Subject: Chord Add: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Sorcha Date: 31 Jul 03 - 07:14 PM
From:http://donnybravos.com/ndtabulature.php?go=download&path=%2FK%2Fkingston_trio%2F&file=the_ballad_of_the_shape_of_things.num |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: freightdawg Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:59 PM I appreciate the lyrics to the song, does anyone have the chords? I would appreciate it. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: GUEST Date: 15 Jan 03 - 08:27 AM And are golden phlox normally used as coffin wreaths? And thanks for the author and date, Joe. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Joe Offer Date: 14 Jan 03 - 11:26 PM The Kingston Trio sing "low-down dirty runaround" on their College Concert LP. And yes, they sing "golden phlox," and they sing in the past tense. But what I typed is what was in the Broadway play. And I typed it that way because I thought it would be interesting to see the disagreement from the Kingston Trio fans. I think it's interesting to see the differences, slight though they may be. Now, are phlox golden? -Joe Offer- Actually, phlox are usually white or pink, but there is a golden desert variety that grows in Mexico and the Southwest U.S. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Steve-o Date: 14 Jan 03 - 05:13 PM ....his casket is buried beneath the grazing flocks. What's wrong with that? Flocks of sheep might well graze through an old cemetery...what's the controversy? |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: denise:^) Date: 14 Jan 03 - 03:31 PM I learned it as "golden phlox," and, yes, it's a flower... I got my copy of this (on a Kingston Trio LP--don't remember which one) for about a dollar at a used record store. Those stores aren't as plentiful as they used to be, but they're still around, and worth checking out on occasion--especially if you have, shall we say, 'out of the mainstream' musical tastes. denise:^) |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: GUEST,Treesha Date: 14 Jan 03 - 10:37 AM Last time I heard it sung it was 'hollyhocks', but that was a long time ago. Sorry about the 'empty folk clubs' remark, I'm glad to hear they still thrive somewhere. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: JennieG Date: 14 Jan 03 - 04:45 AM I have been singing this one for several years - it is one of my party pieces! I learnt it from a recording of Blossom Dearie. And I have always sung "grazing flocks"....like Bob, I assume it refers to a quiet hillside cemetery. Cheers JennieG |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Snuffy Date: 13 Jan 03 - 06:56 PM I'm almost sure the KT sing "golden phlox" (a yellow flower, apprently). WassaiL! V |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: JennyO Date: 13 Jan 03 - 10:31 AM There is a duo called Cloudstreet in Oz, who do "The shape of things". It is on a recently released CD, called "Violet Sarah and Muckle John". I can't do blue clickies yet, but their website is: www.7thdimension.com.au/cloudstreet/ Jenny |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: GUEST,Sooz(at work) Date: 13 Jan 03 - 08:21 AM Treesha - which Folk Clubs are empty? I was in a packed one at Grimsby last night and a mostly full one in Gainsborough on Friday and still found time to have a look at the Forum! |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Dave Bryant Date: 13 Jan 03 - 05:14 AM I've usually heard it sung: Where lies my love with the golden locks. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Joe Offer Date: 12 Jan 03 - 09:09 PM Ayup, Snuffy. "Grazing flocks" is what the book says. I kinda like it - a quiet, pleasant, pastoral feel to it.... You'll also find "grazing flocks" in the transcription of the song in Reading Lyrics, the terrific collection that came out in 2000 - editors Robert Gottlieb and Robert Kimball. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Bob Bolton Date: 12 Jan 03 - 08:01 PM G'day Snuffy, " ... ('neath the) grazing flocks??????????? ..." Rural cemetery? (Waste not, want not!) Regard(les)s, Bob Bolton |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Snuffy Date: 12 Jan 03 - 06:12 PM grazing flocks??????????? |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: GUEST,Treesha Date: 12 Jan 03 - 03:09 PM Wow, that's amaxing! This site never fails to impress me with the amazing knowledge of it's contributors, the rapidity of replies, or that it seems so msny of us have nothing better to do that spend our lives on the net. Is this why the folk clubs are empty? We're all sitting here, pounding keyboards, lost in the nostagia of our lost youth? Thanks anyway, I do appreciate the answer as I will now be frustratedly humming in the spaces where I didn't know the words . |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Charley Noble Date: 12 Jan 03 - 02:44 PM All neatened up! Charley Noble |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE SHAPE OF THINGS (Sheldon Harnick) From: Joe Offer Date: 12 Jan 03 - 12:51 PM OK, I think this is a definitive transcription of the original. -Joe Offer- THE SHAPE OF THINGS (Sheldon Harnick) Completely round is the perfect pearl The oyster manufactures. Completely round is the steering wheel That leads to compound fractures. Completely round is the golden fruit That hangs in the orange tree. Yes, the circle shape is quite renowned, And sad to say, it can be found In the dirty low-down runaround My true love gave to me, Yes, my true love gave to me. Completely square is the velvet box He said my ring would be in. Completely square is the envelope He wrote farewell to me in. Completely square is the handkerchief I flourish constantly, As it dries my eyes of the tears I've shed, And blows my nose till it turns bright red, For a perfect square is my true love's head He will not marry me, No, he will not marry me. Rectangular is the hotel door My true love tried to sneak through. Rectangular is the transom Over which I had to peek through. Rectangular is the hotel room I entered angrily. Now, rectangular is the wooden box Where lies my love 'neath the grazing flocks, They said he died of the chicken pox, In part I must agree; One chick too many had he Triangular is the piece of pie I eat to ease my sorrow. Triangular is the hatchet blade I plan to hide tomorrow. Triangular the relationship That now has ceased to be. And the self-same shape is a garment thin, That fastens on with a safety pin To a prize I had no wish to win; It's a lasting memory That my true love gave to me. from The Littlest Revue, 1956 source: Their Words are Music: The Great Theatre Lyricists and Their Lyrics, edited by Lehman Engel, 1975 Click to play |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Sooz Date: 12 Jan 03 - 12:30 PM It is on Hilary Spencer's solo album "Other Roads Other Lives" and is credited to Sheldon Harnick. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Joe Offer Date: 12 Jan 03 - 12:21 PM My Kingston Trio College Concert album says the songwriter for "The Ballad of the Shape of Things" is "Harnick." I'll have to look further for verification, but I think this is Sheldon Harnick, who is better known for "Fiddler on the Roof." |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Noreen Date: 29 Oct 01 - 03:09 PM Oh you devil, Snuffy! |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: John MacKenzie Date: 27 Oct 01 - 03:51 PM Also recorded by the Brothers Four on an album called Cross Country Tour, some other good stuff on it too. Jock |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Snuffy Date: 26 Oct 01 - 05:12 PM I was feeling playful - just changed FONT COLOR=#FF0000 SIZE=1 to FONT COLOR=#0000FF SIZE=1. What colour would you like next? WassaiL! V
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Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: MMario Date: 26 Oct 01 - 04:43 PM Okay - Thank you snuffy - but how did you get BLUE miditxt? |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE SHAPE OF MY LOVE (from Kingston Trio) From: Snuffy Date: 26 Oct 01 - 04:31 PM Here's my attempt at the tune used by the Kingston Trio. I worked it out in G on my whistle, then transposed it to the F that the KT sing it in. There are several minor differences from the DT text - I have shown them in bold type. And one major difference affecting the tune - KT add an interjection at the end of the penultimate line of verse 1 (shown in BOLD CAPITALS). THE SHAPE OF MY LOVE Completely round is the perfect pearl The oyster manufactures Completely round is the steering wheel That leads to compound fractures Completely round is the golden fruit That hangs in the orange tree Yes the circle shape is quite renowned But sad to say it can be found In the dirty low-down run around My true love gave to me - YES My true love gave to me Completely square was the velvet box He said my ring would be in Completely square was the envelope He said farewell to me in Completely square was the handkerchief I flourish constantly As it dries my eyes of the tears I've shed And blows my nose till it turns quite red For a perfect square is my true love's head He will not marry me No, he will not marry me Rectangular was the hotel door My true love tried to sneak through Rectangular was the transom Over which I had to peek through Rectangular was the hotel room I entered angrily Now rectangular is the wooden box Where lies my love 'neath the golden phlox They said he died of the chicken pox In part I must agree One chick too many had he Triangular is the piece of pie I eat to ease my sorrow Triangular is the hatchet blade I plan to hide tomorrow Triangular the relationship That now has ceased to be, and Triangular is the garment thin That fastens on with a safety pin To a prize I had no wish to win It's a lasting memory - THAT My true love gave to me MIDI file: SHAPELOV.MID Timebase: 480 Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet) This program is worth the effort of learning it. To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here ABC format:
T:The Shape of My Love Wassail! V Click to play |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Snuffy Date: 25 Oct 01 - 08:00 PM The lyrics are in the DT database as THE SHAPE OF MY LOVE, but Gwenzilla was looking for the tune 2 years ago. She might not have long to wait now. In the meantime, any info on where it's from? WassaiL! V |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Noreen Date: 25 Oct 01 - 06:56 PM And no doubt Micca sang it at the Getaway? |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Herga Kitty Date: 25 Oct 01 - 03:56 PM If this is the song that goes:-
Completely round is the perfect pearl the oyster manufactures I learnt it off a recording by Blossom Dearie which was taped and sent to me by a friend. Kitty |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: MMario Date: 25 Oct 01 - 10:24 AM it's still on the list. |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Snuffy Date: 25 Oct 01 - 10:05 AM I've got it on a cheapo "Best of" KT album. If this is still on Mmario's "Mudcat Missing Tunes" list, I will try to do a MidiText/abc over the weekend. The CD gives no details of authorship etc. Anybody know who wrote it? Is it a parody of a specific song, or just of a general style? How old is it? WassaiL! V |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: raredance Date: 27 Sep 99 - 09:03 PM The Kingston Trio version of "The Shape of Things" is on at least two recordings. "An Evening With The Kingston Trio" is a live recording of a 1962 concert with John Stewart. It exists as a CD on the Folk Era label. It is still in circulation because I saw it sometime in the last week at a major retailer. The other recording I am aware of is on a 2-record set called "Once Upon A Time - The Kingston Trio" issued in 1969 by Tetragrammaton Records. This is not the most common of Trio LPs, but it is available if you haunt the WWW used vinyl dealers or on-line auctions. rich r |
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Allan C. Date: 27 Sep 99 - 11:34 AM An alternative might be to go to The Kingston Trio Pick of the Week Page and request that what the KT recorded as "The Shape of Things" be next weeks Pick of the Week. Each "POTW" is a playable RealAudio recording of one of their songs. BTW, there are already some interesting selections available in the POTW archive. |
Subject: Ballad of the Shape of Things From: Gwenzilla Date: 27 Sep 99 - 11:14 AM Looking for a tune for the "Ballad of the Shape of Things," which I believe has also been called "The Shape of My Love." I have been unable to procure a copy of the Kingston Trio album with the "Ballad of the Shape of Things" on it. DT says it was recorded by Ellie Stone and by the Limelighters, but I'm having a tough time finding those recordings, as well. I really would like to learn the song! I'll take midis, ABC files, .gifs of sheet music, etc., etc. :) Thanks in advance, Gwen Knighton (harp for hire) Click for lyrics in the Digital Tradition (The Shape of My Love) |
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