
With soldiers, knights, squires, and more 
They took the lively troubadour 
With them on their way 

On a horse's back he spent 
Playing marches as they went 
And at night, in his tent 
The soldiers came to hear him play 

And when a heavy fight ensued 
To his lute he stayed glued 
With his tunes he set the mood 
Above the battle's roar 

But alas! An arrow stray 
Pierced him in an awful way 
Prostrate on the ground he lay 
The lively singer was no more 

The noble soldiers, with honor due 
Erected there, a statue to 
The courageous little lutenist who 
Had died in glory, brave and true. 

Matthew Richards

Subject: SB: You Can Be A Street Musician! by reggie miles
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:41 AM

You Can Be A Street Musician! by reggie miles

reggie's Comments:  Here's a satirical little dittie that plays off of some of the common misconceptions about street musicians and their art form. It came to mind after some recent discussions I've been having about the subject at the Mudcat and elsewhere.


You can be a street musician!
It doesn't take a lot of ambition.
It don't take talent or education.
And it beats workin' at a fillin' station.

(Or for some theivin', lyin' corporation like Enron, or, I could go on, but what's the use.)

So come on down and don't be shy.
Sing songs to folks as they walk by.
Strum and rant and stomp your feet,
Express yourself out on the street.

(It's called freedom of expression. It's not guaranteed via the ever- increasing constant tuition as some would have you believe. It is promised to every American by the first amendment of the Constitution.)

You can sing requests all day long.
It don't matter if the words are wrong.
Pour your heart out or just play covers.
Sing the blues about your lost lovers.

(Oh where oh where has my little love gone?)

If you want, you can get political,
Just as long as you're not too critical.
Sing silly songs to make folks laugh.
Don't have to cut your hair or take a bath.

[Sniff, sniff] (Smells like somethin' died. I hope it's not my song.)

You can arise from bed at the crack of noon.
Spend an hour or so just to get in tune.
Swallow a steamin' black pot o' jo,
To get yourself up before the show.

(No, I would not like cream or sugar with that. On second thought, better make mine a root-beer float.)

Then look around for a likely location,
To begin your musical vocation.
At an outdoor market or a subway station,
Or where ever folks need edification.

(Right here looks like a good spot.)

Divorce yourself from the ol' rat race,
And open up your guitar case.
You're sure to find somebody who,
Will be happy to donate a buck or two.

(A quarter, a dime or a nickel 'll do. How about a penny?)

You can make a million dollars a year,
If you start out with two million's what I hear.
It's easy to do, take it from me,
It's more fun than playin' the lottery.

(And all the money goes to the sick, the tired and the hungry, and you're lookin' at 'im. I am sick and tired of bein' hungry.)

You can be your own boss and employee too,
With nobody to tell you what to do.
Record and sell your own CD,
Start your own recording company.

(I think I'll call it "Starvin' For Your Attention Productions".)

So if you're lookin' for a brand new job,
And you don't want to beg or steal or rob,
Take my advice, here's what to do,
Become a street musician too!

(But it'll cost ya. I hear their thinkin' of raisin' the street musician permit fee from $15 to $50. Looks like I gotta git a job just to support my street music performances.)

But if you worry about making money,
Better find yourself a rich little honey.
Then you can just sit around and play,
Your guitar all the live long day.

(Huh? What's that honey? You want me to get a what?! How about I become a street musician? Yep, that's what I thought you'd say. How dare she use them four letter words around me, like w-o-r-k and a j-o-b!)

Joe street performer

P.S., You can lose a lot of weight too.

You can be weight watchers and watch me lose,
Hundreds of pounds while singin' the blues

Subject: SB: You May Think I'm Lost by Amos
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:45 AM

You May Think I'm Lost by Amos

There's a small puppy sleeping,
Under a chair
Your poor human owners don't know you are there.
They are calling and looking,
Up streets and down wells,
But you're sleeping too soundly to answer their yells!

Chorus:
"Oh you may think I'm lost, but that isn't the case!
You think I have vanished 'cause you can't see my face!
Oh you silly old humans! You may stop all your screaming!
You may think I'm lost, but I'm dreaming!!"

There's a small child asleep
In an old apple tree
Her parents are calling her name anxiously
She is visiting planets,
And dancing with light,
But her parents are having a terrible fright!

Chorus:
"Oh you may think I'm lost, but that isn't the case
Do you think I have vanished 'cause you can't see my face?
Oh you silly old grownups! You may stop all your screaming!
You may think I'm lost, but I'm dreaming!!"

There's a young woman's father
She sees when she can
In a home where they still
Dress him up like a man,
When he drools and he whispers
And can't use his hands
She just raises her voice to make him understand.

Chorus:
"Oh you may think I'm lost, but that isn't the case!
Just 'cuz I stopped yapping through the hole in my face!
Oh you silly young woman! You may stop all your screaming!
You may think I'm lost, but I'm dreaming!!"

There's a fool on the street
Who offends passers-by
They flinch from his old clothes
And his wild rolling eyes
And the Pastor walks past him,
A-shaking his head
At a lost soul he thinks he must give up for dead!

Chorus:
"Oh you may think I'm lost, but that isn't the case!
You think I have vanished 'cause I won't run your race.
Oh you silly old cleric, with your pastoral scheming!
You may think I'm lost, but I'm dreaming!!"

Copyright © 2001, Amos Jessup

Subject: SB:You Wouldn't Know It To Look At Me (Barry Finn)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:47 AM

You Wouldn't Know It To Look At Me by Barry Finn
Tune:  Australian, Trad. "One Of The Has Beens")

"You're not listening to me are you deaf in both ears.
Don't you see what you've caused, have you been blind all these years.
Could you just give an answer, so I know you're not dumb.
For Christ's sake, you bird brain has a cat got your tongue"?

Chorus:
I'm as cute as any other kid,
I can run, jump & shout.
You wouldn't know it to look at me,
At times I can't work things out.
I'm not stupid, I'm not lazy, I try very hard.
With a little compassion I could go pretty far.

Well, school is a torture, the teasing won't quit.
My thoughts go off track and my aide has a fit.
There are some things I excel in, so much that I'm bored,
You wouldn't know it to look at me, it takes all that I'm worth.

The kids scorn & laugh at me, I don't have a friend.
You can feel my heart break, I wonder when this will end.
The mistreatment & abuse I take, it's really a crime,
But I'm told to ignore it, though it happens all of the time.
Chorus:
I know it's hard on my family, I can't change a thing.
The aunts & uncles blame it on my folks & say it's poor upbringing.
The love & affection others get all the time,
I only hear people yell at me, when I ask where is mine.

I never feel comfort, no shoulder, no hug.
A system to support me, was pulled out like a rug.
If you can't understand this, you may be worse off than me
But I won't hold it against you cause you're deaf & can't see.
Chorus:
I may be mildly autistic or just plain O.C.D.
I may twitch with Tourette's, or have A.D.D.
If you see me cross my eyes, instead of my T's
You wouldn't know it to look at me that I have special needs.
Chorus:

Copyright Barry Finn 1998

Subject: SB: Young Love Old Love by The Shambles
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:48 AM

Young Love Old Love by The Shambles

Young love, a desperate duet to be sung
Those eyes, burn like fire, shine like the sun
The beam shines only on what it desires
Leaving dark the forgotten ones

Old love, forgets the words but not the tune
Light travelled to and reflected from the moon
The warm glow falls everywhere
On all, who need to be loved

Roger Gall 1997. 

Subject: SB: Youth Is Wasted On The Young by The Shambles
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:49 AM

Youth Is Wasted On The Young by The Shambles


The Shambles' Comments:  Posted this song in the 'Why I Hate Folk Music Thread'.   But I thought it might be an idea to start a new thread for the posting of songs on this subject.


If the truth be told,
Experience is wasted on the old
And youth is wasted on the young

When you have your youth
You have no finer weapon than the truth
And you wield it like a sword
When youth is gone
You need all your strengh just to go on
And the truth now cuts you to the bone

If the truth be told,
Experience is wasted on the old
And youth is wasted on the young

Which one is right
The one certain, keen and ready for the fight?
Or the one, unsure, who knows the price to pay
Who are the fools
The ones who want to change all the rules?
Or the ones, who have changed them once before?

If the truth be told,
Experience is wasted on the old
And youth is wasted on the young


Roger Gall 1997

Subject: RE: Aine's Mudcat Songbook PermaThread
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 May 11 - 01:51 AM

Songs of Inspiration and Celebration

Bright Red Rose by The Crazy Bird
Bring Down the Walls by Amos
Cool Cup Of Water by khandu
Down to the River by Kim C
Flesh Of My Flesh by khandu
Harmony (One Out Of Many) by Genie
Hearts of Glory by The Crazy Bird
If There's A God by Jerry Rasmussen
In Bethlem Town by Haruo
Just Because You Like To Do It, That Don't Make It Right by Jerry Rasmussen
Raise All Your Voices by CapriUni
Raise Your Voices In The Song by Genie
Shelter From The Rain by reggie miles
Shepherd Of My Soul by khandu
Singin' With The Big Choir by Genie
Wasn't That A Mighty Storm? by Jerry Rasmussen

---

THESE links don't work.Please see main contents section for working links. bradfordian

Subject: RE: Aine's Mudcat Songbook PermaThread
From: GUEST,Juan Garcia - Trimaris
Date: 12 Apr 12 - 01:32 AM

I first heard the song "Alba By Troll" when I was a boy during the reigh of Arlof and Hilary. The part "shun ye the highlands" has stuck in my head since that day and I write to you with tears of joy as I have just now discovered the name and writer of that song here on this website.

Please, is there a recording of it anywhere so that I may relive this song of my youth?

Sincerely,

Juan Garcia
[e-mail]

---

Hi, Juan - since I'm about the same age as the songwriter and you have this song as a memory of your youth, you make me feel very old. The songwriter is a member of the 24th Street Klezmer Band in Gainesville. You might want to e-mail the bookings address at the Website and see if they can lead you to a recording.
-Joe Offer, Mudcat Archivist (e-mail sent)-

Subject: RE: Aine's Mudcat Songbook PermaThread
From: GUEST,wysiwyg sanscookie
Date: 15 Jun 16 - 11:58 AM

Corrected verse, Schmielzo Polka:

We promise we won't laugh at you
Come do the Schmielzo Polka.
Now it's the only thing to do—
To dance the Schmielzo Polka.
Just look at all the rest of us,
We'd win no prizes either!
So have no fear, the time has come,
To join the Schmielzo Polka.

Thank you wysiwyg. The song has now been updated with this correction. bradfordian

Subject: Bright Red Rose by The Crazy Bird
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 06:36 PM

Bright Red Rose by The Crazy Bird

TCB's Comments:  One afternoon I was looking out the window and saw my little Sandra Rose standing there. She was about five years old then and had been playing hard all day. When she was young, it was almost impossible to get her to stand still long enough to comb her hair and often her hair would stick out behind her back so she looked like a secretary bird. Anyway, she caught my eye for a moment, the picture stuck in my mind and, years later, the lines: "There's an angel outside my window, standing there picking her nose, her hair's a mess and so are the rest of her clothes..." came into my mind -- that's how this song got started -- it tries to communicate something small children can teach us. -- Regards, Chuck Cliff

There's angel outside my window,
she hands me a bright-red rose!
She smiles at me so sweetly, then
she began to sing me a song:

She sang me a song,
an unending song,
a song that goes on and on...
It's kind of confusing,
but the words and the music,
the words and the rhythm are one...
As soon as you listen,
something that's hidden,
shines forth like the bright morning sun!!!

There is a song we all sing -- you know!
The melody's in everything -- that grows!
that grows -- you know...

There's angel outside my window,
she hands me a bright-red rose!
She smiles at me so sweetly, then
she started to fiddle with my heart:

Open your heart,
it won't tear you apart,
although at the start it may scare you...
Under the tree
a deep mystery
may suddenly be revealed you!
Take that first step
then follow your breath,
there's one thing left I can tell you:

Life is the song we all sing -- that's true!
The melody's in everything -- we do!
we do -- that's true...

Subject: Bring Down The Walls by Amos
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 06:46 PM

Bring Down The Walls by Amos

It's not only you,
Who knows how the wind blows
Not only they who know just how the world must be.
It's not only she who
Is looking for answers,
Not only them, not only you, not only me...

Chorus:
Bring down the walls
And bring in the river
Bring down the lonesome, frozen clay,
And bring in the light.
Bring down the walls,
Throw open the windows,
And if we just hold on,
We just might find a place
Where just living is right

The justice has called,
And canceled the weddings.
The jester has answered all the phones,
Before they could ring.
The mothers in town
Have nailed  down all the windows
And the merchants barred their doors, to go home and sing....
 
 (Chorus)
Bring down the walls
And bring in the river
Bring down the lonesome, frozen clay,
And bring in the light.
Bring down the walls,
Throw open the windows,
And if we just hold on,
We just might find a place
Where just living is right

Bridge:
Just living is not an easy answer;
Not simple,  and not always kind;
Just living cannot guarantee you
Comfort to an overcrowded mind...

It's not only you,
Who knows how the wind blows
Not only they who know just how the world must be.
It's not only she who
Is looking for answers,
Not only them, not only you, not only me...

Final Chorus:
Bring down the walls
And bring in the river
Bring down the lonesome, frozen clay,
And bring in the sun.
Bring down the walls,
Throw open the windows,
And if we just hold on,
We just might find,
A place where just living is done

Copyright 2000, by Amos H. Jessup

Subject: Cool Cup of Water by khandu
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 06:50 PM

Cool Cup Of Water by khandu

Just a cool cup of water
To soothe my weary soul
Grace and a little Mercy
And a cool cup of water before I go.

Oh Mama, don't you weep, and don't you worry, son
Trust in the Lord my soul to keep
The day is nearly over, and there's so much to be done
And miles that I must go before I sleep
And miles and miles to go before I sleep.

A cool cup of water to soothe my weary soul,
Grace and a little Mercy,
And a cool cup of water before I go

Sometimes this road gets rocky,
Sometimes the travelin's hard
Sometimes it seems like more than I can stand
But I'll trust in the Master and the way He deals the cards,
I know He's got my whole world in His hands
It's true He has the whole world in His hands.

Copyright ©2002 by khandu

Subject: Down to the River by Kim C
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 06:55 PM

Down to the River by Kim C

I went down to the river for to ease my worried mind
Not knowing what I'd come across, not knowing what I'd find
I went down to the river to ease my troubled soul
And I heard the voice of Jesus and these are the words he spoke

He said, Child, don't you remember me, I've walked with you for years
And I've tried to help you ease your pain and conquer all your fears
But I still don't think you trust me just the way you know you can
You ought to know it's true, I've got the whole world in my hands

Trust me, child, trust me
My timing's never wrong
Just when you think I'm running late
I always come along
For I am the Son that shines into the darkness of your soul
Let me wash you in the river of my blood and make you whole

I said Lord, I have not forgotten you but I've been so afraid
I've been praying day and night and nothing seems to change
He said I am like the river, sometimes I move real slow
But in the end I always get to where I need to go

So I stepped into the river, and the river turned to blood
And I cried and prayed and washed myself in its crimson flood
I knew right then within my heart that I was on my way
Because I had the strength to live to fight another day

Trust me, child, trust me
My timing's never wrong
Just when you think I'm running late
I always come along
For I am the Son that shines into the darkness of your soul
Let me wash you in the river of my blood and make you whole

© 2000 Kim Feathers Caudell

Subject: Flesh of my Flesh by khandu
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 06:58 PM

Flesh Of My Flesh by khandu

In the Garden, God's perfect creation stood
And God looked at Adam, and said "It is good."
Then God said, "It's not good for man to be alone."
"I'll create woman, flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone."

I thank God for hearing the tears that I cried,
When I was a young man, and there was no one at my side.
He sent His Son, Jesus, who had died to make me free.
Then He sent me a woman, that He had made just for me.

This gift of eternal Life from the Living God that I serve,
And the gift of my lovely wife is more than I deserve.
I sing her this love song straight from my heart.
What God's joined together, there is no one who can tear it apart

With Jesus within me, I am never alone.
But He also has given me flesh of my flesh
And bone of my bone...

And here is a Love song from Christ to his bride
Who was cleansed by the water and the blood that flowed from his side.
And the voice of the Bridegroom is now being heard,
"Come in to your fullness, Spirit of my Spirit and Word of my Word."

Copyright ©1995 khandu

Subject: Harmony (One Out of Many) by Genie
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 07:02 PM

Harmony (One Out Of Many) by Genie
(words & music by R. Jeanene Pratt © 1988; 1990*; Jeanene Pratt (Genie): guitar, lead vocal, harmonies)

Many instruments and melodies,
Many voices form a symphony:
One Out Of Many: Let the music be
Sung not in unison, but harmony.
Many textures in one tapestry,
Ev'ry thread with its own specialty:
One Out Of Many. Let the fabric be
Woven with loving hands in harmony.

Chorus:
So let us all sing out and let it be
Sung, not in unison, but harmony.
Harmony, let it be
Sung, not in unison, but harmony.

Many colors, each with its own name,
In one rainbow burst as if in flame;
One Out Of Many. Let the colors be
Rich in their character and harmony.
Many creatures, marvelous to see,
Share with us the earth and sky and sea:
One Out Of Many. Let all nature be
Rich in diversity and harmony.

Chorus

Many roots must feed one growing tree,
Unity, not uniformity:
One Out Of Many. Let the branches be
balanced to bend and dance in harmony.
One true light from vantages diverse;
One community is all this earth:
One Out Of Many. Let the music be
Sung, not in unison, but harmony.

Last Chorus:
So let us all sing out and let it be
Sung, not in unison, but harmony.
Harmony, let it be
Sung, not in unison, but harmony.
Harmony, let it be
Sung, not in unison, but as a symphony.

©1988 R. Jeanene Pratt, Portland, OR ([e-mail])

*The song was written for a Unitarian-Universalist summer camp in 1988 (theme: "Harmony"), without a chorus or verse #4. I added the chorus in 1990 to make it a better group sing-along song, and also added verse #4 that year. The version on this CD is the original five verses sans chorus, recorded in 1988. And here is how the chords go.

Harmony (One Out Of Many)
R. Jeanene Pratt © 1988, 1990

Ma(C)ny in(G)struments and melo(C)dies,
Ma(C)ny vo(Am)ices form(D7) a sympho(G)ny:
One(F) Out Of Ma(C)ny. Let(F) the music(G) be
Sung(C) not(F) in un(C)ison(Am), but har(G)mony(C).
...
(Chorus)
So let us all(G) sing out and let(C) it(F) be(C)
Sung(C), not(F) in un(C)ison(Am), but har(G)mony(C)
Har(G)mony(G7), let(C) it(F) be(C)
Sung(C), not(F) in un(C)ison(Am), but har(G)mony(C).
...
Sung(C), not(F) in un(C)ison, but as(G) a sym(G7)pho(C)ny!

Subject: Hearts of Glory by The Crazy Bird
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 07:06 PM

Hearts of Glory by The Crazy Bird

TCB's Comments:  I'm an American expatriate who has been living in Denmark since '68 (no, I didn't dodge the draft <s>), getting by and making little songs like this one.  So here is a song, inspirational, which owes an awful lot to folk tradition in form and images:

I dreamt a dream of ancient times
when hearts were filled with glory
And everyone was living in
sweet simplicity

I pray it's not a fable,
I pray that the day will come:

When to live like this, in Eden's bliss,
will be reality.

I dreamt I saw an open door
within every human heart,
And I saw the bonds that keep us close
although we are apart.

I pray it's not a fable,
I pray that the day will come:

When the love that lives for everyone
shines thru -- bright morning star!

I dreamt I heard tin silver bells
proudly peeling and ringing,
And the songs I heard without any words
were only angels singing.

I pray it's not a fable,
I pray that the day will come:

When every girl and boy will know
the joy that lives in everything.

© Chuck Cliff 

Subject: If there's a God by Jerry Rasmussen
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 07:11 PM

If There's A God by Jerry Rasmussen
(Words and music by Jerry Rasmussen)

Jerry's Comments:  Friday, Nov. 29, 2002:  I just finished this song a couple of days ago, and thought that I'd send it on to you, Aine.  I think that most believers have had a point in their life when they weren't really sure that God existed.  I even had a minister-friend who acknowledged that he's had times in his ministry when he doubted that God really existed.  I think that's easy to understand.  The whole concept of God is so far beyond our grasp that there are times when all of us need to come to Him and ask that He felp us in our unbelief.  That's what this song is about.

If There's a God, why would he, love a sinner like me
After all of the things that I've done? (in my life)
If he knows my heart, why would he ever part
With his only begotten son?

Chorus:
There is a peace beyond understanding
There is a love that you've never known
No matter what your sins, he'll make you whole again
And he will never leave you alone

How can I believe, what I cannot conceive?
Who can I turn to, to show me the way?
God if you're there, and you hear this prayer
Oh Lord, please don't turn me away

(Chorus)

In the dark of night, he is the truth and the light
There is no burden that Jesus won't share
When all hope is gone, and you can't carry on
Just call him, he'll always be there

Subject: In Bethlehem Town by Haruo
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 07:14 PM

In Bethlem Town by Haruo
(Tune: The Pesky Sarpent (I think this is the "Springfield Mountain" tune of the well-known humorous version, in the DT); Lyrics: ©Leland Bryant Ross, 1997)

Haruo's Comments:  The Feast Day of the Holy Innocents in the Western church calendar (not sure about the Eastern) is celebrated on Dec. 28, honoring the babies and toddlers of Bethlehem whom, according to Matthew's gospel, King Herod slaughtered in an attempt to kill Jesus.  The reference to beaver fur, in v. 4, is an allusion to Jesse Edgar Middleton's English version of the Huron Carol (Estennialon de tsonoue, Jesous Ahatonhia); the Huron text contains no such notion. (Click here for lyrics with midi file on Leland's website)

In Bethlem town the Christ was born.
They laid him down that starlit mor-ee-orn
Amidst the corn, in swaddling gown
Unbleached and worn, with hay his crown.
Too-loo-ree-loo, too-loo-ree-lay,
Too-loo-ree-loo: 'twas Christmas Day.

On hills nearby, poor shepherds graze
Their flocks. The sky explodes in prai-ee-aise,
With angels' lays to God on high:
"Fear not, this day salvation's nigh!
Too-loo-ree-loo, too-loo-ree-lirth,
Good will to you, and peace on earth!"

The shepherds then of one accord
To Bethlem ran to greet the Lor-ee-ord.
They found him sleeping in a trough,
Convolved in cheap, unwhitened cloth.
Too-loo-ree-laid, too-loo-ree-lotched,
They knelt and prayed as Mary watched.

From Persia far, wise Parsees came,
Led by his star, to praise his name-ee-ame.
They brought presents of gold and myrrh
And frankincense--and beaver fur,
Too-loo-ree-lurr, too-loo-ree-lee,
Then went home sur-reptitiously.

King Herod had bequestioned them,
With motive bad, about Bethlem-ee-em.
The crafty sages Herod left
In royal rage, of facts bereft--
Too-loo-ree-lilled, too-loo-ree-lents,
So Herod killed the Innocents.

God said to Joseph and his wife:
To Egypt go, to save your li-ee-ife.
Thine ancient namesake as a slave
To Egypt came your folk to save.
Too-loo-ree-lask, too-loo-ree-lun,
A sim'lar task awaits your son.

Good people all, consider ye,
Whom God hath called to liberty-I-ee--
Consider well the awful cost
The Scriptures tell in children lost;
Too-loo-ree-low, too-loo-ree-laid,
Consider now the ransoms paid.

God's peace to you; now merry be,
For 'tis all true, of verity-I-ee.
The baby born, ye know it well,
That holy morn, hath vanquished Hell,
Too-loo-ree-loss, too-loo-ree-lee,
Upon the cross, and we are free!

Subject: Just Because You Like To Do It.....by J. Rasmussen
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 07:18 PM

Just Because You Like To Do It, That Don't Make It Right by Jerry Rasmussen

Jerry's Comments:  I like to play country blues on guitar, and was fooling around with a fairly familiar chord progression, somewhat like the start of Fishin' Blues, and these words came out. Thomas Dorsey, the Father of Gospel Music recorded as Georgia Tom, doing country blues, before he started writing gospel. This song could have been one of his, in his country blues days, with a gospel message. If anyone wants to reach me, my e-mail address is [e-mail].

God came to Noah, late one day said, "Son, I got a job for you
I'm getting mighty tired of these people 'round here, doing what they want to do
I've told 'em once, I've told 'em twice
They never want to listen to my advice
So build yourself a boat, and get on out of here (spoken.. before it rains.")

CHORUS:
Well, I ain't been to Heaven but I've been told, the streets up there are lined with gold
I ain't been to Hell, but from what I hear, it can get mighty hot down there
So you better mind your manners, watch your "P's" and "Q's"
'Cause you don't know when God's watching youAnd just because you like to do it, that don't make it right

God sent Jonah far across the sea, in the belly of a whale
Sent him on down to Ninevah, and he lived to tell the tale
He told them people, "Better mind your ways,
Or God's gonna put you in an early grave
Just because you like to do it, that don't make it right."

You can read it in the papers and the magazines, this world's about to go to Hell
Kids are shooting drugs, kids are shooting kids, and things too fierce to tell
You can do what you want, say what you say
But you'd better get ready for judgment day
And just becayse you like to do it, that don't make it right

Copyright ©2002 Words and music by Jerry Rasmussen

Subject: Raise All Your Voices by CapriUni
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 07:21 PM

Raise All Your Voices by CapriUni
(A Winter Solstice Carol)

Come gather together and sing with glad hearts!
Sing for the sun's return out of the dark.
The wheel, it is turning, the dance it goes on.
So raise all your voices, fill the air with sweet song!

Oh, sing with the Goddess: "The world is reborn --
Shining as bright as the very first morn!"
The old year has ended, let go of old wrongs.
And raise all your voices, fill the air with sweet song!

Though winter will bring us cold nights and fierce wind,
Know by this dawning that hardship will end.
And, like the sun's rays, may our hearts all grow strong.
Come! Raise all your voices, fill the air with sweet song!

Give thanks to the Goddess, the sweet living Earth --
Thanks for the cycle of death and rebirth.
She lives in our hearts, and the love that we share,
So raise all your voices, let a song fill the air!

Copyright ©2003 Ann Magill

Subject: Raise Your Voices In The Song by Genie
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 07:25 PM

Raise Your Voices In The Song by Genie
(Words & music by R. Jeanene Pratt)
Repeat last chorus, a cappella, softly on the first 2 lines, then fortissimo, with guitar on the last two lines. 4/4 time

Ma(Am)ny, many years ago, (Dm)in a time of strife and woe,
(E)In a little vi(E7)llage they call Be(Am) thleh(E)em,
G(Am)od sent down a legacy, (Dm)precious gift for you and me,
(E)Holy baby b(E7)orn to be our s(Am)avi(E)or and fri(Am)end.

An(Am) gel voices ra(E)ng across the winter sky
(Am)Telling all the wo(Dm)rld the story o(E)f the holy bi(E7)rth!
Jo(Am) yous! Joyous! W(E)hat a celeb(E7)ration!
A(Am) ngel voices sa(Dm)ng the song of Pe(E)ace O(E7)n Ea(Am)rth!

Sh(Am)epherds toiling, so they say, (Dm)in the fields not far away,
(E)Heard music fl(e7)oating through the sk(Am)ies ab(E)ove.
(Am)From their labors long they st(Dm)opped to listen to the song,
(E)Then went to Be(E7)thlehem to sh(Am)ow th(E)eir lo(Am)ve.

They st(Am)opped, they hushed, they li(E)stened while the angels sang,
(Am)Telling them the gr(Dm)eatest story th(E)ey had ever he(E7)ard.
Then j(Am)oyous! Joyous! They jo(E)ined the celebr(E7)ation,
Ra(Am)ised their voices i(Dm)n the song of "Pe(E)ace o(E7)n ea(Am)rth!"

Ce(Am)nturies have passed away. (Dm)Do the people of today
Kn(E)ow the deeper me(E7)aning of this se(Am)ason of the ye(E)ar?
M(Am)any times the neon lights h(Dm)ide that ancient star from sight,
(E)And the song of pe(E7)ace can be so h(Am)ard t(E)o he(Am)ar.

So st(Am)op! Hu(Am)sh! L(E)isten while the angels sing.
(Am)Open up your he(Dm)art and soul to H(E)eaven's healing wo(E7)rds,
Then, j(Am)oyous! Joyous! Come, jo(E)in the celebr(E7)ation,
Ra(Am)ise Your Voices I(Dm)n The Song of "Pe(E)ace n(E7)n ea(Am)rth!"

The a(Am)ngels' song is still alive. In fa(Dm)ith and love it can survive,
(E)And it gives our he(E7)arts a reason t(Am)o rejo(E)ice.
You m(Am)ay not hear it in the air, but i(Dm)f you pause or say a prayer
(E)You will hear it e(E7)cho in that st(Am)ill, sm(E)all vo(Am)ice.

So st(Am)op! Hu(Am)sh! L(E)isten while the angels sing
(Am)Telling all the wo(Dm)rld the story o(E)f the holy bi(E7)rth!
Then, j(Am)oyous! Joyous! Come, jo(E)in the celebr(E7)ation,
Ra(Am)ise Your Voices I(Dm)n The Song of "Pe(E)ace n(E7)n ea(Am)rth!"

©1993, 1999, 2002 R. Jeanene Pratt [e-mail]

Subject: Shelter From the Rain by reggie miles
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 07:28 PM

Shelter From The Rain by reggie miles 2003

He was just another stray,
Who wandered by one day,
Lookin' hungry, mistreated, far from home.

With hair all gray and shaggy,
And a coat, so soiled and tattered,
A lonely broken beggar left to roam.

He was askin' for a handout.
With trembling' hands and desperate eyes,
He just needed a little something to ease the pain,

I didn't have much that I could spare.
But I shared what I had with that stranger there,
A little food and some shelter from the rain.

Shelter from the rain, we all need shelter from the rain.
When troubles shower down upon you and you're bending from the strain.
The storms of life will pass in time and the sun will shine again,
But until then we all need, we all need shelter from the rain.

There's a lesson here to learn.
How the tides of life can turn,
And leave us lost, without a prayer of finding hope.

We rush headlong through our lives,
To get ahead or just survive,
Doing what we can and try 'n' cope.

Only the bravest take the time,
To help those who fall behind,
To lead them back and help them find the way.

If we all pitch in and do our part,
To lend a helping hand with an eager heart,
Every tomorrow will be a brighter day.

Shelter from the rain, shelter from the rain.
Extend a hand in kindness and you won't do so in vain.
When you offer help to others to ease their sadness and their pain,
You can mend a broken life, when you offer shelter from the rain.

Shelter from the rain, we all need shelter from the rain.
When troubles shower down upon you and you're bending from the strain.
The storms of life will pass in time and the sun will shine again,
But until then we all need, we all need shelter from the rain.

Yes until then we all need, we all need shelter from the rain.

Subject: Shepherd Of My Soul by khandu
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 07:30 PM

Shepherd Of My Soul by khandu

In the trial and tribulation of the battle that never ends
Of the flesh against the Spirit, sometimes I wonder who will win.
But I know that Jesus loves me
And by His love I know I'll gain control
He'll never leave me nor forsake me
He's the Shepherd of my soul

Like the thief beside the Master, condemned to die for his life of crime,
I, too, feel I'm a disaster in all my life, in all my time
But I know that Jesus loves me
And He can make a diamond out of coal
He will lead me to Perfection
He's the Shepherd of my soul.

Holy Spirit, open my eyes to the ways I've been deceived.
Holy Spirit, open my heart to the One I should believe.
For He's the solid rock of ages, He'll never crumble and never fail.
And though the storm around me rages, the ememy shall not prevail.

Because I know that Jesus loves me
So I'll keep on pressing onward to the goal.
And I know that I will reach it.
He's the Shepherd of my soul.

Copyright 1992-khandu

Subject: Singin' With The Big Choir by Genie
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 07:33 PM

Singin' With The Big Choir by Genie
(words and music by R. J. Pratt ©1996, 2002)

 Chorus:

          F                                   C           Am
    Tonight I'm singin' with the big choir!
  F                 G                       C      Am
    We gonna sing our fav'rite hymn!
 F                 G          C         Am
    We gonna set the night on fire
                F           G       C          Am
    In the hills over Bethlehe-e-e-e-em,*
                F             G       C
    In the hills over Bethlehem.

    G                               C
 I only been a angel for a little while, /
          G                            C
 Got plenty o' millenia** to go
      G                                             C
 Before they let me join the choir of seraphim
          F                     G                                G                                          C
 And hear ol' Gabriel blow.              // But I hear they need a multitude to sing tonight,
                               (Pa pa pa pa pa Hal-le-lu!)****
       G                                            C             F   C
 "Hosannah In The Highest" is the song. (Ho-san-na!) 
        G                                       C
 We gotta do a concert for some shepherd folk.
                F                                        G
 Must be somethin' pretty special goin' on!

     So, tonight I'm singin' with the big choir!
     We gonna sing our fav'rite hymn!
                                                (Ho-san-na-na-na!)
     We gonna set the night on fire
     In the hills over Bethlehe-e-e-e-em,*
     In the hills over Bethlehem.

                G                                   C
Now they never had a banjo in the choir before
                                                                (banjo riff)
              G                                         C
And if I mess up, they prob'ly won't again,
                                                       (banjo SNAFU) 
          G                                                C
So tonight you bet I'm gonna make the most of it,
            F                             G
Doin' back-up for the cherubim!


                                           (banjo riff)

     Yes, tonight I'm singin' with the big choir!
     We gonna sing our fav'rite hymn! (Ho-san-na!)
     We gonna set the night on fire
     In the hills over Bethlehe-e-e-e-em,*
     In the hills over Bethlehem.
 

         G                                         C
They tell me the occasion for this special gig,
        G                                       C
This intergenerational**** angel jam
        G                               C
Is a birthday party for the boss's kid,
         F                         G
The one they call "The Lamb."

                G                                                 C
There'll be no one but some shepherds in the audience
       G                                           C                               G                                                       C
To hear our awesome carolling sublime,     //     But they say in time the whole wide world may sing along,
                                                  (La la la la la Hal-le-lu!)
         F                                    G
It's a oldie but a goodie for all time.

     So, tonight I'm singin' with the big choir!
     We gonna sing our fav'rite hymn!
                                                (Ho-san-na-na-na!)
     We gonna set the night on fire
     In the hills over Bethlehe-e-e-e-em,*
     In the hills over Be-e-thlehem!

              ------------------------------------------
 * The "hem" in "Behlehem" is sung over an ascending scale of 5 notes.  The "e" is, of course, short (not "Bethleheem").
 ** Sing: "...plennya millenia ta go..."
 *** The "lu" in "Hallelu" is sustanined and overlaps the first words of the next line
 **** Sing "...intergenerayshnl..."

 © 2002  R. Jeanene Pratt  [e-mail]

Subject: Wasn't That A Mighty Storm? by Jerry Rasmussen
From: bradfordian
Date: 29 Sep 16 - 07:35 PM

Wasn't That A Mighty Storm? by Jerry Rasmussen
(Words and music by Jerry Rasmussen)

Jerry's Comments:  There are countless songs about Noah, and even some with this same title.  Noah has become a rather humorous character, more like a children's book hero than a real man.  The biblical story is quite different.  Noah was a man who walked with God.  I think there are only three men in the bible who were said to have walked with God.  When God was so fed up with the way that his people were living that he wanted to destroy the world, he said that he would spare us if he could find one righteous man.  That man was Noah.  There's also a great lesson to be learned in the story about Noah.  The Lord told Noah to do something that seemed foolish to everyone.  Perhaps to Noah, too.  But, Noah did what he was told, despite all the ridicule heaped upon him.  We would all do well to see Noah's obedience to the Lord as a template for our own lives.


God looked down on the world he made
And swore that he'd destroy the land
But he promised that he'd give us one more chance
If he could find one righteous man

CHORUS:
Wasn't that a mighty storm?
Wasn't that a mighty storm?
When God spread the waters all over the land
Wasn't that a mighty storm?

Now, Noah was a man who walked with God
In the shining gospel way
He always did his best to do God's will
And to serve him every day

(Chorus)

Noah built a boat out of gopher wood
300 cubits long
It had to withstand them stormy tides
So he made it mighty strong

(Chorus)

First he sent out a raven
And then he sent a dove
The dove came back with an olive branch
As a symbol of God's love

(Chorus)

Now everybody knows about Noah
Calling them animals two by two
Brother let us pray on judgment day
God takes me and you

Subject: Where My Heart Softly Roams by Amergin
From: bradfordian
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 05:06 AM

Where My Heart Softly Roams by Amergin

Feet stomping on the ground
Crunching the ice covered snow
Ears turning red and stinging
As the frozen wind begins to blow
The morning sky is clouding over
Snowflakes slowly start to appear
I gaze at the snow laden mountainside
And find myself wishing you were here

Cars slowly roll down the main street
Snow is packed tightly on the road
I gently balance down the walkways,
Feeling the beat of my frozen load
The hills shine bright in the cloudy sun
Absorbing the dim afternoon light
I imagine your shadow beside me
And smile with infinite delight

The fairgrounds are a lake of snow
With sleds sailing across the deep
Snowballs fly across the playground
As the children run, laugh, and leap
The cigarette smolders on the ice
As I trounce my way back home
Feeling your thoughts are with me
Wherever my heart softly roams

Amergin

Subject: The Whiskey The Girl and the Rebel by Jennifer
From: bradfordian
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 05:23 AM

After reading this list and nearly dying of laughter I was inspired to write this song. It combines whaling, murder, whiskey, and of course rebellion into one happy little tune -- all the cliches I could find in the list. So sorry for inflicting this on you, I just want to post it before the creative urge leaves me. Tried to follow the rules here -- I think a new one should be that all placenames have to end with '-O'. Another thing I've noticed -- and tried to use here -- is that rhyming is -never- perfect in an Irish song. Anyone else noticed this?

Jennifer

The Whiskey, the Girl, and the Rebel

My name is O'Reilly, I'm a sailor of yore
I've sailed for the whales from the far western shore
'Twas on May thirty in nineteen sixteen
I joined the bold rebels with their whiskey so keen

My dearest love Sally said "Do not ye go,"
"To the wilds and the mountains of Ireland-O"
"But I must go," I cried, "for my captain so lean"
"Has fled to the rebels, with their whiskey so keen."

My Captain I'd met him in Botany Bay
I found him while wanderin', on a cold wintry day
He cried, "I want a sailor for to hunt on the main"
He signed me and fed me with whiskey so keen

So long years I've traveled now, far on the seas
Beaten and bitten, by the cat and the fleas
So I've gone to Dublin, where me love Sally Breen
Cannot hold me back from the whiskey so keen

Sally cried, "Willie, I pray ye, don't go,"
'Tis treason and murder, tae hell ye will go,"
I said, "You are a Briton and I'm Irish Free,"
"I'll slay you and drink of the whiskey so keen."

She cried, "Dearest Willie don't murder me dead,"
A raven it came to me shoulder in dread.
She gazed at the raven as I drew my knife keen
"I'll come back to haunt you, o'er your whiskey so keen."

Well, Sally was right and her ghost came for me
Wi' blood on her fingers, her breast and her knees
And her ghost's sad screaming, the moans and the keens
It drove me to drinkin' the whiskey so keen

I fled to the mountains, the eyries so high
And fought 'gainst the British for proud liberty
I've killed me some Tommies, but was captured in green
And now I will die without whiskey so keen

And now as I stand here, o'er gallows so high
And wait for to hang, twixt the earth and the sky
Well, I wish I'd listened, tae Sally o' Breen,
For ne'er more will I sip from the whiskey so keen.

I hope this comes out OK and readable. Don't think it was too bad for a Yiddish-American.

Jennifer

Subject: 1999 Was the date of the year by Dan Milner
From: bradfordian
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 10:38 AM

1999 Was The Date Of The Year by Dan Milner


Dan's Comments: This parody of the great Irish ballad "Master McGrath" (always pronounced M'Gra') humorously chronicles Mudcatter Frank McGrath's visit to New York City in the Summer of 1999 including his sales effort at a large computer software show for the financial industry, his shopping expedition and his performance at The Blarney Star Tavern with Andy O'Brien, Dan Milner, Bob Conroy and a number of fine New York singers. Frank's performance was nothing short of brilliant and included his very moving original song "The Callows." However, one rhymester decided to follow an old Irish custom by writing a fictitiously humorous account about the evening the following morning.


1999 was the date of the year
A software salesman from Ireland came here
To take all our dollars and carry them awa'
"And give them some culture," says ould Frank M'Gra'.

'Twas at Hilton Towers that place of renown
The computer trade show in New York went down
With Wall Street tycoons and financial swells
Perusing the programs all whistles and bells.

Well Frank walked the floor with confidence strong
And told all the bankers he could right all their wrongs
With programs discrete and secure and so fine.
And he promised delivery in good Irish time.

The show now was ended, Frank's order book filled
And the pastures of Wall Street our hero had tilled.
But then says he, "There's just one thing more,
I'll have to visit Macy's departmental store."

With 2 children in Nenagh and a wife to preside
If he came home empty handed they all would deride
His elegant effort in New York's fair town
And greet his return with a scoff and a frown.

The shopping completed he next set his sights
On New York's traditional musical heights
To the Blarney Star tavern he then turned his eyes
To return back to Nenagh with a folksinging prize.

There was Andy from Killarney and Bob from the Isle
And Deirdre from Connecticut and Bonnie likewise
The American champion he too was there
And all sang that night with an elegant flair.

The last to the stage was our hero so mild
And he started with a ballad so rare and so wild
'Twas "The Finding of Moses" by Thomas Moran.
The previous singers then got up and ran.

Two more from Frank and the crowd they did roar
"Bedad1" then they cried, "We hope you don't know more.
When's the next plane to Ireland?" they politely enquired
And to a waiting taxi ould Frank he was squired.

Now M'Gra' he looked up and he sagged his ould tail
Informing the audience, "Sure, I know what you mean.
'Tis the same thing in Ireland and Britain also
Where my brand of folksinging is not all the go."

Once more back to Nenagh our hero did stride
With parcels from Macy's hanging down from his side.
He's cured of folksinging in Columbia the fair.
He's back in Tipperary and glad to be there.

Copyright 1999 Dan Milner.

Subject: A Bumbling Englishman by The Shambles
From: bradfordian
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 10:41 AM

A Bumbling Englishman by The Shambles


The Shambles' Comments: After all I said about parody, I have written one. Well it's not meant to be a parody of A Rambling Irishman, I have just stolen the tune to make a point. A naive point may be but I had this dream the other night where the whole of Ireland, North and South joined in one huge session and danced together . . . But what do I know, I'm just a bumbling Englishman? I do so love the music though.


There was a bumbling Englishman,
Ambition in him burning.
He'd seen all those 'Riverdancing' shows,
And he became determined.
He bought him a fiddle of great renown,
And it cost him lots of 'fivers'.
He vowed he play that fiddle too,
Just like Eileen Ivers.

He went and sold his guitar,
Sold his guitar, sold it to his big brother Andy.

Eileen could do no wrong in his eyes,
A star that would not tarnish.
He coated his fiddle in 'NITROMORS',
To get off all that varnish.
He painted that poor fiddle blue,
To initate his hero.
His lust and ambition you could not fault,
But his taste and talent was zero.

He went and sold his guitar,
Sold his guitar, sold it to his big brother Andy.

When he started scraping away,
People left the area.
He was quickly left all on his own,
Just like he had Malaria.
There was one tune, he was determined to play,
It was poor old 'Fanny Power'.
If she could have heard it the way he played,
She'd have prayed for her final hour.

He went and sold his guitar,
Sold his guitar, sold it to his big brother Andy.

Andy said if he carried on,
He'd take that fiddle and burn it
. So he thought he would cross the Irish Sea,
What better place to learn it?
Found himself lost in the North,
Without much rhyme nor reason.
Looking for a place to learn his tune,
In the middle of the marching season.

He went and sold his guitar,
Sold his guitar, sold it to his big brother Andy.

When he came to a barricade,
They'd let him go no further.
Did not notice the stony glares,
Intent on bloody murder.
He sat down to play his tune,
And he didn't need to say it.
A young lad took his whistle out,
And showed him how to play it.

He went and sold his guitar,
Sold his guitar, sold it to his big brother Andy.

An old man came from the other side,
He could not stand his scratching.
He stepped up smart and took his bow,
And now the notes were matching.
A flute joined in and started a reel
And then the dancing started.
He soon forgot his violin,
For his dancing was whole-hearted.

He went and sold his guitar,
Sold his guitar, sold it to his big brother Andy.

So many people played that day,
They'd forgotten why they came there.
Thanks to that bumbling Englishman,
It never was the same there.
They thought it was a good idea,
To send him where there was trouble.
For as soon as he started to play his tune,
They'd all leave at the double.

He went and sold his guitar,
Sold his guitar, sold it to his big brother Andy.

The moral of this tale is clear,
That when you've nearly lost it.
The very best ones to sort it out,
Are the very ones that caused it.
And where is the hero of our tale,
Who's not been heard of latterly.
When he's not peace-making for the U.N.
He's understudy for Michael Flatley.

He went and sold his guitar,
Sold his guitar, sold it to his big brother Andy.

Roger Gall 1999.

Subject: All Around My Fat by Penny Ward
From: bradfordian
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 10:52 AM

All Around My Fat by Penny Ward (submitted by Micca)

Lyrics by: Penny Ward
Tune: All around my hat (Traditional)

Chorus:
All around my fat
I will wear the Playtex Girdle
And all around my fat
For an evening and a day
And if anyone should ask me
The reason why I'm wearing it
It's all for my true love
Who thinks I'm built this way

Verse1
Take half a pound of talcum
And a small jar of Vaseline
A shoehorn comes in handy
It's the biggest you've ever seen!
You put it all together
And you will plainly see
I'm a different shape completely
And in abject agony

Chorus

Verse 2

The other night he bought me
A small box of lingerie
All frothy lace and satin
The colour of ivory
I went to change and left him
Anticipating hedony
So much for Janet Reger
I can't get them past my knees!

Chorus

Verse3

Fare the well Weight Watchers
And fare the well the step class
Three stone have I gained
And my waistline I have lost
I'll eat and I'll be merry
Dispense with guilt and calories
I'll stuff the sodding 'F' plan
It's a fry up for me tea!