Looking For Lyrics (thread closed)

Subject: Looking For Lyrics
From:
Date: 20 Sep 97 - 10:33 PM

I'm trying to find the lyrics to "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister.

Subject: Lyr Add: MAY I SLEEP IN YOUR BARN TONIGHT, MISTER
From: Gene
Date: 21 Sep 97 - 04:01 AM

MAY I SLEEP IN YOUR BARN TONIGHT, MISTER?

One night it was dark and it was storming
When along came a tramp in the rain
He was making his way to some station
To catch a long distance train.

May I sleep in your barn tonight, Mister?
It is cold lying out on the ground
And the cold North wind is whistling
And I have no place to lie down.

Oh, I have no tobacco or matches
And I'm sure that I'll do you no harm
I will tell you my story, kind mister
For it runs through my heart like a storm.

It was three years ago last Summer
I shall never forget that sad day
When a stranger came out from the city
And said that he wanted to stay.

Now, the stranger was fair, tall and pleasant
And he looked like a man who had wealth
In his eyes there, a sad look was present
Said he wanted to stay for his health.

Now, my wife thought his board and his lodging
Could afford to keep us a home
So we took in that tall, handsome stranger
Who later did break up our home.

One night, as I came from my workshop
I was whistling and singing with joy
I expected a kind-hearted welcome
From my sweet, loving wife and my boy.

But what did I find but a letter?
It was placed in a room on the stand
And the moment my eyes fell upon it
I picked it right up in my hand.

Now, this note said my wife and the stranger
They had left and had taken my son
Oh, I wonder if God up in heaven
Only knows what this stranger has done?

Note. The song was revived/recorded in the 60's as:
May I Sleep In Your Arms Tonight, Mister? By Jeanie Seely
In fact, she sang the INTRO to it on Backstage at the Opry just last week.

If you want to discuss this song, try this thread: Lyr Add: May I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight Mister--JoeClone, 20-Nov-07.

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From:
Date: 21 Sep 97 - 01:06 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to either (or both) "Lannigan's Ball" and "Long Winter's Night".

Subject: Lyr Add: LANIGAN'S BALL
From: Alice
Date: 21 Sep 97 - 05:32 PM

According to one of Colm O'Lochlainn's song books, (spelling Lanigan with two "n's", not three)
"In the 60's and 70's of the last century, and ever since, the Irish element on both American and English variety stage... produced many songs of the rollicking type, represented here by 'Lanigan's Ball' and 'Finnegan's Wake'."

LANIGAN'S BALL

In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan battered away til he hadn't a pound,
His father he died and made him a man again,
Left him a farm and ten acres of ground.
He gave a grand party to friends and relations
Who did not forget him when come to the wall,
And if you but listen, I'll make your eyes glisten,
At the rows and ructions of Lanigan's Ball.

Myself to be sure got free invitations,
For all the nice girls and boys I might ask. Were dancing as merry as bees round a cask.
Miss Judy O'Daly that nice little milliner,
Tipped me the wink for to give her a call,
And soon I arrived with Peggy McGilligan,
Just in time for Lanigan's Ball.

There was lashings of punch and wine for the ladies
Potatoes and cakes there was bacon and tea,
There were the Nolans, Dolans, O'GRadys
Courting the girls and dancing away.
The songs they went round as plenty as water.
From the Harp that once sounded in Tara's Old Hall
To sweet Nelly Gray and the Rat-Catcher's Daughter
All singing together at Lanigan's Ball.

They were doing all kinds of nonsensical polkas,
All round the room in a whirligig,
But Julia and I soon banished their nonsense
And tipped them a twist of a real Irish jig.
Och mavrone, how the girls they got mad on me
And danced till you'd think the ceilings would fall,
For I spent three weeks at Brook's Academy,
Learning steps for Lanigan's Ball.

The boys were all merry, the girls all hearty,
Dancing away in couples and groups,
Till an accident happened young Terence McCarthy,
He put his right leg through Miss Finnerty's hoops.
The creature she fainted and cried, "Meelia murther"
Called for her brothers and gathered them all,
Carmody swore that he'd go no further
Till he'd have satisfaction at Lanigan's Ball.

In the midst of the row Miss Kerrigan fainted
Her cheeks at the same time as red as the rose,
Some of the lads decreed she was painted,
She took a small drop too much, I suppose.
Her sweetheart Ned Morgan so powerful and able
When he saw his fair colleen stretched by the wall,
He tore the left leg from under the table,
And smashed all the chaney's at Lanigan's Ball.

Boys, oh boys, 'tis then there were ructions
Myself got a lick from big Phelim McHugh.
But soon I replied to his kind introduction,
And kicked up a terrible hullabaloo.
Ould Casey the piper was near being strangled,
They squeezed up his pipes, bellows, chanters and all,
The girls in their ribbons, they got all entangled,
And that put an end to Lanigan's Ball.

Well, that was so long to type in that I got disconnected twice and had to dial up again. Dick, this reminds me of the thread regarding starting a bibliography of song book sources. I got this book through an inter-library loan, and it refers to other great source books that I haven't had time yet to borrow. I highly recommend people combing their local library shelves for these books. The internet will never replace the thrill I get from finding a treasure of an old book like Colm O Lochlainn's.

Alice in Montana

If you want to discuss this song, try this thread: Lyr Req: Lannigan's Ball / Lanigan's Ball--JoeClone, 20-Nov-07.

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Sep 97 - 05:39 PM

Alice, if you like old songbooks, take a look at this URL
http://home.istar.ca/~anderman/
You won't believe the number of books this guy has available.

On another note, I hate to see wonderful lyrics like this get buried in a thread with a generic name like "Looking For Lyrics," but I also hate to see any note of harshness in messages posted here. So, let this be a very gentle and kind reminder that specific thread names are usually more effective.
Get the Picture?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From:
Date: 24 Sep 97 - 10:35 PM

Willie Nelson did "Can I sleep in your barn tonight mister" in a FAIRLY recent album. Not "Stardust" but one about that time.

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From: Dale Rose
Date: 24 Sep 97 - 11:05 PM

OK, Way, way back to the definitive version of May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister?. Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers recorded this in 1925, though using Can, rather than May, in the title. It was the other side of Don't Let Your Deal Go Down, and was their biggest hit. Surprisingly enough, County did not include this song on either of their CD reissues, but it was on their lp collection of Charlie's music.

Concerning the other topic, I agree with Joe in as kindly a fashion as typed words on a screen will allow~~when a thread is sketchily named, and then goes off in other directions, someone is likely to miss something that they would otherwise enjoy thoroughly, or be able to add exactly the right note. There are a great many threads that I never touch, because the material as stated does not appeal to me. I would hate to think that I was missing a discussion of oh, say the Georgia Yellow Hammers in a thread entitled The Music of Outer Mongolia. (With apologies to those for whom said music is their heart's delight)

Subject: May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 01:02 AM

I did a little digging because the thought of a Willie Nelson recording recording of "May I Sleep" piqued my interest. I didn't find a Willie recording, but I'm still looking. However, I did find a nice RealAudio clip of the song. Go to http://cdnow.com and do a song title search under "May I Sleep," and you'll find a CMH CD called "The Mac Wiseman Story," and the page has clips from several wonderful songs from the CD.

I searched Microsoft's "Music Central," and I found that in 1973, Jeannie Seely had a minor hit with "Can I Sleep in Your Arms, Mister," a parody by Hank cochran of the old-time "May I Sleep in Your Barn."

I didn't find my Willie Nelson recording, but the search did turn up a nice recording.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Can I Sleep In Your Arms
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 01:26 AM

I found it. Willie's recording is on "Red Headed Stranger," which many think is Willie's best album. Willie's rendition has a tune that sound to me just like "Red River Valley."

Can I sleep in your arms tonight, lady?
It's so cold lying here all alone
And I have no hope (?) to hold on you
And I assure you I'll do you no harm.

I don't think it's the best song on the album, but it's OK.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From: Dale Rose
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 05:41 AM

There are three listings(but no sound clips) for the Willie Nelson recording and one for the Jeanie Seely version at Music Boulevard: http://mb1.musicblvd.com/cgi-bin/tw?SID=1949760875179659&MT=41&STORE=all&limit=200&search_term=can+i+sleep&search_type=song&x=44&y=12 The Mac Wiseman version is under May, and does have a clip, but their server was not responding when I tried it.

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 25 Sep 97 - 08:51 AM

Re "Long WInter's Night":

More details and a switch to anoather thread might get results.

Regards

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From:
Date: 16 Mar 99 - 02:29 PM

Quite a few years ago I served with an Amphibious Training group in Little Creek Va. I believe it was 1960. On base there were in the NCO and Officers club a number of songbooks with old, humourus songs that go well with private parties, much like a Frat House party. Such songs as "The Lady in Red" were included. Does anyone know where one could find such songbooks, or Lyrics and music fornsuch party songs. I would appreciate any response. Thanks, Ed Burk

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From: Philippa
Date: 16 Mar 99 - 02:41 PM

Ed, this is really odd. You're the second person in the past couple of days to resurrect an old, too-generally named thread in order to post a new request. We prefer to have one thread per song or per song topic (as in the current "hello songs", "food songs" threads) and a title which gives a clue to the theme of the thread. It is good to refresh old threads if they are directly pertinent, but loading a thread with too many topics just gets confusing. This thread started with a request for one song, "may I sleep in your barn tonight, mister". I'll do you a favour and open a "Songbooks for Parties" thread. Also, see Joe offer's note of 22 Sept. 1997 in this thread.

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 16 Mar 99 - 03:02 PM

Willie's "Can I Sleep in Your Arms tonight lady?" is apparently a variation on "May I sleep in your Barn", which apparently is sung to the melody of "Red River Valley"

It is indeed from "Red Headed Stranger" which is the album that transformed Willie's career from that of songwriter to performer. Joe, as far as it not being the best song on the album, please keep in mind that this whole album is a story and all the songs are closely tied to one another. This song fits nicely into it's place in the story. This is still my favourite Willie album, it's a wonderful story of love, loss, murder, new love, new dreams and a new life borne out of tragedy. The music is simply constructed and beautifully played.

Besides it has my favourite Willie line "For you can't hang a man, for killin' a woman, who's trying to steal his horse."

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From:
Date: 16 Mar 99 - 03:02 PM

Quite a few years ago I served with an Amphibious Training group in Little Creek Va. I believe it was 1960. On base there were in the NCO and Officers club a number of songbooks with old, humourus songs that go well with private parties, much like a Frat House party. Such songs as "The Lady in Red" were included. Does anyone know where one could find such songbooks, or Lyrics and music fornsuch party songs. I would appreciate any response. Thanks, Ed Burk

Subject: redirection
From: Philippa
Date: 17 Mar 99 - 06:51 AM

I even e-mailed Ed and told him to look at my response here (16 March) and at his new thread. How are you going to understand a songbook, Ed? The party songbook query is being discussed at SONGBOOKS FOR PARTIESNOT HERE

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 17 Mar 99 - 07:04 AM

Ah, the frustration level mounts.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From:
Date: 17 Mar 99 - 06:33 PM

I think we need a thread where those who failed to get through to people to READ THE DIRECTIONS can go to blow off about their frustrations.

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From:
Date: 17 Mar 99 - 06:41 PM

"The Star of Slane" It is a popular ethnic irish tune.

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 17 Mar 99 - 07:56 PM

edgartop, I expect it is, but what do you want to know?
1. READ THE LAST FEW MESSAGES ABOVE and make a new thread - please.
2. This thread is now extinct, defunct, ended. NO MORE MESSAGES HERE!!

(Do you think that'll do it? No answers, thank you!!)
Jo

STOP! NO MORE POSTINGS HERE!

Subject: RE: Looking For Lyrics
From: Ed Burk
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 08:19 AM

Thank you all for your help......