Songs mentioning Argentina

Subject: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 06:24 AM

A friend writes:

'Hi Valmai,
I've been going to Spanish classes for a couple of years,(having heard that learning a language helps the brain!) and the Brighton college has arranged a trip to Buenos Aires next week.   I was wondering about any appropriate songs to sing while I'm there. When I went ot Valencia with the same group last year,'The Spaniard that blighted my life' went down well, but I'm foxed for something Argentinian.   I wondered if you had any bright ideas from your vast experience.   I notice that Rio Grande isn't far away in Brazil, so there's 'Bound for the Rio Grande', and that's about it for me. Also some of them are going on a trip to Valparaiso, so 'Paddy lay back' has got 'we're going to Valparaiso round the Horn', but they're more for men to sing.
Anyway, if you've any bright ideas, I'd be grateful to hear them.   I'm off 5th April so there's a week or so to go, and I'm having my Yellow Fever jab today so may feel groggy later!'

Has anyone any further thoughts? I came up with:

Spanish Ladies
The Gay Caballero (Frank Crummit version, not the filthy ones)
Coasts of Peru
Herzogin Cecile (mentions the ship being gale-bound off the Falklands, but perhaps they are still a sensitive subject)

We are looking for something in the traditional style, not obviously recent songs.

Many thanks,

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 06:28 AM

"We are looking for something in the traditional style, not obviously recent songs."

I guess that rules out anything about Eichmann.

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 06:43 AM

Gallant Frigate Amphrotite puts in to Rio, cruises Straits of Magellen and anchors in Valparaiso along the coast of Chile.

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: Jack Campin
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 07:11 AM

Staten Island (the hornpipe) - most likely refers to the island off to the east of Tierra del Fuego, which ships would pass on their way to round the Horn.

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: greg stephens
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 07:27 AM

In the "typhoid in corned beef "scare, back in the 60's, I remember at least two songs going the rounds which were extremely uncomplimentary to the Argentinian cattle industry. So they probably wouldn't do for this current trip!

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 07:34 AM

Valmai,
       What about, "Rolling Down to Rio", written by Rudyard Kipling and to be heard on Tom Lewis album, " Mixed Cargo".

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 07:35 AM

What about, "Rolling Down to Rio"

Erm, it's about Brazil....

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 07:44 AM

GUEST, Erm, yes, I stand corrected!

Subject: ADD: Admiral William Brown (Derek Warfield)
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 07:46 AM

ADMIRAL WILLIAM BROWN
(Derek Warfield)

From a County Mayo Town came a man of great renown
As a sailor and a soldier was none bolder
He went to America at an early age they say
As a cabin boy to sail the wide world over
Then adventure took him south to the Del La Plata Mouth
San Martin was on the route in Argentina
So three whaling ships he bought and Brazil and Spain he fought
And freedom they he sought for Argentina

Now Admiral William Brown you're a man of courage shown
And in battles fought the odds were all against you
But your Irish heart was strong and in memory still lives on
And in Ireland there are some that don't forget you
On St. Patrick's Day it's told you had many victories bold
And you defeated all invaders thugs and bullies
Then through the Pampas rose and you found a happy home--
Las Islas Malvinas Argentina

He had heard of Irish hands in the noble gallant bands
That helped to free the land called Argentina
He had heard with great acclaim the Patricios name
And fame, when in 1806 the British came for slaughter
And to this very day in the Argentine they say
The English ran away from Buenos Aires
To the islands further down and they took them for the crown --
Las Islas Malvinas Argentina

We remember William Brown and his land of great renown
He, invader of the islands from your country
When 1833 where by pirates force to flee
And in Ireland sure we know the story fully
And the people that went too to the Argentine when new,
To escape the English laws and wars and famine
They proved a loyal crew just like all the Irish do--
Las Islas Malvinas Argentina

The old colonial days and the cruel English ways
With her thunder plunder we will teach the natives
For the Brits are going to war just like Whitelock did before
With her ships & guns & drums & flags & banners
In the Empire days of old when they murdered for the gold
And paraded it around the streets of London
Oh no human rights were given to the natives dead or living--
Las Islas Malvinas Argentina

In the Argentine he died Father Fahey by his side,
Fifty-seven was the year his father mourned him
A hero of the nation he's remembered with elation,
Throughout the world were freedom still abounds
And the Southern Cross take note were bold Willie Bulfin wrote
"The Irish still support you Argentina"
With the Empire tumbling down let no Paddies back the crown--
Las Islas Malvinas Argentina

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 09:52 AM

Hindus and Argentines sleep soundly from twelve to one .....
But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun.

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 10:32 AM

Sneering Guest, the opening post asks also for nearby locations, specifically mentioning Rio, Peru, etc.
You are a sad person.

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 11:02 AM

When I was 14, I swam at a pool that played a song on the PA. It sounded like a pop song, but it also seems traditional. It is so catchy that it's stayed with me for 50 years, so I recommend it. Maybe you can find the tune on the Net somewhere. The 'doo was doo' represents an instrument part.

Where the deep (doo wah doo)
blue pearly waters (doo wah doo)
wash upon white silver sands,
there on the brink of love I kissed her
(doo wah doo)
and obeyed our hearts' commands.

See the sunset in the evening,
see the moon yellow and pale.
See the gauchos ride their pintos
far across the pampas trail.

Repeat first verse, above.

I hope you have a great trip.

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: GUEST,Cool Beans, sans cookie
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 11:11 AM

How do they feel about "Evita"? "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" and all that?

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 11:38 AM

Valmai,

Actually, I'm still unclear whether you DO want songs mentioning any place in South America, or if it's really Argentina that you're after.

If it's the former, then there are indeed, in addition to ones already mentioned, lots of sea songs/chanteys about those places. For instance:

Talcahuano Gals mentions several West coast ports.

The Gals o' Chile

Versions of Come Down, You Bunch of Roses mention Iquique Bay.

"Round the Corner, Sally" has verses about Callao.

"The Saltpeter Shanty"

If you want to include any references to Valaparaiso, then the list would be quite long indeed (ex. "Tom's Gone to Hilo"), and references to Cape Horn would be endless.

The only one that comes to mind for Argentina is the reference to Buenos Aires in Ranzo Ray:

"We're bound for Valaparaiser with a load of rusty razors;
We're bound for Buenos Aires with a bunch of green canaries"

Gibb

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: greg stephens
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 12:24 PM

A traditional song very much localised to Argentina(or,to be specific, Tierra del Fuego) is the boxing classic "Morrissey and the Russian Sailor". I am sure it will be in the DT or somewhere googleable. It's a bit wordy, though, for singing at some jolly Anglo/Argentinian barbecue with the gauchos on the pampas.

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 12:38 PM

How about Tina is a Punk Rocker by The Ramones?

Already got me coat

L in C

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: GUEST,Ken Brock
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 12:41 PM

Cole Porter and Noel Coward each wrote a song titled "Nina", rhyming with Argentina. Coward refers to Porter in his version.

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Mar 09 - 08:44 PM

Any song with Tango in the title - after all, they invented it, didn't they?

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 06:22 AM

Many thanks, everyone. That's given my friend some lines of research.

I also thought of Davy Lowston as it mentions Port Stanley - again, a bit tactless, possibly. (I'm afraid that reminds me of what a walrus has in common with Tupperware - they both enjoy a tight seal.)

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 08:47 AM

"Alive and Well In Argentina" Zal Yanovsky

well.. as I've not played the LP for over 30 years,
and can no longer remember how this song goes,
I can't really say
if its any use to you or not....

Subject: RE: Songs mentioning Argentina
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 09:02 AM

aint the internet brilliant..

just googled, downloaded from a blog, and listened to it
for the first time since the mid 70's..

errrmm.. well.. it might go down ok.. ???