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Grovelling Songs (Male?)
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Subject: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Peter T. Date: 13 Oct 03 - 11:52 AM In the Jacques Brel thread, in reference to the original "NE ME QUITTE PAS", he sings, "I would be the shadow of your shadow....I would be the shadow of your dog -- Don't Leave ME!" I was wondering if English-speaking male singers would grovel in the same way (I am in favour of the song and the sentiment under the right circumstances, have been there). Can anyone think of any good grovelling songs? Obviously there are lots of women grovelling before men ("YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME (Just Be Close At Hand)"), but any really good ones of pitiful men? yours, Peter |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: mack/misophist Date: 13 Oct 03 - 11:56 AM How about PEGGY GORDON? |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Dave Bryant Date: 13 Oct 03 - 12:06 PM Or "LIVERPOOL LOU". |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ALL OF ME (Simons, Marks) From: Jim Dixon Date: 13 Oct 03 - 06:42 PM Looks like this hasn't been posted here before: ALL OF ME Words: Seymour Simons. Music: Gerald Marks. ©1931. As sung by Ruth Etting, 1931. VERSE: You took my kisses and you took my love. You taught me how to care. Am I to be just a remnant of A one-sided love affair? All you took I gladly gave. There's nothing left for me to save. CHORUS: All of me, why not take all of me? Can't you see I'm no good without you? Take my lips; I want to lose them. Take my arms; I'll never use them. Your goodbye left me with eyes that cry. How can I go on, dear, without you? You took the part that once was my heart, So why not why not take all of me? This is a jazz standard and has been recorded by just about every famous jazz singer, both genders included (but usually without the verse). Also Willie Nelson. But it's undoubtedly a groveling song. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ONCE MORE From: Ebbie Date: 13 Oct 03 - 10:09 PM ONCE MORE As sung by George Jones & Melba Montgomery Once more to be with you dear Just for tonight, to hold you tight Once more. I'd give a fortune If I could see you once more Forget the past, this hurt can't last Oh, I don't want it to keep us apart Your love I crave, I'll be your slave If you'll just give me all of your heart Abjectness don't resonate, do it. With an attitude like that, no wonder she left him! |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Amos Date: 13 Oct 03 - 10:47 PM I wish to the Lord, I'd never seen yore face I'm sorry you ever were born.... Not quite what you were askin' for, though... Ah, well, it was close, kinda... It's not that we don't get in the pickle, it's more that we are SO disinclined to admit it!! :>)) Kinda like asking directions or going to the doctor. A |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Grab Date: 14 Oct 03 - 08:40 AM Leonard Cohen's "I'M YOUR MAN", for one. I think most tend to be murder ballads though, of the "if I can't have you then no-one will" form. Graham. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GUEST,Les B. Date: 14 Oct 03 - 01:27 PM Riley Puckett's version of "SHORT LIFE OF TROUBLE" Last verse & the chorus Sitting alone, talking to you Gazing into your eyes I'd give this world and half my life If you would be my bride Short life of trouble, little girl A few more words, then part Short life of trouble, little girl For a boy with a broken heart |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: JenEllen Date: 14 Oct 03 - 01:31 PM LOL Ebbie! Kinda like "LIGHT MY FIRE" and "I want you"--annoying and repetitious, the two hallmarks of male groveling.
Um, there's always "Try Me", or "I'll give you back (when you belong to me)", but who could deny James Brown or Raul Malo? There's also Johnny Horton's "ALL FOR THE LOVE OF A GIRL", yikes....and "I CAN'T HELP IT (IF I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU)" (for a truly torturous version, you should hear Freddy Fender do it). There's also "THE DOGS, THEY REALLY MISS YOU", to which the scholars are divided. It can't really be about the dogs, can it? |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BEANS FOR BREAKFAST (Johnny Cash) From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 14 Oct 03 - 01:58 PM Johnny Cash's "Beans for Breakfast" is pretty self-deprecatory. An interesting difference is whereas Brel's character, paints himself as groveling in a romantic way, Cash's just reminds the departed lady how gross he is - including the great line "Wish you'd come back and wash the dishes, I'm a hungry nasty lonesome man": BEANS FOR BREAKFAST Words and music by Johnny Cash As recorded by Johnny Cash on "The Mystery of Life" (1991) I couldn't hear you for the TV. I didn't know you said goodbye. I saw your canceled check for the airfare. Didn't know flyin' got so high. Beans for breakfast once again. Hard to eat 'em from the can. I've run out of clean utensils. I'm a hungry nasty lonesome man. I heard the crows outside m' window. Guess it's me they're talkin' about. The fire you lit has burnt to cinders. Ever' good thing's fizzled out. Beans for breakfast once again. Hard to eat 'em from the can. Wish you'd come back and wash the dishes. I'm a hungry nasty lonesome man. Caught a cold with the windows open. Crow droppings on my windowsill. Prob'bly got histoplasmosis. Got no gun or I would kill--them crows. Beans for breakfast once again. Hard to eat 'em from the can. Plastic forks are a dime a dozen. I'm a hungry nasty lonesome man. Fin'lly made it to the mailbox. Felt so bad I thought I'd die. All I got was a bill from a doctor. Well, I guess flyin' ain't so high. Beans for breakfast once again. Hard to eat 'em from the can. Blue-tick mattress cold and greasy. I'm a hungry nasty lonesome man. The house burnt down from the fire that I built In your closet by mistake after I took all them pills, But I got out safe in my Duck Head overalls. Beans for breakfast once again. I'm a hungry nasty lonesome man. Hummmm |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Charley Noble Date: 14 Oct 03 - 05:57 PM Well, there's: RUBY, DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN For a different take there's Kate Wolf's": AMAZED TO FIND (THAT YOU'RE STILL ON MY MIND) Then's there's any number of blues songs. I always liked the verse: I'm gonna lay my head on some lonesome railroad line, Let that 219 pacify my mind. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Ebbie Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:04 PM Reading these songs is fun! |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Joybell Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:17 PM "I Didn't Know God Made Honky Tonk Angels". [WILD SIDE OF LIFE] "THE HEART THAT YOU OWN" - about a guy who lives inside himself - (boy is that weird!) - and pays rent to his gone-girl. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: LOVESICK BLUES (Hank Williams) From: Desdemona Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:31 PM Willie Nelson also wrote, "CRAZY", an EXCELLENT "abject in love" song, albeit the definitive version was recorded by Patsy Cline! I'm also thinking about some that Hank Williams sang (my dad's a big hillbilly/country fan)..."I'M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY" is pretty mournful, and "Lovesick Blues" is another great one...and Patsy Cline recorded that one, too: Lovesick Blues I got a feeling called the blues oh lord Since my baby said goodbye. Hey lord I don't know what I'll do. All I do is sit and sigh oh lord. The last long day she said goodbye, Lord I thought I would cry. She'll do me, she'll do you, she's got that kind of lovin'. Lord I love to hear her when she calls me sweet daddy. Such a beautiful dream. I hate to think it's all over; I lost my heart it seems. I've grown so used to you somehow, But I'm nobody's sugar daddy now. And I'm lonesome, I got the lovesick blues. Yeah I'm in love, I'm in love with a beautiful girl, That's what's the matter with me. Yeah I'm in love, I'm in love with a beautiful girl, But she don't care about me. And lord I tried and tried to keep her satisfied, But that girl wouldn't stay. And now that she is leavin' this is all I can say. I got a feeling called the blues... Hank sang it best, though! D. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: YOU NEVER EVEN CALL ME BY MY NAME From: GUEST,pdq Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:39 PM Here is a Steve Goodman masterpiece (not to be taken at face at face value!). YOU DON'T EVEN CALL ME BY MY NAME (Steve Goodman) C G It was all that I could do C to keep from cryin' F C sometimes it seems so useless to remain F C You don't have to call me darlin', darlin' G C You never even call me by my name. C G C You don't have to call me Waylon Jennings C G C And you don't have to call me Charlie Pride. F C Am You don't have to call me Merle Haggard, anymore. D G Even though your on my fightin' side. CHORUS F C And I'll hang around as long as you will let me G And I never minded standin' in the rain. F C You don't have to call me darlin', darlin' G C You never even call me by my name. I've heard my name a few times in your phone book I've seen it on signs where I've laid But the only time I know, I'll hear David Allan Coe Is when Jesus has his final judgement day. (enter now the Steve Goodman story. The first half is played with a background of C and G. Just before Steve writes back with the perfect Country and Western song, it is just a straight background C chord.) Well, I was drunk the day my Mom got outta prison. And I went to pick her up in the rain. But, before I could get to the station in my pickup truck She got runned over by a damned old train. So I'll hang around as long as you will let me And I never minded standin' in the rain. No, You don't have to call me darlin', darlin' C G F C You never even call me, I wonder why you don't call me F C G C F C Why don't you ever call me by my name. Performed by: David Allan Coe @country filename[ DARLDARL SX Apr98 |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: HuwG Date: 14 Oct 03 - 07:12 PM BAD DOG, NO BISCUIT |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: darkriver Date: 14 Oct 03 - 07:21 PM I hope I'm not missing the point, but what about "HIT THE ROAD, JACK"? "O baby O baby don't cha be so mean-- You the meanest woman I ever seen" |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: nancyjo Date: 14 Oct 03 - 07:57 PM To me grovelling means not just a sad I'm-so-lonely song, like Hanks Lovesick Blues. I love the song, but it doesn't have that begging element. A good begging song is Little Anthony and the Imperials "TAKE ME BACK". The chorus: Take me back I'm begging please Take me back I'm on my knees For you to scold me, hurt me, hold me Darling take me back nancyjo |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: nancyjo Date: 14 Oct 03 - 08:25 PM And then there's the Stones/Temps AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG. And the Spinner's version (more than Frankie Valli's) of WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Joybell Date: 14 Oct 03 - 08:43 PM "The Wee One" is pretty pathetic. "...she goes out and she leaves me and truly she grieves me, and leaves me with a baby that's none of my own.." Pretty much like the above mentioned "Liverpool Lou" but with an extra twist. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: I'D DO ANYTHING (from 'Oliver') From: Mary in Kentucky Date: 14 Oct 03 - 10:15 PM I'D DO ANYTHING - from the musical, Oliver (these words copied and pasted...not sure of completeness) I'll do anything For you dear anything For you mean everything to me. I know that I'll go anywhere For your smile, anywhere -- For your smile, ev'rywhere -- I'd see. Would you climb a hill? Anything! Wear a daffodil? Anything! Leave me all your will? Anything! Even fight my Bill? What? Fisticuffs? I'd risk everything For one kiss -- everything Yes, I'd do anything... Anything?! Anything for you!! |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Gurney Date: 15 Oct 03 - 05:25 AM As the thread is drifting to wa**ers... 'Paper Doll'. I always thought he needed his backside kicked, as he wanted a paper girlfriend who wouldn't leave him. Even more pathetic today, with so many splendid rubber ones.... |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Steve Parkes Date: 15 Oct 03 - 07:14 AM How about THE MASOCHISM TANGO? |
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Subject: Lyr Add: SYLVIA'S MOTHER (Shel Silverstein) From: JennyO Date: 15 Oct 03 - 07:28 AM I've always thought this guy was pretty pathetic - Sylvia's Mother, recorded by Dr Hook. SYLVIA'S MOTHER (Shel Silverstein) Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's busy, too busy to come to the phone Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's trying, to start a new life of her own Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's happy, so why don't you leave her alone And the operator says Forty cents more, for the next three minutes CHORUS: Please Mrs. Avery I just got to talk to her I'll only keep her a while Please Mrs. Avery I just want to tell her Goodbye Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's packing, she's going be leaving today Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's marrying, a fellow down Galveston-way Sylvia's mother says Please don't say nothing, to make her start crying and stay And the operator says Forty cents more, for the next three minutes CHORUS Sylvia's mother says Sylvia's hurrying, she's catching the nine o'clock train Sylvia's mother says Take your umbrella, cause Sylvia it's starting to rain And Sylvia's mother says Thank you for calling and sir won't you come back again And the operator says Forty cents more, for the next three minutes CHORUS Tell her goodbye Please, tell her goodbye Goodbye
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GUEST,Peter T. Date: 15 Oct 03 - 08:14 AM Certainly "RUBY, DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN" has the whiniest male voice ever. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: JJ Date: 15 Oct 03 - 08:24 AM The late Warren Z's "POOR, POOR PITIFUL ME." |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: dick greenhaus Date: 15 Oct 03 - 09:44 AM ...and nobody mentioned "GREENSLEEVES" |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Charley Noble Date: 15 Oct 03 - 12:45 PM And that WICHITA LINEMAN's still on the lineeeeeee! I have to confess to preferring a good murder ballad! Only say that you'll be mine! Oh, what the f**k! My knife must have slipped! Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: alanabit Date: 15 Oct 03 - 02:45 PM Jenny O, that's a Shel Silverstein song - and you must always expect the knife to be close at hand when his songs get a bit too grovelling! |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GUEST,pdq Date: 15 Oct 03 - 07:31 PM "MOVE IT ON OVER" by Hank Williams may qualify: Remember pup, before you whine That side's yours and this side's mine So shove it on over (move it on over) Sweep it on over (move it on over) Move over cold dog cause a hot dog's moving in |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Joe Offer Date: 31 Jul 13 - 03:16 AM I think this thread needs to be refreshed, just because... |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: akenaton Date: 31 Jul 13 - 03:22 AM Joe.....are you psychic???? |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Mo the caller Date: 31 Jul 13 - 03:34 AM Ever worse than grovelling to the girl, this one grovels behind her back to the bloke he knows she'd rather be with. (Why can't he just let her go?) I think it's called London Jimmy (but I can't find it in the DT so I may have his name wrong) Pleeeeease don't take her from me London Jimmy |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: akenaton Date: 31 Jul 13 - 03:55 AM LONDON DANNY? (RiP) |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Mo the caller Date: 31 Jul 13 - 05:18 AM Yes, London Danny http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=55505#864472 Now the next puzzle. When I use linkmaker in IE i can put words instead of link. In Chrome it looks as if I have, but when I preview they've gone???? |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GUEST,Grishka Date: 31 Jul 13 - 05:54 AM Thanks for refreshing this interesting thread (presumably for a personal reason, Joe). "Groveling" has been in the staple of love poetry as long as it exists. It is not considered detrimental to the narrators' reputation, since everybody assumes that they will become quite bossy as soon as their pleading has been answered. And does it work? Obviously, sometimes. Abjectness don't resonate, do it - unless it do. Johnny Cash's "Beans for Breakfast" quoted above: quite clever; we all know similar relationships, which may be called symbiotic. "Sylvia's mother": pleading to the cruel mother; a different topic, more resembling classical tragedies. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GUEST,eldergirl Date: 31 Jul 13 - 06:18 AM That song by Chicago: oo oo OOO now baby please don't go Blowed if I can recall title, but it hung around in the charts for yonks, back in the 70s. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GingerDave Date: 31 Jul 13 - 11:28 AM There was a very poignant piece on 'DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY' on Radio 4 the other day. Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes were the first to record it and in 1982, frontman Teddy Pendergrass was involved in a car accident that left him paralysed from the chest down. He went on to help thousands of other quadriplegic people and devoted his life to it. I have never really listened to it before, its a beautifully written song. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BEGGING TO YOU (Marty Robbins) From: Ron Davies Date: 31 Jul 13 - 11:41 AM Don't think this one has been mentioned: BEGGING TO YOU Marty Robbins I left you this morning--couldn't take any more You laughed and you dared me to walk out the door You said that I'd come back; you knew what I'd do And you know you were right, 'cause I'm back here tonight beggin' to you. I won't disappoint you; I'm beggin' to stay But that's what you wanted to hear anyway It must make you happy to make me so blue What a pitiful sight I must be tonight beggin' to you You don't want my lovin' but you let me stay 'round I guess just to walk on, so you won't touch the ground To you it don't matter what you cause me to do As long as you keep me beggin' to you. I think those are the lyrics. Pretty close anyway. The whole song really wallows in it. It's great. I think it was a big hit for him--also used fuzz pedal for one of the first times in pop music. And the fuzz pedal sounds weird. But it's great fun to sing--especially real loud and sliding around like he does it. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 31 Jul 13 - 04:10 PM I nominate the song "MANDY," by Barry Manilow. Utterly abject... Oh, Mandy, won't you hold me and keep me from shaking, cause I need you toda-ay... One day it occurred to me that you could replace "Mandy" with "Mommy" and have a perfectly sensible song. The singer has the unabashed helplessness of a little child. And like a little child, he doesn't offer anything in return. In a child it's natural, but.... |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 31 Jul 13 - 04:15 PM And just to be fair, I'll mention an interminable two-note hit by Anne Murray, 'YOU NEEDED ME.' I cried a tear, you wiped it dry I was confused, you cleared my mind I sold my soul, you bought it back for me And held me up and gave me dignity Somehow you needed me.... It's hard to picture the singer being that much of a nonentity, unless she was involved in (maybe) drug abuse plus prostitution, and "you" is her therapist, a truly dedicated therapist. My examples are dated because in 1983 I quit listening to radio entirely. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Ron Davies Date: 31 Jul 13 - 11:05 PM Leeneia-- You actually listened to "Mandy" all the way through? I just couldn't bring myself to make that sacrifice. But at least you have now put it to good use--if that is what he says on that song, it certainly is a perfect fit for the topic. And your Mommy parallel is classic. Marty Robbins may be a doormat, but at least he is definitely not dealing wth Mommy. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: CHINA DOLL (Slim Whitman) From: GUEST,Frank Date: 31 Jul 13 - 11:05 PM Now where did it go? Oh well! CHINA DOLL Slim Whitman I'm tired of cryin' And all your lyin', That's why I'm buyin' A china doll. Her eyes are bluer. Her faults are fewer Her lips are truer, My china doll. I'd rather have a doll of clay That I could call my own, Than someone else just like you With a heart of stone. She'll never leave me. She'll not deceive me, And never grieve me, My china doll. No tears of sorrow, No sad tomorrow, No one can borrow My china doll. Her eyes are bluer. Her faults are fewer. Her lips are truer, My china doll. I'd rather have a doll of clay That I could call my own, Than someone else just like you With a heart of stone. She'll never leave me. She'll not deceive me, And never grieve me, My china doll. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 01 Aug 13 - 11:01 AM " And your Mommy parallel is classic." Thanks, Ron. Yes, it often seems to me that lovers in pop songs are often asking for the kind of selfless devotion which a normal mother grants to her baby. That kind of love is a beautiful thing, but it can't go on forever. In time, a person has to grow up, share responsibilities, and make any relationship a two-way street. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GUEST,gillymor Date: 01 Aug 13 - 12:17 PM Can't get much more obsequious than Gone Gone Gone. From the last verse: If I knew where I could find her, I'd crawl there on my hands and knees... And the ultimate (female) grovelling song by Cole Porter: [SO IN LOVE] So beat me and hurt me, Deceive me, desert me, I'm yours 'til I die. So in love, so in love, With you am I. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 01 Aug 13 - 08:55 PM O yuck! I believe you've won the prize for identifying the grovellingest songs, gillymor. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Amergin Date: 01 Aug 13 - 09:16 PM Well, there's Jimmy Buffett's romantic hit WHY DON'T WE GET DRUNK (AND SCREW). |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Amergin Date: 01 Aug 13 - 09:17 PM oh...and Kenny Rogers' LUCILLE would qualify...though I do prefer the Beat Farmers' version. |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: Ron Davies Date: 01 Aug 13 - 10:24 PM Two things. Minor quibble: topic was male grovelling songs (though with a question mark, which conceivably lets in all grovelling songs). But if it's male songs, that would knock out "So In Love" . Also: "beat me and hurt me..." I don't recall any huge feminist outcry about this phrase. But I'm sure Mudcatters can address this. The only reason I can think that there was no big protest--at the time of the song or after (the song is still often performed)--is that everybody realized this was not to be taken literally. Thoughts? |
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Subject: RE: Grovelling Songs (Male?) From: GUEST,Grishka Date: 02 Aug 13 - 05:06 AM In the OP (almost 10 years old), Peter wrote "Obviously there are lots of women grovelling before men .... but any really good ones of pitiful men?" My guess is that the latter are the vast majority, and (as I wrote above) made a considerable proportion of all love poetry since it was invented. Ron, indeed, if it is literary, it must not be taken literally. Successful beggars may well turn out bossy (as I wrote above). On the other hand, many existing, apparently stable, love relationships are based on pity, consensual patronizing/matronizing, or similar feelings. Let's face it, the ideal of autonomous responsible personalities having deep love relationships at true eye level, is the actual literary fiction. Compared to that, the groveling songs are pure realism. For example, I know some loving wives who talk about their husbands much like Johnny Cash's narrator describes himself above. (Fortunately, it is not always that bad in reality, but you get the idea.) |
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