BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 04:22 PM

Exit? there's an exit to this place?

Why didn't anyone ever tell me?

found the place looking for lyrics - then found out the mudcat tavern has an inexhaustable supply of caffiene - and got stuck.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: GUEST,Lyle
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 05:12 PM

Waaaaaaay back in the dark ages before the internet was anything like it is today, the only way to download something was through FTP format. I was using that to download lyrics from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. That later went out of business, and a personal note to the site revealed that the lyrics that were there could be found at a place called Mudcat. If any of you have downloaded from the UWM site, you will notice that the format of many of the songs is exactly the same as the earlier songs on Mudcat. What used to take about 3 to 5 minutes to FTP a set of lyrics at that time takes me about 3 to 5 SECONDS today.

The original UWM site had lyrics for a variety of genre of songs, and "folk music" was just a small segment. I don't know what happened to the other songs that were available.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Don Firth
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 05:50 PM

Some years back I had a computer, but not internet capability. Jerry Middaugh, a folksinging friend of mine, did, and one afternoon he presented me with a big stack of 5¼" floppies (this was a few years ago) containing copies of something he had downloaded from the internet: the Digital Tradition database. Fantastic stuff! I went berserk going through all that material!

Then, in fall of 1999 I got a new computer, subscribed to Earthlink, and started surfing the internet. One of the first things I looked for was Digital Tradition. I couldn't find it at first, but by spending sufficient time blundering around, I stumbled into Mudcat, where DT now resides. As I explored the site, I clicked on the forum link, and discovered a whole new world.

I lurked for awhile, then with sheer delight, I found Sandy Paton's name appearing on some of the threads. I knew Sandy before he left Seattle in the early Fifties, then saw him again at the 1960 Berkeley Folk Festival where he was one of the featured performers. While reading one of the threads where Sandy posted, I felt moved to toss in a comment or two of my own. I received a warm welcome from Bert, Bev and Jerry, and 'Spaw and, I've been messin' around here ever since.

The thread where I first posted.

Sorta like losing your virginity, I guess. It's pleasant and kinda weird, then after you get over the initial bewilderment, you're inclined to try it again. But you never know where it's liable to lead. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 06:41 PM

On Saturday 28 September 1996 I recorded in my journal:

Internet: Used Lynx for the first time, to look at DigiTrad.

I must have read about it on rec.music.folk. On 20 March 2001 I recorded:

Internet: Browsed the Mudcat threads.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 16 Sep 04 - 11:25 AM

I got here on April 8, 1998. I was looking for information about the gauges on Leadbelly's strings. I kept coming back until I got the information. I had done a pretty extensive search and Mudcat was the only place that had an answer. I read the "bluesman bios" and browsed the forum and I was hooked. Since being here I can only quote Dr. Suess: "Oh, the places you will go". I have met wonderful people on-line and in person. I have had some wonderful musical experience. Simply put it was a seminal event in my life to stumble upon the Mudcat.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Melani
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 05:11 AM

My husband, The Geek, showed it to me. Thanks, Geek.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Micca
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 06:38 AM

It's Morticias fault!!!Towersey Folk festival 1999 she had 30 pages of Lyrics to "Give me that Old tyme Religion" in an un-guarded moment I said "Thats neat where did you get them?" she told me I lurked for a month and made my first post 7 October

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: GUEST,jacqui.c in Maine
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 08:49 AM

Keith A of Hertford pointed me in the direction of Mudcat about two years ago.

It is addictive and, for me, life changing 'cause here I am getting ready to get married again to another Mudcatter and move 3000 to Maine to live! I've also made a lot of good friends, some of whom I've met, through the site.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 11:48 AM

I could blame Naemanson, as he kept talking about how all the rest of us Roll & Go folks ought to check out Mudcat. I resisted for over a year before finally accessing the website; I blundered around, and actually found a song in the DT that I co-authored in 1976 called "Landlord's Lullaby." I began wondering who had posted it here and began a few guest posts. Never did find out who posted it but by that time I'd gotten hooked. I had lots of fun the first year just running down all the loose music fragments that were cluttering up my brain, and occasionally supplying lyrics to other folks.

Then when my wife and I were planning a trip to Australia, I found that I could actually encounter real Mudcat people, swap songs with them, have fun, and like I'd never have found them from the guide books. And two years later we were able to pay back Naemanson by introducing him to the Oz gang. Thanks again Bob Bolton, Margaret Walters, Jenny-o, Freda, Jack Halyard, Sandra, JennieG, for guiding us through your wonderful part of the world. And don't forget, we're willing to do the same for you in Maine.

I've also enjoyed Mudcat as a place to test new songs, or adaptations of poems as songs. There are some wonderful resource people here, and co-collaborators when it comes to bizarre topics.

But I sometimes go a whole day without checking in. So I'm not really addicted, am I?

Of course, when I got ready to post this yesterday evening, it wouldn't post but I've learned to "save" my posts!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Mr Red
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 03:56 PM

I get here form cresby.com because it is quicker to remember. & it is set as my homepage. But then the webmeister would - wouldn't I?

self-promotion? whats that?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Azizi
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 11:26 PM

Sometime in 2002 a Mudcatter who now calls himself Q visited my website www.cocojams.com. Q then emailed me about the commentary I had written about one of the songs that was featured on that site, 'Jim Along Josie'. Q & I exchanged several emails about that song & about other African American secular slave songs. He also encouraged me to visit a folk music site called Mudcat.

Well I had started my website with the technical assistance of a friend and was very unsure of myself when it came to traveling to new places on the Internet. I can't remember if Q left a clicky or not, but I eventually found my way to Mudcat. When I got here I hadn't a clue what I was seeing so I left. But for some reason, I kept this URL.

Within another year, I had got hooked on blogging by first getting up my nerve and eventually actively posting on the wesley clark blog. When that blog was deactivated, I found myself politically disallusioned. I also found that I was addicted to blogging but without a cyberspace home.

Somehow I remembered Mudcat, and revisited this site in Sept.2004. As a result of my experiences with the wesleyclark blog, I felt more confident about posting. I lurked here for about a month, jumped into a thread in Oct 2004, and started my first thread about a month later.
Often I run into Q on the threads I post on.

I want to publicly thank you Q for alerting me to this wonderful resource. Not only have I learned a lot about folk music & different cultures within cultures, but I have also met such interesting people!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 11:33 PM

I came across it when checking out some lyrics. A link took me to the DT and then I had a look at the rest of the site. I read some of the posts and enjoyed them for the variety of opinions, ideas, reverence and irreverance, so I decide to join.

I have now met quite a few of the UK catters plus Kendall and Jacqui as well as Jacko in NZ, all greta people.

Many I only know from their cyber presence and there are some good people there too.

My only complaint is that it is adictive.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Cluin
Date: 20 Jan 05 - 11:41 PM

Used the DT for years, before visiting the forum for lyrics/song help.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 12:55 AM

Max invited me (and DigiTrad)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Amos
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 01:00 AM

Like many, I came in quest of lyrics. But I stayed for the Fine Company and Quick Humour of those who know History through Song. They are a special breed indeed.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 01:34 AM

p.j. and Dave Swan introduced me to the Mudcat in late '99. The first time I posted to the forum, I made a typo, then posted again asking if the first post could be changed! Haven't we all wished that at various times?

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Pauline L
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 02:22 AM

I'm one of the many who got here through DT. It's more than a forum. It's a great community.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 03:41 AM

I can't rightly remember if it was Morticia or Micca who lured me in here....

I've been looking for the exit too, but only so I can board it up!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 03:44 AM

It was in October 1999..... and contained something about rabbit poop. Sort of set the trend really....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Hrothgar
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 04:34 AM

Made a wrong turn outside the lunatic asylum. Still trying to escape.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Big Mick
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 08:20 AM

Was looking for an obscure lyric in 1997, and someone from another forum told me to give this a try. Took all of 30 minutes to get it. I hung out for awhile before joining in 1998.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 09:36 AM

I've already told the story about how I built a four-wheel-drive truck for muddin' (the totally pointless "sport" of driving through mud bogs at a high rate of speed) with a Caterpiller engine in it, and how I came across the Mudcat Cafe while Googling "Mud+Cat". It's a total fabrication, but I'm stickin' with it 'cause the truth is boring.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: dwditty
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 09:51 AM

Joined back in 1997 when Mudcat was a blues site (where is Earl, anyway?). Traded some blues lyrics and have been here, more or less, ever since.

dq

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: ranger1
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 09:57 PM

Got to talking with someone at a Castlebay concert (I KNOW he must've introduced himself, but I was a bit sieve-brained that evening) and he told me about Mudcat. I checked it out, found some way cool lyrics, lots of fascinating folklore, and a bunch of BS. Gee, it's just like hanging out with a bunch of folk musicians!!! I've also made some great friends, both in the real world and in cyberspace. Think I'll stick around a bit longer...

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: hilda fish
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 12:51 AM

sandra in sydney mentioned it a few times quite a while ago but thought i didn't have the time. looked a few times re lyrics and then ......... that freda underhill insisted, i say that loudly, insisted, i have a good look, not a passing through. it's only been a short time but yes, i'm hooked.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: DougR
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 12:53 AM

I was searching for the lyrics to a Scottish folk song. Didn't find them, but found the Mudcat.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Kaleea
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 01:42 AM

A jammin' buddy told me something about some "mud cat" site in the middle of a loud Irish session. Having worked in home improvments for a few years, I thought it was a piece of heavy equipment or something. Later on I was looking for some songe or tune or something, & came across it. I then remembered my bud & realized this must've been the place. That's been awhile, and I agree with ShanghaiCeltic-it's addictive! You also begin to become acquainted with folks around the world, & the planet shrinks. It's a good place to be. Thanks, 'Catters.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: GUEST,sandra in sydney
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 07:25 AM

hilda - I noticed a post from Wooloomooloo & couldn't think of anyone else who lived down the hill from me.

hmmmm, 25 posts in 21 days!! another freda (= addict) in the making.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 09:55 AM

Ducked in and had a look when it was mentioned in the Folk Alliance list maybe? Or another one of the folk/trad music lists or groups, though I can't recall which one.

DT has never had much of the music I'm interested in, the forum is much too Anglo and Anglo American centric and politically conservative for my tastes, so I come and go here like I do with the other folk music lists and groups I haunt now and then. They've become quite dull, compared to the mid-90s heyday of online folk forums.

I still enjoy the personalities of the group over at Arlo's board the most. Mudcat personalities the least, really. There are some truly obnoxious people around here.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 10:27 AM

well, golly, Mr guest....you get a big enuf group and you'll have some obnoxious ones anywhere! Especially when it is 97% un-moderated and open to all! (I don't remember the question being "what do you dislike about the joint?") But we sure do appreciate you letting us know that we are way down your list of worthwhile places.....yessir..

Ah, for the good old days of the ancient "mid-90s"!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 11:06 AM

Sorry BillD, but there just ain't any Karelian, Tejano, zydeco music stuff around here, or near enough l'esprit de joie, not to mention new grass or new folk to keep me interested for long. That isn't the forum's fault, it's just the way it is.

I find the majoritarian (above the BS line) Britfolk and their Anglo American Britfolk "purist" wannabes to be tiresomely arrogant and stuck up as hell.

Below the line, people are nasty, cantankerous, rude, and obnoxious, yet believe themselves to be kind, generous, and for some bizarre reason, quite clever and entertaining in an Adam Sandler/American Pie sort of way, I guess. I dunno. I've just never understood the attraction factor of this place, or taken to the people here, which is why I come and go as a guest and never bothered to join as a member. Generally I come here out of boredom, and my two decade long habit of surfing the same folk sites to kill time. Not because there are fabulous people talking about fascinating things. It's a nasty bad habit, is all.

Maybe I'll make a later NY resolution to swear the place off. Maybe not.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Cluin
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 11:19 AM

Start a thread, man. See what happens.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Amos
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 11:22 AM

We sure gonnas miss your esprit d'joie, cher ami. It lightens up the place like no-body's business!

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: MudGuard
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 11:57 AM

Once upon a time, when noone knew Google would come into existence, I was looking for the words of a song I had heard years before (in 1991) in a pub in Ireland (Molly Malone) with a search engine called Altavista.
As I am German and this was on my very first evening in Ireland, I had BIG difficulties understanding the words when I heard the song...

I found them here, read many messages and in April 1998 I posted my first message (under a different nickname than nowadays)

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 12:57 PM

What web site would that be Martin?

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: hilda fish
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 06:04 AM

Hi there Sandra from Sydney - yep in Woolloomooloo, hi there - freda blames you and I think I will too!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 06:22 AM

We've decided we're going to blame Morticia.

MORTY!!!!! YOU COW!!!!!!!

Thanks.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 08:31 AM

Yes Sandra, it's all your fault - you introduced me to Mudcat, I introduced freda, and now she has introduced hilda fish. It's spreading like a virus, and there is no cure..

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: number 6
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 08:52 AM

I was googling for some Son House tabs back in 10/2004. Mudcat popped up in the search. I liked what I found here. Joined.

Exceptional site, lot's of info and a good community.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: My guru always said
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 08:59 AM

I have to thank Breezy for 'doing the tell', but the rest of you for keeping me here.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Linda Goodman Zebooker
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 10:28 AM

I found out about and started going to FSGW Open Sings in Maryland in June 2000. Since I had a repetoire of about 2 songs I could actually remember the words for, I was delighted when someone at one of my early Open Sings told me about the Mudcat Digitrad search. Seemed much too good to be true! I first used it when my father, at age 86, was going to come to an Open Sing with me, and he wanted the words for his favorite songs, "Frankie and Johnnie" and "ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR". Mudcat obliged. I was scared of the Forum, though, and didn't venture there for a couple of years more. Silly me. --Linda Goodman

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Flash Company
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 10:53 AM

It must be about a year ago, Sheila came in one day and said'I saw John the Clog in the village'.
John was an old singing friend from about 20 years ago, and in the course of the conversation he said 'Ask Brian has he looked at Mudcat'.
I looked, I was hooked! End of story.

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 12:42 PM

I fell in the back door and stayed ever since and that was over two years ago by now.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: GUEST,Dragged In By The Cat, Takes Drugs To Stay
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 01:05 PM

Like the old saying goes: "Look what the "Cat" dragged in" and through the "Mud", no less. And the result? Just about the finest "mess" of the best folk around.

Got here by Catfish Hunting, juss an old "stick in the Mud(cat)" Some folks in the great state of Lousyanna do use sticks to hunt (poke at) "katefeesh" and miss, resulting in "stick in the mud"

Awhriver (that's Kajun for bye, simlar to the Freench "au revoir")

Ajewkayted hillbillie

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: Amos
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 02:30 PM

Ajewkated: You'll find a fine song or two on the subject of frog gigging in the past Song Challenges thread. Forget which one.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: MystMoonstruck
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 03:22 PM

I'm a newbie to computers and the Net. I've had my laptop since spring of last year but didn't have the courage to go on the Net until much later. I admit that I haven't done much "surfing" since the vastness of the Internet is very intimidating.

I don't recall the particular search I launched, but it might have been "traditional music" as I was searching for contents of various songbooks. At first, I wasn't certain what I had found, so I did a bit of exploring. What really captured my interest was finding lyrics that come close to a song my maternal grandfather used to sing. But, his "Davy Crockett" has much more, stanzas that I've been researching for many years with admittedly limited resources. Now that I have the Net, perhaps I can make some headway.

After listening to the poor-quality recording I have from the Seventies, I deciphered most of Daddy Claude's lyrics though, unfortunately, some words are drowned out by background noise.

I've been doing as much reading as I can during each visit to learn more about this site. Bear with me as I make some newbie mistakes. I'm a stranger in the very strange land of the Net.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: bobad
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 04:06 PM

Well, welcome aboard MystMoonstruck. Don't worry about the newbie factor, we were all there at one time and judging by the fact that you managed to dredge up this (appropriate) thread on which to post, indicates that you have got a lot more grasp at this stage than did many of us.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: MMario
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 04:50 PM

*grin* beter grasp then many of us still do, as a matter of fact!

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: artbrooks
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 05:01 PM

Welcome to Mudcat. We are an international community, with principle participation from English-speaking nations, which focuses on folk music, with major digressions into discussions on just about everything.   

I noticed on another message that you were having some trouble seeing things on the computer.   Font size on the computer itself can be adjusted by going to Start>Control Panel>Display>Appearance>Font Size and select "larger" or "largest". Unfortunately, that will not affect text size on web sites. For that, click View on your browser (Internet Explorer or Firefox), go down to "Text Size" and make a selection.

Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat - how did you get here?
From: DougR
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 01:25 PM

Looking for the lyrics of a song.

DougR