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Lyr Add: My Old Man? / No Half Measures (A Hulett)

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GUEST,Alan Ackerman 11 Dec 12 - 10:45 PM
GUEST,Gerry 12 Dec 12 - 01:26 AM
GUEST,Gerry 12 Dec 12 - 07:09 AM
Sandra in Sydney 12 Dec 12 - 08:11 AM
Susanne (skw) 12 Dec 12 - 12:32 PM
GUEST,Alan Ackerman 14 Dec 12 - 12:21 AM
GUEST,Alan Ackerman 14 Dec 12 - 12:40 AM
Sandra in Sydney 14 Dec 12 - 03:38 AM
GUEST,Donna Waring 22 Sep 17 - 06:14 AM
GUEST 22 Sep 17 - 06:17 AM
GUEST,Emily 12 Aug 18 - 01:40 PM
vectis 14 Aug 18 - 08:23 PM
Nick 15 Aug 18 - 05:23 AM
GUEST,Hazel Coyle 30 Nov 21 - 10:08 AM
GUEST,James Munro 02 Jun 22 - 10:57 PM
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Subject: Lyr Add: My Old Man (author unknown)
From: GUEST,Alan Ackerman
Date: 11 Dec 12 - 10:45 PM

I am looking for the author of this song. I learned this song from Shay Black, in his Folk Song Repertoire class at Freight & Salvage coffeehouse in Berkeley. CA. (I highly recommend the class.)

Shay learned it from Terry Coyne, back when they were both members of the group "Garva". (See http://www.thecelticlink.com/groups_bands_artists/band.aspx?id=171.)

Shay doesn't know who wrote it, and I have been unable to find it on Google or Mudcat.

MY OLD MAN

My old man has a heart that is warm,
as a breeze on a summer's afternoon.
He's gentle with his hands, you should see his fingers dance,
When he laughs he's as crazy as a loon.
Well, we've been together now for nigh-on sixteen years,
But I can't tell you how for I've cried so many tears.

CHORUS:
        For he can't seem to lay off the bottle,
        He just doesn't know when to stop.
        Something snaps in his head, and he won't come to bed
        'Til he's finished every drop.

My old man has been in and out of work
for as long as I can recall.
It's all for his grog that he can't hold down a job
And I don't know how we'll live at all.
But there's nothing that I need, I'm not that way inclined
But it makes my heart bleed for to see him get so blind.
CHORUS:

Well, I think I'll send the kids for a while with me mam,
And I'll take some time on my own.
We could talk but I doubt that we'd ever work it out
And I don't know if I could live alone.
Well, it's almost sixteen years, Christ, it's nearly half my life
But he's married to his booze and I don't feel much like a wife.
CHORUS:

My old man has a heart that is warm
as a breeze on a summer's afternoon.
He's gentle with his hands, you should see his fingers dance,
But now he's living in a rented room.
Well, we meet from time to time, but there's nothing left to say.
We once had something fine but the booze got in the way.
CHORUS:

        With a nick-knack, paddy-whack, give a dog a bone,
        My old man comes rolling home.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (author unknown)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 01:26 AM

The author of the song was the late Alistair Hulett. He recorded it, as did Gordon McIntyre and Kate Delaney, and Nancy Kerr and James Fagan. Alistair called it No Half Measures.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 07:09 AM

Nancy and James called it, Song of a Drinking Man's Wife.

Alistair wrote some terrific songs. There have been several threads about him here.

Oh, and I've never heard anyone do it with the knick-knack, paddy-whack ending.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 08:11 AM

not part of the original -

Alistair's website

Alistair Hulett on youtube

I can't find Alistair singing it -

sandra


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 12 Dec 12 - 12:32 PM

He recorded it on "Dance of the Underclass" - a collection of great songs which also contains The Internationale. He was the only one I ever heard do it in a live gig.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett)
From: GUEST,Alan Ackerman
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 12:21 AM

I think Garva, or Terry Coyne, added the knick-knack, paddy-whack line.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett)
From: GUEST,Alan Ackerman
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 12:40 AM

P.S. Thanks, Gerry, for the author's name!

The group Garva recorded it on "Sweet Liberty". Terry Coyne recorded it on "The Other Side". I have neither CD, and they appear to both be OP. (Out of Pressing?)

I found this on Google from IRTRAD-L:

Hi Philippe,

There exists indeed a song "My Old Man" (...), which I have on an album by Terry Coyne, who
also used to sing this song with the now-defunct band Garva.
he gives it as being "Trad. Arr. Terry Coyne", and in the notes to the song he
mentions that he got it from Maurice Coyle from Coore, Co. Clare, who is a
guitarist and singer himself.

Hope this helps,

Han.
--
Han Speek

But it sounds more modern than trad to me, so I'm sure you must be right that Alistair Hulett wrote it.


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Subject: Lyr Add: NO HALF MEASURES (Alistair Hulett)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Dec 12 - 03:38 AM

Leaflet with 'Dance of the Underclass' gives the words for No Half Measures/Song of the Drinking Man's wife - Words & Music by Alistair Hulett

My old man has a heart that's as warm
As the breeze on a summer's afternoon
He's clever with his hands; you should see his fingers dance
When he laughs he's as crazy as the moon.
I've been with him now for nearly sixteen years
But I can't tell you how, for I've cried so many tears

CHORUS: He can't seem to lay off the bottle
He just doesn't know when to stop
Something snaps in his head
And he won't come to bed
'Til he's finished every drop.

My old man has been in and out of work
For as long as I can recall
It's all for his grog and he can't hold down a job
So we've nothing much to show for it all.
It'S not things that I need, I'm not that way inclined
It just makes my heart bleed to see him get so blind

CHORUS

Well, I think I'll send the kids for a spell with me ma
And I'll take some time on my own
We could talk but I doubt we'd ever work it out
But I'm not sure I can live alone.
It's been so many years, Christ, it's almost half my life
But he's married to his beer and I don't feel much like a wife.

CHORUS

My old man had a heart that's as warm
As the breeze on a summer's afternoon.
He was clever with his hands; you should have seen his fingers dance
But now he's living in a rented room.
We meet from time to time but there's nothing much to say
We once had something fine but there's nothing left today.

CHORUS


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett)
From: GUEST,Donna Waring
Date: 22 Sep 17 - 06:14 AM

Alan, I think I can help you out with the Garva. I have the tape here signed by Shay himself. I don't know what the rules are here about exchanging Dropbox links, so perhaps you could let me have your email address.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 17 - 06:17 AM

Just so we're legit though, I'll ask Shay if it's ok for me to let you have the album. I'm sure he'll prob be ok with it.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man / No Half Measures (A Hulett)
From: GUEST,Emily
Date: 12 Aug 18 - 01:40 PM

Just found this thread looking for the same thing. Thanks, all. My favorite rendition is by Niamh Parsons, if anyone is interested. :)

No Half Measures/The Song of the Drinking Man's Wife

Also, if anyone is interested in Irish/Scottish folk music, Pandora Radio has a surprisingly large library of the stuff. It's really wonderful and is constantly giving me new things to listen to and learn.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man / No Half Measures (A Hulett)
From: vectis
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 08:23 PM

Has anyone got a set of chords for this song. I would love to learn it.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man / No Half Measures (A Hulett)
From: Nick
Date: 15 Aug 18 - 05:23 AM

A quick listen suggests it's something like this. I too like Niamh Parsons version and always love Graham Dunne's (who I'm guessing is playing the guitar) playing because of the way he arranges songs. The Old Simplicity is one of my favourite albums and has some wonderful songs on it

So the basic chords you could do/get by with are (capoed up three to Bb). There are another couple of versions on Youtube played with less frills (and some more)

Verse
G C G
C D G
C G C D
G D
Am G
C G C D

Chorus
G C G
C G D
C G C D
G C G

The Niamh Parsons version has more creative use of bass and inversions to my ear. And has a G-F# thing going on a lot of the time probably under a chord something like Gx0033 rather than just a straightforward G.

It's not 100% but it has the gist. She sings it in Bb so probably capoed at 3

Verse
G G/F# G/E G
C D G (G/F#)
C G/B bass note run from Am to D (however you choose)
G D/A
Am G/B G
C G/B run from Am to D via C (perhaps a D/F# at end?)

Chorus
G C G (G/F#)
C/E G/B D/A
C G/B Am C D
G C G (G/F#)


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man / No Half Measures (A Hulett)
From: GUEST,Hazel Coyle
Date: 30 Nov 21 - 10:08 AM

I grew up with my father (Maurice Coyle) singing this song in sessions. Since he passed it's become a song that I sing at parties and family gatherings. I'm just starting to learn it on the guitar so I really appreciate having the chords up here. I've had a hard time trying find recordings of this song. I've heard Niamh Parsons' version and it's beautifully sung but i'd love to hear Terry Coyne's version. I grew up on Eamonn, Terry and Mick Coyne's music. I'll try and find the album. It really warms my heart that people remember the "knick knack paddy wack" at the end that daddy added. Thanks for brightening up my day. :)


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man? / No Half Measures (A Hulett)
From: GUEST,James Munro
Date: 02 Jun 22 - 10:57 PM

Any TAB for Niamh's version - I am a 74 years young (somewhat) beginner and would love to play this


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