To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=46504
18 messages

Digital Tradition is wrong - Sully's Pail ^^

14 Apr 02 - 01:21 PM (#689848)
Subject: Digital Tradition is wrong
From: GUEST

In the 1960s, Tom Paxton used to sing a song called "Sully's Pail," which he always daid was written by Dick Giddins.

In fact, Tom's LP with "Sully's Pail" says that Tom is looking for Dick Giddins so that he can give him his royalties.

But the Digital Tradition says that Tom Paxton wrote "Sully's Pail. It also says that he holds the copywright to it.

That information is wrong and should be corrected.


    The Digital Tradition has now corrected the attribution information on "Sully's Pail. I don't know when the corrections were made - probably quite some time ago.
    -Joe Offer, Forum Moderator-
    27 May 2011


14 Apr 02 - 02:00 PM (#689862)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong
From: Jeremiah McCaw

Amend even that. I had an opportunity to talk to Tom briefly after a concert a few years back. I perform the song occasionaly myself and have been as curious as a cat. Tom did catch up to him eventually, and the writer's name is Dick Gibbons.


14 Apr 02 - 02:00 PM (#689863)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong
From: Don Firth

Actually, the name is Dick Gibbons (Richard Patrick Gibbons), he lives here in Seattle, and he's been a good friend of mine since the early Fifties. He did write Sully's Pail (put it together from a story about a mining accident that a woman in Butte, Montana told him). He's only a phone call away. If anyone really wants to get hold of him, PM me and I'll pass the word. I'll also let him know about this thread.

Don Firth


14 Apr 02 - 02:01 PM (#689865)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong
From: Jeremiah McCaw

Oops! Dick Gibbins!


14 Apr 02 - 02:07 PM (#689869)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong
From: GUEST,khandu (away from home)

I thought it was Duck Gibbons!

khandu


14 Apr 02 - 02:09 PM (#689871)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong
From: Don Firth

Nope. Dick Gibbons. With an "o".

Don Firth


14 Apr 02 - 05:43 PM (#690002)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong
From: Dead Horse

Oh.


14 Apr 02 - 05:58 PM (#690011)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong
From: Dave the Gnome

This could get into a very very silly thread about Aquatic birds and Primates but I'm sure we won't let it will we...?

Cheers

Dave the Gnome


14 Apr 02 - 06:27 PM (#690032)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong
From: Joe Offer

Thanks for the information. I've bookmarked it and will submit to the Digital Tradition as a correction. Any corrections to the lyrics?
-Joe Offer-


14 Apr 02 - 08:34 PM (#690092)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong - Sully's Pail ^^
From: Don Firth

A couple:—

Verse 1, Line 4 — You're the only one that's laughing now. . .

Verse 2, Line 3 — Coeur d'Alene, as in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

I'm a bit suspicious of the spellings of a couple of other proper names, but Dick doesn't seem to be home right now, so I'll try to get in touch with him later. He said something a couple of weeks ago about he and Gela, his wife taking off for Europe for a couple of weeks, but I'm not sure when they were going to do that. Joe, you might want to hold off a bit on corrections until I chase him down and get the straight scoop. I'll keep trying.

Don Firth


15 Apr 02 - 12:08 PM (#690543)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong - Sully's Pail ^^
From: JenEllen

Thanks for the clarification, Don. I learned this one from Paxton recordings, but am glad to know it was written closer to home. My cat Sully was named for this song (Sully-Bucket: and yes, he is mean and drinks alot...)


15 Apr 02 - 12:58 PM (#690582)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong - Sully's Pail ^^
From: Jeremiah McCaw

Thank you very much for authoritive clarification, Don.


15 Apr 02 - 02:05 PM (#690638)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong - Sully's Pail ^^
From: Deckman

I'll jump in here also! I knew that Tom Paxton was looking to meet Dick Gibbons. So, some years ago, when I heard that Tom was doing a gig at a local Seattle place, I called Dick and we met there. I had the GREAT PLEASURE of introducing them to each other. IT was a great gig. In honor of Dick Gibbons presence in the audience, Tom asked him to stand up and take a bow. Then he sang "Sully's Pail." I was also VERY impressed that shortly after that meeting, Dick received a royality check from Tom Paxton. How's that for a class act. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson


15 Apr 02 - 02:18 PM (#690652)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong - Sully's Pail ^^
From: John Routledge

Thanks Bob - Not too many stories like that.


15 Apr 02 - 02:57 PM (#690678)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong - Sully's Pail ^^
From: McGrath of Harlow

What a remarkably elegant thread this has been!


15 Apr 02 - 03:37 PM (#690701)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong - Sully's Pail ^^
From: Deckman

Back to "McGrath of Harlow" ... I so appreciate your comment using the word "elegant." I know that word well and I wish I could use it more often. When people share themselves, and their stories, an occasional "elegance" does happen. Pity that it happens so rarely. This is why I occasionally do get upset when the absence of "elegance" seems to prevail. And, obviously, Tom Paxton demonstrated an "elegance" when, as soon as he'd met Dick Gibbons, he whipped out his note book and asked for his mailing address, so he could mail him a well deserved check for writers royality. CHEERS, Bob


15 Apr 02 - 06:18 PM (#690784)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong - Sully's Pail ^^
From: Big Mick

I will second McGrath's elegant post.


16 Apr 02 - 04:07 AM (#691059)
Subject: RE: Digital Tradition is wrong - Sully's Pail ^^
From: okthen

My vote also.

Elegance used to be standard, I'm glad there are still some who can recognise it.