Lyr Req: Unwelcome Guest (W Guthrie/B Bragg)

Subject: Unwelcome Guest
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 01:35 AM

Something made me think of this one - it's been in Sing Out in the last year or so, but I don't have access. Can anyone kindly oblige with the lyrics please? Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unwelcome Guest
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 02:00 AM

Well, John - Click here for the tune. I'll post the lyrics later, after I finish a late dinner...
Maybe not... I can't find that issue. It's Voluem 43, #3. Can anybody help. It's Woody Guthrie's lyrics with music by Billy Bragg. Anybody got Sing Out! or the Bragg-Guthrie album?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unwelcome Guest
From: Brendy
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 03:03 AM

Yo there John.
I couldnt find the lyrics, but if you keep an eye on This Page, there are links to Billy Bragg sites, with loads of other lyrics. Or, Try these references on Google.
All the best.
Brendy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unwelcome Guest
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 02:15 PM

Don't know that one. How about Come After Breakfast, Bring Your Lunch and Leave Before Suppertime?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unwelcome Guest
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 05:24 PM

Arkie, is that an existing song? If not I'd love to write a swing tune with that title. Thanks

Rick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unwelcome Guest
From: JamesJim
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 11:02 PM

John in Brisbane, this is a great song. Written by Woody Guthrie and found by his daughter in a bunch of his unpublished songs (fairly recently). She commissioned Billy Bragg to do an album of these songs - Unwelcome Guest is my favorite and I do have the album (have words/chords and will keep track of this thread to see if anyone can send you to a site where you can find them). If not, I'll send them to you. Jim - Louisville, Ky.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unwelcome Guest
From: Arkie
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 11:57 PM

Rick, Come After Breakfast was written around 1908 and I'll see if I can find it. If not I'll pass the job on to Dale Rose, who can locate just about anything. But no need to wait, go ahead with your swing tune.

Subject: Lyr Add: UNWELCOME GUEST (W Guthrie/B Bragg)^^
From: JamesJim
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 11:24 PM

Okay J from B, here goes:

UNWELCOME GUEST
Woody Guthrie/Billy Bragg

To the rich man's bright lodges, I ride in this wind
On my good horse, I call you, my shiney Black Bess
To the playhouse of fortune to take the bright silver
And gold you have taken from somebody else

And as we go riding in the damp foggy midnight
You snort, my good pony, and you give me your best
For you know and I know, good horse, amongst the rich ones
How oftimes we go there an unwelcome guest

I've never took food from the widows and orphans
And never a hard working man I oppressed
So take your pace easy, for home soon like lightening
We soon will be riding, my shiny Black Bess

No fat rich man's pony can ever overtake you
And there's not a rider from the east to the west
Could hold you a light in this dark mist and midnight
When the potbellied thieves chase their unwelcome guest

I don't know, good horse, as we trot in this dark here
That robbing the rich is for worse or for best
They take it by stealing and lying and gambling
And I take it my way, my shiny Black Bess

I treat horses good and I'm friendly to strangers
I ride and your running makes my guns talk the best
And the rangers and deputies are hired by the rich man
To catch me and hang me, my shining Black Bess

Yes, they'll catch me napping one day and they'll kill me
And then I'll be gone, but that won't be my end
For my guns and my saddle will always be filled
By unwelcome travellers and other brave men

And they'll take the money and spread it out equal
Just like the Bible and the prophets suggest
But the men that go riding to help these poor workers
The rich will cut down like an unwelcome guest

Woody's communism was showing a little when he wrote this one. Billy Bragg did a great job composing the music. There are other great songs on that album as well. Hope you enjoy. Jim
^^

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m63O-w2hQ3E

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unwelcome Guest
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 11:31 PM

Jim, that's truly marvellous - better than I expected. I must admit it will take me some time to absorb it. Many thanks, John

Joe, if you wish I can submit the MIDI to Alan. I'd like some time to play around with it though. I found the Sing Out version of the MIDI to be very unfriendly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unwelcome Guest
From: JamesJim
Date: 03 Feb 00 - 11:47 PM

John, you've heard the Midi, so you know the tune. I sing this in C, and here are the chords:

C - Am - F - C/ C - Am - D7 - G7/ C - Am - F - C/ C - Am - F - C

This progression works all the way through. Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unwelcome Guest
From: JamesJim
Date: 04 Feb 00 - 02:27 PM

John,note in the 6th verse - Should be "I treat horse's (plural)good"....... When I sing this song, I catch myself replacing Woody's words. Guess that's just part of the folk process. Oh, and thanks Joe - I appreciate you adding the "breaks."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unwelcome Guest (W Guthrie/B Bragg)
From: GUEST,Marcia Palmater
Date: 17 Oct 18 - 10:54 PM

No one has mentioned Molly and Tenbrooks!