Lyr Add: Sing us something we know!

Subject: Lyr Add: Sing us something we know!
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 05 May 21 - 10:16 AM

I was asked to post the words of this song after I sang it on the Mudcat Worldwide Singaround. In the best tradition of ballad and broadsheet writers of old I set it to' "A well-known tune". (Oh Susannah). The words are my own. I'm sure many of us have been in a similar situation! Enjoy!

SING US SOMETHING WE KNOW!


The bar was down an alleyway, the light spilled out on the street,
The barman thought that a folksinger would just go down a treat.
I sang through all my repertoire as the wine and the beer did flow
’Til a couple of blokes sitting up the back shouted, “Sing us something we know!”

Chorus:
Sing us something we know mate!
Sing us something we know!
Your songs are all very well now mate,
But sing us something we know!

I asked them what songs they’d like to hear and this led to some debate
About what sort of songs they would like me to sing ‘em mate!
The one that goes, “La la la la…..La la la la la la”
And the one about the girl who’s defying her dad by driving too fast in his car!

I went down to the Primary School,* they’d asked me there to play;
I sat as bold as brass in the middle of the class in the middle of the day.
I sang through all my repertoire as the heads bobbed to and fro
’Til some little darling up the back shouted, “Sing us something we know!”

We don’t care about your shepherds mate, or your calico printer’s clerks.
We don’t care about your sailors mate, or all of their nautical larks!
We don’t care about your farmers mate or the wild oats that they sow.
Just sing us something we know mate, sing us something we know!

Well, now I think I’ve worked it out, my future is secure.
Next time they ask me out to play I know what I’ll do for sure.
I get me 60’s backing tracks, give the old time songs a blow.
Then there won’t be anybody up the back shouting “Sing us something we know!”

Primary School - a school for pupils of 4 to 11 years.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sing us something we know!
From: Acorn4
Date: 05 May 21 - 11:10 AM

"Three Minute Limit"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sing us something we know!
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 05 May 21 - 11:31 AM

Do you know I heard about a Birthday Party for a young girl of 6. This was in the late 19th century. They employed a local piano player to sing some songs for her. He rewrote a song called 'Good Morning to you' and sang 'Happy Birthday to you' instead.
The father said, "That was a lovely song, but I'm sure she would have preferred something she knew". A tale more moving than Cena pod tea, and as true as I'm driving this steam roller!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sing us something we know!
From: JHW
Date: 05 May 21 - 11:37 AM

Great idea. At most music venues they do only want to hear something they know.
In Folk Clubs (remember them?) they want to hear something they DON'T know!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sing us something we know!
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 05 May 21 - 08:49 PM

What a fabu!ous addition.

Thank You Mr W.Pete

Sincerely, Garagoyle
<This is a trove to be mined for years>