Subject: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: Flatpik Date: 02 Sep 02 - 02:23 PM I'm having a hard time finding any Red Clay Rambler's lyrics. Anyone know of a site? Hobo's Last Letter, Merchant's Lunch, I've Got Plans, Telephone Girl, Riding on the Chesapeake, Baby Grand, Hot Buttered Rum, Wahoo, Aragon Mill, The Ace, Will You Miss Me. Thanks - Mike |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: Joe Offer Date: 02 Sep 02 - 02:50 PM Hi, Flatpick. We have a good number of Red Clay Ramblers songs, although I admit our search engines aren't working well enough to make finding them easy. Put Red Clay Ramblers into the Digitrad and Forum earch box and you should find at least some. The Digital Tradition has Hot Buttered Rum, although you should note that the song was written by Tommy Thompson. The DT also has Si Kahn's Aragon Mill. From you list, that's all I could find in the Digital Tradition. We have a thread on Will You Miss Me, but I don't know if it's the one you're looking for. Mark Knopfler recorded a "Miss Me" song on the Notting Hillbillies CD, but I don't know if it's related. I didn't find lyrics there, but no doubt you'll like this Red Clay Ramblers Website. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: Jim Dixon Date: 02 Sep 02 - 06:48 PM Coincidence: I've been looking for "Merchant's Lunch" too, for a friend. I haven't found it on the Internet, so I might get the old vinyl LP out of my basement and transcribe it--unless someone else comes through with it soon. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: Joe_F Date: 02 Sep 02 - 06:52 PM One line in the DigiTrad version of "Hot Buttered Rum" is completely different from the version written by Thompson & sung by the Red Clay Ramblers. The first line of the last stanza should be When burning embers in the darkness Bring cold comfort... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: Jim Dixon Date: 02 Sep 02 - 06:54 PM The Digital Tradition also has WAHOO. It even has some verses that the Red Clay Ramblers didn't sing. I notice it's marked "@parody". Parody of what, I wonder? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: Joe Offer Date: 02 Sep 02 - 08:10 PM Hmmm. Wahoo didn't turn up when I searched this morning, but it came up just now. I'm familiar with it because Garrison Keillor sings it on Prairie Home Companion. I had a friend from Wahoo, Nebraska. I think it's near Lincoln. There's a thread on Hot Buttered Rum (click) that gives a better rendition of the lyrics. Unfortunately, our lyrics harvester picked the incorrect version from the same thread. Art Thieme has some interesting comments on the song here (click). -Joe Offer- |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE MERCHANT'S LUNCH (Red Clay Ramblers) From: Stewie Date: 02 Sep 02 - 09:38 PM Some of these take my back a bit. I transcribed a couple of them for a little booklet for a workshop/entertainment called 'Acid Folk' for a national festival here in Oz back in the 1980s - 'Merchant's Lunch' and 'The Ace'. Even earlier, I transcribed 'The Hobo's Last Letter' for an workshop/entertainment with my mate, Paul Lawler, called 'The Outsider'.
THE MERCHANT'S LUNCH --Stewie. |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE ACE (from the Red Clay Ramblers) From: Stewie Date: 02 Sep 02 - 09:40 PM THE ACE (Mike Craver/Tommy Thompson) Got a date with a high-tone girl The one that wears the bouffant curl She means business when she flirts So I polished up the Chevy with the fender skirts I hopped in my car and I stepped on the gas I was layin' down rubber on the old bypass Out a window she did creep Headed on out for the lovers' leap Made a detour by the barbecue shack Put 12 cold beers on ice in the back Found us a spot in the twilight zone When the light of the police shone And he said: Oh, you jack-leg, you I got the goods on you And your sweetie too I caught you in the car With the stars in your eyes And your brains in the bottom of your shoes You're a hot dog, ain't you now? You're a bulldog with the big bow-wow Got fuzz on your face You're the ace with the sweaty brow Headed on out for another spot Just down the road from the 'Dash 'n' Dot' Saxophones a-croonin' on the radio And the moon it was a-hangin' low Fingernails a-tappin' on the windowpane It was her great big boyfriend Wayne Oh, you ice cream you I got the goods on you And your sweetie too I caught you in the car … etc Sittin' in a parlour, drinkin' Coca-Cola We were spinnin' the wax She put her hair up in rollers She was a-filin' her nails on the davenport When I thought she was ready for a little sport I tripped on the rug, spilled my Coke in her hair Split the seat of my britches, put my foot through a chair And she said: Oh, you Milk-Dud you Had enough of you And your Chevy too Go home in your car With the stars in your eyes … etc Source: transcription from The Red Clay Ramblers 'Twisted Laurel' Flying Fish LP 030 [1976] --Stewie. |
Subject: Lyr Add: HOBO'S LAST LETTER (Red Clay Ramblers) From: Stewie Date: 02 Sep 02 - 09:42 PM THE HOBO'S LAST LETTER (Bill Hicks) While walkin' one day down the Bowery Drinkin' without any care I happened upon a common old bum Who'd fallen down three flights of stairs His coat was all ragged and tattered The hair was white on his head He gave me a letter with his dyin' breath And these were the words that it said I was standin' on a streetcar back in Frisco Waitin' for the light to change from red to green When a thought came to my head About the time we went to bed Underneath the western stars of Abilene You know a lot of things get hazy when you wander Days go by like boxcars in the night But some day I know I'll find Just a little peace of mind And when I do, I'll find you to make it right Chorus: I'll be home in the mornin' When the sun is comin' up And the rooster's singin' wake up To a thousand buttercups There'll be pigs in the pen And turkeys in the wood I'll be home in the mornin' dear for good It's many years ago that the bus rolled out for Denver We were standin' in the station holdin' hands Then we finally said goodbye And I stood and watched you cry Any I asked myself how you could understand You know, I've been a lot of places since that Sunday And some things I've done just don't mean a thing But one thing I know is true Lord, I'll get back home to you This old bird can't live forever on the wing Chorus Well, I folded up the letter I was reading 'Cos some things are just too personal to tell And I gave it to a cop Who was standin' at the top Of the stairs where that poor old fella fell He hadn't had the time to put her name upon it And his hand it shook so bad his name was blurred But it looked a lot like mine So I'm callin' you this time To say I'll be home in the mornin' dear for good Chorus Source: transcription from The Red Clay Ramblers 'Twisted Laurel' Flying Fish LP 030 [1976] --Stewie. |
Subject: ADD: When Bacon Was Scarce (incomplete) From: GUEST,89 Minutes Date: 02 Sep 02 - 10:49 PM Thanks Stewie, a little copy&paste is a Dangerous Thing, VBG I've been looking for 'When Bacon Was Scarce" and found this thread. purely from memory.... (uh oh) When Bacon Was Scarce One year, one year When bacon was scarce And us havin' none We saddled our horses And shouldered our guns (line the first) (line the second) To... hunt the wild hogs(?) And drive in the deer Well, when we first got there We rambled awhile Old ???? ????? ???? He began for to smile Said these ain't the same hogs That been here before The ??? ??? sow And the black-listed boar (whole verse or two MISSING, pertinent brain cells all murdered, mid-to-late 80s) The cowhide (?) will crack And the waters will roar Your back it will ache 'Til it's perfectly sore......... When Bacon Was Scarce "Twisted Laurel/Merchants' Lunch" Flying Fish 70055 (reissued l992) Distributed by Rounder Records: http://www.rounder.com/rounder/catalog/bylabel/fly/055/055.html GREAT traveling music to and from trailheads, for all you BPer mo-fo's. - RMF
---Jeff (PA)--- |
Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN BACON WAS SCARCE (incomplete) From: Stewie Date: 02 Sep 02 - 11:47 PM RMF, your memory is pretty good. Here is most of it - unfortunately, I cannot decipher one line in the second last stanza.
WHEN BACON WAS SCARCE
Straightway (to) the wild woods
[Instrumental: 'Ryestraw']
--Stewie. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: GUEST,Bill Hicks Date: 03 Sep 02 - 11:12 AM For a lot of new lyrics by moi, go to http://redclayramblers.tripod.com/bill/ and hit the links to the lyrics for South of Nowhere and The Perfect Gig. Included in the latter are lyrics to another song I wrote, and recorded with the Blurs--"Play 'Rocky Top,'", which should be in any "acid folk" archive. And Debbie McClatchy has (she says in jest) made a career of my most infamous song, "You were only F***ing while I was making love." That's on her rereleased CD which the Ramblers provided backing for in 1976. --Fiddlin' Bill (not the dead comedian) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: GUEST,89 Minutes Date: 03 Sep 02 - 01:29 PM Thanks guys! Hey Bill, was the yodelling her idea? <G> "Go back to sleep, America!" - The Other Bill Hicks
Mark (and thanks to Jeff for the breaks) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: open mike Date: 03 Sep 02 - 05:09 PM spaeking of Wahoo Nebraska-- yes it is between Omaha and Lincoln-and has been known to be mentioned as the head office of the Letterman show. Like I always say, if i ever grew up, it would have been during the 20+ years i spent in nebraska!! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: open mike Date: 03 Sep 02 - 05:17 PM there is a band from san francisco which calls itself hot buttered rum. I played "their" title song " " " for them at strawberry last year (the strawberry music festival) and they had never heard it-- i suppose they play it now- hope they give credit!! it is my favorite christmas, or rather after-christmas song. I heard ot from Rosalie Sorrels and Brian Bowers. |
Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN BACON WAS SCARCE From: toadfrog Date: 25 May 03 - 03:59 PM I believe this is the full song. Maggie Hammons Porter or one or another of the Hammons's may have composed it, or it may be traditional. Hammons's being about as traditional as you can get, I'm not real sure there is a difference. BOB PORTEROne year one year, when bacon was scarce, And us havin' none, We mounted our horses and shouldered our guns, Straightaway to the wildwood we must steer, To kill off the wild hogs and drive in the dear. When we got there we rambled a while We looked at each other beginning to smile Saying "ain't these the same hogs we fit here before, The old blue sow and the black listed boar?" The old blue sow lay still in her bed He ring everywhere that John Likens he said [?] She sprang from her bed and beginning to run As soon as she did, it was Porter's old gun. Now she moaned and she groaned and lay sick in her bed, Said, "now you will suffer for what you have said! "Your streets they will rattle, the waters will roar! "The cowhide will crack, 'till your back is all sore!" In Green are the Woods, sung by Helena Triplett. Liner notes say: "I learned this song from Maggie Hammons [Parker], with additions from Zona Hammons Gear. I haven't found any other reference for this song. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: Dani Date: 25 May 03 - 08:50 PM Funny story about WAHOO: A few years ago, the Red Clay Ramblers were on Prairie Home Companion, Sweet Honey in the Rock were on as well. We went to see the show in Chapel Hill. Part of Sweet Honey's performance is always a sign-language interpreter, an integral part of the music: almost worth the price of admission alone, she is a lovely enhancement of their work. Well, she went on to interpret the rest of the show, including the RCR. When they sang WAHOO, she threw her whole body into a sort of lariat-tossing motion to sign that word, and of course you have to do a few at a time pretty quickly, and it was hilarious. My daughters and I still do that motion whenever we hear that song. Dani |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: toadfrog Date: 25 May 03 - 10:53 PM Why would anyone want to black-list a boar? Why did they shoot the sow, if it was the boar that was black-listed? Could it be they actually meant, a "bore"? Wouldn't you shoot a bore rather than a sow? |
Subject: Lyr Add: TWISTED LAUREL (Tommy Thompson) From: Janie Date: 26 May 03 - 10:55 PM You didn't ask for this one, but here are the lyrics to "Twisted Laurel" TWISTED LAUREL (by Tommy Thompson) Just across the Blue Ridge Where the high meadows lay and the galax spreads through the new mown hay. There's a rusty iron bridge 'cross a shady ravine Where the hard road ends and turns to clay. With a suitcase in his hand Well a lonesome boy stands Gazing at the river sliding by beneath his feet. And the dark water springs From the black rock and and flows Out of sight where the twisted laurel grows. Past the coal-tipple towns In the cold December rain Into Charleston runs the New River train. Where the hillsides are brown And the broad valley stained By a hundred thousand lives of work and pain. In a tar paper shack Down the road, across the track Stands an old used up man trying to recall something back. But his old mem'ries fade Like the city in the haze And his days have flown together like the rain. And the dark water springs from (cross?) the black rock and flows Out of sight where the twisted laurel grows. If anyone has the chords to this I'd appreciate them. Janie |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: Janie Date: 26 May 03 - 11:06 PM Oops. Those lyrics were already posted by Judy R in the Tommy Thompson obit thread. Sorry I forgot to check. Might want to delete my post and just post a link to that message? Except--I do want the chords. Janie |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: GUEST,Bill Hicks Date: 27 May 03 - 07:48 AM The way Maggie Hammons sang it, the last verse goes: The old blue sow sprang up to her feet for to run, We fired and she fell from Bob Porter's old gun... Now the cowhide will crack and the waters will roar, And your back it will ache till it's perfectly sore. A "black-listed" boar is a male pig with black sides. The language is fairly archaic. The song is a variant of "Bangum and the Boar," a Childe Ballad. So I've been told anyway, by the "folk-lordylordy." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: toadfrog Date: 10 Jun 03 - 08:59 PM Thanks, Bill. I was being a bit of a smart-ass, but I really didn't know what a blacklisted boar was. The folk lordylordys sometimes try too hard. I see no resemblance to Bangum except they both have boars in them. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Clay Ramblers Lyrics From: GUEST,Phil Palmer Date: 12 Jun 03 - 11:18 AM If someone has the chord progression for "The Ace" could you post it?" |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs by The Red Clay Ramblers From: Janie Date: 13 Sep 09 - 11:23 PM I'm hard pressed to see (or hear) a link between "Bangum" and When Bacon Was Scarce" also, at least based on all the links and midi's of apparently related songs to Bangum in the DT. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs by The Red Clay Ramblers From: GUEST,Steve Date: 09 Apr 10 - 01:09 PM Hey, any luck with the chords to "I've Got Plans"? I've got about half of them figured out, but can't quite work out the whole thing. Steve slippeddiscs@yahoo.com |
Subject: Lyr Add: I'VE GOT PLANS (T Thompson & L Rogoff) From: Jim Dixon Date: 11 Apr 10 - 07:36 PM Copied from Mike Craver's web site: I'VE GOT PLANS Tommy Thompson & Lenny Rogoff I been staying up too late. Well, the morning ain't for me. Daylight never brings much company. With the ladies of the night, I play the game of chance, Losin' quarters to the jukebox, buying songs to watch 'em dance. When I grow up, I'm gonna settle down, 'Cause chasin' midnight ladies ain't the funnest game in town. Oh, they disappear like dreams. I wake up sleeping in my jeans. I'm lonesome tonight, but I got plans. Could be I'll pan for gold, write a novel, or join a band. I could sell produce from a roadside stand. Sturdy wife to share my joys, a pair of healthy strappin' boys They'll lend a helpin' hand. We'll make a fortune off the land. When I grow up, I'm gonna settle down, Chew honeycomb and drive a tractor, grow things in the ground. Oh, the dream that's in my eye is just tomorrow's enterprise. I may be broke tonight but I got plans. Haul the proceeds to the bank, and I'll soon have lots of dough. I'll buy me a villa down in Mexico. While the mariachis play, I'll go fishin' every day. I'll cast a net so gaily on some sunny Latin bay. When I grow up, I'm gonna settle down. I'll take a course in business at the night school here in town. Ah, but that'll have to wait, 'cause tonight I got a date. We'll have a drink, and keep on talking 'bout my plans. [From Red Clay Ramblers "Merchants Lunch" Flying Fish LP FF-055, 1977.] |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs by The Red Clay Ramblers From: Janie Date: 25 Apr 19 - 04:16 PM Is anyone aware or have links to a possible recording of Maggie singing "When Bacon Was Scarce"? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs by The Red Clay Ramblers From: Janie Date: 23 Nov 19 - 06:39 AM Some one asked about a possible recording of Maggie Hammons singing "When Bacon Was Scarce." Found it in the Southern Folklife Collection. Starts at about 1:01. It is a fragment. When Bacon Was Scarce. Maggie Hammons |
Share Thread: |
Subject: | Help |
From: | |
Preview Automatic Linebreaks Make a link ("blue clicky") |