Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: GUEST,Tommy Boy
Date: 31 Oct 05 - 02:20 PM

I've just found Utah, and I'm freaked out and happier than I've been in a very long time. I was given "The Past Didn't Go Anywhere" by a firend, and told simply, "Just listen to it." Nothing more, nothing less. I;m hoping to find out if there's any way to get the lyrics for this album. Does anyone know where to go?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 19 May 03 - 12:55 PM

Randolph + Legman "Blow The Candle Out" was still available from Amazon 3-4 months ago, new. It has a comprehensive index to both volumes that is really helpful. Also the full bibliography.
The price was $60 US; expensive, but the used sources all turned up dry when my request went in.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Stewie
Date: 19 May 03 - 02:01 AM

Q,

The search function seems to work in mysterious ways on occasion.

The track listing for 'El Capitan' is:

The Telling Takes Me Home
The Goodnight-Loving Trail
Old Dolores
John D. Lee
Dog Canyon
The Star of Bannock
Sitting by the Old Corral
Johnny Thurman
Scofield Mine Disaster
Rock Me to Sleep
I've Got A Home Out in Utah
Jesse's Corrido
Enola Gay
Larimer Street
Pig Hollow
Yuba City
She'll Never Be Mine
The Sweet Briar


'Johnny Thurman', 'Scofield Mine Disaster' and 'John D. Lee' are in the Phillips online songbook. Thus, as far as I can ascertain, the ones from this album still missing from the DT, forum and online songbook are:

The Star of Bannock
Sitting by the Old Corral
I've Got A Home Out in Utah
The Sweet Briar

I do not have any of those. My copy of 'El Capitan' disappeared years ago, and I have only the tracks that are on 'The Telling Takes Me Home' compilation.

BTW, I just received 'Roll Me In Your Arms', the first volume of Randolph's 'unprintable' Ozark F&F - an impressive tome and a work of considerable scholarship on Legman's part!

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 18 May 03 - 11:10 PM

Stewie, entering dog canyon brought up the info that it was not in the DT or the Forum.

Entering phillips in search-forum brought up a number of threads about him or containing his songs (a number of them not listed in the Related Links), but not the recent thread 58068 where you posted the El Capitan songs.
I remember that some time ago you warned of this problem with songs that you had posted and I should have checked further. Sorry for the duplication.

It does appear in the Related Links of this thread as you point out (but not in all Phillips threads)- I should have checked them but I assumed (wrongly) that phillips in Forum Search would have brought up all threads on Phillips.

Some single song entries came up. Phillips song "Tolono" is posted in thread 7526 (Wabash Cannonball) but it is in the Forum list brought up with -phillips-.

Did you post or check posting of all of the El Capitan songs? Too bad that these were deleted from his web site. It does make the point that no website can be depended on to last.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Stewie
Date: 18 May 03 - 10:04 PM

Q,

I posted 'Dog Canyon' and several others from 'El Capitan' some time ago. The thread is the third in the 'Related threads' linked at the top of this thread:

Click Here

Regards, Stewie.

Subject: Lyr Add: DOG CANYON (Utah Phillips)
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 18 May 03 - 08:35 PM

The El Capitan songbook, which used to be part of the utahphillips.org website, has disappeared. I wish I had copied it.
One of the songs which I liked very much was "Dog Canyon," which I did copy because it concerned my home State. Phillips embroidered the story "a bit" (considerably), so it is not "history."

DOG CANYON
(Utah Phillips)

Ten thousand shorthorns are moving in fast,
They drink lots of water, they eat lots of grass;
Your penny stockbrokers have made quite a change,
Now our old outfit's drove to the edge of the range.

In Canyon del Perro there's grapes on the vine,
The water runs sweet as an old Spanish wine,
The high Tularosas they make a fine home
For a man who don't mind living up there alone.

Young Perry Altman was burned out last night,
They shot George McDonald 'cause he wanted to fight,
The days of the longhorn are over I guess
When your syndicate gunmen have run out the rest.

Way up in Dog Canyon old Frenchie holds out,
Half-blind and crippled but he never knows drouth;
He has good water. Tell me what would you do
If you had to protect it from Billy McNew?

He dreams of a village where the sun always shines,
And he dreams of his family when it comes Christmas time,
Now he dreams in his doorway with a gun in his hand,
And Oliver Lee says "You crazy old man."

Well Frenchie he fires but the shot it goes wide,
He falls to the floor with a hole in his side,
And his water runs down to the ranches below
When the high Tularosas are covered with snow.


Utah Phillips, from the El Capitan songbook.
The Tularosa Mts. of southwestern New Mexico are partly in the Gila National Forest, partly in ranching country, the highest point about 9800 feet.
@West, @cattle, @ranching.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Dec 02 - 11:42 AM

...and then there was

I believe if I saw my wife again
I'd still be here with you...

Art

Subject: ADD Version: Hymn Song (Utah Phillips)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 12:50 PM

HYMN SONG
(Bruce "Utah" Phillips)

cho:
I believe if I lived my life again
I'd still be here with you
I believe if I lived my life again
I'd still be here with you

You know I think if Lady Luck was blind
That old sun would never shine
You know I think if Death really held a knife
We'd all be beggars of life

Sometimes I wish that I could close my eyes
To some things I don't want to see
But I believe if you lived your life again
You'd still be here with me

I'll never see the ending of my mind
Everything will have a time
Why should I ask for things that I don't need
Or pretty lies to hide my greed

Copyright 1981, On Strike Music

This is in the Digital Tradition as I BELIEVE IF I LIVED MY LIFE AGAIN. The lyrics I found in Rise Up Singing are slightly different, most notably in the line about Death holding a knife.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Stewie
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:50 PM

Art, there's a second CD with Difranco. It's called 'Fellow Workers' Righteous Babe RBR016-D. There's also a Philo CD consisting of selections from 'El Capitan' and 'All Used Up' - 'The Telling Takes Me Home' Philo CD PH 1210. It contains an excellent booklet with notes and lyrics.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:08 PM

Some of us were there, Art ...

He never did any of the Eamon Hennessey and Catholic workers stuff in bars, that I am aware of, and I heard him every time he came to chicago after I moved there in 1970. He once commented that that crowd wouldn't dig it, but I am not so sure. I think you can't say too often how you come home from war so scarred you crawl into a bottle and stay there until something or someone drags you out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Stewie
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 02:28 AM

The songbook is available on line:

Songbook

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Art Thieme
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:57 PM

Bruce is working on a new book I do believe. All of his albums are on CD now. A few were only available on CD.

Utah Phillips--The Moscow Hold and other stories--not music but fine tales (Red Hopuse Records CD RHR-118)

Making Speech Free---a CD--pretty heavy political songs and polemics---distributed by The Pittsburgh General Membership Branch of the I.W.W.--- P.O.Box 42777---Philadelphia, PA 19101

Utah Phillips--ONE BIG UNION--a CD----I.W.W. union songs (Philo PH-1076)

The Long Memory--Utah Phillips and Rosalie Sorrels--a CD from Red House Records--P.O. Box 4044--St. Paul, MN 55104

The Past Didn't Go Anywhere--Utah Phillips with Ani Difranco---Utah doing recitations and tales from his concerts and writings over the years with Ani Difranco doing the instrumental background to this CD which is pretty much a WORD JAZZ type of production. It's an attempt to bridge the gap between Ani's audience and Utah's---between then and now and to show that what went down then isn't so alien after all. Ani produced this CD because she wanted her audience to find Bruce Phillips and his valuable view of the U.S.A. and its past -- I.E. the title The Past Didn't go anywhere -- it's still here with us RIGHT NOW.

Loafer's Glory---U. Utah Phillips and Mark Ross--Red House Records CD-103 -- songs of the hobo road... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bruce's first LPs are also available on CD---probably from Philo who issued the LPs back in the early 1970s. These have great versions of so many fine Phillips songs that I'm probably too tired to type 'em out.

Utah Phillips--GOOD THOUGH is probably my favorite of all his recordings. It contains his famous story "Moose Turd Pie". (The LP was Philo-1004 ) Also: Queen Of The Rails, Going Away, Frisco Road, Tolono, Wabash Cannonball, Old Buddy Goodnight, Daddy What's A Train and two thoroughly amazing songs--Starlight On The Rails and Phoebe Snow. These are all songs of the "shiny irons".

Utah Phillips--El Capitan---was also a Philo LP with songs like The Telling Takes Me Home, The Goodnight-Loving Trail, Old Dolores, Rock Me To Sleep, The Star Of Bannock, Larimer Street, Enola Gay and Yuba City---ALL are awesome songs.

There was another LP that, for fear of incurring his wrath. I hesitate to mention. It was simply titled U. Utah Phillips----It was on Prestige Records and came out in the '60s. The unique paean to the actual first man to orbit the earth, the Soviet Union's Yuri Gagarin, was on this album that Utah has been trying to live down ever since. The song was called, simply Yuri Gagarin. In recent times, whenever Bruce mentions it he calls it "Gargle Your Urine".

All of these are wonderful records for all kinds of diffent reasons. Still, I do love some live tapes I've got that we made of Bruce at the old Chicago folk bar THE EARL OF OLD TOWN back in those halcyon days of the folk scare---circa early 70s. I wish you folks could've been there...

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: bigchuck
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:33 PM

Utah was offering reprints of the songbook a couple of years ago when he was at Old Songs. I don't know if there are any left. If you do a net search, you will find a site called Utah Phillips: a short jog through a long memory. If I get time, I'll post Faded Roses in a day or two.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: kendall
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 09:12 PM

I also recommend Stetcher and Breslins tape or cd of Utahs Heart Songs. It is one of my favorites.

Or, it was until I me him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: GUEST,Roses
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 07:45 PM

Any idea where I can get a copy of that songbook? I would sure love to see it. Thanks. I might not find my way back here so if you know how i can get a copy, please email me [e-mail] thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Davey
Date: 06 Oct 99 - 12:02 AM

I really appreciate all the responses, and thanks for digging out the book, Barbara.
Stecher & Brislin's liner notes talk about some previously unreleased songs, which must be the ones that I can't find in the DT or in Rise Up Singing. Those are the ones that I'm mainly interested in, so I think I'll have to try to pick up all the lyrics from the CD.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Gene
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 07:16 PM

*UTAH PHILLIPS SONGS IN DIGITAL TRADITION - CLICK *

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Barbara
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 05:33 PM

And, Kath, the songbook is copyright 1973, 26 years ago, amazing how time flies when you're having fun, right?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Barbara
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 05:27 PM

I've got the aforementioned songbook, Davey.
Orphan Train -- check the forum for this.
In the book are:
Scofield Mine Disaster
Miner's Lullaby
Rock Salt and Nails
Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia
John D. Lee
I Remember Loving You

You'll have to wait a while if you want me to type these in, tho, I'm pretty busy for the next few days. You could try bribing me. (grin) Surely there's a website out there someplace?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Mudjack
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 05:20 PM

What happenned? I had it and it's gone and Joe showed it on my thread. Once more for drill. Thanks Joe.
Utah Phillips
Mudjack

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Mudjack
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 03:21 PM

There is a Hobo site that features many "BUP" and I hope this Clickie Thang works. If it works, credit goes to Easy Rider. If it don't, it's back to the drawing board.
AAHhhh. Utah Phillips, one fo my most favorite human beings. http://www.hobo.org/radio.html
Mudjack

<a href=http://www.hobo.org/radio.html>Click here</a>
(Here's how it should look - Joe Offer)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 03:07 PM

"Utah" Phillips has been sticking pretty close to his home here in Northern California, so I get a chance to see him once or twice a year. He does have a very few dates planned for other areas, including a performance at Wolf Trap (Virginia) on January 15, 2000 - Click here for a schedule. He used to have a Web page, but I can't find it just now - this (click) may be it, but it's not working just now. I'm still looking for an Internet site that has an archive of his weekly "Loafer's Glory" radio show.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Davey
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 02:44 PM

Thanks for the information, Roger. I have RUS so I'll be sure to check out his other songs there. I had the pleasure of seeing Utah at a folk club in Toronto a few years ago, and I knew he wasn't touring very much any more. He is a wonderful entertainer and storyteller. If you haven't heard Heart Songs by Stecher & Brislin, I HIGHLY recommend it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 02:10 PM

Davey,

You missed Rock Salt and Nails. It is in the DT, I just checked. I remember a thread on it some time ago, may have been me asking for the lyrics.

The Green Rollin' Hills of West Virginia is in Rise Up Singing I believe (I'm at work and I'm relying on memory).

I am happy that there is another recruit in the Utah Phillips fan club. I am sorry to tell you that you may not get a chance to see Bruce perform. He is one of a kind. However,he has serious heart troubles and he limits his personal appearances.

He has shown up on two CD's with Ani Di Franco, one quite recent. I have never heard them, so I can't recommend them.

Much of Utah's recorded work is still available and he does a fine job on his songs (not all song writers do, you know).

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: KathWestra
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 12:48 PM

Many of these songs are collected in a small Utah Phillips songbook, lyrics & music, self-published by U.Utah probably 20 years ago. I'm at work and don't have the bibliographic info. here, but will get it and add it to this thread tonight (if somebody else doesn't jump in with the facts before then.) Kath

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Davey
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 12:20 PM

Thanks Barbara, I did check the Data Base, and the only song that's on the CD is 'I Remember Loving You'..
Here is the list of songs from the CD.. If anyone has words to them I'd be appreciative..

Orphan Train
Walking Through Your Town in the Snow
Hood River Roll On
Scofield Mine Disaster
Miner's Lullaby
Rock Salt and Nails
Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia
A Ragged Old Man
The Jury Set Him Free
Faded Rose
John D. Lee
Golden Mansion
I Remember Loving You

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Barbara
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 11:49 AM

Uhm, Davey, I don't know which Bruce Phillips (U. Utah Phillips, Golden Voice of the Great Southwest) songs are on the recording, but you DID look in the database, right at the 20 or so songs of his we have there? Put 'Phillips" in the search box, and see what that gives you, and then post the names of any others you want, OK?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: Lyr Req: Songs by Bruce 'Utah' Phillips
From: Davey
Date: 05 Oct 99 - 11:35 AM

The newest recording by Jody Stecher and Kate Brislin, "Heart Songs" contains all songs by 'Utah' Phillips. I'm strongly drawn to several of them. Does anyone know where I can get lyrics for them? Much appreciated.