YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Songs?

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Elmore
Date: 27 Apr 21 - 11:53 PM

Screw David Marsh. I'm so glad that Tom revived "my Lady's a Wild Flying Dove", my favorite Paxton song. Even the intro, when he talks about meeting the love of his life is memorable. I really enjoy two of his somewhat recent songs, "Ireland", and "If the Poor Don't Matter."

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Stewie
Date: 27 Apr 21 - 11:16 PM

Yes, the Chad Mitchell Trio did an excellent job on several Paxton songs.

My Paxton favourites are 'When Princes Meet' and 'Jimmy Newman'.

Recollecting on Paxton, I recall the unkind description of him by Dave Marsh in the 'Rolling Stone Record Guide' as 'a smugly sanctimonious product of the early sixties folk movement'. He went on to write that Paxton 'quickly declined into sentiment and a kind of ham-handed political sermonising about obvious subjects'. He gave a 1-star rating to 'Rambling Boy. This almost put me off reading Marsh reviews which I considered mostly very fine.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: GerryM
Date: 27 Apr 21 - 10:12 PM

No one has mentioned Dubarry Done Gone Again. I don't know whether Tom Paxton ever recorded it, but he wrote it, and it's on the Chad Mitchell Trio album, Singin' Our Minds. Not my absolute favorite Tom Paxton song, but it's a good one.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: voyager
Date: 27 Apr 21 - 07:24 PM

Last Thing on My Mind (I forget).

voyager

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Apr 21 - 05:14 AM

There are so many. I was recalling My Son John, yesterday, and then there is the very funny, What a Way to Run an Airline.
I still sing Wild Flying Dove, Last Thing on my Mind, and Leaving London, among several others, in fact I think I have more of his songs in my repertoire, than songs by any other writer.

Subject: ADD: Early Snow (Tom Paxton)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Apr 21 - 05:26 PM

Jerry Michaels sings "Early Snow," and I love it.

http://www.mydfz.com/Paxton/lyrics/es.htm

Early Snow
Words and Music by Tom Paxton

The elk are coming down from the hills each morning.
The winter grazing´s better here below.
The evening sky last night was like a warning.
It´s cold outside, looking like early snow this morning,
It´s cold outside, looking like early snow.

Every year this town is getting smaller,
The kids can hardly wait to up and go.
And now they´ve closed the high school down forever.
It´s cold outside, looking like early snow this morning,
It´s cold outside, looking like early snow.

Clouds up over the Bitter Roots getting darker every day.
As soon as the wind turns westerly, they´re bound to head this way.
There´s been no rain all summer. All the grass is brown,
This rodeo is over. This circus is leaving town.

Another farming family left the valley.
They left last night, nobody heard ´em go.
They left the tractor standing in the hay field.
It´s cold outside, looking like early snow this morning,
It´s cold outside, looking like early snow.

Clouds up over the Bitter Roots getting darker every day,
Soon as the wind turns westerly, they´re bound to head this way.
There´s been no rain all summer, and all the grass is brown.
This rodeo is over. This circus is leaving town.

The elk are coming down from the hills each morning.
The winter grazing´s better here below.
The evening sky last night was like a warning.
It´s cold outside and looking like early snow this morning.
It´s cold outside, looking like early snow.
It´s cold outside and looking like early snow.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 06 Jul 17 - 05:18 PM

All along the Verdigris

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: GUEST,Wee Jock
Date: 06 Jul 17 - 07:35 AM

As it has been said there are to many to choose from but one of my favourites is Victoria Dines Alone which i first heard Alex Campbell singing. A very gentle but powerful song,,

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: topical tom
Date: 05 Jul 17 - 04:43 PM

All of his songs are great but I get a kick out of "Not Tonight, Marie".

Subject: ADD: Mary Got a New Job (Tom Paxton)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Jul 17 - 12:59 AM

Here's a 1980 Paxton song that still rings true:

MARY GOT A NEW JOB
(Tom Paxton)

Mary got a new job working on the line,
Help to make the automobile.
Wasn't very long till the job was going fine
And she liked the way it made her feel.
It gave her independence to pull into the lot
And pull her heavy work clothes on.
She liked her independence, she liked her new friends,
And her favorite was a man named John.

John was like a brother working at her side
And they both came on the job the same day.
Learned the job together, how the ropes were tied,
Went together down to draw their first pay.
Opening up his packet, Johnny dropped his cash,
Money was all over the floor.
Mary saw the money, saw to her surprise,
Johnny had a whole lot more.
And she said:

CHORUS:
"Who's been matching you sweat for sweat?
Who's been working on the line?
Who's been earning what she ain't got yet?
All I want is what's mine.
I've got eyes and hands and a back like yours
And I use 'em hard the whole day.
I stand here working just as hard as you do,
And I want my equal pay!"

Johnny was a good man, Mary knew that,
Taught to think of women as queens.
Now here stood Mary in her yellow hard hat
And her broken down and faded blue jeans.
He liked her more than anybody he knew,
And he was close to understanding why
She didn't cuss or spit, she didn't raise her voice,
She looked him straight in the eye.
And she said:

"Who's been matching you sweat for sweat?
Who's been working on the line?
Who's been earning what she ain't got yet?
All I want is what's mine.
I've got eyes and hands and a back like yours
I use 'em hard the whole day.
I stand here working just as hard as you do,
And I want my equal pay!
And I want my E.R.A.!"

(Words and music by Tom Paxton, 1980)

Transcribed from live Paxton performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmmv3gOKTcg

This song can be found on page 256 of the Rise Up Singing Songbook.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 21 Jan 17 - 12:19 PM

'Annie's Going To Sing Her Song'
'Chrysler'

When Tom was living at Holland Park, London, in the early 70's, I was working at Heathrow and was able to help him out with a paperwork problem. After that, he would look out for me when he went through Arrivals, and we would chat guitars and music. Happy days.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: frogprince
Date: 20 Jan 17 - 08:20 PM

Backwoodsman, it's "Home TO Me". As it happens, a few minutes ago I was listening to it by Tom, Anne Hills, and Bob Gibson on the album "Best of Friends". Much as I love so many of Tom's songs, I too come back to that one. Makes me just want to squeeze my lady and just let the tears run down.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Acorn4
Date: 20 Jan 17 - 04:26 AM

I rather like the duet he did with Iris Dement on "On the Verdigris".

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Jan 17 - 01:01 AM

'Home For Me'

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 Jan 17 - 09:13 PM

Just looked back at what I said in 2002: not changed much since then. Still love "Every Time" - as HE did it it, in very free time: no need for a big strum in metronomic 4/4 as you sometimes hear others do it.
And for topical - "Lyndon Johnson told the nation" - just substitute a few words, as Tom himself did when he updated it for George W Bush.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Jan 17 - 02:33 PM

Depends on which part of me you ask.

My heart belongs to Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound.

My appetites rejoice to that garage-band cover of Bottle of Wine.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: GUEST,Pariah
Date: 19 Jan 17 - 10:25 AM

In light of what's to occur tomorrow, "We Didn't Know", "I Believe, I Do" and "Jimmy Newman" suggest themselves.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: voyager
Date: 19 Jan 17 - 09:31 AM

Here's a plug for -
Did You Hear John Hurt (Tom Paxton)

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: GUEST,Miriam
Date: 19 Jan 17 - 02:17 AM

Outward bound.

Subject: DT Correction: I Am Changing My Name to Chrysler
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 06:27 PM

I was thinking of deleting I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler from my MP3 collection, but maybe that's premature. Change the names a bit, and it fits today to a "T." "Chrysler" scans a lot better than "Wachovia" or "WaMu," but maybe that's a matter Congress can resolve...
Well, we could have, "I Am Changing My Name to Wall Street" - but then what do we do with Iacocca???
I can't say "Chrysler" is my favorite Paxton song, but it's a good one and deserves to be posted somewhere.
-Joe-

---

And since the DT needs correction, here are the corrected lyrics:

I AM CHANGING MY NAME TO CHRYSLER
(Tom Paxton)

Oh the price of gold* is rising out of sight,
And the dollar is in sorry shape tonight.
What the dollar used to get us, now won't get a head of lettuce,
No, the economic forecast isn't bright.
But amidst the clouds I spot a shining ray,
I begin to glimpse a new and better way:
I've devised a plan of action, worked it down to the last fraction,
Now I'm going into action here today.

CHORUS:
I am changing my name to Chrysler,
I am going down to Washington DC.
I will tell some power broker, what you did for Iacocca
Would be perfectly acceptable to me.
I am changing my name to Chrysler,
I am leaving for that great receiving line;
And when they hand a million grand out
I'll be standing with my hand out,
Yes, sir, I'll get mine.

When my creditors come screaming for their dough,
I'll be proud to tell them all where they can go;
They won't have to scream and holler,
They'll be paid to the last dollar
Where the endless streams of money seem to flow.
I'll be glad to tell them all what they must do,
It's a matter of a simple form or two.
It's not just remuneration, It's a liberal education,
Aren't you kind of glad that I'm in debt to you?
CHORUS

Since the first amphibian crawled out of the slime,
We've been struggling in an unrelenting climb.
We were hardly up and walking, before money started talking,
And it's said that failure is an awful crime.
It's been that way a millennium or two,
Now it seems there is a different point of view;
If you’re a corporate Titanic, and your failure is gigantic,
Down in Congress there's a safety net for you.
CHORUS

*Arlo Guthrie has "gas"

from the 1980 Tom Paxton CD, The Paxton Report

The version in the DT has some serious spelling mistakes, even in the title. The DT lyrics are closer to the version Arlo Guthrie did on one of his concert recordings with Pete Seeger. I think the original Paxton lyrics are a little crisper. I'm sure many in Congress won't appreciate a song like this just now - but Dennis Kucinich will.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: GUEST,Katia
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 04:03 PM

'Kangaroo's Like To Hop' - got to be

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 03:48 PM

Back in the early 90's, Tom performed (IMHO) his greatest song ever, at the Clearwater Festival: the Ballad or lorena Bobbit.

I asked him about it a few years later, and he shrugged that he'd never bothered to record it in any form. What a pity.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: GUEST,JimP
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 06:54 AM

My son just turned 18, and "My Favorite Spring" really gets me these days. Of course, I wish I could have imparted superior baseball skills to him, but mine are, well, "limited" is the best spin I can put on it.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: kendall
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 09:33 PM

Jacqui recently found a bunch of old recording I made before I lost my voice, and some of Tom's stuff is included. I believe "The Honor of your company" is among them.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 08:30 PM

"I Followed Her Into The West" and of course, his best love song that I sang to "Bride Judy" at our wedding: "My Lady's A Wild Flying Dove"!

CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson   Tom, if you're reading this, I was the guy that introduced you to Richard Gibbons, who wrote "Sully's Pail", when you sang at the Rainbow Tavern in Seattle somewhere in the 70's.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 08:15 PM

Thank You Repbulic Airlines.....

Then That was the Last Thing on My Mind
and Ramblin Boy

But, dammit, they are ALL good

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: phinque
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 06:03 PM

My Pony Knows The Way
Ramblin' Boy
Last Thing on my Mind

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Hillheader
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 02:14 PM

Cindy's Crying.

For fun, Bayonet Rap Blues

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: stallion
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 05:50 AM

Katy

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: rich-joy
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 03:32 AM

ooohh ... so many good songs to choose from ... but, "When Princes Meet / When Kings Make War" just has to be one of the best!


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Slag
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 02:54 AM

Tom Paxton's "Last Thing on My Mind" is, for me, one of the finest pieces in it's genre that I have ever heard. He settles into that little momentary gap between break-up/ resignation and the blues and stirs up all that old grief and memory like it was just this morning or maybe it was just this morning. If you've ever been in love and come to that moment you know what I'm talking about and by the same token you have to give Mr. Paxton and this incredible song their due.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 06 Jul 02 - 07:32 PM

Most of the above, but personal favourites include: "Leaving London" "Rambling Boy" "Every Time" "Bottle of Wine" "Outward Bound" "The Bravest" and, not so far mentioned, for its satire "Buy a Gun for your son"

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Jul 02 - 09:49 AM

My favourite song is One Million Lawyers - I love the idea - then of course there's the song referred to above that prompts every travelling muso to worry about their instrument entrusted to the attentions of those who throw stuff into the aircraft hold.

I was listening to Elektra's "Ramblin' Boy & Ain't that the news' while reading this thread - so many good things there too.

Sandra

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: bflat
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 10:39 PM

I want to add: "Anytime." Best song of love and friendship,IMHO>

Ellen

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: GUEST,Argenine
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 01:18 AM

Well, the first two I learned to play were "the Last Thing On My Mind" and "Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound," and they're still among my favorites, but I think "Outward Bound" is awesome and "Saturday Night" is hilarious, as is "The Marvelous Toy." Also his 9-11 tribute, "The Bravest" is very moving.

How do you pick a favorite among so many gems?

Arge

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 12:38 AM

Just in from a gig. Had Tom on the CD player in the Jeep on the way home.

How the hell does one pick a favorite from this man's work. If I had to, I would go with Ramblin' Boy. I would probably also go with the song that Tom himself says is the finest song he ever wrote - "Home To Me (Is Anywhere You Are)". I think I got the title right. If you haven't heard Matt Wotroba sing this accompanied by Jan Crist, then you haven't lived.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Lanfranc
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 06:37 PM

"Peace will Come", "Saturday Night", "Hold on to me, babe", "The Bravest", oh, dammit, just about everything the man's ever written!

Thanks for them all, Tom!

Alan

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: raredance
Date: 04 Jul 02 - 09:49 AM

All of those above! I would add one not yet mentioned, "Life". It's a wonderful, uplifting song that's unfortunately on one of his more obscure 70's albums.

rich r

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: bradfordian
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 07:21 PM

My Lady's a wild flying dove. Well that makes two of us. Very surprised there's not more takers for this one! Evocative and of course, I'm trying to recapture my lost youth (aren't we all????) Brad

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: musicmick
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 06:46 PM

My favorite Paxton songs include two that he wrote and two that he didn't. When i met Tom, he was still doing some traditional songs in his set. He was a lover of cowboy songs, and his favorites were "Tyin' a Knot on the Devil's Tail" and a recitation called "Sully's Bucket". He was a wonderful cowboy singer. Some time later, he entertained the idea of writing a Broadway show about Ben Franklin's adventures in Paris. The only song I remember from that project was "You Cant Do the Monkey Like Me".

Tom was a regular at the all night poker games at the Gaslight. When he played in Philadelphia, we made up a game at Leon Aaron's house. The game started around eleven and Tom usually showed up about an hour later, after his last set. He would walk into Leon's diningroom where the other players, who were all Jewish, serenaded him with, "...And here's to you, my gamblin' goy."

Mike Miller

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Deda
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 06:22 PM

I love listening to Tom Paxton do his own songs. "My son John" is very evocative, and so is "Whose garden was this". Rambling Boy is great, and fun to sing, as is Bottle of Wine, and Last thing on my mind. Marvelous toy is a classic.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 03:05 PM

I caqn't believe I just cited "Thank you Republic Airlines" on the thread about stowing instruments. I have yet to hear any of Tom's songs that doesn't reach me at some level.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 11:55 AM

It depends on my mood and what else is going on. Lately I've been singing "Out Behind the Gypsy's" and "Dance in the Shadows". The nice thing about Paxton's music is that he has something for nearly every state of mind. As for funny songs, given the latest hoo-hah over the death penalty, I've been getting some new mileage out of "Bring Back The Chair"

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: GUEST,Annie
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 09:38 AM

1) Annie's Going To Sing Her Song

2) Has Annie Been In Tonight?

3) When Annie Took Me Home

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: death by whisky
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 09:36 AM

Never heard him.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: beadie
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 09:35 AM

"The Last Thing on My Mind" . . . . he says its his favorite, too.

Funny :: "Ten Thousand Lawyers"

In between :: "The Natural Girl For Me"

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: songs2play
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 09:30 AM

First heard Tom Paxton in 1964 on the Newport 1963 album, where he sang Ramblin' Boy and Willing Conscript. They have to still be my favorite after nearly 38 years. The Hostage and The Bravest are up there though. Forest Lawn for comedy.

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 09:22 AM

Willie Seton. It's the only song of Tom's I've done. It's on the first album that he recorded on the Gaslight Label.

Jerry

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: SharonA
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 09:22 AM

It varies for me, depending on my mood (and on what he's written lately!), but "Little Bitty Gun" is right up there in my top five!!

Subject: RE: What's YOUR Favorite Tom Paxton Song?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 09:15 AM

Gotta go with "Bottle of Wine" as the funny one, Forrest lawn for satire, Last thing as my favorite overall.