Some Vintage Murdoch

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: Beer
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 05:30 PM

That Bruce, was a great read. Thanks for sharing the story.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: GUEST,Peace
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 05:12 PM

Thank you, Dan. Brings back some memories.

I should note the following: I'm playing the 'finger-picked' guitar that starts the song and follows through. However, the night before we went into the studio to do that song, Paul Mills (great producer and fantastic musician) said he had an idea and the result was the strings (which were over-dubbed by Chris Crilly). Paul wrote the string arrangement and played 'back-up guitar' also. Chris is so darned good it's unreal. He is a wonderful person and tremendous musician (violin/fiddle and piano being two instruments of which he is a master), and I can't ever say enough about Paul. Paul now does work with Joanne Crabtree, and THEY are awesome.

That song was written about a block away from where I grew up on LeCaron Street in Cote St Paul (a district in Montreal squeezed between Ville Emard, St Henri and Verdun (which at one time was the largest city in the world not to have its own public transport, its own electric system, its own police department. They 'rented' that from Montreal)).

I had a dog named Tamar at the time and I had just gotten over a visit and stay in hospital where they determined that I had what they then-called migratory arthritis cause by a bout of rheumatic fever from a year before when I was in my early 20s. My knees and ankles had swelled so badly that the only way I could get to the bathroom was via dog. Tamar used to give me her collar and drag me along the wooden floor so I could get from the bed to the toilet. Couldn't have done it otherwise. A friend found me and got me to the Royal Vic. Friends took care of Tamar.

I don't recall much about writing the song, but I did get it in my head to use an "ee" rhyme for each of the last four lines in each stanza. If I recall correctly, it took me about ten days to two weeks to write.

The arthritis just went away after a month or so and has never returned. Those people who suffer from swollen body joints have my empathy. I cannot recall such pain ever in my life (except maybe the death of my grandfather).

I am honoured that Ron and JT have done this song. I don't know that it's the best thing I ever wrote, but it's in the top five or so. And I'm honoured that Dan has posted it here.

The Dylanish sound of my voice is just the way my voice is, but his phrasing has always been a very important influence on my own writing. I always have and still do consider him to be the all-time greatest songwriter this world has ever seen. He's the reason I ever started writing songs at all.

Anyway, probably too much info.

As for Jeri: she and I had the opportunity to co-write a song last summer, and the fates willing, we'll fix it up in a month or so. She is a damned good songwriter, but like so many, she's under-rated.

Will Fly and David, thank you very much.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: bankley
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 04:34 PM

'If fools were jewels and the blind could see
and the mob was ruled by the law of love to some degree
then the hermit troubador's prophecy would shine again in a rainbow reverie
for all the world to see, just how old friends can be
cuz he's a fool like me. "

I added that verse for the version I did last year in BM's set at Apple Hollow... it was a one shot thing for fun... I knew there'd be some folks who would appreciate hearing the song but wanted to put another twist to the end.... I felt like it was almost like taking a hammer and chisel to the statue of David, but BM told me to go ahead, so I did... and it worked

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: olddude
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 02:38 PM

Fool Like Me - Copyright By Bruce Murdoch

Scores of prophets growing old;
Please take Elijah the rusted chains that hold
Poor Judas to his misery;
It seems so obvious he needs the sympathy
Of ancient history
And a fool like me.

Lonesome lover lost his bride;
Stopped his heart and so they called it suicide;
Judged by pompous vanity;
I guess they're right, but I have to disagree
'Cause if a fool be he
He's a fool like me.

BRIDGE
And care on the line,
It feels good to talk with a friend of mine.
If you gotta go
I'd like to be
To be the first to know.

Pleasant dreams though twilight falls;
It deserts the prison where the hobo's footsteps call;
Prime ministers of treachery
They locked him up because he had no pedigree
But it matters not says he,
He's a fool like me.

Hey, I wrote your song just yesterday;
And I tore it up because the song got in the way,
Was just a way to let you see;
Another chapter in a clouded mystery
Of vagrant effigies
And a fool like me.

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 02:25 PM

I love the song, and it's one of my favorite 'back in the day' songs. My favorite Bruce song is one he hasn't recorded yet, but he did the end part of it at Apple Hollow last year. I think the ones I heard from then will blow it all up, but I believe he's been writing since then too.

I try to write songs and one thing I'm learning (which I talked about with a friend a short time ago) is that no matter what it's supposed to mean and what it means to the composer, everybody is going to look to their own lives to give a song meaning. Concrete feelings/abstract reasons.

I could pick it apart like some do with Dylan or Cohen, but I think folks are better off finding their own meaning. I think the song, fundamentally, is about being someone other people don't understand.

Or not--who knows...

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: bankley
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 12:59 PM

it's a classic.... JT and I recorded a stripped down, slower version last April in Kentucky... it'll likely be on the new CD...
the only song in the dozen not written by JT or myself.. R.

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: David C. Carter
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 12:39 PM

Thanks for that olddude.
Great song,never heard it before,to my regret.

Cheers

David

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: Will Fly
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 12:21 PM

Lovely performance and great song. Thanks for sharing it with us. The voice had a Dylan-esque quality to it which I found very appealing.

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: jeddy
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 11:26 AM

thanks for posting that i think bruce is marvellous!!! i really love his stuff. he's not a bad bloke either!! lol

jade x x

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: bobad
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 11:22 AM

The man has style.

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: C. Ham
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 11:16 AM

I used to hear Bruce sing this at the Golem in Montreal in the 70's. Although I'm not even sure what some of it means, the song has haunted me for about 35 years.

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: number 6
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 10:53 AM

He certainly is olddude

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: olddude
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 10:40 AM

My brother Bruce is something special for sure Bill.

Subject: RE: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: number 6
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 10:25 AM

wondeful .... absolutely wonderful.

thanks for sharing this olddude.

biLL

Subject: Some Vintage Murdoch
From: olddude
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 10:22 AM

For me one of the best Songs ever written by anyone
I swear I wore this one out. For those who never heard this I submit this one time post

Fool Like Me