Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)

Subject: Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)
From: chazkratz
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 07:21 PM

Lately I've been listening to Arlo Guthrie singing Tom Paxton's "I'm Changing My Name to
Chrysler, and a while ago I was humming the part that begins with "Since the first amphibian crawled out of the slime" and for some reason I came up with this variation of that line:

Since our first ancestor slithered from the ooze

and started adding lines to it. What I came up with in about five minutes is this:

(D) Since our first ancestor slithered from the ooze
We've been (G) itching to try on our dancing (D) shoes
From our first (A7) step through the two-step
Through the (D) lock-step and the goose-step
We've been (E7) working out the steps to dance the (A7) blues

And then I got stuck. I can't even figure out what the song should actually be about
(there's of course the fascist implication of the fourth line, but the fifth line seems to indicate an evolution beyond that--I think that the line implies a step backwards in evolution). I'm pretty sure that these lines are not the beginning nor the end of the song. I thought that maybe together we might come up with something interesting.   

Charles

Subject: RE: Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)
From: chazkratz
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 03:47 PM

Okay, maybe the song is about the dance of life or of civilization--or whatever else anyone sees in it. Or maybe it's about nothing, like "Seinfeld" or "A Horse Named Bill." Maybe additional verses or choruses can be nonsensical....or maybe it's just a throwaway choral part of an otherwise instrumental piece.

Charles

Subject: RE: Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)
From: chazkratz
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 04:01 PM

Another possibility occurred to me--maybe it's just another verse for the limerick song:

Ay, ay, yi yi
In China they do it for chili
So here comes another verse
That's worse than the other verse
So waltz me around again, Willie

in which case the chord structure should be

D) Since our first ancestor slithered from the (A7) ooze
We've been itching to try on our dancing (D) shoes
From our( G) first step through the two-step
Through the (D) lock-step and the (Bm) goose-step
We've been (E7) working out the (A7) steps to dance the (D) blues

Charles

Subject: RE: Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 04:25 PM

Well damn Seed.....You're on them happy drugs again aintcha'?

I see where you're going and now I'll be walking around squirreling it through over and over and generally screwing up the next day or two. But if I come up with something you'll be the first to know......................Take care there well seasoned friend......


Spaw

Subject: RE: Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)
From: Amos
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 04:48 PM

SOunds like a song on the theme of "we're all singing the same old, human condition blues".

"Doesn't matter if you're wearing thongs, or patent leather shoes..." "
DOesn't matter if you're brown, or yellow, cuz it's true...
That sooner or later
You're gonna be singing
Those same old human condition bluuuues...."

SOmething raggy, a grizzly-bear two-step in honor of the inevitable universal human slough of despond and all those who, for shorter or longer spells, land therein and flounder.



A

Subject: RE: Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Nov 08 - 06:39 PM

Chas. I'd waltz with you anywhere!**bg** Good to see you!! And, I love the lyrics and ideas!

Subject: RE: Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)
From: chazkratz
Date: 20 Nov 08 - 01:48 AM

Wow! Spaw, Amos, and Kat right in a row. You guys are why I keep poking my neck in here from time to time.

Charles

(Amos--"slough of despond"? Or "pond of deslough"?) As long as I keep taking my happy pills, I float right across--or dance around--the suckers.

Subject: RE: Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)
From: open mike
Date: 20 Nov 08 - 01:16 PM

well where dance is involved,
there must be a line about
contra or ceileigh (sp?)

"balance and swing"

"do-si-do"

alamand left and grand promenade...

right hand star

strip the willow

Subject: RE: Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 20 Nov 08 - 01:16 PM

Gonna watch how this thread progresses and would advise leaving out any references to Strictly Come Dancing.

Subject: RE: Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)
From: Mysha
Date: 20 Nov 08 - 02:41 PM

Hi,

For some reason, I don't get this one. I played the chords a few times, but I can't get any melody to stand out. I gave it some effort, but I have no way of knowing whether these lyrics are even a moderately good fit. (Also, they seem to have ended up somewhere completely different from where I thought I was going. Apparently, male singer only.)


The Dance Instructor:

Since our first ancestor slithered from the ooze
We've been itching to try on our dancing shoes
From our first step through the two-step
Through the lock-step and the goose-step
We've been working out the steps to dance the blues


Man steps forward and bows to the lady
Lady steps in to be held in his arms, and then
Twirl once together, spin her maybe
And Lady bows and changes partner again
And that, gentlemen, is how you
dance the blues.


From the first time that we danced for the sun
We've been dying to ask her to join the fun
From our first try, and a fair try,
through our worst try, a she-don't-care try
We've been learning the steps to dance the blues


From the cha-cha, a rumba or any like those
To a foxtrot or waltz we would like to dance close
Oh, we all know, she will smile so,
She'll beguile, but all the while though
We're just going through the steps to dance the blues.


                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: Song challenge from chazkratz (--seed)
From: chazkratz
Date: 20 Nov 08 - 09:26 PM

Mysha, I like what you've done here--I think this is a nice interpretation. What you don't have is the scansion, the rhythmic pattern of my verse, which was created to fit a particular tune (and which also fits a very different tune--but fits them both because the accents fall in the right places. Here's how it fits Arlo's interpretation of Tom's tune:

Since our FIRST ancestor SLITHered from the OOZE
We've been ITCHing to try ON our dancing SHOES
From our FIRST step through the TWO-step
And the LOCK-step and the GOOSE-step
We've been WORKing out the STEPS to dance the BLUES

For the Limerick reading it fits as iambic with the first foot foot of each line anapest:

Since our FIRST anCEStor SLITHered FROM the OOZE
We've been ITCHing TO try ON our DANCing SHOES
From our FIRST step THROUGH the TWO-step
Through the LOCK-step AND the GOOSE-step
We've been WORKing OUT the STEPS to DANCE the BLUES

(that's forcing the scansion a bit in the limerick version--the third and fourth lines of a classic limerick are usually anapest dimeter: duh duh DAH duh duh DAH-- and the other lines often have a strong anapestic feeling, as well.

But anyway, if you try accenting them as I indicated, over a guitar rhythm, I think you'll come closer to the melodies.

Charles