Chord Req: Gaslight Rag (Dave Van Ronk)

Subject: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Jeep man
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 09:34 PM

I have searched for quite a while and always get lost in the maze of Lyrics sites on the net. This tune has a lovely melody and I would love to sing and pick it. A snippet can be heard on CD Universe.

Can anyone help me with the guitar chords? The lyrics too would be helpful. Thanks, Long Lost Jeepman

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 10:58 PM

Lyrics right here in the Forum. Will look for chords.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 11:00 PM

None found, but I found a book to buy.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 11:01 PM

I haven't listened to that album in years. The verse that sticks in my mind is:

I had a dream that the gaslight was clean
And all the rats scrubbed down,
The coffee was great and the waitresses straight
And Patrick Sky left town.
No one was swakked (not sure of the word there)
And Dylan played Bach
And Ochs' songs all scanned,
I got out of bed and cleared out my head
And started a Rock and roll band.

Good luck finding the rest of the lyrics....

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Jeep man
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 12:20 AM

You guys are good!! Sorcha, how did you find it in the forum? Jim

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Mark Ross
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 02:40 AM

The word is swocked, or swacked, that is to be drunk or stoned.
The Gaslight was a legendary coffehouse venue in a basment on MacDougal St. in Greenwich Village.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 09:49 AM

I used Gaslight instead of Gas Light.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 04:21 PM

I knew the word had to mean drunk or stoned, I just wasn't sure of the spelling.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Jeep man
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 07:39 PM

Good Job. Mark can you tell us who Patrick Sky was and what is he referring to "singin in a hole in the ground" Jim

Still looking for chords.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: GASLIGHT RAG (Dave Van Ronk)
From: simon-pierre
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 08:14 PM

Here's my own transcription. There's no garanty it's accurate, especially around the Dm in the instrumental break where there's something happening and I don't know what it is :D. It doesn't do justice to a rag to give plain chords like this, but it should gives a start. A supplementary couple of month of working might be necessary!

GASLIGHT RAG
Dave Van Ronk


Intro : Cm, G#, G

Variation on : C, F, C, D5 (+ let the high E ring), C, F, E7,F, C, G

(C) Another damn day, ah, take it away,
(F) I gotta make my gig on time. (C)
Playin' on guitar, bein' a star,
(D5) Stumbling for nickels and dimes.
(C) Silly damn pride, out of my mind,
(F)Crazy if I stay.(E7)
(F)Leave your wife (C) and bring your knife,
(G) If you're working at Mitchell's Café.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

F, Gm, F#, F, Gm, F#, F, D5, F, A7, Dm, C, F

(F) I had a dream that the Gaslight was clean,
(Gm) And the rats were (F#) all scrubbed down.(F)
(Gm) The coffee was (F#) great and the (F) waitresses straight (D5)
And Patrick Sky left town.
(F) No one was swocked and Dylan played Bach,
And Ochs' songs all scanned. (A7)
I got out of bed and I (Dm) straightened my head,
(C) And started a rock-n-roll band. (F)

(C) Ah, honey babe, honey babe,
(F) Let me carry you down (C)
Pimps and whores and grunge on the floor,
(D5) And the finest show in town.
(C) Pizza stands and skiffle bands,
(F) And Pogo's buyin' this round (E7)
(F) There's not much life but (C) there's plenty of fights,
(G#) When you're singin' in a (G) hole in the ground (C)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Mark Ross
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 08:25 PM

The Gaslight was dug out of a basement by John Mitchell in the '50's.
It was downstairs, right next to the Kettle of Fish Bar which was the hangout for the performers at the Gaslight.
Patrick Sky was a good friend of Dave's and on of the stellar lights of the '60's Village folk scene. He also lived in the same apartment building as DVR, on Waverly Place. A great musician and songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Midchuck
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 08:32 PM

Patrick Sky was a good friend of Dave's and on of the stellar lights of the '60's Village folk scene.... A great musician and songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

...and, of course, creator of "Songs That Made America Famous;" the most tasteless, and funniest, album of the century just past.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Jeep man
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 09:56 PM

Thanks to all. Especially Simone-Pierre for taking time and effort to figure out the chords. I AM WELL PLEASED. Jim

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 11:44 PM

Simone-Pierre!! Welcome back! Have not seen you for ages!!

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: simon-pierre
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 11:48 PM

I'm still around, I only post to Dave Van Ronk threads :-)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Jeep man
Date: 01 Sep 03 - 10:43 PM

Where or what was the Mitchell Cafe referred to in his Gaslight Rag?
The message I get is that Gaslight or Mitchells was low down and rotten, filled with unsavory characters and he loved it. Am I close? Jeep

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Mark Ross
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 02:21 PM

As I said before, John Mitchell was the original owner of the Gaslight, a basement on Macdougal St. in Greenwich Village in NYC.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Gas Light Rag by Dave Van Ronk
From: Jeep man
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 04:38 PM

Thanks, Mark. I did't catch it the first time around. Jim