joe mc donald

Subject: the once-banned joe mc donald
From: erica
Date: 01 Apr 98 - 02:40 PM

i was just over in ireland (YAY!) and was talking with a fella about rebel songs and banned songs and the like and he mentioned this song called joe mc donald which he'd known when he was younger, but then it got banned and now he can't find it anywhere. i can't either. wish i had more info on it, but if it's striking a memory chord with anyone...? any clues would be greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 01 Apr 98 - 03:19 PM

There's a good chance I have it at home. Look here in about two weeks, Erica, and you might have it.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: Gene
Date: 01 Apr 98 - 04:24 PM

CHECK the ANTI-WAR....POST....

also check: http://www.dejanews.com

and SEARCH FOR [ die rag ] omit brackets...

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: Gene
Date: 01 Apr 98 - 04:43 PM

make that [ fixin to die rag ]

or just go here.

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: Will
Date: 02 Apr 98 - 12:37 PM

I'm curious about this one. Is it really the "Feel like I'm fixing to die rag", by Country Joe McDonald and the Fish, that is banned in Ireland (Erica's question that started this item) or is it a song called "Joe McDonald"?

Subject: Add: I FEEL LIKE I'M FIXIN' TO DIE RAG (McDonald)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Apr 98 - 01:37 PM

Aw, I think that song's worth posting. The cheer that got banned was probably the one that went "Gimme an "F" "U" and so forth.

The Fish Cheer & -- I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag

Gimme an F!
F!
Gimme an I!
I!
Gimme an S!
S!
Gimme an H!
H!
What's that spell ?
FISH!
What's that spell ?
FISH!
What's that spell ?
FISH!

Yeah, come on all of you, big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
He's got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Vietnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on generals, let's move fast;
Your big chance has come at last.
Gotta go out and get those reds —
The only good commie is the one who's dead
And you know that peace can only be won
When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Huh!

Well, come on Wall Street, don't move slow,
Why man, this is war au-go-go.
There's plenty good money to be made
By supplying the Army with the tools of the trade,
Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
They drop it on the Viet Cong.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on mothers throughout the land,
Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
Come on fathers, don't hesitate,
Send 'em off before it's too late.
Be the first one on your block
To have your boy come home in a box.

And it's one, two, three
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: Dale Rose
Date: 02 Apr 98 - 11:43 PM

There is a bio of Joe McDonald at the Shanachie site and information about his 1995 album, Carry On. Interesting facts: he was in the Navy during the Vietnam era, and recently dedicated a memorial to Vietnam veterans.

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Apr 98 - 02:30 AM

A while back, somebody said that Joe McDonald did an LP of Robert W. Service poems - don't know if they were recited or sung. Anybody know the name of this album, and if it's still available? Did he do it solo, or with the Fish?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: mm
Date: 03 Apr 98 - 05:54 PM

If it's Country Joe and the Fish's album with the anti-Vietnam song, it's certainly not banned here in Ireland; I've bought several copies over the years. I've even heard it played on radio, on Raidio na Life, the Gaelic-speaking station in Dublin - which is probably more than you'll get in the USofA.

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: The Fenian
Date: 06 Apr 98 - 01:53 PM

I know the words but I got no time right now I'll post them tomorrow.

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Apr 98 - 02:29 PM

Now that we've established that this is not the fish cheer we're talking about, I can hardly wait until Fenian posts the lyrics tomorrow. It was a nice little tangent we got off on, but sometimes our tangents cover up the original question. Several of us, myself included, read only two words in the original post, "Joe McDonald." We humans are strange creatures, aren't we?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: The Fenian
Date: 08 Apr 98 - 11:39 AM

I tried yesterday but the server was down or something so I'll try it again under Lyr add:Joe McDonnell.

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: The Fenian
Date: 08 Apr 98 - 01:14 PM

I've tried again but to no avail.
Three times a charm so
Here it goes
If dosen't work now i'm gonna blow up my screen

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From:
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 12:50 AM

I am a trad/folk singer and I am forever being asked to sing "The Ballad of Joe MacDonald". But I can't find the words anywhere.

Can someone pleas, please get me the words. Future gigs could depend on this.. Thanks, Michael P. Murphy.

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: Melani
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 12:53 AM

The Robert W. Service album is called "War, War, War" and it's terrific. I became a major Service fan because of it. I have it as an LP; I don't know if it's still available. Does he have a website?

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: Mudlark
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 12:55 AM

Joe...a tangent, certainly, but a timely and nostalgic one. I'm glad to have all the words to Fixin to Die Rag...think the only copy I have of it is on the Woodstock album.

Subject: Lyr Add: AN OLIVE FIRE (Robert Service)
From: Emma B
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 01:23 PM

I have a wonderful book "The best of Robert Service" apart from the usual Dan McGrew I didn't know that any had been set to music Thanks for the information - don't ya just love mudcat!

One of my favourites:-

AN OLIVE FIRE
(Robert Service)

An olive fire's a lovely thing;
Somehow it makes me think of Spring
As in my grate it over-spills
With dancing flames like daffodils.
They flirt and frolic, twist and twine,
The brassy fire-irons wink and shine. . . .
Leap gold, you flamelets! Laugh and sing:
An olive fire's a lovely thing.

An olive fire's a household shrine:
A crusty loaf, a jug of wine,
An apple and a chunk of cheese -
Oh I could be content with these.
But if my curse of oil is there,
To fry a fresh-caught fish, I swear
I do not envy any king,
As sitting by my hearth I sing:
An olive fire's a lovely thing.

When old and worn, of life I tire,
I'll sit before an olive fire,
And watch the feather ash like snow
As softly as a rose heart glow;
The tawny roots will loose their hoard
Of sunbeams centuries have stored,
And flames like yellow chicken's cheep,
Till in my heart Peace is so deep:
With hands prayer-clasped I sleep . . . and sleep.

I would welcome a suitable tune

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: Hillheader
Date: 25 Jun 03 - 03:39 PM

The Ballad of Joe McDonnell

Is this the version you are looking for? Joe McDonnell was a hunger striker who died in 1981 with Bobby Sands.

Davebhoy

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: GUEST,IrishJackal
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 01:12 AM

I know this old but it seems to come up alot, his name was McDonnell not McDonald.

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 06:47 AM

FWIW, Robert Service probably wrote "Eskimo Nell", or so I've been told.

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 07:18 AM

Wasn't there some dispute concerning Harvey Andrews 'The Soldier' and Mcdonalds 'Jean Desprez' off the 'War War War' album? The tunes were pretty much the same and some of the lyrics very similar if I'm not mistaken.

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: open mike
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 09:22 PM

"country" joe mcdonald's mom was on the city council in
Berkeley during the 60's i think...
his band was country joe and the fish

Subject: RE: joe mc donald
From: GUEST,Coyote Breath
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 02:06 AM

(Sheesh, is my cookie gone again?)

My child brought a four casette set of songs back from Belfast a couple of years ago. Fifty Rebel Songs. The ballad of Joe McDonnel is included. I rather like the song. I wonder who is singing it? I couldn't tell from the notes.

Country Joe and the Fish were a big part of my "Bay Area" experience during the sixties. When I went to California College of Arts and Crafts in 1969, Phil Lesh was working in the art supply store across the street from CCAC.

CB