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Lyr Req: Caroline (calypso - Wilmoth Houdini)

25 Mar 01 - 11:18 PM (#425568)
Subject: Caroline
From: GUEST,Louis Lee

I've bought a CD of early Calypso song recordings and found this song.But its style is like American country song.May you find the complete lyric for me?

Thanks!

Louis

26 Mar 01 - 11:41 AM (#425806)
Subject: Lyr Add: TECUMSEH VALLEY (Townes Van Zandt)
From: GUEST

This probably isn't what you're looking for, but it is among the best examples of American Country and could be mistakenly titled Caroline.

And, if I didn't alreay have the lyrics, I'd surely want them.

Tecumseh Valley by Townes Van Zandt (singer/composer,died in 97')

The name she gave was Caroline, daughter of a miner,
her ways were free, and it seemed to me,
that sunshine walked beside her.

She came from Spencer, 'cross the hill,
she said her pa had sent her 'cause the coal was low,
and soon the snow, would turn the skies to winter.

She said she'd come, to look for work,
she was not seeking favors,
For a dime a day and a place to stay,
she'd turn those hands to labor.

But times were hard, and jobs were few,
all through Tecumseh valley,
but she asked around and a job she found,
tending bar at Gypsy Sally's

She saved enough to get back home,
when spring replaced the winter,
but her dreams were denied, her pa had died,
the word come down from Spencer.

So she turned to whorin', on the streets,
with all the lust inside her, and it was many a man, returned again,
to lay himself beside her.

They found her down beneath the stairs,
that led to Gypsy Sally's,
in her hand when she died was a note that cried,
fare thee well... Tecumseh valley.

The name she gave was Caroline, daughter of a miner,
her ways were free,
and it seemed to me,
that sunshine walked beside her.

From his 1st album, titled "First Album", circa: mid-60's.

Plain tune, no-frills story, no wasted words; that was his style, and he will be missed.

06 Jun 02 - 02:44 PM (#724529)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: Jim Dixon

There are LOTS of songs called "Caroline." For example, see these search results at AMG and CDNOW. (Hope these links work; if not you can do your own search.)

I think the song LouisLee had in mind is most likely this one: Caroline (click to hear a sound sample). (I found the link to the sound file on this page.) I have no idea who the performer is, but his guitar work is magnificent, and he has a beautiful voice, too! The lyrics in the 50-second sound sample are:

Tell me where you been last night, Caroline.
Tell me where you been last night, Caroline.
Last night by Piccadilly
If it weren't you, who could it be?
So tell me where you been last night, Caroline.

09 Jun 11 - 02:33 AM (#3167458)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

Does anyone have the full lyrics to "Tell me where you been last night, Caroline?"
Something else that's interesting, there's a similarity between "Caroline" and "In The Pines". "Where did you sleep last night" and "Tell me where you been last night?"

09 Jun 11 - 02:44 AM (#3167463)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

"All the neighbours laughing at me, and they told me you.. Caroline"Track 1 Caroline (Wilmoth Houdini)

09 Jun 11 - 02:33 PM (#3167816)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Morwen is referring to a song on the cd, "Rough Guide to Calypso Gold," containing songs by various artists, including Wilmouth Houdini, "Caroline," and on the album, "Best of Trinidad, 1912-1929".
I have not heard it, but it seems to be a comment on events.

09 Jun 11 - 06:04 PM (#3167969)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

So does anyone have the lyrics to Houdini's version? According to several sources, "Caroline" is an update of an old paseo called "Germaine" and was composed by Lionel Belasco.

10 Jun 11 - 12:45 AM (#3168166)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

I've made up a new verse for this song;
"Where did you sleep last night, Caroline?
Just where did you sleep last night, Caroline?
I waited up till midnight,
And you didn't come back 'til first light,
So tell me where you sleep last night, Caroline."

10 Jun 11 - 03:35 AM (#3168195)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

Q, what makes you think that "Caroline" is a comment on true events if you have never heard the song? I don't mean to challenge that idea, just curious :).

10 Jun 11 - 01:06 PM (#3168472)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

I don't- That appeared on some site selling a download of Houdini singing it. Note my qualifier "seems."

10 Jun 11 - 01:08 PM (#3168473)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: GUEST,Gda Music

Jim: Rather than transcribe the Caroline tune I have posted the recording on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9jCDiWRBsE

10 Jun 11 - 01:17 PM (#3168475)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: Tattie Bogle

And for those of us brought up within earshot of the East coast of England in the 1960s, who could forget this??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTG7-qaStnI&feature=related

10 Jun 11 - 02:04 PM (#3168490)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Thanks, Gda Music. After listening to that, I think any connection with the American folk song is coincidental.

10 Jun 11 - 05:24 PM (#3168607)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

The similarity is still striking; in both songs, the male narrator questions a woman (his girlfriend/wife), about where she has been sleeping/going the previous night. But I guess that's a common motif. One interesting difference that in the case of "In The Pines", the woman answers the questions, while in "Caroline" we don't know how she answers; we only get one side- the narrator's. I wonder whether we are meant to interpret her silence as guilt, and also how it would sound done as a conversation number, with some added verses from her perspective. Although I'm sure that could be done, I don't have any ideas :(. Anyone want to comment on that possibility? Talking of added verses, six posts up I posted a new verse I'd written for the song. I don't think it's that good now :(.

10 Jun 11 - 08:00 PM (#3168683)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

Could someone transcribe Houdini's version?

12 Jun 11 - 11:49 AM (#3169340)
Subject: Lyr Add: CAROLINE (Wilmoth Houdini)
From: GUEST,Gda Music

CAROLINE - VICTOR 80078-A
Paseo (W.Houdini L. Belasco)
WILMOTH HOUDINI
with Belasco Orchestra
rec.1927

Tell me,where you been last night,
   Caroline?
Mammy,do you think that is right,
   Caroline?
All the neighbours laughing at me,
And they calling me moon sammy,
Tell me, where you been last night,
   Caroline?

A thing, that you shouldn`t do,
   Caroline,
For you know I love you for true,
   Caroline,
You know you are the pride of me heart,
Promised me we would never part,
But tell me, where you sleep last night,
   Caroline?

Caroline, you shouldn`t do me that,
   Caroline,
Give me your word and take it back,
   Caroline,
Yet you spending me money free,
Everybody aroun` can see,
Tell me where you been last night,
   Caroline?

Caroline, I want you no more,
   Caroline,
Take your georgie bundle and go,
   Caroline,
Me an` you could never agree,
Caroline, mammy don`t you see?,
Tell me, where you been last night,
   Caroline?

Caroline, you think I`m a fool,
   Caroline,
You try to use me just like a tool,
   Caroline,
I am working for money hard,
Mamito, and you spend it bad,
Tell me, where you been last night,
   Caroline?

(moon sammy-fool/idiot)
(georgie bag-small personal bundle)

12 Jun 11 - 08:04 PM (#3169592)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: caroline
From: MorwenEdhelwen1

Thanks, Gda Music! I wonder why she's totally silent.. definitely got a guilty conscience.