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10 Apr 09 - 03:11 PM (#2608817) Subject: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Leadbelly Lonnie Donegan did it in "Long John". Any other ideas where singers mention their own name? |
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10 Apr 09 - 03:24 PM (#2608826) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: bobad Jesse Winchester in "Yankee Lady" |
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10 Apr 09 - 03:25 PM (#2608829) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Darowyn Bo Diddley-- now what was the song called......? |
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10 Apr 09 - 03:31 PM (#2608835) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Dave Sutherland Geordie Ridley in "The Blaydon Races" |
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10 Apr 09 - 03:32 PM (#2608836) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Steve Shaw Christy Moore in Lisdoonvarna. |
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10 Apr 09 - 03:44 PM (#2608841) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Rog Peek Phil Ochs did 'The ballad of John Train' Rog |
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10 Apr 09 - 03:59 PM (#2608849) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Rog Peek Tom didn't actually write this verse to 'Last Thing On My mind', but I've seen him include it live a couple of times in recent years, and it's on his 'Live in the UK' CD. Well I met this young girl at a folk club, Like you do, like you do. So I bought her a drink and we chatted, Wouldn't you, wouldn't you, And then after the show she invited me home, And she said we were two of a kind, Then she played me every record That Tom Paxton ever made, And you know that was the last thing on my mind. Rog |
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10 Apr 09 - 04:02 PM (#2608851) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Adrian Owlett Jerry Lee Lewis - Lewis Boogie Cliff Richard - Whole Lotta' Shakin'(live version) |
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10 Apr 09 - 04:20 PM (#2608855) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Bonnie Shaljean Erm... uhhhhh... David Soul |
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10 Apr 09 - 05:04 PM (#2608876) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Rog Peek The Big Bopper in 'Chantilly Lace'. Rog |
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10 Apr 09 - 05:15 PM (#2608884) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Uncle Phil David Allan Coe singing Steve Goodman's "You Never Even Call Me by My Name", aka the perfect country and western song. Well, I've seen my name a few times in your phone book, And I've seen it on signs where I've played, But the only time I know, I'll hear David Allan Coe, Is when Jesus has his final judgement day. |
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10 Apr 09 - 05:26 PM (#2608888) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Bainbo Al Dexter, in his Pistol Packin' Mama, curiously, appears to narrate the story from beyond the grave: Now there was old Al Dexter, He always had his fun, But with some lead she shot him dead - His honkin' days are done. |
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10 Apr 09 - 06:15 PM (#2608917) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Little Robyn Quite a few of Eric Bogle's songs are autobiographical eg Leaving Nancy - his Mum. Robyn |
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10 Apr 09 - 06:35 PM (#2608927) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Rog Peek Can you give an example of his name being mentioned? Rog |
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10 Apr 09 - 06:38 PM (#2608931) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Rog Peek Having said that, I'm wondering now whether I've read too much into it, perhaps Leadbelly could clear that up. Rog |
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10 Apr 09 - 06:49 PM (#2608936) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Jack Campin In one of the genres of Turkish folksong it's standard for the poet to put their name in the last verse - almost all of the songs of the 16th century insurrectionary mystic Pir Sultan Abdal are "signed" like that. There are literally thousands of examples. |
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10 Apr 09 - 07:02 PM (#2608940) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Beer Jesse Winchester in "Nothing But A Breeze". Beer (adrien |
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10 Apr 09 - 10:26 PM (#2609004) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Susanne (skw) Iain MacKintosh in his version of The Folker and (first name only) in his own For the Special Friends and about a dozen others. As to Eric Bogle: I actually found one song where he refers to himself by name, Them Old Song-Writin' Blues: I try to write my songs deep and esoteric But they just come out the same old Eric Oh mama, got them old song-writin' blues He's also written Eric and the Informers - autobiographical, but his name is only mentioned in the title. |
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10 Apr 09 - 11:07 PM (#2609015) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: BobKnight Craig David |
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10 Apr 09 - 11:21 PM (#2609024) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: catspaw49 Someone mentioned one particular Jerry Lee Lewis song. Tell ya' what, if you listen to any Jerry Lee performance he mentions his own name or "Killer" in about every other song! That's Jerry Lee....... Spaw |
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11 Apr 09 - 08:01 AM (#2609145) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Golightly In her song 'The Mind of Love' from the album 'Ingenue', kd lang sings 'where is your head kathryn?' |
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11 Apr 09 - 08:09 AM (#2609150) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Bobert Robert Johnson in "Crossroads Blues"... |
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11 Apr 09 - 08:26 AM (#2609154) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Sttaw Legend harriWatts in "harriWatts is back in town" |
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11 Apr 09 - 08:49 AM (#2609160) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Dave the Gnome Me in 'Martin said to his Man'. I heard yours truly (or inset name) sing in tune Fie, an, fie I heard yours truly sing in tune Who's the fool now? I heard yours truly sing in tune with everyone in the folk club room Thou hast well drunken, Man Who's the fool now? DeG |
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11 Apr 09 - 11:32 AM (#2609212) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Cpt Colin John Prine in that song about him dying- "Please Don't Bury me" or some such title. |
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11 Apr 09 - 11:58 AM (#2609231) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: curmudgeon Paddy Ryan in "The Moonshine Can." "Now, here's to the man who wrote this song, I'm sure he was not lyin' And if you wants to know his name, his name be Paddy Ryan." |
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11 Apr 09 - 02:36 PM (#2609311) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Leadbelly Correction: Lonnie's song is called "Lost John" instead of "Long John". "If anybody asks you Who sung this song Tell 'em Lonnie Donegan Been here and gone" Rog: Ideally, a singer should mention his complete name in a song. Surname or first name only might be second best. But it's alright, too. |
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11 Apr 09 - 02:52 PM (#2609312) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: john f weldon Billy Gashade (sp?) in Jesse James |
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11 Apr 09 - 06:27 PM (#2609412) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Nicholas Waller Al Stewart is sometimes very autobiographical, and names himself (I assume it is him and not some other Al) in the chorus "And yes I was doing all right up until now/ I'm beginning to think you should have listened to Al" in You Should Have Listened To Al |
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11 Apr 09 - 07:14 PM (#2609434) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Art Thieme My name is old Art Thieme--I come from Charleston town, I've traveled this wide world over--I traveled all around, I got so hell-fired hungry I could hide behind a straw, But I never knew what misery was -- 'til I hit ol' Arkansas. That's sort of the way I did it for close to 40 years. But I had to paraphrase myself --- after doing it all that time. Just can't seem to dredge up the right words. Whew? Art |
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11 Apr 09 - 08:34 PM (#2609461) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: mg MacPherson's lament? mg |
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11 Apr 09 - 10:12 PM (#2609492) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Howard Kaplan Spencer the Rover |
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12 Apr 09 - 11:09 AM (#2609666) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST Christy Moore in Welcome to the Cabaret |
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12 Apr 09 - 11:30 AM (#2609685) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Uncle Phil Now, my name is Jock Stewart, I'm a canny gaun man, And a roving young fellow, I've been. |
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12 Apr 09 - 05:42 PM (#2609847) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: fumblefingers Hank Williams Jr. and Jerry Lee Lewis do it in a lot of their songs. |
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12 Apr 09 - 05:49 PM (#2609849) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Marion Stan Rogers, in "Song of the Candle", has the waitress say "Buy another coffee, Stan..." full lyrics here Marion |
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13 Apr 09 - 09:36 AM (#2610131) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Cool Beans Didn't the real Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter) do it somewhere? |
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13 Apr 09 - 11:41 AM (#2610198) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Valmai Goodyear How about all the 'goodnight' ballads written by, or at least put into the mouths of, various villains on their way to the gallows? They usually end with a warning not to do what they have done (rather than to make sure you don't get caught). Valmai (Lewes) |
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13 Apr 09 - 02:49 PM (#2610317) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: C. Ham Leonard Cohen's song, "Famous Blue Raincoat," is sung as a letter. He ends the song by singing, "Sincerely, L. Cohen." |
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13 Apr 09 - 03:06 PM (#2610330) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: PoppaGator Lightnin' Hopkins, in more of his songs than not. He usually refers to himself as "Po' Lightnin'." |
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13 Apr 09 - 03:33 PM (#2610347) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Smokey JS Bach did it instrumentally with German notation. (BACH) |
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13 Apr 09 - 04:23 PM (#2610399) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Leadbelly Grayson and Whittler in Tom Dooley (1929). "This world and one more then where do you reckon I'll be If it hadn't been for Grayson I'd have been in Tennessee". Cool Beans: Cannot remember a song of Lead Belly where he did it. |
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13 Apr 09 - 08:07 PM (#2610574) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Cool Beans Pearl Bailey singing "Solid Gold Cadillac" sang "All Pearl needs is a solid gold Cadillac." |
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14 Apr 09 - 11:05 AM (#2610991) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Frank Bolar, the old bachelor who narrates "Starving to Death on my Government Claim" or "The Lane County Bachelor." |
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15 Apr 09 - 12:18 AM (#2611437) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Gerry Kristina Olsen does a song, Love, Kristina. In Gotta Serve Somebody, Dylan writes, "You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy." Then again, he also wrote, "My name, it means nothing." Frank MacNamara, aka Frank the Poet, wrote a poem, For The Company Under Ground, where every stanza ends, "MacNamara shall work that day/For the company under ground." I've heard it recited, don't know whether anyone's ever put a tune to it. I don't suppose you'd count the Peter, Paul and Mary recording of A-soalin', with the line, "One for Peter/Two for Paul." |
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15 Apr 09 - 02:42 AM (#2611467) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: ClaireBear Not sure if this counts, because June Tabor didn't write it (Les Barker did) and Les Barker doesn't sing it (June Tabor does), but "The January June" is about the one who sings it and also mentions the one who wrote it: The January June she walks abroad in sombre mood and boots of leather, The February June she sings a song About a pigeon getting lost. The June of March may briefly smile, But only for a little while; It's good to get it over. In April, it's the Easter Tree; This June's degree's in misery; a master's; In May the June of May may say The June of June is due this afternoon. Too soon the June of June's come true To do as June Junes used to do; Les Barker, you're a bastard. (There's more, elsewhere in the forum) |
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15 Apr 09 - 09:32 AM (#2611645) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: JedMarum I sing two (didn't write either) where the lyrics call for "Insert Your Name Here" sort of-thing. Sporting Life Blues: "My mother used to, say to me You're so young and foolish, I can't see Oh, Jed - hey there Jed why don't you change your ways" The other one is Spancil Hill. I know singers often use "Johnny" instead of inserting their own name, but I like it this way: "She threw her arms around me saying 'Jed, I love you still.'" I am very careful to leave a suitable pause when singing this, between "Jed" and "I" - in order to avoid accidentally referencing a set of sci-fi warriors. |
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15 Apr 09 - 10:08 AM (#2611657) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: SINSULL Dylan, again: The President said "My boy Bob. What do we need to make this country grow?" I said "President Kennedy, Brigitte Bardo, Anita Ekberg, Sophia Loren. Country will grow." |
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15 Apr 09 - 10:27 AM (#2611667) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: John P Jimi Hendrix in Fire. I do it all the time. Whenever I learn a song where the narrator uses his/her name, I change it to mine if at all possible. |
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15 Apr 09 - 10:30 AM (#2611671) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: bobad James Taylor in "Sweet Baby James"? Goodnight you moonlight ladies Rockabye sweet baby james Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose Wont you let me go down in my dreams And rockabye sweet baby james |
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15 Apr 09 - 01:58 PM (#2611826) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,henryp I said oh my God what's your name My name's Lyle from Give back my heart written by Lyle Lovett And by the way, did she mention my name? from Did she mention my name written by Gordon Lightfoot |
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15 Apr 09 - 03:54 PM (#2611900) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Nicholas Waller @bobad re James Taylor - the James in Sweet Baby James is Taylor's nephew, though he was indeed named after the singing chappie. So it is his name but once removed. |
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16 Apr 09 - 12:23 PM (#2612496) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Gene Any singer who ever sang 'HILLBILLY HEAVEN' [Singer's name] BONG! And that's when I woke up and I'm sorry that I did, 'cause I dreamed I was there in Hillbilly Heaven Oh, what a beautiful dream. GG |
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16 Apr 09 - 01:17 PM (#2612535) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: C. Ham Rosalie Sorrels has one called "Rosalie, You Can't Go Home Again" in which the title line is repeated often. |
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16 Apr 09 - 01:46 PM (#2612554) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego One of my old time favorites: "Sam (Samuel) Hall." "Oh, my name it is Sam Hall, Sam Hall. Oh, my name it is Sam Hall, Sam Hall. Oh, my name it is Sam Hall, And I hate you, one and all, You're a bunch of muckers all, Damn your eyes, damn your eyes! You're a bunch of muckers all, Damn your eyes." This is one of the "tamer" versions. Some are a lot nastier - with blasphemy, even! |
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17 Apr 09 - 01:18 PM (#2613222) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Ken Brock John Phillips, The Mamas and the Papas in "Creeque Alley" |
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17 Apr 09 - 02:13 PM (#2613267) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: terrier Sweet Baby James isn't the omly song that James Taylor slips in the name 'James', although I can't think of any that he uses his full name. |
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17 Apr 09 - 02:48 PM (#2613302) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,henryp Robert Earl this friend of mine You know he's always looking after my best interest He tod me Lyle P you need to get some action Get your head back in line from Record Lady by Lyle Pearce Lovett |
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17 Apr 09 - 03:13 PM (#2613315) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,henryp Jesse Winchester appears to be a serial offender; And a voice came down just like thunder And light all around me shown The voice said "Jesse get up And grab hold of my hand Cause you can't stand up all alone" from You can't stand up all alone "Look, I have just discovered that I am Fresh out of that herb that's so dear to me You know what I mean man?" He said, Look, Jesse, I'd like to help you, man" Said, "I'm in business to supply you with the weed, you know But the man just busted a whole huge shipment of mine And now everyone in town's smokin' twigs and seeds" from Twigs and Seeds Creeque Alley was written by John and Michelle Phillips and mentions them both; John and Mitchie were gettin' kind of itchy, Just to leave the folk music behind. Sebastian and Zal formed the Spoonful. Michelle, John, and Denny, gettin' very tuneful. |
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17 Apr 09 - 03:34 PM (#2613334) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Ken Brock If the emphasis is writers as opposed to performers: George and Ira Gershwin "pounding on tin" in "By Strauss". Cole Porter compares himself unfavorably to J.S. Bach in "At Long Last Love". |
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17 Apr 09 - 03:50 PM (#2613347) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,henryp Then in from the rain a heavy metal couple came, the frozen moment passed Our order arrived I pushed him aside and we were outside looking in the glass With our food in our laps staring at the maps searching for the way out town Then round the bend came our new friend, Phil said "Let's run the bastard down" Yeovil Town performed by Show of Hands, written by Phil Knightley, |
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17 Apr 09 - 04:04 PM (#2613364) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Ken Brock Suzzy, Maggie and Terry Roche in "We". |
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18 Apr 09 - 08:07 AM (#2613740) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Flash Company Ramblin Jack Elliott in 'Boll Weevil' If anybody asks you, Who was it sung this song, Tell 'em t'was ole Jack Elliott And I done been here and gone. I'm looking for a home, just looking for a home FC |
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03 Nov 13 - 07:42 PM (#3572574) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,gjohnson Turtle Blues by Janis Joplin Bad is Bad by Huey Lewis & The News Hard Headed Woman by Elvis |
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03 Nov 13 - 08:32 PM (#3572587) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Elmore Going Home by Leonard Cohen. |
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03 Nov 13 - 10:21 PM (#3572615) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: raredance Harry Chapin in "Taxi" and "Sequel" first name only |
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03 Nov 13 - 10:32 PM (#3572618) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: McGrath of Harlow Surely it doesn't count if it's the name of the imagined character being portrayed, nor the name of the songwriter, if that's not the singer? |
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03 Nov 13 - 11:13 PM (#3572622) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Elmore McGrath: Not sure what your posting references. |
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04 Nov 13 - 12:00 AM (#3572625) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,ketchdana Does it count if it is a group name? I don't mean an introductory song ("Hi, we're ... and are here to entertain you..."). I'm thinking of the Corries singing their parody to Scotland The Brave, where they refer to themselves in the third person: "land of the arctic lorries, Andy Stewart and 'ra Corries', land where... ". (If it doesn't count, forget I said anything.) |
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04 Nov 13 - 01:00 AM (#3572628) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: MGM·Lion Instead of repeating the name of the Devil in the last verse of Butter & Cheese & All, I sing it as And some, they said 'Now that is the Devil For him we well do know'. But others said no, 'twas but Mike, meself, Tho I was as black as a crow". ~M~ |
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04 Nov 13 - 01:42 AM (#3572632) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: PHJim McGrath... said,"Surely it doesn't count if it's the name of the imagined character being portrayed, nor the name of the songwriter, if that's not the singer?" to which Elmore replied, "McGrath: Not sure what your posting references." I thought that he meant some of the examples given like, "My name it is Sam Hall..." where Sam Hall is just a character and not te actual name of the singer. I seem to recall Johnny Cash singing this one. Or perhaps since MacPherson's Lament is being sung from the Gallows, I doubt we ever hear MacPherson actually singing the song. He's a character in the song. I believe Leadbelly was looking for a song where the actual singer used his own name. |
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04 Nov 13 - 03:57 AM (#3572648) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Jim McLean Robert Burns, and he gave his date of birth: Rantin Rovin Robin Oor monarch's hinmaist year but ane, Was five and twenty years begun 'Twas then a Blast o Janwar wind Blew hansel in on Robin. 25/1/1759 |
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04 Nov 13 - 04:50 AM (#3572662) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: G-Force Paul Simon, in 'Run That Body Down'. |
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04 Nov 13 - 10:45 AM (#3572736) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Elmore Thanks, PHJim, I was a little slow on the uptake last night. Happens when you get old. |
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04 Nov 13 - 10:57 AM (#3572739) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,Fred McCormick Naming ones self used to be a common practice among blues singers. EG., Blind Willie McTell mentioned himself in 'Mr McTell's Got The Blues'. Muddy Waters did in 'Still a Fool', and in one of Robert Johnson's songs he calls himself 'Bob'. I can't recall too many specific examples to mind right now, but Howlin' Wolf referred to himself as 'The Wolf' in several songs; Brownie McGhee did on at least one song, and I'm fairly certain that Charley Patton used his name in at least one Paramount recording. |
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04 Nov 13 - 02:25 PM (#3572792) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: GUEST,mg It is my understanding that McPherson. Actually wrote at least some of the song |
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05 Nov 13 - 01:21 AM (#3572931) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: MGM·Lion Blues ~~ indeed, as Fred points out above. A 'floater' last verse is surely "If anybody asks you who you heard sing this song [bis], Tell them it was ——— ———, and he's been here & gone". ~M~ |
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05 Nov 13 - 04:55 AM (#3572955) Subject: RE: Singers mentioning themselves in a song From: Leadfingers I 'stole' Fred Wedlock's 'The Folker' - His first line - "I'm Leadfingers Wedlock" , in nineteen sixt nine , hence my Cat Handle |