Lyr Req: The Mill (from Outlaw Social)

Subject: Lyr Req: Outlaw Social: The Mill
From: Fumble Fingers
Date: 05 Aug 07 - 07:32 PM

Pharis Patenaude, one of the awesomely talented people with the amazing Victoria BC group Outlaw Social, has written a song on their CD entitled The Mill. I could write the group directly, I suppose, but thought it might lead to interesting discussion to put their name out on Mudcat's Forum, and see what ensues.

Specifically, I cannot make out the words in two verses, indicated by [something]:

- draw near/a boy's down/[something] a week now

- one hand/lost one hand/[something] on the engine

Sounds rather dorky singing it around the house whatever a week now, blah blah on the engine ...

Patenaude and her group can sing it forever.
www.outlawsocial.com

Thanks, friends.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MILL (Pharis Patenaude)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 06:55 PM

There's a "sample" on the web site of Wynn Gogol, the engineer who mixed the album—but the "sample" is nearly 3 minutes long. It sounds like it could be the whole song. That's what I transcribed.

It sounds like a description of an accident at a sawmill in which a boy lost a hand? I suppose the blackbird is just there for atmosphere. I'm not sure about "plying". Maybe it has something to do with making plywood. Or maybe it's "planing"?

THE MILL
Pharis Patenaude

Deep hole, a deep hole,
Blackbird, a blackbird,
A deep hole, a deep hole,
Down past the mill, down past the mill,
I'm comin' on home in my good time.

A sharp blade cuttin' hard,
A sharp blade cuttin' hard,
Long haul through the yard
Down past the mill, down past the mill,
I'm comin' on home in my good time.

Roll back, roll back,
Like an oxblood, an oxblood.
My hands are full of saw wood,
Down past the mill, down past the mill,
I'm comin' on home in my good time.

Draw near, draw near.
A boy's down, a boy's down.
Plying (?) for a week now,
Down past the mill, down past the mill,
I'm comin' on home in my good time.

One hand, one hand,
Lost one hand, one hand,
One on the engine,
Down past the mill, down past the mill,
I'm comin' on home in my good time.

Down past the mill, down past the mill,

Deep hole, deep hole,
Blackbird, a blackbird,
Deep hole, deep hole,
Down past the mill, down past the mill,
I'm comin' on home in my good time.

[As sung by Outlaw Social on their EP "Outlaw Social."]

Subject: RE: Two Words Req: The Mill (from Outlaw Social)
From: Fumble Fingers
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 02:12 AM

It was generous of you to transcribe the song, Jim, but if you read my original post again, you'll see that there are really only two words I can't be sure of in the song.

For "[something] for a week now," you have speculated on "plying" or "planing." I've speculated on words, too, but I'm really no closer to what Pharis Patenaude wrote now than I was a few days ago.

For "[something] on the engine", you have written "One on the engine." I've considered that. You could be right. But it sounds as much like "Born on the engine" too, which doesn't make a lot of sense to me. But then, "Blackbird" doesn't make any obvious sense, either. I don't understand what "Roll back/Like an oxblood" means either.

Heck, I don't care. I've been playing this song a gazillion times a day lately and my poor neighbours have to listen to me singing.

Outlaw Social and The Breakmen, a bluegrassy roots group from Vancouver, are doing a double bill in Victoria tomorrow night. I didn't even have to die to enter musical heaven.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Mill (from Outlaw Social)
From: GUEST,More cd's ???
Date: 10 Aug 07 - 09:55 PM

I had the great pleasure of seeing Outlaw Social last year in Sooke amd they're totally fantastic!! Just got their cd "Outlaw Social" and wondering if they have anymore ???

"Elle"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Mill (from Outlaw Social)
From: Fumble Fingers
Date: 11 Aug 07 - 04:41 AM

I had the great pleasure of hearing Outlaw Social and The Breakmen in Victoria this evening.

And yes, a new CD entitled "dry bones" was on sale. So new, it was still warm.

And I think I got my missing words, finally emerging in the slow and haunting version of The Mill performed this evening.

What I thought I heard:

- draw near/a boy's down/crying for a week now

- one hand/lost one hand/burned on the engine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Mill (from Outlaw Social)
From: GUEST,Elle
Date: 11 Aug 07 - 11:39 AM

Hey Fingers,

Ok then, since I'm in danger of wearing out the Outlaw Social cd from playing it over and over and over (and I found it by accident at a local new/used music shop), how does one get ahold of Dry Bones ?? I'm up in Courtenay, but my daughter lives in Victoria. I'm a huge bluegrass fan and even though it would be hard to duplicate Outlaw Social (they have such a unique and awesome sound), I was also wondering if you know of any other group that does similar music ?? Are the "Breakmen" in the same league ??

Elle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Mill (from Outlaw Social)
From: GUEST,Elle
Date: 11 Aug 07 - 11:48 AM

Fingers,

Thought I'd mention I'm a classically trained violinist and am trying valiantly to learn how to play "fiddle". Got to see the Nashville Bluegrass Band with Stuart Duncan (awesome !!) on fiddle and the James King Band. In my opinion, Outlaw Social is right up there with the best of them and I've gotten spoiled, now that I've heard the best.

Elle

Subject: RE: Dry Bones & bluegrass
From: Fumble Fingers
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 03:24 AM

Outlaw Social are about the music, not the marketing. A couple of clues: 1. the music is so good, and 2. their new CD Dry Bones isn't on their website yet. But you can email them at [e-mail] and they'll make sure you can get a copy.

Elle in Courtenay, I'm way off topic talking about fiddling and bluegrass, and I bet you can find more about those subjects on a dozen mudcat forums so we shouldn't go too far sideways from the thread topic here anyway, but here are a few thoughts:

- there's no "best" bluegrass or fiddling, but there's plenty of excellent action around us on Vancouver Island all the time. Watch for:

John Reischman and the Jaybirds who play at VI locales from time-to-time.

Adrian Dolan who fiddles with Outlaw Social when Kendel Carson is unavailable, and with the Bills, and both plays with and conducts classical orchestras.

Did I mention the Bills?

If you're lucky, Victoria's Backyard Stringband will play in the Comox Valley. Adam Iredale-Gray is a phenomenal talent on anything with strings. Rachelle Reath is no slouch either.

There's a guy named Daniel Lapp. I've heard he is a pretty good fiddler.

If April Verch ever comes to Vancouver Island again, do not miss her.

Calvin Cairns and the Conservatory Fiddle Orchestra. Fifty fiddles at once. That's an acquired taste.

The risk in putting a list like this together is that I miss dozen(s) of people or groups who are equally worthy. Your taste may not echo mine.

Great musicians are one side of bluegrass and fiddling.

Doing it yourself is the other side. Fiddle workshops, bluegrass workshops - this is the stuff musical heaven is made of. Playing with other people will make you a better musician and will give you musical experiences that even the finest performances can't rival for visceral feel-goodness.

Weekly bluegrass workshops in the Cowichan Valley resulted in Wiseacre. Perhaps you caught them at the Coombs Bluegrass Festival this month?

Neither Wiseacre nor the Breakmen have fiddles. Doesn't matter. Proves something. What? That the world of great music doesn't hang on a fiddle string?

Way too far off thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Mill (from Outlaw Social)
From: GUEST,Elle
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 09:59 PM

Fingers,

I wasn't for a minute suggesting the world of great music hangs on a fiddle string. Thanks for the info.

Subject: RE: Pharis Patenaude songs
From: Fumble Fingers
Date: 27 Aug 07 - 03:21 AM

Outlaw Social is so dynamic and creative that the collective power and awesomeness of their music (Okay, is this language a bit excessive? Are they really that good?) probably eclipses some of the individual talent that makes it all happen.

Listen a bit, and you'll discover that Pharis Patenaude is a brilliant songwriter. What happens from her words to the completed song is Outlaw Social. The lyrics are Patenaude.

Maybe another time I'll write about her songs, not that I understand them at all. But what's with the amputated hand, the limp, the methadone, Listerine and alcohol. And what does it mean to hold your lover like an old iron pin?