Best Mudcat tune, ever!!

Subject: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: greg stephens
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 12:45 PM

Some things provoke more discussions than others.Sticking to the narrow subject of music,I would like to propose the tune that carries three separate songs: The Nightingale/ The Patriot game/ With God on our Side. Suitable arguments:(Nightingale) marxist/Socialist attacks on nostalgia folkies obsessed with rural contentment material. Feminists attacking male folkies singing songs of predatory male behaviour.(Patriot game) Irish republican politics. Song about same incident " Sean South of Garryowen".Dominic Behan's other songs; and famous brother Brendan.Show the song was written for(With God on our side) Bob Dylan,alwaysgood for a discussion. Controversy re his lifting the tune off Behan...also theme of song? All in all, I nominate this tune for an all time Lifetime Achievement Award.(Purely subjectively, I havent done any analysis of actual threads). Any other nominations?

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: GUEST,JS
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 03:36 PM

The 'Fields of Athenry' has come in for a lot of stick recently.

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 03:38 PM

As far as I am concerned, the best Mudcat tune is "Does Your Pickle Glow at Night".

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 04:22 PM

Yeah Sorch, when it comes to "Mudcat Tunes and Songs"........the pickle song is indeed a winner!

when I found that sillyass article I never dreamed that it would become, thanks to Amos, a true Mudcat "original" and, like Cleigh O'Possum, and Icon of the 'Cat!!!

Bravo Amos!!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: Amos
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 08:22 PM

You guys!!! (Big Ol' Shit-Eatin' Grin)**

Thanks.

But I gotta add that a couple of Aine's tunes and McGraths as well are right up there, also -- White Snows, and the Tornado song.

And as for lyrics, young Derrymacash has cut through the Challenge threads like a white tornado in his own right, too!

A

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 08:26 PM

Yer right Amos...and although I think the Pickle Song is a true representation of the insanity we have all found around here, "White Snows" is perhaps the most beautiful thing that's come from here!

Nathan (Amergin) has a real beauty too that makes me cry everytime......

Spaw

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 08:39 PM

Jeri has done some beautiful tunes, too, as well as lyrics, including a personal favourite, My Mother's Garden, and a tune she wrote called The Laughing Cat!:-)

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: Max
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 08:43 PM

How about one that is included in the DT? I happen to like this one.

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 09:10 PM

Geeziz, if it ain't "Blind Waxin' Max" with an "Ode to Himself!" Where the hell ya' been boy?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 09:42 PM

Cry-min-knee! He's come outta hibernation!! All Hail Max Himself! Nice ta see ya!

Let's not forget the famous "Catspaw Rag" by Rick and also "Mudcat Rag" by Justa Picker. Excellent tunes, imo!

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 09:55 PM

For "just tunes", absolutely!! kat. Both incredible. Let us not forget "Saturday Night (sic) at the Mudcat Tavern". Yo, Max, saw ya in that other thread. Be cool, man; good to see you here again.

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: 53
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 09:57 PM

I Feel Fine by the Beatles. Has to be one of the best songs ever written. It has a superb lead ride and its just an overall good song.

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: Bert
Date: 22 Apr 02 - 11:07 PM

I've gotta admit a liking to McGrath of Harlow's "Blue Clickie Thing". But that doesn't mean that I don't absolutely love "When Your pickle glows at night". AND don't forget the FIRST MUDCAT collaboration song "That's not My Colorado" by my Mudcat love katlaughing.

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 12:23 AM

Was it really the first, Bertdarlin'? Wow! I just remember how new I was and how thrilled I was that some English bloke, soft-hearted, charming, tall, handsome (I later found out!) from PA wanted to know if I had a tune for it and wanted to sing it!

Gotta say Plastic Flower Seeds is another of my favourites and, forgive me, Bert, my CD's are all packed, I can hear you singing it in my mind, but I don't see it on your song page, one about "never a good time for leaving?" Love that one!

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 05:46 AM

ooops I obviously seriously mis-named this thread.You will see from my initial posting I was looking for the songs that have been most effective at provoking musicological discussions on the Forum..and I'm getting the best songs produced by Mudcat. Anybody want to come back on-thread???Please? Pretty please?

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: Alice
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 06:21 PM

THE Mudcat Song (Come and write a verse!!)
From May 1999

The Mudcat Song (Alice's version, tune Rocks of Bawn)
context - 'Spaw in the hospital

Come all you loyal Mudcats,
Wherever you may be,
And don't follow just any webmaster,
You know Max is for you and me.
For you can log on early,
In the clear day light of dawn,
And I know that you'll always be able,
To find your favorite song.

My vocal cords may wear out,
My voice, it may get thin,
And my lips, they are a tremblin',
For the shape that Catspaw's in.
But our voices rise up early,
In the clear day light of dawn,
And I know that we're all able,
To pray while he is gone.

Well, rise up all you Mudcats,
And sing to break of day,
Don't sink into the deep despair,
Of gloom and clouds of grey,
Whatever this old world may bring,
You know your friends are there,
Cause all around the world,
Mudcatters join in prayer.

And Catspaw, he'll return again,
He's here in every thread,
For if you do a forum search,
You'll find old things you've read,
That made you wince or laugh and smile,
The way he only can,
And we know that when he's back here,
Cat **** will hit the fan.

So, blessings on all Mudcats,
And be they near or far,
We sit by cyber firesides,
And drink another jar.
By flickering lights of monitors,
We slide the silent mouse,
And I know that wherever we're living,
It feels like one big house.

alice flynn

More songs here from '99, A challenge:a flea,an orange,a bicycle seat including this one:

Tune of Auld Lang Syne

Should all the 'catters scratch their heads,
And dare to bring to mind,
A clever thought for these poor threads,
Dead flea, bike seat, orange rind?

We've wandered many a weary night,
Through lists of lyrics fine,
But now discussions make us bored,
Been there, done that, ten times.

We've reached the evil fate of late,
With age, place, face, and kind,
Of writing more about ourselves
Than instruments and rhyme.

alice

(But this thread says TUNE!) -

Alice

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: Alice
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 10:12 AM

greg writes, .."from my initial posting I was looking for the songs that have been most effective at provoking musicological discussions on the Forum.."

greg, I nominate "Where is Spancil Hill?" number one, then others that are listed in the origins found on Mudcat thread.

Alice

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: Alice
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 10:13 AM

- and Carrickfergus.

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: Amos
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 11:21 AM

And Waly, Waly.

A

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 12:36 PM

Greg, I knew what you meant, but the other was much more fun to recall......Lots of good stuff has been written here.....Check it out on Aine's Mudcat Songbook in the Quick Links.

As to your question........Alice has given you several. One that I recall that contained a lot of "analyzing and dissection" was on Dylan's Don't Think Twice. It wanders a bit as do most Mudcat threads, but the musical discussion gets pretty good. Read it and of course feel free to add any comments of your own to it......It's always a good one to pull back up.

In Defense of Don't Think Twice

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 07:24 PM

Mrs Stein Don't Rent To Gypsies Anymore (or similar title) probably produced the most interesting reactions (/discusision) I can remember...

To follow the thread title tangent and taking it to mean things we know "Mudcatters" have done, my own choice would be Jeri Corlew's "Farewell To Reason".

Jon

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Apr 02 - 07:57 PM

Jeri just doesn't write anything that isn't good.....and if she does, she keeps it to herself. Great stuff!

So Greg, how about this? You know we do a lot of song research as to history and all right? When doing them you go to the source if possible right? Okay, so here's a song that was only recorded by ONE artist, and the artist's sister wrote the song! BUT.....The artist feels her sister (now long deceased) probably adapted a poem she had known and NOW the artist is asking if WE have any idea what it was, if it was at all. That's one helluva' twist isn't it? The person most likely to know the most is the one asking the question!!!! The artist in this case is Mudcat member "Kytrad"......the great Jean Ritchie.

Here's the thread---The World is Old

Spaw

Subject: RE: Best Mudcat tune, ever!!
From: GUEST,J. Davis
Date: 22 Mar 09 - 12:10 PM

"Mrs. Stein Don't..." was based on an newspaper article that the composer read. I read the same article, sometime way back in the late 1970s or early 1980s. The event happened.

Talk to the gypsies about living up to their stereotype.