Lyr Req: American Hotel (from Tom Russell)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel (from Tom Russell)
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Jun 12 - 03:39 PM

Stephen Foster was just 37 when he died. It is astounding how much pain and despair can be packed into such short years.

I also like the song (Who wrote it? I learned it from Suzanne Thomas):

In a room in New York City
in 1862
Lived a man, a broken pauper,
though his words the whole world knew

He wrote songs about the Swanee
and the old Kentucky home
He knew hard times a-plenty
'Til he died all alone

       Dear friends and gentle hearts
       Though our time is much too short
       In these songs we'll never part
       So fare thee well, where'er you are
       Dear friends and gentle hearts

A few coins in his pocket
Was all he left behind
And a scrap of tattered paper
With five words of broken rhyme
Just five words of broken rhyme...

I believe I have read that he was found dead in his flophouse room after having hit his head on the edge of a counter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel (from Tom Russell)
From: GUEST,Tom Evan
Date: 09 Jun 12 - 11:34 AM

Carl was a good friend of mine. We were pickin' an' grinnin' on his porch by the lake in New Hampshire 2 nights before he passed away. I never told him how much I loved him and the times we spent together trading tunes and reminiscing. (Carl LOVED to tell tales of days and friends gone by) I miss my old friend. Always remember to tell your friends how much you appreciate them. Tom Evan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel (from Tom Russell)
From: GUEST,WildBilly
Date: 02 Dec 11 - 02:45 PM

Great job! Thanks!

Subject: Lyr Add: AMERICAN HOTEL (Carl Brouse)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Nov 11 - 01:47 AM

Here it is, all put together, and checked against the recording:


AMERICAN HOTEL
Written by Carl Brouse
As sung by Tom Russell on "Modern Art" (2003)

1. Stephen sprawled across the bed,
Raised the bottle to his mouth.
Pictures danced inside his head,
Gentle breezes from the south,
Cotton fields with voices ringin' low,
Old Black Joe.

2. And here's to one tender and fair
Jeannie with the light brown hair
Raised a banjo to her knee,
Sang a lovely melody.
Weep no more, my lady; shed your care.
I'll be there.

CHORUS: And the Swanee River runs outside the door,
And the whiskey bottles gather on the floor,
And the camp-town ladies stop and ring the bell
Of the American Hotel.

3. He wrote a song for ev'ryone,
Lifted hearts throughout the land.
Now his world's an empty one,
A broken dream and a tremblin' hand,
Sad and weary ev'rywhere he'd roam,
Kentucky home.

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel (Tom Russell)
From: GUEST,fingerpik
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 10:20 PM

He wrote a song for everyone...He lifted hearts throughout this land
But now his world's an empty one..A broken dream and a trembling hand
And it's sad and dreary everywhere you roam...Kentucky home
Chorus
Tag Chorus: And the Swanee River runs right by the door
             (Spoken: "Yes it does..")

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel (Tom Russell)
From: lompocan
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 10:24 AM

The process has begun. First installment is the first verse.

Stephen sprawled across the bed,
raised a bottle to his mouth.
Pictures danced across his head,
Gentle breezes from the South,
Cotton Fields with voices ringing low, "Old black Joe."
Here's to one tender and fair,
Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Raise a banjo to her knee, sang a lovely melody,
Weep no more my lady shed your care, I'll be there.

Chorus is posted above.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel (Tom Russell)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 08:38 PM

Tom Russell has a lot of words in his songs, and they're difficult to transcribe. I thought I had that album, but I can't find it.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel (Tom Russell)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 07:44 PM

lompocan already has the song, Ebbie. He just would like lyrics if they're available somewhere.

That poem/song--In Haiti There is Anguish--is a beautiful piece of writing. Was lucky to find it. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel (Tom Russell)
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 05:32 PM

As you know, kompocan, an even older method is to pay for it. If you already have, I apologize.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel (Tom Russell)
From: lompocan
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 05:27 PM

I appreciate your work. I went through several pages of google. I found some interesting things about Tom Russell, but nada for the lyrics. I guess I'll have do it the old fashioned way and listen a hundred times and try to transcribe it. I'll post them when the process is over.
BTW, 99, your "In Haiti there is Anguish" was 'tres apropos'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 04:20 PM

Been searching for over 45 minutes and I'm comin' up empty, lompocan.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel
From: lompocan
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 03:55 PM

The chorus:
And the Swanee river runs outside the door
the whiskey bottles gather on the floor
the Camptown ladies stop to ring a bell
at the American Hotel...

the song is filled with lines and references to Stephen Foster's songs

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 12:55 PM

Could ya gi'e us a few lines?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel
From: lompocan
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 12:54 PM

I can purchase the song for a buck, but I have the song. I'm looking for printed lyrics.
Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: American Hotel
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 12:13 PM

Available here for a buck.

Subject: Lyr Req: American Hotel
From: lompocan
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 11:54 AM

Can anyone help me find lyrics to this song, written by Carl Brouse, performed by Tom Russell. It tells the story of Stephen Foster on his death bed in the American Hotel.