Lyr Req: Oh, Susanna

Subject: RE: Mr. Pinhead
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 28 May 99 - 07:25 PM

Yeah, Joe. That's why I searched for [come from Alabama] first thing. I knew Susannah was a spelling trap, so I picked a part of a verse of which I was quite sure and which was likely to be quite specific to the song. It took me right there, only one hit and it was the right one. I learned this technique from that Mudcat God, Joe Offer.

Big RiB

Subject: RE: Mr. Pinhead
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 28 May 99 - 07:18 PM

Joe- The classic computer verse is:

I really hate this damn machine I wish to hell they'd sell it; It won't do what I want it to But only what I tell it.

Subject: RE: Mr. Pinhead
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 May 99 - 05:37 PM

The one thing about these $%^&*@# computers is that they require you to spell (or misspell) the $%^&*@# words the way they were originally entered. Searching for susannah won't bring the song up, because it's in the database as susanna (It appears variously in sheet music, but more commonly "Susanna"). If you don't know the complete spelling of the word, it helps to use an asterisk as a wild card. If you had searched for susan*, you'd find the song right off.
I spend an afternoon at the courthouse in Denver last week, searching for a $%^&*@# divorce record. Turns out the people had spelled their own $%^&*@# name wrong on the documents, and the computer had dutifully repeated the misspelling. I found the $%^&*@# record, thanks to a friendly court clerk who's used to the ways that people misspell names. We automatically do a "fuzzy search" when we look at a printed index, but it's a little more difficult to get a computer to do it.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Mr. Pinhead
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 28 May 99 - 05:20 PM

Mr. Pinhead,

Welcome to the Mudcat Cafe Discussion Forum (usually referred to as The Mudcat).

I found the song you seek. It is in the DigiTrad Database (DT for short), part of this site, that contains over 6000 songs in the folk and blues tradition. I suspected "Oh, Susannah" would be in there.

I went to the blue block in the upper right hand corner of this page where it says "Search the DigiTrad Database" I typed in [come from Alabama] in the little white rectangle and then I clicked on the "Search" button. The song came right up!

Here 'Tis

.

I hope you enjoy it.

Another suggestion is that when you are searching for lyrics to a song, use the title if you know it. Your search could have been entitled LYR REQ: Oh, Susannah.

As it is, you may get a double post since someone else may be replying as I type. But the above advice is good for the future. If you don't know title, a significant line or the name of the songwriter or performer may help. All of these helps you attract potential answerers.

If you have had a good time on this site already, stick around and browse a bit through the other threads. You will find a unique community. And if your name is not really Mr. Pinhead, I suspect your sense of humor will appreciate this site as well.

Again, welcome and enjoy the song!

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Mr. Pinhead
From: Banjer
Date: 28 May 99 - 05:18 PM

Mr. Pinhead, if you will type Oh, Susanna in the box at the upper right of the Thread Screen, the DT Search box you will find that which you seek!

Enjoy!

Subject: Oh Susannah
From: Mr. Pinhead
Date: 28 May 99 - 05:04 PM

What are the Lyrics to Oh Susannah?