Lyr Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth (Axton)

Subject: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From: Sean MacRuaraidh (inactive)
Date: 10 May 99 - 01:04 PM

Please can someone help me with the words and guitar chords for the song in the title? I believe the artist was Freddy White and the song goes something like--

The Gypsy Moth is a mighty high flier,
Sailing on the inland sea.
You are the object of my desire
You're the sun and the moon to me.
And I believe in loving you
You know that you keep me from feelin' blue
And you keep me happy too
When everything I do gets me in trouble.

River can rock, river can roll
River can carry me down to the sea

?????
?????
?????

Cheers.

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From: rich r
Date: 10 May 99 - 10:42 PM

My only knowledge of the Gypsy Moth is that it is an alien introduction to North America. It has caused considerable damage to deciduous forest and urban shade trees in the east. Pockets of infestation have occurred as far west as Michigan. It is not the type of creature that conjures up images of love in my mind, only leaves with holes in them and defoliated maples.

rich r

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From: Sean MacRuaraidh (inactive)
Date: 11 May 99 - 06:02 AM

But thats the same effect a women's love has !

- hearts with holes them in and defoliated men -

Gimme some lyrics.

John.

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From: Pete peterson
Date: 11 May 99 - 01:43 PM

about summer 1972 I was singing, to the toon (sigh) of Charlie Poole's Gypsy Girl--

Oh soon I'll be a gypsy moth but now i'm a hungry grub I eat the leaves, i eat the trees, for dessert I'll eat a shrub

there were two other verses when I wrote it and I heard somebody ELSE sing it ten years ago who would not believe my claim to having written it.

I am sure this is not what you are looking for. PETE

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From: Sean MacRuaraidh (inactive)
Date: 12 May 99 - 09:03 AM

yes - it wasn't that.

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From:
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 09:02 AM

Yes! Sean I've been looking for the chords & lyrics for this song too. I first heard it sung by an Irish singer in darwin Australia. she said she heard it sung in a pub in Ireleand and when she asked the singer her told her it was written by Hoyt Axton.

I did a search on Hoyt and found he did an album years ago by the title "Gypsy Moth". Regrettably I havent been able to get lyrics vis the net.

I did have a friend who did a recording recently of the same singer doing the song at the national Folk Festivazl in Canberra this year. This was only a hand held tape. I tried to do a direct digital recording through the mixers desk but regrettably we didnt have the right lead adaptor. It was still a great version.

I'll be getting a copy of the tape soon and can transcribe the lyrics but cant help with chords as she sang it unaccompanied.

Mail me direct if you are still interested.

In the meantime if anyone can help short cut this process by turning up some lyrics (and chords) it would be much appreciated.

Thanks for the fragment you posted tho'. At least I have some more words.

Regards,

Andre

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From: GUEST,PJ Curtis.
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 05:31 PM

Hi Sean, I was the producer of the Fredie White album 'Do You Do' on which he sang 'Gypsy Moth'. It came out on the Mulligan label in '81/82 in Ireland only. Its a Hoyt Axton original which appeared, if I recall correctly, on his album 'Snowblind' Freddie's Do You Do album is due to appear (finally) on CD in the not-too-distant. PJ Curtis. ps Maura O'Connell made her recording debut on that song too..singing backing vocals!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GYPSY MOTH (Hoyt Axton)
From: Nynia
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 06:29 PM

Lia Luachra did it on their self titled first album, on Malgamu Music MALGCD112.

THE GYPSY MOTH
(Hoyt Axton)

The Gypsy Moth is a mighty high flyer, sailing on land and sea
You are the object of my desire, the sun and the moon to me
I believe in love and you know that you keep me from feeling blue
And you make me happy, everything I do gets me in trouble

River can rock, river can roll
River can carry me back to the sea

Ramblin' Jack had a woman he loved, but the woman didn't love Jack back
She took his smile, she took his child, took everything he had
The river was a name she used to know, she kept him so damn confused
She made him unhappy, everything she did got him in trouble

River can rock, river can roll
River can carry me back to the sea

Many long years have come and gone since John F Kennedy died
I'm not sure but what that man was downright crucified
The same mad guys are still telling lies, you know they keep usused and abused
They make us unhappy, everything they do gets us in trouble

River can rock, river can roll
River can carry me back to the sea

The black racoon, by the light of the moon, with the music playing soft and low
The songs we'd sing made the night time ring, and the racoon loved the show
He went back and he told his friends "You know those humans who live on the edge
of the forest, they all had a party, and man they really played my kind of music

River can rock, river can roll
River can carry me back to the sea
River can rock, river can roll
River can carry me back to the sea


Hope this helps, Nynia. :-) -) )

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From: Jacob B
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 09:43 AM

I believe that Gypsy Moth was the name of a boat which set a record for solo crossing of the Atlantic (Kendall or Dave, can you confirm this?) I've always wondered whether this song was meant to refer to the boat.

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 05:25 PM

yep, me again. Gipsy Moth (note English spelling) was the boat Sir Frances Chichester used in his one-man nonstop voyage around the world; when he completed it he was knighted on the deck of his boat by Queen Elizabeth II. I can't tell from the lyrics yes or no. My belief is that yes, about the 3rd level down. that's a great song!

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From:
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 09:02 AM

Thanks for posting the lyrics Nynia. Its a great song isnt it? Amazing to hear some of its history via the thread as well.

I dont suppose anyone can help with some chords?

Long live the Mudcat!

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From: rich-joy
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 06:42 AM

GUEST,Andrez, that "Irish singer in Darwin" was one "Jenny Fitzgibbon", currently residing in Maleny, SE Qld and a fabulous singer!!! She won the Liz Johnson award for Vocal Excellence at the 2000 National Folk Festival and is currently a member of 2 x a cappella trios (Raw Silk and Skadi) in Maleny and the singer in great Brisbane band (Ragged) and of course, continues to sing solo stunningly!! She also still sings "The Gypsy Moth" beautifully, which she learnt from Freddie White in Ireland years ago ...

Cheers! R-J in Maleny (and member of Raw Silk!)

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 01:59 PM

The Gipsy Moth was also the biplane that Chichester used for a flight from England to Australia in the 20s, and later adapted as a seaplane for several first routes established in the far east. Gives the opening line a little more meaning...

The Gypsy Moth is a mighty high flyer, sailing on land and sea

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From:
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 07:22 AM

Any chance of the guitar tab anyone? Its a great song and the Freddie White version has a brilliant Irish-jig for the middle eight: quite an improvement on the Hoyt Axton version.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: lyrics wanted : The Gypsy Moth
From: EBarnacle
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 10:54 AM

Can we get a sound clip?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Gypsy Moth
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 12:30 AM

Hoyt Axton's recording of GYPSY MOTH appears on the album "The A&M Years," Polygram International 2-CD set #540956, 2001. There is a sound sample available at allmusic and probably other sites as well.

Beware that several other people have written and recorded songs with the same title.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: GUEST,Jake - Lamoille Canyon Band
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 06:44 PM

Hello Hoyt Axton Friends and Lovers...

I was the lead singer, song writer and one of four guitarists in the Nevada based band: The Lamoille Canyon Band. We did a lot of Hoyt's tunes and everybody loved them. He played at the Elko Convention Center (Elko, Nevada) in the early 80's and was a sell out. I'll never forget the show.
In regards to the Gypsy Moth song, there was a lot of political feedback and fire because of the JFK references. One night he appeared on the Johnny Carson Show and was asked to play a few tunes. Of course, being Hoyt, he did. He was also asked not to play the Gypsy Moth song. He said okay...but played it anyway. The show was live so they couldn't cut him off very well. I loved it.
The lyrics to this song seem to be hard to find anywhere. I once had the entire original version on reel-to-reel, but, as fate would have it...somebody stoled it, yet, not before I memorized it. The lyrics posted by the following:

********************************************

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GYPSY MOTH (Hoyt Axton)
From: Nynia
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 06:29 PM

Lia Luachra did it on their self titled first album, on Malgamu Music MALGCD112.

********************************************

are about as close as anyone could get. I've reposted their work with corrections as follows, and, just so no one gets lost with all of this copy both versions. By the way, the music is in the key of G.

Here ya' go:

THE GYPSY MOTH
(Hoyt Axton)

Oh The Gypsy Moth is a mighty high flyer, sailing on an inland sea
And You are the object of my desire,
you're the sun and the moon to me
And I believe in love'n you and
know that you keep me from feeling blue
And you make me happy, when everything I do gets me in trouble

River can rock, river can roll
River can carry me back to the sea

Ramblin' Jack had a woman he loved, but the woman didn't love Jack back
She took his smile, she took his child, she took everything he had
River was the name she used, she kept him so damn confused
She made him unhappy, and everything she did got him in trouble

River can rock, river can roll
River can carry Jack down to the sea

Many long years have come and gone since John F. Kennedy died
I'm not sure but what that man was downright crucified
By the same bad guys still telling lies,
you know they keep us used and abused
They make us unhappy, and everything they do gets us in trouble

River can rock, river can roll
River can carry me back to the sea

The black racoon, by the light of the moon,
heard with the music playing soft and low
And the songs we sang made the night time ring,
and the racoon loved the show
He went back and he told his friends
"You know those humans who live on the edge of the forest,
they all had a party, and man they really played my kind of music

River can rock, river can roll
River can carry you down to the sea du-du-du-duuu

Oh The Gypsy Moth is a mighty high flyer, sailing on an inland sea
And You are the object of my desire,
you're the sun and the moon to me
And I believe in love'n you and
know that you keep me from feeling blue
And you make me happy, when everything I do gets me in trouble

River can rock, river can roll
River can carry me back to the sea du-du-du-duuu
________________________________________________

For those of you who want to try and sing this as close to Hoyt's way, well, you're gonna' need some good lungs and be able to dig for those low notes. It's a great song.

Hope my little addition here helps those who have been searching far and wide and high and low for Hoyt's Gypsy Moth. I miss that voice and those great musical stories. Sure don't find many like him anymore.

C'ya - Jake

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 02:33 PM

Chords anyone?
Chords?

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: Andrez
Date: 21 Feb 08 - 05:44 AM

My feeble attempts should give you something to work with. The words were my best attempt at transcription all those years ago. So check out Jakes contribution above or get a copy of Hoyts "The A&M years" and transcribe 'em yourself. Any refinements to the chords gratefully accepted!

Cheers.

Andrez

GYPSY MOTH *       Hoyt Axton
            G                     C                  G         
The Gypsy Moth is a mighty high flyer,
C                            G
sailing on land and sea
C                                 G                   C
You are the object of my desire, the sun
                         G
and the moon to me
   C             G                   C
I believe in love and you know that you

keep me from feeling blue

And you make me happy, when everything
                         G
I do gets me in trouble

       G                                     C
But river can rock, river can roll
C                                                 G
River can carry you down to the sea

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: GUEST,Phil B
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 04:44 AM

I've sung 'Gypsy Moth' ever since I first heard it in the 'mid 70's. I got my version of 'Blind Fiddler' there as well. Check it out. There's some great fiddle playing from John Hartford. Hoyt had a voice to die for and wrote a large number of songs which crossed over all genres. He wrote 'Greenback Dollar' (Kingstons) and 'The Pusher' (Steppenwolf) He was well known , loved and respected by musicians around the world and also a great character. He had a secondary career in movies as a character actor. Black Stallion, Gremlins to name but two. He also appeared in many westerns. In the early '80's, I met a man called Rhein Neggo who had been Hoyts sound engineer and got to hear many live recordings. They ewere among the best I've ever heard.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: redsnapper
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 05:54 AM

I do this one and will sit down and check the chords I use when I get home and see if I can add anything to what has already been posted. I transcribed the words from "Do You Do" but Jake's posting looks pretty close to me. A great song but hard to sing.

Snippet of Hoyt singing Gypsy Moth available at this site.

RS

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 07:41 AM

hoyt singing the whole song here http://youtube.com/watch?v=uCF8EuPBGQs&feature=related

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: Andrez
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 08:25 AM

Sad thing though, I get no video of Hoyt doing the song. Is it just me?

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 09:11 AM

its only the audio sadly

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: Santa
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 12:08 PM

Not just Chichester's aircraft, but also used more famously by Amy Johnson, and a number of other pilots in the 1920s-30s. Perhaps the classic light aircraft of its time.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: GUEST,Jake
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 07:25 PM

Me again boys and girls...I think everybody's done a great job here. The YouTube link with Hoyt singing Gypsy Moth, even though no video, is excellent and resolves everything we're talking about here. There are other great tunes attached to this sting. By all means check 'em out. Now, insofar as Gypsy Moth is concerned, visit the link...perfect. I would like to thank the 'Guest' who posted this audio link on April 25, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. Good find. Peace and deep singin' everyone.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: GUEST,mashedcat
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 12:31 PM

i was singing this song to my self at work , and had to look it up, and found this site , what a joy it is to see so many others with the same interest . i also first heard it from freddie white and always loved it( another great song he sung was `desperados waiting for the train`   by guy clarke.... i think) i have no idea what the `gypsy moth` referred to , other than the plane and the moth.nor can i help with the chords , my only help is to encourage you to keep this music alive , well done , sing it and love it.
yours

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 09 - 05:41 AM

Drop d seems to be the key to playing this one

Subject: RE: Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth
From: GUEST,Hondo
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 10:37 PM

Hoyt plays this song in open E tuning. It's mostly just E-A-E-A all the way through and if you just mess around with the tuning you'll figure out the specifics of the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth (Axton)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 12 - 09:51 PM

Freddy white recorded this song back in the 80s. He was a guy from Dublin who enjoyed enormous success as a singer and guitar player in Ireland in the 70s and 80s. He was on Mulligan records...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth (Axton)
From: GUEST,ParaDara
Date: 01 Dec 12 - 01:02 PM

It's Freddie - not Freddy - and he's from Cobh, County Cork. He and Trish are now living in Australia but Freddie comes home for gigs every year.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth (Axton)
From: GUEST,Toby
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 02:36 PM

Freddie is back living in Ireland now with his wife trish, who also has a lovely voice. I saw them both in Waterford a few months ago- brilliant

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Gypsy Moth (Axton)
From: GUEST,Toby
Date: 01 Jun 19 - 02:39 PM

My favorite theory is the bi-plane but was spelled Gipsy Moth. I thought I was the only one that loved this song - great to hear from so many others - best regards to all