Birth Control Pill songs

Subject: Pill songs
From:
Date: 07 Aug 98 - 02:44 PM

I need to find out who wrote the following Pill songs (first recorded when,on what record, copyright, etc.): Loretta Lynn, "The Pill"; Pete Seeger, "A Dangerous Pill"; "Put all Your Faith in the Pill". I don't know anything else about the last one.

Thanks for any help. Katherine Kasirer National Film Board Board of Canada [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Aug 98 - 02:58 PM

Well, Katherine, click here for Cowpie's transcription of Loretta Lynn's recording of "The Pill." there's a good chance our country expert Gene Graham can come up with more on that. I searched BMI and ASCAP and couldn't find the other too and found way too many songs with the name "The Pill."
In his book The Incompleat Folksinger, Pete Seeger makes mention of a song called "The Pill," by Matt McGinn. Maybe that will help. Both BMI and ASCAP have him listed - search under
Mc Ginn.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: northfolk
Date: 07 Aug 98 - 04:55 PM

I thought that rang a bell. search the DT under THERE WAS A YOUNG WOMAN WHO SWALLOWED A LIE, I recall that being on an album of Pete's, back before tape and little tiny shiny records. I hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: BSeed
Date: 08 Aug 98 - 02:34 AM

Pete Seeger sings "The Pill" on "The Big Muddy" album. It's an Irish woman who's had a dozen children thrilled because "I won't have any more, because they're gonna bless the pill." I taped the album years ago, but I didn't copy the liner notes. I don't know who wrote it.

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: Gene
Date: 08 Aug 98 - 11:56 AM


THE PILL
Artist: Loretta Lynn
Writers: Lorene Allen, Don McHan & T. D. Bayless

LP/MCA-471
Loretta Lynn-Back To The Country

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 12 Aug 98 - 10:09 PM

On the subject of pills, there's also "Pills, Pills, Pills" by Leon Rosselson and "Bridget and the Pill" (an Irish song whose author I cannot recall at the moment.) If anyone's interested, I can post the lyrics to these songs.

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: Roger Himler
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 08:12 AM

Moira,

There's always someone interested. Post lyrics, Moira, post lyrics!!!

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: Lyr Add: ROSIE JANE^^^
From: Barbara
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 10:37 AM

And Malvina (Reynolds) wrote "ROSIE JANE."
Intro:
This song is addressed to my sisters,
Any man who is present may listen
Any ---, lawyer or public official, any physician,
But me and my sisters, --- , and Rosie and Lydia and Eve,
We make the decisions,
You'd better believe,
Or you'd better leave

CHO
Rosie Jane, are you pregnant again, Rosie Jane?
Whatever became of the four you had before?
What in heaven's name were you thinking of, Rosie Jane,
Was it love?

I'd had another shot
On top of what I'd got
In a word, I was drunk. So was Bill
At least, I think it was Bill
And I forgot to take my pill
I guess it was God's will.

CHO.
I had a notion at one point that Mal might have written this about another folksinger, Rosalie Sorrels. There's at least one more verse, but the old grey cells are a little flaky right now...Anyone else?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: Susan of DT
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 06:01 PM

THE PILL (pining for the pill) and BRIDGET AND THE PILL are already in the DT

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 07:08 PM

Gee, if we'd taken a minute and searched under pill and pills (or "pill*), we would have found three of the pill songs mentioned above. Could we have forgotten to search the database? I think it musta happened a week or so ago, when the database was acting funny. We don't make mistakes like that, do we? Er....I guess we do. I guess I didn't check the database because I assumed somebody else had done it already. Well, I made clickable links above to the three songs that are in the database.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: alison
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 08:37 PM

Hi,

Kirsty MaColl did a great songs called "New England".

"I don't want to change the world, I'm not looking for a New England,
Are you looking for another girl?"

It had several great lines it in, but one which appealed to me was..

"I put you on a pedestal, you put me on the pill."

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: GUEST,Senga
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 06:07 PM

The Pill was a Matt McGinn song, which Pete Seeger was fond of.

Anybody got the words handy ?

---

Click for the Pill

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 06:38 PM

It's in the DT, Guest Senga. If you can't find it by a title search, check out the titles under "P".

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 07:01 PM

I know that Adge Cutler once wrote and recorded a song called 'Pill
Pill I love Thee Still'but that was about a suburb of Bristol.

Subject: RE: Pill songs
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 09:41 PM

Great minds, Lead - I was thinking of that one but was under the impression it was a village in Somerset. Or was that Nempneth Thrubwell?

LTS

Subject: ADD: Bridget and the Pill/Bridget's Pill (Pearson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Aug 21 - 06:39 PM

Thread #163320   Message #3895376
Posted By: Jim Carroll
23-Dec-17 - 04:01 AM
Thread Name: Lyr ADD: The Pill (Matt McGinn)^^^
Subject: Lyr Add: BRIDGET AND THE PILL (Brian Pearson)

"Also known as "Bridget and the Pill", I think."
Different Song

BRIDGET AND THE PILL. words by Brian Pearson.
Tune Traditional (Paddy and the Whale)

Bridget O'Reilly was a fine-looking girt,
Her skin was like ivory, her teeth were like pearls,
The fellers all chased her in vain, till one day,
She went and got married to Barney O'Shea.

They'd been married a year when to their pride and joy
Along came a baby, a fine strapping boy,
When three years had passed, they'd two boys and a girl,
How to feed them and clothe them made Bridget's head whirl

Bridget went to the priest, she was near desperation
Because of this process of constant gestation,
Saying,'Father, this business is making me ill,
Would it be a sin if I took to the pill'

The priest heard her story and when he had heard it
To higher authority, perplexed he referred it,
But the Bishops were baffled, the Cardinals too,
Not one could tell Bridget just what she should do;

Two years they debated with holy profundity
What could be done about Bridget's fecundity,
For by now Bridget's children amounted to FIVE,
And she scarcely was able to keep them alive.

They gave due attention to points theological',
Points philosophic and physiological,
Till in desperation, the Pope cried, 'O sod !
There's just one thing to do, I'd best go and ask GOD .

So the POPE sent a letter by five-penny post<
On Papal note-paper, addressed HOLY GHOST
'Please send me an answer in double quick time,
You can reach me at home, just ring VAT 69:

The answer came and the POPE he pronounced it,
Oral contraception, he strongly denounced it,
All chemical means to prevent procreation
Are banned on the pain of Eternal Damnation.

If we were to permit it, unashamed fornication
Would spread like a flash to all parts of the nation,
There'd be plagues, fires and famine and moral pollution,
Atheistical notions and RED Revolution!

But Bridget, my dear, there's no need of frustration,
Because of the banning of this medication,
For the CHURCH she is merciful, holy and gracious;
The old rhythm method you'll find efficacious,

Get away, now says she, I'll have none of your row,
For I've tried it before and just look at me now!
For whatever we did, I continued to BREED.
And she's off to the chemist with MAXIMUM SPEED.

Now, the Church is in ferment and great trepidation
Lest such thoughts should spread to the whole congregation '
And they've issued a record to prevent a schism,
By the Pope and the Hierarchy, called 'I GOT RHYTHM'.

---

Thread #163320   Message #4024569
Posted By: Jim Dixon
19-Dec-19 - 08:30 AM
Thread Name: Lyr ADD: The Pill (Matt McGinn)^^^
Subject: Lyr Add: BRIDGET'S PILL (from Christy Moore)

Christy Moore recorded this under a different title and somewhat different lyrics than those posted by Jim Carroll above:


BRIDGET'S PILL
As recorded by Christy Moore on "The Box Set: 1964-2004" (2004)

Now Bridget O'Reilly was a fine strappin' girl.
Her skin was like ivory; her teeth were like pearls.
All the boys chased her in vain till one day
She went and got married to Barney O'Shea.
To me fall the diddle dare-o tie air-o tie ay. [After each verse.]

And after nine months, to their pride and joy,
Along came a baby, a fine strappin' boy.
After three years, they'd two boys and a girl.
How to clothe them and feed them made Bridget's head whirl.

So she went to the priest, in great desperation
Because of this process of constant gestation.
Sayin': "Father, this business is makin' me ill.
Would it be a sin if I went on the pill?"

Well, the priest heard her story, and when he had heard it,
To higher authority, perplexed, he referred it.
Oh, the bishops were baffled, the cardinals, too.
No one could tell Bridget just what she should do.

Two years they debated with holy profundity
What should be done about Bridget's fecundity,
But by now her family amounted to five.
She scarcely was able to keep them alive.

Well, they gave due attention to points theological,
To points philosophic and physiological,
Till in desperation, the Pope said: "Oh, sod!
There's only one thing to do: I'll have to ask God."

So he sent him a letter in the three-penny post
On papal notepaper, addressed: "Holy Ghost,"
Sayin': "Send me your answer in double-quick time.
You can get me at home; just ring VAT 69."

Well, the answer it came and the Pope he announced it.
Oral contraception, he strongly denounced it.
All medical means to prevent procreation
Were banned under pains of eternal damnation.

Now the church is in ferment, in great trepidation
Lest such thoughts they might spread to the whole congregation.
They've recorded an LP to prevent a schism
By the pope and the hierarchy, called: "I Got Rhythm."

Subject: RE: Birth Control Pill songs
From: rich-joy
Date: 26 Aug 21 - 07:16 PM

Only very slightly tangential :)

THE I.P.D. Song

By Sue Edmonds

I'll sing you all a song about a wondrous new device
The nation's latest contraceptive plan
That funny little object they call the I.U.D
Has recently been changed to fit a man.

Ch.
The I.P.D., the I.P.D.
It may not feel too good to you, But it's not hurting me
So every time the pain begins to fill your eyes with tears
Remember I put up with it for years.

They tested it on whales and tried it out on mice
They used it in the poorer parts of town
It's the cleverest invention since the automatic lift
Guaranteed to never let you down.

It was proven to be safe for the average human male
Though testing showed some minor side affects
There were two died from infection and six were sterilized
But only ten percent were too depressed.

Ah, but you know some people are never satisfied
So scientists are working once again
They've got something even better than the good old IPD
It’s called the morning-after pill for men.

It's the pill – it’s better than the IPD
It may not be too safe but we'll just have to wait and see
So put away your worries and put away your fears
And remember I put up with it for years!


Here is Sue Edmonds singing with her Ovarian Sisters in Tasmania, from their 1980 LP “Beat Your Breasts” at 3:20 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otJ-SUmWCdI

And another version by Judy Small : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDRrTFxVs60


I took this from Mudcat's Australia/New Zealand Songbook thread.
R-J

Subject: RE: Birth Control Pill songs
From: Helen
Date: 26 Aug 21 - 07:20 PM

Then of course there is this song by Two Nice Girls

two nice girls - I Spent My Last Ten Dollars (On Birth Control And Beer)

Subject: RE: Birth Control Pill songs
From: Helen
Date: 26 Aug 21 - 08:15 PM

Good one, rich-joy. I forgot about that one. The great and wonderful Judy Small!

Subject: RE: Birth Control Pill songs
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Aug 21 - 08:16 PM

The songwriter whose professional recording name
(Philips Records owned the rights to the name)
was Soeur Sourire,
when she left the Dominican monastery in Belgium,
wrote and recorded a song titled
La Pilule d'Or
which is said to have had an alternate English title:

Glory be to God and the golden Pill

Didn't sell, it seems.

Subject: RE: Birth Control Pill songs
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 27 Aug 21 - 05:37 AM

"Please put your daughter on the pill Mrs Worthington"

Ooops, sorry, that one's only in my imagination (for now) ;)

Subject: RE: Birth Control Pill songs
From: GUEST,Larrythe RadioGuy
Date: 27 Aug 21 - 11:55 AM

As for Put All Your Faith in the Pill, I had an album on the Canadian Arc label by a group called The Brothers In Law. I suspect they wrote the tune...but I don't know for sure.

Put All Your Faith In The Pill
The Bothers-in-law


The world population explosion
Is making you feel rather ill
The doctors have said
You can hop into bed
And put all your faith in the pill

So put all your faith in the pill
Put all your faith in the pill
The Doctors have said
You can hop into bed
And put all your faith in the pill

The pill is a birth control method
It's the best one developed to date
You get somebody's daughter
To take one in water
There's no mess and no time to wait.

So put all your faith in the pill
Put all your faith in the pill
The Doctors have said
You can hop into bed
And put all your faith in the pill

It's been proven and tried by the Russians
The Chinese now make them at home
And it may not be true,
But word has leaked through
They are now being tested in Rome. (oh oh)

So put all your faith in the pill
Put all your faith in the pill
The Doctors have said
You can hop into bed
And put all your faith in the pill

So throw out your old fashioned methods
As you joyfully leap into bed
You can take your saran wrap
Back into the kitchen
And use it for cooking instead

So put all your faith in the pill
Put all your faith in the pill

The Doctors have said
You can hop into bed
And put all your faith in the pill

So here's to the boys in the back room
The chemists whose faith will not die
For they're working there still.
On a birth control pill
That's fifty percent Spanish Fly!

So put all your faith in the pill -- Mom!
Put all your faith in the pill -- Dad!
The Doctors have said
You can hop into bed
And put all your faith in the pill -- tonight!