Anagram---Rizraklaru?

Subject: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: John Wood
Date: 09 May 99 - 07:29 PM

OK!It's question time Mudcatters!
Ralph McTell has a tune on his second LP(remember those)called RIZRAKLARU.
Album is,``SPIRAL STAIRCASE´´and the tune's name is an anagram------of what???

Well I only asked.It sprung to mind when I saw the Anagrams on the Salamander thread.

John.

Subject: RE: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 09 May 99 - 10:01 PM

I don't know the song, but would it have anything to do with either an outdoor toilet, or maybe a parody of country music?

Subject: RE: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: Bernard
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 01:52 PM

Only just seen this thread... rural karzi is the answer, so John in Brisbane was right...! The first letter was stuck at the end, then the whole thing spelt backwards.

Subject: RE: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 22 Nov 07 - 05:54 AM

This from the FAQ section of Ralph's old website:

Q. What does RIZRAKLARU mean ?

A. During the idyllic summer of '67 I had moved to my ancient caravan to two fields in a place called Lower Landrine near the village of Mitchell in Cornwall. The location was named Willoughby's farm and I recorded a little piece by that name on my first album. I was happy playing my guitar all day and sharing the peaceful surroundings with "Whispering Mick" Bennett and Henry VIII, one of my oldest mates who played jug in our precarious jug band at the nearby "Folk Cottage".

Whilst I was working on another little instrumental, Henry was way down the field availing himself of the rural toilet and singing at the top of his voice. When Gus Dudgeon came to record the finished tune he asked me the title and not having thought of one, I replied; "Rural Karzi" remembering Henry's musical accompaniament to his ablutions.

After he'd stopped laughing Henry and I had explained the title's orgin he suggested an anagram, so we put the first letter last and spelt the whole thing backwards, and there you have it !!!! RIZRAKLARU !

Subject: RE: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 04:15 PM

rural karzi

Subject: RE: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 03:45 PM

I've always spelt that as "khazi" presumably by analogy with "khaki", and assumed it was probably Indian Army slang. However here's the current Wikipedia entry about the word:

"Lexicographer Eric Partridge derives khazi, also spelt karzy, kharsie or carzey, from a low Cockney word carsey originating in the late 19th century and meaning a privy. Carsey also referred to a den or brothel. It is presumably derived from the Italian casa for house, with the spelling influenced by its similar sound to khaki. Khazi is now most commonly used in the city of Liverpool in the UK, away from its cockney slang roots.

Which is interesting, and seems plausible enough (apart from the last sentecne, with its failure to recognize that the word isn't in general use all over the country.)

Subject: RE: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 07:23 PM

a 'Khazi in Cairo' was always the ultimate shitehouse. I knew the phrase well in London, but always believed it had come to London via Indian Army soldiers.

Subject: RE: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 07:31 PM

There is a classic cookbook of Indian cuisine called THE KHAKI KOOKBOOK, and I guess I can adapt from that to something more.... reflective of..... the gustatory disasters we have committed...

THE KHAZI KHOOKBOOK

~S~

Subject: RE: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 07:30 PM

Mistake in last line of my last post - what I mean to say was that the Wiki entry should have recognised that the word is in general use all over the country.

Subject: RE: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: GUEST,Dunc
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 05:45 PM

Rural Kazi

I know...

Subject: RE: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: GUEST,Dunc
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 05:46 PM

Oh... I've just seen I was a bit late to this thread, and it was already resolved!!

Subject: RE: Anagram---Rizraklaru?
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 05 Aug 21 - 12:25 PM

Thank you so much.
I bought this album when it came out and a friend and I puzzled over this anagram for months and finally decided that it was just Ralph having a laugh.
“Rural Karzi” - who knew !