Lyr Req: from Tom Paxton Saturday Night album

Subject: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 29 Aug 14 - 11:58 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to some songs from Tom's 1976 "Saturday Night" album. It was on MAM label, released in the UK only. The album is not typical Paxton - the arrangements include lots of strings, organ and electric sound, but still worth listening.

On that album, there are five songs that wasn't included anywhere else. I have a second-hand copy of the album it was on, but since English is not my mother tongue, I can't transcribe the lyrics to those songs. The album is long out of print and thus not available through stream sites or Amazon MP3, so I've uploaded the 5 songs I ripped from my LP:

King of the Cat Cafe.mp3
Good King Buzz.mp3
Never No Love.mp3
Jones Boy.mp3
Do You Want to Dance.mp3

I will delete these mp3s after the lyrics are transcribed. A big thanks to anyone willing to help.

Jason

Subject: Lyr Add: KING OF THE CAT CAFE (Tom Paxton)
From: Rog Peek
Date: 30 Aug 14 - 02:44 PM

KING OF THE CAT CAFE (Tom Paxton)

Everyone wants to sit with Huwey,
King of the Cat Café
Just to be recognised by Huwey
Is enough to make one's day
He never moves from his corner table
Under the poster of Betty Grable
Nothing escapes the notice of Huwey
King of the Cat Café

All of the poets look for Huwey
Soon as they come to town
He never says he likes their poems
But he never puts them down
Fifteen minutes at the corner table
Under the poster of Betty Grable
It's enough to send them happily away
From the King of the Cat Café

Lovers seek the sight of Huwey
Telling their tales of woe
Sitting on either side of Huwey
They all but come to blows
Pounding their fists on Hewey's table
Rattling the poster of Betty Grable
They reconcile and slip away
From the King of the Cat Café

Politicians have lunch with Huwey
Seeing to the public (wheel?)
Having their pictures taken with Huwey
Is sure to increase their appeal
Always welcome at the corner table
Personal friends of Betty Grable
Always a compliment of (fate?)
At the King of the Cat Café

Huwey's table is the noisiest place
In all of the Cat Café
Everyone wants to catch his eye
Read him a new screen-play
Huwey the perfect patron saint
Huwey made from wax and paint
Sends them happily on their way
King of the Cat Café


Couple of problems with verse4, someone may be able to help with that.
I have a copy of Saturday Night on vinyl. Issued in UK the album cover was different to US issue.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: Rog Peek
Date: 30 Aug 14 - 02:48 PM

My mistake, I was thinking of the cover of 'Something In My Life'

Rog

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 30 Aug 14 - 03:41 PM

'Saturday Night' itself is here:

https://www.firedrive.com/file/A5E0ADE2A0B3C2D9

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: GMGough
Date: 30 Aug 14 - 04:02 PM

Trivia:
"Do You Want To Dance" and "Jones Boy" were among the songs used by BBC TV in "The Camera and the Song". One of the programmes in the series featured Paxton's songs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 02:11 AM

Maybe "wheel" is "weal", as in commonweal (a form of commonwealth).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 10:42 AM

Thanks so much, Rog!

I also have a copy of the "Something in My Life" album - the Japan issue (MAM, GP-154). The album cover is the same as the UK issue.

Thanks for the idea, Gerry. I agree that it should be "public weal".

Subject: RE: King of the Cat Cafe
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 11:03 AM

Tom Paxton writes great children's songs and even greater satires. I used to see this song as a children's song... Just realized how ironic it is.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 06:40 AM

Thanks for the trivia GMGough. Is that TV series available anywhere now? I searched but didn't find it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 10:57 AM

For info. on missing t.v. and radio progs. post an appeal on

http://missingepisodes.proboards.com/

Subject: Lyr Add: DO YOU WANT TO DANCE (Tom Paxton)
From: Rog Peek
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 03:07 PM

DO YOU WANT TO DANCE (Tom Paxton)

I find myself a fool,
I laugh too loudly, speak inanely
I strive to seem so cool
So self-processed, I fail mainly.

All the hours I spend
Examining my poor reflection
To a childish (man?)
A simple glance in my direction

But what if you should see me
As the hopeless mess I am
Afraid of even trying
As I must confess I am
Afraid of your reaction
If I dare to take a chance
It's the agony of asking
Do you, do you want to dance.

To my friends I (pose?)
I'm no lover, may God strike me
What I need the most
Is just a hint that you might like me

But what if you should see me
As the hopeless mess I am
Afraid of even trying
As I must confess I am
Afraid of your reaction
If I dare to take a chance
It's the agony of asking
Do you, do you want to dance.

RPSept14

Couple of words I couldn't be sure of.

Rog

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: Rog Peek
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 03:09 PM

Hadn't listened to this LP for a very long time, forgotten how good it was.

Rog

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 08:28 PM

To a childish "end", I think, to rhyme with "spend" in the former line. And most probably, to my friends I "boast".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 09:20 PM

I wonder whether "processed" in the 1st stanza ought to be "possessed".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: Rog Peek
Date: 02 Sep 14 - 10:54 AM

Yes Gerry, I meant possessed, a malapropism by me. Other suggestions in preceding post certainly look correct.

Rog

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: KING OF THE CAT CAFE (Tom Paxton)
From: GUEST,King of the Cat Cafe
Date: 03 Sep 14 - 02:55 AM

King of the Cat Cafe
(Tom Paxton)

A                D       A
Everyone wants to sit with Huey
            E    A
King of the Cat Cafe
                D       A
Just to be recognized by Huey
    B7                  E
Is enough to make one's day
D                      A
He never moves from his corner table
D                   A
Under the poster of Betty Grable
                   D         A
Nothing escapes the notice of Huey
            E   A
King of the Cat Cafe

A - D A - E A -
Doo-doo-doo-doo...

All of the poets look for Huey
Soon as they come to town
He never says he likes their poems
But he never puts them down
Fifteen minutes at the corner table
Under the poster of Betty Grable
Is enough to send them happily away
From the King of the Cat Cafe

Lovers seek the sight of Huey
Telling their tales of woe
Sitting on either side of Huey
They all but come to blows
Pounding their fists on Huey's table
Rattling the poster of Betty Grable
They reconcile and slip away
From the King of the Cat Cafe

Politicians have lunch with Huey
Seeing to the public weal
Having their pictures taken with Huey
Is sure to increase their appeal
Always welcome at the corner table
Personal friends of Betty Grable
Always a compliment of fate
At the King of the Cat Cafe

Huey's table is the noisiest place
In all of the Cat Cafe
Everyone wants to catch his eye
Read him a new screenplay
Huey the perfect patron saint
Huey made from wax and paint
Sends them happily on their way
King of the Cat Cafe

Subject: NEVER NO LOVE (Tom Paxton)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 12:59 PM

I can't open the mp3 files, so, if memory serves:

NEVER NO LOVE

Nothing unusual
Everything neat
Got my life arranged
My every thought complete
No one welcomes surprises
And make myself clear
Most of all around here
Never no love

No strong emotions
No sermons preached
We are civilized to show
We can be reached
We have all abandoned
The childish glee
Most of all we agree
Never no love

Never no more the wild excitement of discovery
Never no more by God, I love her, does she care for me
Never no more the depth of misery in seconds fled
Never no more, never no love

These are the words to the first three verses. There are two or three verses more.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 04 Sep 14 - 08:07 PM

I wonder whether "No one welcomes surprises" (1st stanza, 5th line, of Never No Love, as posted above) should be "No unwelcome surprises".

Subject: Lyr Add: NEVER NO LOVE (Tom Paxton)
From: Rog Peek
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 11:48 AM

NEVER NO LOVE (Tom Paxton)

Nothing unusual
Everything neat
Got my life arranged
My every thought complete
No unwelcome surprises
And make myself clear
Most of all around here
Never no love

No strong emotions here
No sermons preached
We're too civilized to show
We can be reached
We've all abandoned
The childish fears and the childish glee
And most of all we agree
Never no love

Never no more the wild excitement of discovery
Never no more my God, I love her, does she care for me
Never again the depths of misery in seconds flat
Because of a single word here's an end to all that

Now everything's tidier
Under control
Every strong emotion
In its pigeon hole
We've all been through the wringer
In the hard knocks school
And we agree to the rules
Never no love

Never no more the wild excitement of discovery
Never no more my God, I love her, does she care for me
Never again the depths of misery in seconds flat
Because of a single word here's an end to all that

Now everything's tidier
Under control
Every strong emotion
In its pigeon hole
We've all been through the wringer
In the hard knocks school
And we agree to the rules
Never no love
Never no love

RPSept14

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: Rog Peek
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 11:56 AM

Just listened again, on first line of final verse Tom misses out the word 'Now'.

Rog

Subject: Chords Add: King of the Cat Cafe (Tom Paxton)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 10:54 AM

I think we'd better repost the chords using the "pre" function.

King of the Cat Cafe

  A                 D        A
  Everyone wants to sit with Huey
              E     A
  King of the Cat Cafe
                  D        A
  Just to be recognized by Huey
      B7                  E
  Is enough to make one's day
  D                       A
  He never moves from his corner table
  D                   A
  Under the poster of Betty Grable
                      D         A
  Nothing escapes the notice of Huey
              E     A
  King of the Cat Cafe
  
  A - D A - E A -
  Doo-doo-doo-doo...
  

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 11 Sep 14 - 12:02 PM

And thanks so much for the help, Rog.

Subject: Chords: NEVER NO LOVE (Tom Paxton)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 14 - 10:56 AM

NEVER NO LOVE

  Am
  Nothing unusual
  Em         Am
  Everything neat
         C
  Got my life arranged
           G           C
  My every thought complete
  
  No unwelcome surprises
                  Am
  And make myself clear
                     Dm              G7
  Most of all around here
           Am
  Never no love
  
  
  C                        F              C
  Never no more the wild excitement of discovery"
  C                       F                  C
  Never no more my God, I love her, does she care for me
  F                                   C
  Never again the depths of misery in seconds flat
               F                                G7
  Because of a single word, here's an end to all that
  
  
                   Am
  Now everything's tidier
  Em       Am
  Under control
         C
  Every strong emotion
         G     C
  In its pigeonhole
                              F
  We've all been through the wringer
                      Am
  In the hard knocks school
                      Dm              G7
  And we agree to the rules
           Am
  Never no love

Subject: Lyr Add: JONES BOY (Tom Paxton)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 03 Oct 14 - 12:49 PM

JONES BOY
(Tom Paxton)

I bought a car; a beauty;
It was sexy, it was neat.
It made me feel about ten feet tall
To turn the ignition key.
I bought a brand new barbecue
And I put it in my yard,
And every morning's mail
Brought another credit card.

I am a Jones boy -
Try keepin' up with me.
I am a Jones boy -
No way to keep up with me.
I am a Jones boy -
Try keepin' up with me.
I am a Jones boy -
No way to keep up with me.

I bought myself Bermuda shorts;
I bought a Nehru coat;
I bought myself a turtleneck shirt;
I hung beads around my throat.
I'm right on the top of every trend;
There ain't nothing I can't dig.
Now wait until you catch me
In my brand new Afro wig.

I am a Jones boy -
Try keepin' up with me.
I am a Jones boy -
No way to keep up with me.
I am a Jones boy -
Try keepin' up with me.
I am a Jones boy -
No way to keep up with me.

Now my refrigerator makes ice cubes
And for just nine-hundred more.
It plays the hits in stereo
When you open up the door.
My TV set is six feet high
And it also dries my hair.
My telephone has a musical tone
To tell you I ain't there.

And I am a Jones boy -
Try keepin' up with me.
I am a Jones boy -
No way to keep up with me.
I am a Jones boy -
Try keepin' up with me.
I am a Jones boy -
No way to keep up with me.


This sounds like another tongue-in-cheek satire. Now I wonder what a "Jones boy" is. Is it some English idiom?

Subject: Lyr Add: GOOD KING BUZZ (Tom Paxton)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 03 Oct 14 - 12:56 PM

GOOD KING BUZZ
(Tom Paxton)

When the Good King Buzz was buzzin', I was halfway down the street.
I heard the sound of music and the sound of dancing feet.
Like a second-hand calliope just slightly out of key,
They all raised their voices in a harmony.

When the Good King High was risin', I was tryin' to crack on down.
Someone started playin' piano and he was tossin' the chords around.
And then the washboard started bangin' with a heck of a one, two, three,
And they raised their voices in a harmony.

They sang, "La-la-la, la-la-la-la-la-la-la,
La-la-la, la-la-la-la."

Oh, I was knockin' on every door;
I was runnin' from floor to floor.
They were somewhere close at hand -
They were 'bout to be my favorite band.

When the Good King Miles was mellow, I was back down on the street.
Halfway to my bus stop, admittin' my defeat.
When they yelled down from my window, and they were yellin' down to me,
And we raised our voices in a harmony.

We sang, "La-la-la, la-la-la-la-la-la-la,
La-la-la, la-la-la-la."

Oh, I was knockin' on every door;
I was runnin' from floor to floor,
They were somewhere close at hand -
They were 'bout to be my favorite band.

When the Good King Miles was mellow, I was back down on the street.
Halfway to my bus stop, admittin' my defeat.
When they yelled down from my window, and they were yellin' down to me,
And we raised our voices in a harmony.

We sang, "La-la-la, la-la-la-la-la-la-la,
La-la-la, la-la-la-la."
We sang, "La-la-la, la-la-la-la-la-la-la,
La-la-la, la-la-la-la."


Now, with all the lyrics transcribed, the mp3 files were deleted to prevent copyright infringement.

Thanks to everyone!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 07:37 AM

Jason, there's an expression, "keeping up with the Joneses," which means, whatever material possessions (your neighbors,) the Jones family has, you have to have them, too.

There's also a song, Keepin Up With The Joneses, by the Austin Lounge Lizards, but the theme is somewhat different.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Saturday Night (Tom Paxton album)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 04 Oct 14 - 10:12 AM

Thanks so much for the explanation, Gerry!