Lyr Req: zuider zee (The Dutchman)

Subject: zuider zee
From: GUEST,catskill
Date: 16 Apr 02 - 10:07 PM

can anyone help with the singer and lyrics of a song containing the words:"banks of the Zuider Zee"? it's a nostalgic sort of song, reminiscent of "streets of london". thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From: GUEST,Lynn
Date: 16 Apr 02 - 10:25 PM

Just to clarify - do you mean, "Let us go to the banks of the ocean/Where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee" - which is Steve Goodman's song 'The Dutchman'. Probably available on this site.

Lynn (west of Catskills)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From:
Date: 16 Apr 02 - 10:40 PM

Lynn's right. Here're two "blickies" for you

The Dutchman
The Dutchman & Chords

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From: DonMeixner
Date: 16 Apr 02 - 11:13 PM

Actually a Michael Smith song I think. But Steve Goodman and Liam Clancy seem to have the corner on it. Never heard Michael Smith sing it but its a fine song. Never tire of it.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From: GUEST,Sandy Andina
Date: 16 Apr 02 - 11:40 PM

Definitely a Michael Smith song--perhaps his most famous. He does it far differently from Goodman's version--as a slow moody ballad. But then again, he does everything differently. Some years ago, I wrote a parody of "The Dutchman" called "The Con Man." (An old ex-seaman in Holland becomes a retired Mafioso in New Jersey). It was pretty popular around the Chicago scene--and Smith told me it's the one parody of *anything* he can actually stand. When "The Sopranos" became popular just as I started performing again, I dragged it back out. I can post it on the database if permitted, or can send lyrics backchannel. All I ask is that you credit me when you perform it (and notify me if you want to record it)!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From: bflat
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 12:11 AM

This song, The Dutchman, is about enduring love. In the song, Margaret is the loving care giver to her husband who appears to be suffering from madness or dementia or Alzhemier's disease, one or the other and of the moments when there is a glimpse of recognition to their history. I've heard all mentioned recordings i.e., Clancy, Goodman and Smith. I've been to a live Smith concert twice when the entire audience sang the chorus along with Michael Smith. It was pure magic. My song circle sings it nearly every week since I first introduced them to The Dutchman. We just love the poetry and music. I might add it is not an easy song to sing, but well worth the learning.

Ellen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From: Stewart
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 12:03 PM

Having lived in Nederland for a year, I find the song full of old stereotypes of Holland such as windmills and wooden shoes, and mispronounciation - "Zuider Zee" should be pronounced 'Zouder Zay' not 'Zider Zee' (which is now the Ijsselmeer). Yet it's a beautiful song which I love to sing.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From:
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 10:47 PM

Sandy,
How about posting your parody? It sounds like a nice song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From: GUEST,Lynn
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 12:24 AM

I stand corrected. Of course it's a Michael Smith song, which I only remember from the Steve Goodman tribute album...or am I wrong about that too??? (CRS strikes again...or not)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 06:26 AM

Check out other Michael Smith songs such as 'Hobo's Mandolin', 'Crazy Mary' or 'Spoon River'. While well known and highly respected among songwriters he's not very well known to the general public. Believe he may have been involved in the stage show called 'Weavermania' in Chicago a few years ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 06:36 AM

Stewart: re:pronunciation of Zuider Zee, in the Netherlands, as elsewhere, ther are regional accents. I have heard both pronunciations you give from nationals of that country!
So neither is wrong (or should that be neether is wrong?)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 10:12 AM

A Birmingham-based folk group, Mad Jocks and Englishmen, used to do The Dutchman in their regular set when I knew them back in the '80s, sung by George Gallagher. A great song, which they did credit to, and recorded on "Blud And Thunder".

Lost touch with them now.

Pete

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From: GUEST,catskill
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 05:52 PM

thanks everyone who wrote back. I found that this, and crazy mary were both written by m.smith, they were also sung by steve goodman (along with streets of london, the ralph mctell song). i heard them all at kenny's castaways in the village, before it turned into a rock club. so do any of you know if randy burns performs anywhere? i've seen some of his writing, but no news of his singing. also a fine songwriter...anyone know the one about "summer comin' to the farm"? thanks again

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: zuider zee
From: Art Thieme
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 06:34 PM

Michael Smith does the LEE HAYS part in the quartet called Weavermania out of Chicago. PETE SEEGER's parts are sung by MARK DVORAK. TOM DUNDEE sings FRED HELLERMAN's parts. RONNIE GILBERT's parts are done by BARBARA BARROW, Michael's wife. All of these people have ongoing solo careers.

Also, Michael Smith did the music for an acclaimed stage adaptation of THE GRAPES OF WRATH, a show of songs from the Spanish civil war called PASIONES, as well as numerous LPs and CDs of his own.

A great artist, songwriter and guitarist me thinks.

Art Thieme