Lyr Req/Add: The Taoist Tale (Tucker Zimmerman)

Subject: Tucker Zimmerman Song
From: GUEST,Mark. West Sussex. UK
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 05:56 PM

Many years ago I bought an album in London from an itinerant musician called Tucker Zimmerman. It was so popular that it went missing after one of those parties we used to have in the seventies. A year ago I saw a copy advertised in a collectors catalogue but it had already gone when I phoned. The proprietor asked who the hell this guy was because he had had over two hundred enquiries and realised he had seriously under-priced it. Anyway, the title song was (I think) called JUST ANOTHER NORMAL DAY and the chorus was "When Custer took his fall, he said to his wife, well baby that's life, And you can't win 'em all." Anyone know the rest of it? And is Tucker still with us? Web searches throw up some famous people covering his songs but nothing on the man himself.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tucker Zimmerman Song
From: mousethief
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 06:01 PM

www.gemm.com has a copy of RED WIND for about $50. But nothing called Just Another Normal Day. Unfortunately they don't give track listings. GEMM is my usual source for really rare recordings. Good luck!

Alex

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tucker Zimmerman Song
From: scouse
Date: 07 Jan 01 - 05:53 AM

As far as I know Tucker is still alive and well and living in Belgium. Last time I saw him was at the Derroll Adam 65th.birthday concert, but that was 10 years ago. I could find out more with a quick phone call if you really need the info......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tucker Zimmerman Song
From: GUEST,Mark. West Sussex. UK
Date: 07 Jan 01 - 01:22 PM

I almost thought I was heading for my first Mudcat zero result. Many thanks and Happy New Year to Mousethief and Scouse. Yes please, Scouse, any information or contact would be most welcome. If you can find him our email to pass on is [e-mail] Again, many thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tucker Zimmerman Song
From: GUEST,Guest, Rich-Joy
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 05:09 AM

just found this thread! - my partner is searching for the lyrics of Taoist Tales by Tucker Zimmerman (on Gerry Hallom's CD "On the Periphery") ~ any takers??!!

Subject: the taoist tale
From: GUEST,merry bee
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 03:11 AM

i heard a busker doing this song the other day while i was stuck in traffic can you believe .. i tossed him a couple of dollars and after finding out the title it was time to move on.!! any help out there catters??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the taoist tale
From: masato sakurai
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 03:39 AM

No luck with the lyrics, but it's on NIC JONES: UNEARTHED (Click here).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the taoist tale
From:
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 11:10 AM

I haven't found the lyrics either, but apparently Martin Carthy also did it. At least he does one by Tucker Zimmerman on a recording mentioned here. WOOD WILSON CARTHY. Apparently sub-titled "Is it Good Luck or Bad Luck"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the taoist tale
From: CapriUni
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 12:45 PM

If anyone can find the lyrics, I'd also be interested. Taoism is my favorite philosophy...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the taoist tale
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 04:57 PM

I'll copy the lyrics from the liner notes of a Rod Sinclair CD later on. Haven't got the time just now, though, so please be patient! (Or beat me to it!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the taoist tale
From: rich-joy
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 07:45 AM

It's also on Gerry Hallom's UK CD "On the Periphery" - I requested the lyrics on Mudcat some time ago, but no luck so far ... R-J

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TAOIST TALE (Tucker Zimmerman)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 04:02 PM

There is nothing I wouldn't do for a fellow Mudcatter ... well, not much anyway! I have no further information on the song, but then the story is fairly obvious.

THE TAOIST TALE
(Tucker Zimmerman)
As sung by Tucker Zimmerman on "Word Games" (2012)

Once upon a time, a farmer sent his son
With a horse to graze upon the mountainside.
He fell asleep; when he awoke, the horse was gone.
Came back without it; the neighbours said:
"Oh, what bad luck!"
The farmer said:
"How do you know?" (2x)

The very next day, the farmer sent his son
Back into the mountains to seek the runaway.
He found the horse and seven other wild ones.
He brought them home and the neighbours said:
"Oh, what good luck!"
The farmer said:
"How do you know?" (2x)

On the very next day, the farmer sent his son
To the wild horses that needed to be tamed.
First one he climbed on, it threw him down to the ground.
It broke his arm; the neighbours said:
"Oh, what bad luck!"
The farmer said:
"How do you know?" (2x)

The very next day, a war was declared,
And the army men came through the countryside
Looking for soldiers, but they couldn't take anyone
With a broken arm; the neighbours said:
"Oh, what good luck!"
The farmer said:
"How do you know?" (2x)
"Oh, what good luck!"
The farmer said:
"How do you know?"

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne1S_EOMcIU

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the taoist tale
From: rich-joy
Date: 03 Mar 02 - 08:18 AM

Thanks Susanne (skw) - 'ppreciate it!! R-J

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: The Taoist Tale (Tucker Zimmerman)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 07:41 AM

There's a great version of this on "Unearthed" by Nic Jones.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: The Taoist Tale (Tucker Zimmerman)
From: Ian Anderson
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 09:50 AM

f.w.i.w., Nic learned Taoist Tale from Maggie Holland, who was singing it around the clubs in the late 70s, early 80s (possibly still does). We used to visit Tucker a lot when Hot Vultures were touring in Belgium in the mid 70s, and accumulated a big stash of his home song demos, many of which he never released on albums.

f.y.i. Tucker will shortly visiting the UK for the first time in nearly 40 years to appear at Cecil Sharp House on 25th September as part of the Ghosts From The Basement day celebrating 40 years since the launch of the Village Thing label. While he's here he will also be doing a session for Radio 3's Late Junction along with Jason Steel from Rif Mountain Records who are co-hosting the CSH day.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: The Taoist Tale (Tucker Zimmerman)
From: Ian Anderson
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 09:54 AM

Oh and PS for the original poster who I just realised was asking about Tucker's Another Normal Day. That track has just been re-issued on the Ghosts From The Basement compilation, which you can get from Amazon or here

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: The Taoist Tale (Tucker Zimmerman)
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 02:33 PM

And just for completeness sake. Chris Wood performed Taoist Tale at the celebration concert for Nic Jones at Sidmouth two weeks ago. In his usual enigmatic way.
Good choice.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: The Taoist Tale (Tucker Zimmerman)
From: GUEST,karinka
Date: 17 Jun 11 - 12:16 PM

Does somebody know if Tucker Zimmerman is still performing?
I can not find anything on his site.

Thank you if you can give me some information.

You can mail me at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Taoist Tale (Tucker Zimmerman)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jan 17 - 01:13 PM

Here's the Tucker Zimmerman recording:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne1S_EOMcIU

A very different song that tells the same story is Good Luck John, by Joe Crookston.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Taoist Tale (Tucker Zimmerman)
From: GUEST,Enda McCabe
Date: 29 Mar 17 - 08:34 AM

Myself, Enda McCabe and Chris Wood have recorded this song. It is also the title trsck on Tim Edey's latest album.