Songs within songs

Subject: Songs within songs
From: Mr Happy
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 05:24 AM

There's a number of examples of song lyrics which mention other songs or tunes.

Some I've heard of, others not, or they maybe imaginary.

Ones which spring to mind are 'Galway Shawl', which mentions 'Rodney's Glory', 'The Blackbird', 'The Stack of Barley' & 'The Foggy Dew'

Also 'Biker Hill' re 'Elsie Marley'

Others?

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 05:48 AM

'and the band played waltzing matilda'

'the ballad of st anne's reel'

In a sense, every "Come all ye..." song is kind of a song within a song. They set up their stall right at the start as a song telling a tale; it's a distancing effect.

If you wanted to score academic cred points, you'd describe it as a Brechtian alienation technique. Or 'postmodern'.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Hamish
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 05:49 AM

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.

Midnight on the Water has a few (The Lark in the Morning, Banish Misfortune and, er, Midnight on the Water)

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Monique
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 06:07 AM

Tribute to the Beatles, the Sixties 1977 version , 2008 version

Subject: Lyr Add: GLASS ONION (from The Beatles)
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 06:17 AM

The Beatles' Glass Onion

I told you about strawberry fields,
You know the place where nothing is real
Well here's another place you can go
Where everthing flows.
Looking through the bent backed tulips
To see how the other half lives
Looking through a glass onion.

I told you about the walrus and me-man
You know that we're as close as can be-man.
Well here's another clue for you all,
The walrus was Paul.
Standing on the cast iron shore-yeah,
Lady Madonna trying to make ends meet-yeah.
Looking through a glass onion.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah.
Looking through a glass onion.

I told you about the fool on the hill,
I tell you man he living there still.
Well here's another place you can be,
Listen to me.

Fixing a hole in the ocean
Trying to make a dove-tail joint-yeah
Looking through a glass onion

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Mr Happy
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 08:05 AM

Pete Bett's 'They don't write 'em like that anymore'

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BENEFIT CONCERT (from Fred Jordan)
From: Young Buchan
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 09:34 AM

Fred Jordan's version of The Benefit Concert mentions several songs. Since I can't find it in DT I'll give the lot:

THE BENEFIT CONCERT

Now, I've just come away from a benefit concert
'Twould have saved me much pain if I'd never have gone
It was held at the Manslaughter Arms around the corner.
I'm the only one left of a hundred and one.

This concert was held on behalf of Nobby Taylor,
Who'd just lost his mother, his only support,
With your kind attention, I'll tell you the programme
Of this little concert, the best of its sort.

Now we brought the bills and tickets out upon the strap;
We couldn't pay for posters 'cos we hadn't got a scrap.
The room that we had rented would hold 60 at the most
But we got a thousand tickets off to satisfy our host.

Fifty Special Constables was ordered to the scene,
They kicked all my front teeth out, I wish I'd never been
The air was blue with language, it fair took away my breath
And to give the crowd amusement, someone kicked a dog to death.

When the bar was opened the crowd all rushed inside;
The man who took the tickets, he was trampled on and died.
Those that couldn't get a seat, they squatted on the floor
And we ripped the paper off the walls to admit a dozen more.

The chairman should have been there, seven-thirty was the time
But he did not turn up until the clock was striking nine.
He said, 'Excuse me, gentlemen, your patience must be worn
But I couldn't come before because my trousers were in pawn.'

To sing the first song of the night, one young fellow rose,
He sang The Village Blacksmith till the sparks shot from his nose.
He said,'I've no voice, gentlemen, it went when I was five
But I'll fight the best man in the room to keep the game alive.'

A lady next got up to sing I'll Be All Smiles Tonight;
And the way they started bawling, I thought there'd be a fight.
Well a collier at the back, he couldn't stand the strain:
He hit her with his clog and she never smiled again.

At the finish of the evening, they called on Ginger Giles;
To sing on this occasion, he'd walked for forty miles.
He said, 'Give order, gentlemen, I'll try to please you all.'
And bursted out singing Let Me Like a Soldier Fall.

The waiter hit him with his tray and down poor Ginger fell;
And to finish off the evening all the crowd began to yell:
'Oh, the more we are together, the merrier we shall be.'

Traditional, from the singing of Fred Jordan

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Mr Happy
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 09:38 AM

Young Buchan,

Good memories of Fred!

& a good example too!

Thanks

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: beeliner
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 10:12 AM

Fleetwood Mac's "Buddy's Song" contains titles and lyrical excerpts from many of Buddy Holly's songs.

It was written by Buddy's mom and is not to be confused with the film of the same name.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: gnomad
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 10:16 AM

The Old Orange Flute manages to score 3 in the digitrad version. I have heard one with fewer, maybe there is yet another version with more?

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: beeliner
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 10:25 AM

The Holy Modal Rounders' "Hot Corn Cold Corn" borrows a verse from "Long Tall Sally".

The last verse of Billy and Lillie's 1959 hit "Lucky Ladybug" mentions the titles of several contemporary hits, most of them only vaguely remembered today.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Young Buchan
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 10:36 AM

Not so folky, but 5 songs mentioned! From the pen of Max Boyce:

We paid our weekly shilling for that January trip:
A long weekend in London, aye, without a bit of kip.
There's a seat reserved for beer by the boys from Abercarn:
There's beer, pontoon, crisps and fags and a croakin CALON LAN.

And we were singing hymns and arias,
LAND OF MY FATHERS, AR HYD Y NOS.

Into Paddington we did roll with an empty crate of ale.
Will had lost at cards and now his Western Mail's for sale.
But Will is very happy though his money all has gone:
He swapped five photos of his wife for one of Barry John.

We got to Twickers early and were jostled in the crowd;
Planted leeks and dragons, looked for toilets all around.
So many there we couldn't budge -twisted legs and pale:
I'm ashamed we used a bottle that once held bitter ale.

Wales defeated England in a fast and open game.
We sang CWM RHONNDA and DELILAH, damn, they sounded both the same.
We sympathised with an Englishman whose team was doomed to fail
So we gave him that old bottle, that once held bitter ale!

So it's down to Soho for the night, to the girls with the shiny beads;
To the funny men with lipstick on, with evil minds and deeds.
One called to Will from a doorway dark, damn, she didn't have much on.
But Will knew what she wanted, aye...his photo of Barry John!

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Hamish
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 10:58 AM

And Keith Donnelly does a brilliantly funny song which is entirely assembled from corny Country & Western song titles, including I'm Still Missing You (but my aim's getting better)

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 11:13 AM

Jazz musicians, and big band players before them, were semi-notorious for incorporating a couple of bars of totally unrelated, well-known pieces into a song they were playing. Sometimes, it was for comic effect and at other times, just to demonstrate their musical dexterity. The most flagrant example of the former can be demonstrated by a song like "The Sheik of Araby," wherein each line is followed by the tag, "with no pants on." I saw a bunch of union musicians pull something like that at my high school prom. I think the only person among the faculty who "got it" was the band director.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Bernard
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 11:27 AM

Then there's the Tennessee Waltz, which mentions... the Tennessee Waltz! I think there's another thread somewhere dealing with that sort of thing. Recursive songs, or something?

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 12:22 PM

Rick Nelson's 'Garden Party' in which he refers to his own 'Hello, Mary Lou.'

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 12:23 PM

Oh, and 'Johhny B. Goode' within the same song.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Smokey.
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 12:33 PM

Bill Caddick's "The Writing of Tipperary".

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: semi-submersible
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 12:34 PM

Alexander's Ragtime Band quotes phrases from tunes as well as mentioning them (Swanee River, bugle call).

There's a phrase in the melody of "The Toorie on his Bonnet" where a change of key temporarily evokes bagpipes, but I don't suppose it's supposed to be a particular song.

Songs embedded within long poems also spring to mind for me. Sir Walter Scott put complete song lyrics within long narrative poems (e.g. The Lady of the Lake).

Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales contain stories within stories within the story, though the tales are recitations, not songs. Writing in a day when practically all books had to be hand-written, Chaucer crafted his narrative poems with all the mnemonic devices to allow them to be remembered and recited from memory. In this example from the Nun's Priest's Tale, Chantecleer rebukes his wife Pertelote's doubt of his ominous dream (lines 15073-15115; fer=far, hem=them, again=against/next to, wende=go, dreint=drowned, sweven=dream, casuelly=for some reason, reccheles=reckless):


Two men that wold han passed over the see
For certain cause in to a fer contree,
If that the wind ne hadde ben contrarie,
That made hem in a citee for to tarie,
That stood ful mery upon an haven side.
But on a day, agein the even tide,

The wind gan change, and blew right as hem lest
Jolif and glad they wenten to hir rest,

And casten hem ful erly for to saile;
But to that o man fell a gret mervaile.

That on of hem in sleping as he lay,
He mette a wonder dreme, again the day:
Him thought a man stood by his beddes side,
And him commanded, that he shuld abide,
And said him thus; if thou to-morwe wende,
Thou shalt be dreint; my tale is at an ende.

He woke, and told his felaw what he met,
And praied him his viage for to let,
As for that day, he prayd him for to abide.

His felaw that lay by his beddes side,
Gan for to laugh, and scorned him ful faste.
No dreme, quod he, may so my herte agaste,
That I wol leten for to do my thinges.

I sette not a straw by thy dreminges,
For swevens ben but vanitees and japes.
Men dreme al day of oules and of apes,
And eke of many a mase therwithal;
Men dreme of thing that never was, ne shal.
But sith I see that thou wolt here abide,
And thus forslouthen wilfully thy tide,
God wot it reweth me, and have good day.
And thus he took his leve, and went his way.

But or that he had half his cours ysailed,
N'ot I not why, ne what meschance it ailed,
But casuelly the shippes bottom rente,
And ship and man under the water wente
In sight of other shippes ther beside,
That with him sailed at the same tide.

And therfore, faire Pertelote so dere,
By swiche ensamples olde maist thou lere,
That no man shulde be to reccheles
Of dremes, for I say thee douteles,
That many a dreme ful sore is for to drede.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 01:06 PM

Rodney's Glory', 'The Blackbird', 'The Stack of Barley, (and, I think, 'The Foggy Dew' - though there are several songs with this title) all refer to tune titles.
There are several Irish songs (which I can't bring to mind at the moment) which are made up entirely of song names - I'm sure Martin Ryan will remember them should he be lurking in the vicinity.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 01:28 PM

Or how about Carolanne Pegg's wonderful "Fair Fortune's Star" which has a version of "Lucy Wan" halfway through?

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: JWB
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 02:12 PM

In the traditional song "The Rose in June" there is interposed a hymn, which is meant to be sung as part of the song, if you take my meaning. According to one source, the hymn's refrain is from 'Revive Us Again', and the verses from 'My God I am Thine'.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Fidjit
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 05:09 PM

My, Christmas Tree Lament. Mentions, "Lilly Marleine"

Chas

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Joe_F
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 06:04 PM

There is already a thread on this subject, but I have forgotten its subject line and cannot find it.

Anyway, the Whiffenpoof Song mentions "Shall I Wasting" and "Mavourneen". "Turkey in the Straw" mentions a song called "Turkey in the Straw".

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 07:23 PM

I always thought that "Heart of My Heart" was a song about a gang that sang a song that maybe didn't exist. But that Excellent Song Sleuth, Jim Dixon, found the original lyrics for THE GANG THAT SANG "HEART OF MY HEART" and THE STORY OF THE ROSE (a.k.a. HEART OF MY HEART). And now that I think of it, I am familiar with the original song. No, wait...."Peg o' My Heart" is the one I know.
You'll find the lyrics in this thread (click).

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: NOMADMan
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 08:41 PM

"The Old Orange Flute" mentions "The Protestant Boys."

John

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: NOMADMan
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 08:47 PM

Also, Eric Bogle's "No Man's Land" mentions "The Last Post" and "The Flowers of the Forest."

Regards,
John

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Joybell
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 10:55 PM

Bernard -- That was me about 7 years ago. I called the thread something like "songs that can't exist" because they only exist within themselves. Sometimes I call them "self-advertizing songs".
I have a small collection of what I call "pure" ones.
Tennessee Waltz I've never been sure about because it may be they were dancing to a tune called that and not a the song. Same with Bonepart's Retreat, Sam's Song, Elmer's Tune etc.
I have a list somewhere of songs that qualify as songs that can't exist.
"Truck Driving Man" is the one that started me off. "Heart of My Heart" is another and "La Montanara".
Cheers, Joy

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CORLISS ENGINE (Bob Clayton)
From: Songbob
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 11:29 PM

I can think of two, one of which I wrote, and the other by Septimus Winner ("Listen to the Mockingbird" and other hits). I was hoping to post the Sep Winner one, called, "The Song of Jokes," but I can't find the lyrics on my computer, so I guess that'll be later.

Here is my song, taken from an actual event (as told in the song).


The Corliss Engine
[Tune: Flying Cloud] *

In eighteen-seventy and six, the U. S. held a fair
To celebrate one hundred years, and half the world was there.
There were halls for science, halls for art, and halls for history,
But the favorite hall among them all was for technology.

The "Hall of Industry" it was, and oh, but it was grand,
With almost every modern kind of gadget in the land.
Machines for home and farming, manufactury and more,
All run by one great engine that stood towering on the floor.

The Corliss Engine it was called, an engine from a dream,
With giant walking beams and wheels, the whole thing run by steam.
A story and a half, at least, as big as all get-out,
The most majestic thing there in that hall, without a doubt.

In ceremony opening day, old U. S. Grant himself
Turned the crank to start it up: "Here's to the country's health!"
And all that summer long the people came to stop and stare
At that one engine making power for all exhibits there.

The country at the time was just embarking on a quest
Of western movement, destiny, and empire manifest.
The Civil War long over, the nation again whole,
And moving out into the world, to find itself a role.

And as the summer rolled along, the time did take its toll,
As Grant's administration was soon numbered in the roll
Of scandal, rumor, sad disgrace, and shameful thievery;
One more public uproar in a roaring century.

As closing day at last came on, the rumor went around
That the man who opened up the show would come to close it down.
A great crowd gathered there to see if Grant would brave disgrace,
And if he'd have the gumption just to dare to show his face.

Instead, at six, a workman came to shut off all the steam.
The Corliss Engine, working still, as if in drowsy dream,
Slowed and stopped and came to rest, and turned the shafts no more,
As a thousand people stood in awe on that exhibit floor.

A hush then fell upon the crowd, and no one spoke a word,
A silence just as reverent as any church has heard.
Then one lone voice began to sing, and others joined along,
Till from a thousand throats there came the notes of this one song:

[Tune: Old 100] *

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above you Heavenly Host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.


Copyright (c) 1992, Bob Clayton

I'll look for the Sep Winner one now. Maybe I'll post it quickly, but probably not.

Bob Clayton

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SONG OF JOKES (Septimus Winner)
From: Songbob
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 11:37 PM

I found it! 1865, by Septimus Winner, "the Song of Jokes" incorporates a number of popular or well-known songs of his day (including at least one of his own), in a run-on way, where one stops as another picks up the thread. It reminds me of the "Billboard Song," where various levels of posted adverts get revealed as rain washes away the paste that held them.

Anyway, if any of you can sing this all the way through, you're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!



The Song of Jokes

As I walked thro' the town one pleasant night in spring,
I stood 'neath the windows to hear the girls sing;

Oh where, and oh where has my highland laddie gone

He's gone he's gone, as meek as any lamb,
They took him, yes they took him to the arms of Abraham;

Away, away, away down south in Dixie,

Where the troop are the first I ever did see,
And the captain with his whiskers, took a sly glance at

Johnie Schmoker, Johnnie Schmoker he sips beer, he sips beer,
Hub a dub a dub das ish my drum
Hub a dub a dub das ish my drum, el.

Oh, I heard the drum beat and the music so sweet,
But my eyes at the time caught a much better treat,

For gay and happy, gay and happy,
We'll be gay and happy still,

Glory, glory, hallelujah
As we go marching on.

Oh Sallie come up,
Sallie come down,
Sallie come down to

Maryland, my Maryland,
Maryland, my Maryland:

For has thou no feeling
To see me kneeling wish

No one to love, none to caress,
Roaming alone thro' this world's wilderness, Oh

How can I love, thee, how can I break apart,

When sheepskin or beeswax, make an awful plaster,
The more you try to take it off, a

Few days, a
Few days,
What's the use of sighing,
I'm going home;

For there is a happy land, far, far away,

Then Hoist up the flag, and long may it wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the

Girl I left behind me

Amen.


Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Mr Happy
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 09:54 AM

..........isn't it 'Green Fields of France' that mentions "The Last Post" and "The Flowers of the Forest."?

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 09:55 AM

'Heart of my Hearts' appears to be a song about a song, but I have never found a song (other than the well known version) that it refers to. The Beatles 'lets all get5 up and sing to a song that was a hit before your mother was born is similar!.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: NOMADMan
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 10:16 AM

The correct title of the song that mentions "The Last Post" and "The Flowers of the Forest" is "No Man's Land." That is the title given to the song by the person who wrote it, Eric Bogle. It was copyrighted under that title. Unfortunately, the incorrect title has stuck somewhat and I believe the song has actually been recorded by some folks under that title.

Regards,
John

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 10:32 AM

My goodness how many times and in how many different threads have we gone over the willie MacBride, Green fields of France, oMan's Landthing.

Actually Green Fields of France mentions another piece not covered by No Man's Land: the Dead March. The Clancys thought that a group of Irishmen singing about rifles being fired over an Irish grave might be too contraversial an image and damage sales.

As for the "correct title", Bogle himself said, when introducing the song at Bromyard festival a few years ago he was happy with the new title as it had made him a lot of money so they could call it whatever they wanted

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 10:39 AM

It's amazing the things that pop up during military funerals in "No Man's Land". On more than one occasion I've heard "The Last Waltz" (and chorus) being performed. Hopefully by The Band rather yjan the band.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Mr Happy
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 10:42 AM

"The Last Waltz" - Englebert Humperdinck??

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 10:47 AM

"The Last Waltz", The Band, with Robbie Robinson on mandolin.

Subject: Lyr Add: PLASTIC PADDY (Eric Bogle)
From: Blackcatter
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 11:00 AM

Speaking of Eric Bogle:

14 songs, I think. possibly a record?

Plastic Paddy by Eric Bogle

Hup! dee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee dah
Hup! dee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee dah
Hup! dee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee dah
Hup! dee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee dah
Hup! dee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee diddle-ee dah

He's just a plastic Paddy singing plastic Paddy songs
In a plastic Paddy pub that they call the Blarney Stone
There's plastic shamrocks on the wall there's Guinness and green beer
And a sign in gaelic above the bar which says god bless all here

His guitar sounds like a wardrobe and it's out of tune at that
His singing voice it ranges from A sharp to A flat
He just desecrated the Holy Ground ripped apart Black Velvet Band
Sang Seven Nights Drunk and now he's sunk The Irish Rover with all hands

Cos he's just a plastic Paddy singing plastic Paddy songs
In a plastic Paddy pub that they call the Blarney Stone
There's Aer Lingus posters everywhere showing pretty Irish Scenes
All peaceful and idyllic and very bloody green

He's done awful things to Molly Malone and the fair Rose of Tralee
He's murdered Carrickfergus and poor old Mother Machree
He's thrashed his way through Galway Bay and the Wild Irish Rose
And if he starts singing Danny Boy I'm going to punch him in the nose

When Irish Eyes are Smiling and The Mountains of Mourne
In the search for Celtic cliche the man has left no stone unturned
Till he embarks upon The Harp That Once Through Tara's Halls
Accompanying himself on the bodhran which takes a lot of . . . courage

Cos he's just a plastic Paddy singing plastic Paddy songs
In a plastic Paddy pub that they call the Blarney Stone
Now he's just sung in his mother tongue, the ancient Irish erse
And cleared the pub completely by the forty-second verse

Cos he's just a plastic Paddy singing plastic Paddy songs
He's started singing Danny Boy so it's time that I was gone
And just one thought comes to my mind as I stagger through the door
Where are you when we need you Christy Moore

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,Gail
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 11:33 AM

And of course 'Galway Bay' and 'The Rare Old Mountain Dew' both get a shout in 'Fairytale of New York'.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAN IN BLACK
From: Bert
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 12:41 PM

The Man in Black

      D
A7   D                     G       D
When I was in my teens he sang his songs
                                        A7
'Teenage Queen' and 'Big River' rolling on
D                        G                  D
'Sing it Pretty Sue' you thought he sang for you
                         A7                  D
But the Man in Black he sang those songs for me.



His songs have followed me throughout my life
He sang '...tie that binds...'        when I first took a wife
When he sang 'Ring of Fire' I could feel the flames roar higher
The Man in Black he sang those songs for me.

I heard he made mistakes from time to time
but his singing helped me through when I made mine
Had to fight my whole life through and he sang 'A Boy Named Sue"
The Man in Black he sang that song for me.

He sang 'Give my love to Rose' and 'Cry, Cry, Cry'
and 'Goodbye Little Darlin' Goodbye'
I felt all the pain I was single once again
The Man in Black he sang those songs for me.

But now I've found a love that's true and fine
and I'm thinking '...while I've got it on my mind...'
and the 'Ring of Fire' again is bursting into flame
The Man in Black he sang those songs for me.

I know I've stolen pieces of his songs
but it seems to me that that's where they belong
They feel such a part of me, they're the part of me that's free
The Man in Black he sang those songs for me.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 12:57 PM

Meanwhile, over in popland:

Other song titles are named in Dire Straits' "Walk of Life"

Here come Johnny singing oldies, goldies
Be-Bop-A-Lula, Baby What'd I Say

--

In "Save the Life of My Child" by Simon and Garfunkel, they sing two lines from "The Sounds of Silence"

--

In the fade-out of "All You Need Is Love" by the Beatles, in addition to a musical quote of "In the Mood" (for which Lennon got in pretty hot legal water), they also sing "She loves you yeah yeah yeah".

O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 02:11 PM

The Galway Shaul mentions
'The Blackbird, the Stacks of Barley, Old Rodney's Glory and the Foggy Dew', though they may only have been instrumentals until
'She sang each note, like an Irish Linnet'.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Paul Burke
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 02:22 PM

Your pretty little feet they tread so neat
Strike off the Morning Dew...

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,Ian Gill
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 03:23 PM

'Last Damn Song in the World' by Bill Caddick . Name checks scores of others.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: C. Ham
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 03:43 PM

Tom Russell's song, "The Road It Gives, The Riad It Takes Away" mentions several songs: "Carrickfergus," "The Road to Mandalay," "Hallelujah," and "The Dutchman."

Anna McGarrigle's "Goin' Back To Harlan" mentions a bunch including: "Bells of Rhymney," "Hangman's Reel," "Devil's Dream," "Shady Grove," "Willie Moore," and Barbara Allen."

Tom Paxton's "When Annie Took Me Home" mentions "Spanish Is A Living Tongue."

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 03:09 AM

A country song from a couple of decades ago:

"Amazing Grace" used to be her favorite song
Lord, where has my good girl gone.

Charles

Subject: Lyr Add: THEY DON'T SING ME ANY MORE
From: Young Buchan
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 10:50 AM

Bit naughty, I suppose, but what about this - last verse in particular:

They Don't Sing Me Any More

My name is William Armstrong and a reiver is my trade
And with forty men around me I led many's the daring raid.
From Branxholm down to Carlisle I was feared both far and wide
And they called me KINMONT WILLIE all along the Liddleside.
The song they wrote about me it was known by rich and poor;
But the singers write their own songs now – they don't sing me any more.

My name is Henry Higgins and I didn't think it fair
That I should die by the perjury of that monster FANNY BLAIR.
They took me to the gallows and it's there that I was hung,
But the song they wrote about me still continued to be sung.
That song gave me the justice that in court I never saw;
But the singers write their own songs now – they don't sing me any more.

My name is Thomas Rattery and I worked the Mossburn seam;
I died there deep inside the pit far from the daylight's gleam.
I went to help my comrades that were trapped there by a fall,
And they wrote a song about me to make money for us all.
That song it kept my name alive, kept the wolf from the family's door;
But the singers write their own songs now – they don't sing me any more.

My name is not important as you may understand:
I'm THE FAMOUS FLOWER OF SERVING MEN, I'm THE FLOWER OF NORTHUMBERLAND.
I'm THE BLOOMING ROSE OF SOUTH WALES, I am CATCH ME IF YOU CAN,
Or I may be YOUNG RAMBLEAWAY or THE ROVING JOURNEYMAN.
Five hundred years I've lived with you – thought I'd live five hundred more;
But the singers write their own songs now – they don't sing me any more.

(Reference in verse 3 is DONYBRISTLE)

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Young Buchan
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 04:26 PM

Someone (and I think it was Meic Stevens) did a rewrite of Hungry Army/Join the British Army which included the verse:

I learned to sing GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
The finest lady ever seen
And they gave me a bloody great death machine
When I joined the British Army.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Young Buchan
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 04:33 PM

If you go into the DT and find The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (2) there is a parody about over-singing TBPWM. If it doesn't make your head hurt to think about it, this is actually a song within a song within a song!

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Joe_F
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 08:36 PM

And, of course, any song that mentions itself, such as "Turkey in the Straw", is infinitely recursive. However, a nontrivial cycle, such as two songs that mention each other, would be a real prize.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: mousethief
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 09:11 PM

Bicycle Race and Fat-Bottomed Girls (both by Queen) almost do that.

O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 14 Jun 14 - 03:22 PM

Just to mention a few,

How High's the Watergate (Phil Ochs) - Five Feet High and Rising
And Lovin' You (Tom Paxton & Bob Gibson) - Norwegian Wood
Getting Up Early (Tom Paxton & Bob Gibson) - Mr Tamburine Man
I Can't Escape (John Denver) - Leaving on a Jet Plane; Blowin' in the Wind; Games People Play

And...

I Hear America Singing (Shel Silverstein):
Drink With Thine Eyes
Auld Lang Syne
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Mercedes Benz
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Oh Say Can You See
Nearer My God to Thee
Sh-boom Sh-boom
...and at least 10 more.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 15 Jun 14 - 03:23 AM

A clever variation is purposely borrowing lines.

Paul Simon's "Leaves that are green" had the opening line lifted by Billy Bragg in "New England"

I was twenty one years when I wrote this song
I'm twenty two now but I won't be for long.

This however is different to songs evolving slightly differently in the oral tradition such as Matty Groves and Little Musgrave.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Jun 14 - 05:19 AM

Malcolm Hughes - regular attenders at Edinburgh Folk Club - has written a great song featuring a good number of the late Michael Marra's song titles.
Ian Davison - Glasgow songwriter - "There's Room Fur Us A' In the Dance" has a number of ceilidh dance tunes in between the verses (a bit like the Ballad of St Anne's Reel mentioned earlier in the thread.)

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 15 Jun 14 - 08:40 AM

Tom Paxton, Did You Hear John Hurt:

Did you hear John Hurt play the Creole Belle?
Spanish Fandango? That he loved so well?
And did you love John Hurt? Did you shake his hand?
Did you hear him play his Candy Man?

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Steve Howlett
Date: 15 Jun 14 - 08:49 AM

Kipling's "The Absent-Minded Beggar":
'When you've shouted "Rule Britannia": when you've sung "God Save the Queen"'.

And "The Old Miner": 'And who will sing the Miners' Hymn'.

(Does anyone know the Miners' Hymn?)

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 15 Jun 14 - 11:25 AM

I was twenty one years when I wrote this song
I'm twenty two now but I won't be for long.

This has echoes of AE Housman too; When I was one and twenty from A Shropshire Lad.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 15 Jun 14 - 12:03 PM

Doc Watson added more to "Did You Hear John Hurt":

We picked some together, John, Merle and me
Like a talkin' to Casey and ol' Stagger Lee
You can bet your money if you can't afford to lose
Man, you should've hear him play them "Monday Morning Blues"

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: DebC
Date: 15 Jun 14 - 03:21 PM

"The Rose In June" sung by Loui Killen and collected by Dr. Kenneth Goldstein has a hymn embedded in it complete with a verse and chorus.

Debra Cowan

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: DebC
Date: 15 Jun 14 - 03:23 PM

That's what I get for not reading the thread. And that should be Lou Killen.

Deb

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 15 Jun 14 - 03:37 PM

Mainly Norfolk; The Old Miner - Roy Palmer noted; An old miner at Haunchwood Pit, Nuneaton [Warwickshire], made up this song to a tune he had learned in his native Durham. John Moreton heard it in the early 1960s.

BBC Radio 4 Soul Music; The Miners' Hymn - Gresford - was written by a former miner, Robert Saint, to commemorate the Gresford pit disaster in 1934. It has been played at mining events ever since, most notably at the famous Durham Miners' Gala.

Beaton Institute Music; The Miners' Memorial Hymn was written by Horatius Bonar in memory of the miners that were killed during the The Gresford Disaster at the Gresford Colliery in Northeast Wales on September 22, 1934. Words by Horatius Bonar, Tune: "Gresford"

Go, labour on while it is day;
The world's dark night is hast'ning on;
Speed thy work, cast sloth away;
It is not thus that souls are won.

Subject: Lyr Add: HAVING A PARTY (Sam Cooke)
From: GUEST,Lew becker
Date: 16 Jun 14 - 12:09 AM

How about the great Sam Cooke:

We're having a party
Dancin' to the music
Played by the DJ
On the radio

The Cokes are in the icebox
Popcorn's on the table
Me and my baby
We're out here on the floor

So, mister, Mr. DJ
Keep those records playin'
'Coz I'm havin' such a good time
Dancin' with my baby

Everybody's swingin'
Sally's doing that twist now
If you take requests I've
Got a few for you

Play that song called "Soul Twist"
Play that one called "I know"
Don't forget them "Mashed potatoes"
No other songs will do

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: PHJim
Date: 16 Jun 14 - 12:25 AM

The McGarrigle Sisters sang Work Song that contained the verse:

When I was a little thing
Papa tried to make me sing
Home Sweet Home and Aura Lee
These were songs that my daddy taught me
Camptown Races and Susannah Don't You Cry
Gentle Annie still brings a tear to my eye
Label it garbage, label it art
You couldn't call it soul, you had to call it heart

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 16 Jun 14 - 08:45 AM

A verse from the 1920s made up entirely of titles of or references to other songs:

I want some Money
To give it to the Sheikh of Araby
Oh, aint it funny
Old friend, why don't you answer me,
Tippy canoe, jealous of you,
Hiawatha's melody of love, carbolic.
Here comes old beaver,
Floating down the stream to you.

Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 14 - 11:09 AM

On one of their albums for children Hilary James and Simon Mayor do their take on "Wait for the Wagon".

An instrumental break in the piece consists of Simon doing one phrase each of "The Sailor's Hornpipe", "The Trumpet Hornpipe" and "Turkey in the Straw", finishing with a tag which I think is his own...

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: PHJim
Date: 16 Jun 14 - 11:15 AM

One of my favorite Cris Cuddy songs is called Keep The Change, about an all night joint that used to be in Peterborough, Ontario's East City. Here is the bridge and last verse:

Waitress bring me another cup of coffee and one more for my friend
We gotta hear some old time music,
Like The Lovesick Blues all over again
And we'll keep you good company until these blues are gone
So honey why don't you keep the change
And play the jukebox all night long
Yeah play the jukebox all night long

I'd like to hear Hank Snow sing I'm Movin' On
I wish that that was me
Six Days on the Road to Bluebird Island
My Calypso Sweetheart to see
But here I'm stuck in the same old town
Gotta finish up this song
So honey why don't you keep the change
And play the jukebox all night long

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: PHJim
Date: 16 Jun 14 - 11:23 AM

Here's another of Cris's songs containing a couple of other songs:

Cris Cuddy's Boy From Beaumont

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,mayomick
Date: 16 Jun 14 - 12:44 PM

Monto- Wearing of the Green
Down by the Liffey side - Goodbye and do not Cry, Down by Texas Way, Soldier's Song   

Rodney's Glory does have lyrics. They were composed by Eoghan Ruadh O'Suiillebhan (Owen Roe o Sullivan) - the last of the great Irish bards - within hours of the famous sea battle in which he had participated:
"Give ear ye British hearts of gold /That e'er disdain to be controlled/Good news to you I will unfold /'Tis of brave Rodney's glory......"
Daniel Corkery gives all eight verses in "Hidden Ireland" and tells the strange story of how the song came to be written .

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 16 Jun 14 - 02:46 PM

Roger Watson's "Salvation Band" mentions "Onward Christian Soldiers".

Then there is the song about the broadside ballad seller that gives the stories of several ballads, such as "the monstrous fish" without actually giving their names.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jun 14 - 03:20 PM

"Old Spinning Wheel (in the Parlor)" mentions "Old Black Joe."

Sometimes it seems like I can hear her in the twilight
At the organ, softly singing, "Old Black Joe."
There's an old spinning wheel in the parlor
Spinning dreams of a long, long, ago.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 17 Jun 14 - 04:45 AM

is an interesting angle on the "Song within a Song" idea.

We never quite find out what song A11 is...

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Tradsinger
Date: 17 Jun 14 - 06:13 AM

There is an old music hall song called "The Egg" which is completely composed from old songs and tunes. It starts

Maxwellon Braes are bonny where stands the Grand Hotel
And it's there I had an egg for my breakfast and I knew as I opened the shell, that

It was an old of the Old Brigade etc

Can anyone finish it off?

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,Barnacle (at work)
Date: 17 Jun 14 - 08:11 AM

Try Bill Caddicks "Last damn sock in the word" - Brilliant - and if you're a Caddick fan you will notice multiple references to his songs.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,Barnacle (at work)
Date: 17 Jun 14 - 08:16 AM

How did it come up "sock" ????

Last damn song in the world!

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: PHJim
Date: 17 Jun 14 - 10:38 AM

I'd play Sally Goodin all day if I could
But the Lord and my wife wouldn't take it very good
So I fiddle when I can, work when I should
Thank God I'm a country boy

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: PHJim
Date: 17 Jun 14 - 10:41 AM

From Bill Monroe's Uncle Pen (My apologies if it's already been posted)

Well, he played an old tune they called the "Soldier's Joy",
And then he did the one they called the "Boston Boy".
Greatest of all was the "Jennie Lynn",
To me, that's where the fiddlin' begins.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DROVER'S DREAM
From: eftifino
Date: 17 Jun 14 - 11:41 AM

The Drover's Dream is one from Down Under with imbeede songs:

Drover's Dream

One night when travelling sheep, my companions lay asleep
There was not a star to illuminate the sky
I was dreaming, I suppose, for my eyes were nearly closed
When a very strange procession passed me by
First there came a kangaroo, with his swag of blankets blue
A dingo ran beside him for a mate
They were travelling mighty fast, and they shouted as they passed
"We'll have to jog along, it's getting late"

The pelican and the crane, they came in from off the plain
To amuse the company with a Highland Fling
The dear old bandicoot played a tune upon his flute
And the native bears sat round them in a ring
The drongo and the crow sang us songs of long ago
While the frill-necked lizard listened with a smile
And the emu standing near with his claw up to his ear
Said, "Funniest thing I've heard for quite a while"

The frogs from out the swamp, where the atmosphere is damp
Came bounding in and sat upon the stones
They each unrolled their swags and produced from out their bags
The violin, the banjo and the bones
The goanna and the snake, and the adder wide awake
With the alligator danced "The Soldier's Joy"
In the spreading silky oak the jackass cracked a joke
And the magpie sang "The Wild Colonial Boy"

Some brolgas darted out from the tea-tree all about
And performed a set of Lancers very well
Then the parrot green and blue gave the orchestra its cue
To strike up "The Old Log Cabin in the Dell."
I was dreaming, I suppose, of these entertaining shows
But it never crossed my mind I was asleep
Till the Boss beneath the cart woke me up with such a start
Yelling, "Dreamy, where the hell are all the sheep?"

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 17 Jun 14 - 03:32 PM

That Egg siong has a thread all of it's own, I think.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Tootler
Date: 17 Jun 14 - 06:57 PM

When the Boat Comes In quotes The Keel Row

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 18 Jun 14 - 05:12 AM

Onward Christian Soldiers is also mentioned in Adam McNaughtan's "Jeely Piece Song".

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 18 Jun 14 - 09:31 AM

O'Donoghue's by Andy Irvine records his life in Dublin from 1962 to 1968. There's a song in almost every verse.

Well, Paddy and Maureen, very, very sound though she liked to camp on the moral high ground
You had long hair, you were outward bound, Go down you blood red roses
Ronnie Drew in his fine suit of blue and a voice like gravel that'd cut you in two
We thought he was Dublin through and through, but he blew in from Dun Laoghaire

Subject: ADD Chorus: Moonlight Bay (Madden & Wenrich)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 May 15 - 01:15 AM

Let us not forget Doris Day. It's debatable whether she was born in 1922 or 1924, but there's no doubt that she's still living. Her film Moonlight Bay came out in 1951. There was a 1953 sequel, By the Light of the Silvery Moon.


Moonlight Bay
(Madden & Wenrich)

We were sailing along on Moonlight Bay
We could hear the voices ringing, they seemed to say:
"You have stolen her heart, now don't go 'way"
As we sang "Love's Old Sweet Song" on Moonlight Bay

D DG D - / A7 - D -
——w: Edward Madden, m: Percy Wenrich (1912)

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 13 May 15 - 03:17 AM

In her song "You Want Alchemy",Kate Bush mentions the song "Cloudbusting" .

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 15 - 08:55 AM

Ledbelly:

It was midnight out on the sea
The band was playing "Nearer My God to Thee"
Cryin' "fare thee, Titannic, fare thee well"

While reading through this thread, I realized that I really like it when a song mentions another song, especially if it's a song I know. And if it's a song I don't know, the reference makes me want to hear it.

This Ledbelly song made me seek out the hymn, which I hadn't previously heard of, just as Eric Bogle's great ballad made me want to learn Waltzing Matilda (which until then I had assumed was a song about a kangaroo in a circus). And though I was disappointed in both cases and decided not to add them to my songbooks, I still have warm feelings toward both just because they're referred to in songs that I love.

I don't know why that is. In fact, it seems peculiar now that I think about it. But it might be something for songwriters to consider.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 13 May 15 - 12:59 PM

The keelman and the pitman trim
They drink bumbo made from gin
Then to dance they do begin
To the tune of Elsie Marley
Byker Hill and Walker Shore...

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 13 May 15 - 01:09 PM

His head was covered all over with blood
His eyes you could scarcely see
The very last words poor Georgie said
Were "Nearer My God To Thee".

Engine 143, or The FFV

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 13 May 15 - 01:30 PM

A song my mother sang made up of song titles from the 20s and 30s
'I Want Some Money' to give it to the 'Sheikh of Araby'
Oh, ain't it funny the difference that money makes to me,
'Tippi Canoe', 'Jealous of You'
'Hiawatha's Melody of Love', Carbolic'
'Here Comes old Beaver', 'Floating Down the Stream to You'.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 13 May 15 - 03:25 PM

Medleys or Songs of Songs go back to the 17thc at least. They were very popular on broadsides in the early 19th century and in the later Music Hall. Sometimes they consist of long lists of titles, cleverly rhymed, and sometimes they are parts of songs strung together. 'The Death of Harry Clifton' laments his passing in 1872 and includes most of his better-known song titles.

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 15 - 03:53 PM

The chorus of Iris Dement's song "Mama's Opry" is a string of names or first lines of hymns:

And we sang Sweet Rose of Sharon, Abide With Me
'Til I ride The Gospel Ship to Heaven's Jubilee
And In That Great Triumphant Morning my soul will be free
And My Burdens Will Be Lifted when my Saviour's face I see

So I Don't Want to Get Adjusted to This World below
But I know He'll Pilot Me 'til it comes time to go
Oh, nothing on this earth is half as dear to me
As the sound of my Mama's Opry

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 15 - 04:23 PM

I think the reason I like songs that mention other songs is because songs are something I'm especially interested in. I imagine it's the same for a lepidopterist hearing someone singing about "the bright elusive butterfly of love" or an astronaut listening to "Rocket Man" or "Major Tom."

Subject: RE: Songs within songs
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 13 May 15 - 05:01 PM

He play'd "The Welcome Ower the Main"
And "Ye's Be Fou and I'se be Fain"
And "Auld Stuart's Back Again"
Wi' muckle mirth and glee
He'd play'd "The Kirk", he play'd "The Queer"
"The Mullen Dhu" and "Chevalier"
And "Lang Awa' But Welcome Here"
Sae sweet, sae bonnielie

.....The Piper of Dundee