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Lyr Add: California Steamin'

06 May 97 - 03:46 PM (#4875)
Subject: Lyr Add: CALIFORNIA STEAMIN'
From: Anon.

I found this ancient folk song lying around orally on paper, and would appreciate any more lyrics if anyone knows them. They seem to come from some ancient conflict.

CALIFORNIA STEAMIN'

All the songs are gone, (all the songs are gone)
And the sky is gray, (and the sky is gray)
I sought out a tune (I sought out a tune)
From the Mudcat Cafe (from the Mudcat Cafe)
I'd be safe and sound, (I'd be safe and sound)
If it was "Galway Bay," (if it was Galway Bay) But

California Steamin' has led the thread astray!
California Steamin' has led the thread astray!

Stopped into a site
I passed along the way,
Oh, I got down on my knees, and

I began to say -- You know, I think this song is old,
I think it starts in A (I think it starts in A) ---
California Steamin', (California Steamin') please teach me how to play!

"This kind of song is wrong (this kind of song is wrong)
You should go away (you should go away)
This site is for folk (this site is for folk)
In a trad sort of way (in a trad sort of way)
California Steamin' (California Steamin') has led the thread astray!
But if you don' t help me, I'll be lost today (I'll be lost today)
California Steamin' (California Steamin') don' t take this thread away!

CHOR: All the songs are gone, and the sky is gray
I sought out a tune from the Mudcat Cafe --
I'd be safe and sound, if it was "Galway Bay"
But California Steamin', has led the thread astray!

- Oral tradition.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 23-May-02.

06 May 97 - 03:56 PM (#4876)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Bert Hansell

I love it.

06 May 97 - 04:05 PM (#4877)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Kevin

Wonderful!

06 May 97 - 04:59 PM (#4881)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Peter Timmerman

Yes! How about "life can take its toll, with a 45 (er, 46) voice scroll". Yours, Peter

06 May 97 - 05:03 PM (#4882)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Peter Timmerman

Yes! How about "life can take its toll, with a 45 (er, 46) voice scroll". Yours, Peter

06 May 97 - 05:43 PM (#4888)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Susan

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry , I'm sorry I won't annoy you again, I won't annoy you again, I won't annoy you again I won't run with scissors, I won't run with scissors, I won't run with scissors

06 May 97 - 07:01 PM (#4891)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Elsie

Ah...a broadside!! Definitely in the folk tradition! Don't lose the original manuscript, they will want it at the Library of Congress some day!

07 May 97 - 11:14 AM (#4925)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Anon.

Gee, Susan, don't go away. It was meant as an even- handed tribute to/satire on the discussion, not another assault. If I had the words to "Purple People Eater" maybe it might have been funnier.

07 May 97 - 11:40 AM (#4931)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From:

Bert says they are here.....http://www.summer.com.br/~pfilho/oldies_list/ron_transc/purple_people_eater.txt

and they are!!

07 May 97 - 11:55 PM (#4973)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From:

Dear Anon,

I don't plan to go away, I just won't ask for anything that isn't certain to be "folk". (My reply was meant to show that I too can smile at the brohaha that I inadvertently created...I actually thought your creation was quite funny-just wish I had thought of it :-)

08 May 97 - 01:37 AM (#4977)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Gene Graham

If that was a SERIOUS remark about the lyrics to Purple People Eater....go to http://wwww.roughstock.com/cowpie in the NOVELTY section.

08 May 97 - 10:02 AM (#4985)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Anon.

No, just another joke.... I will shut up now -- ironically I don't like people using anon or having to respond to anons - :-?

11 May 97 - 07:24 PM (#5089)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Allan -- looking for old college buddie

Dear (long lost) Anon, I am so happy to see you are still doing well. If your first name is TRAD, I think we used to hang out together at the Guilded Cage Coffee House in Philly back in the 1960's.

Allan

12 May 97 - 10:30 AM (#5105)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From:

I used to be Attrib. until the operation.

11 Jan 00 - 02:01 PM (#161211)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Max

Is this in The SongBook?

I think the controversy came from this thread. See, times haven't changed.

12 Jan 00 - 11:53 AM (#161690)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Áine

Dear Max,

No, this isn't in the Songbook. I'd love to add it if Anon. wants it there. Anon. -- are you out there? What do you think?

-- Áine

12 Jan 00 - 12:03 PM (#161693)
Subject: RE: Lyrics: California Steamin'
From: Bert

The Anon in this case wouldn't be "Belter" would it?