Lyr Req: California Earthquake

Subject: California Earthquake
From: Mrrzy
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 01:33 PM

Here is as much as I can recall. I had this on a record with Gentle on my Mind, but cannot recall the artist, either.

Well, they tell me the fault line runs right through here
If that may be, then that may be
What's gonna happen's gonna happen to me, that's the way it appears

One of the verses says:

Mother Nature's got gas, her diet's gone stale
See her acid indigestion on the Richter scale, that's the way it appears.

Other songs on the album include the great (sing all in one breath) Mouth To Mouth Resuscitation, good for the country, good for the nation, nothing a-quickens your respiration like a little old bit of that sweet sensation of that mouth to mouth (gasp) resuscitation! Well I dreamt last night that Bridget Bardot was drowning in the clutches of a big undertow and guess who the lifeguard, her only salvation gave her mouth to mouth resuscitation...

What is the album? And can anyone fill in the missing earthquake lyrics?

Subject: Lyr Add: CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE (John Hartford)
From: Jacob B
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 03:17 PM

The album is Gentle On My Mind, by John Hartford. The lyrics to all of the songs on the album were printed on the back of the album, with the exception of California Earthquake, which was the first song on the album.

CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE
by John Hartford

Well, they tell me they've exploded the underground blast
And what's about to happen's gonna happen at last

Chorus:
That's the way it appears
And they tell me the fault line runs right through here
If that may be, then that may be
What's gonna happen's gonna happen to me
That's the way it appears
And they tell me the fault line runs right through here

Mother Nature's got gas, her diet's gone stale
See here acid indigestion on the Richter scale

Atlantis will rise, Sunset Boulevard will fall
Where the beach used to be won't be nothing at all


I believe that was all of the verses.

And as long as we're mentioning that album, don't forget the song "I Would Not Be Here". Five minutes of mind-bending free verse about cause and effect, set to music.

Jacob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: California Earthquake
From: GUEST,Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 05:55 PM

Mama Cass also made a recording of the song, though I don't recall her using the 'Mother Nature's gas' verse.

I didn't know anything about the song, but there was a documentary about the San Andreas Fault on British television many, many years ago, and the song was used throughout. Somehow, I missed the information given in the credits. However, I came across the Mama Cass recording a year or two later (probably paired with something like 'Talking to my Toothbrush'), and was pleased to find that. However, I suspect that the documentary carried the original.

Lhieuish,

Bobby Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: California Earthquake
From: Mrrzy
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 06:11 PM

Thanks, and yes, I LOVE I wouldn't be here. I still sing that one every time I wouldn't have been where I was but for...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: California Earthquake
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 06:18 PM

Thought this was a different California Earthquake song, they must have a corner on the tremor market.

"This ol earthquake's gonna put me in the poor house
It seems like this (w)hole town's insane
On the 31st floor there's a gold plated door
That won't keep out the Lord's burning rain"

Not sure if I've got it right but it's gotta be close. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: California Earthquake
From: rangeroger
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 10:12 PM

Rodney Crowell also wrote a song called California Earthquake ( or a Whole lotta shakin' Goin' On ) that the Seldom Scene a cover of.(Can't find the album right now)

rr