Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: Brian May
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 02:38 PM

Perhaps he was blowing hard because it's really hard to stick a harpoon in someone - especially if he's driving.

Bobby was singing the blues because if the driver has been stabbed, they're all going to die anyway, so they might as well sing something appropriate.

You see, it's about interpretation . . .

No wonder Bobby got out and left him, he was really unpredictable.

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: BobKnight
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 04:31 AM

Kenny Rogers recorded it too and sang, 'I pulled my mouth-harp out of my old dirty red bandana.'

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: GUEST,Woodsie
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 01:30 AM

Ooops sorry that was Guest, tcn

Carrying a syringe around in a dirty bandana and then getting it out in the cab when you' ve just been given a ride - Crap!

It's already been explained earlier in the thread that it is a harmonica. This is backed up by further source references to the same teminoligy.

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: mousethief
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 12:42 AM

I don't see where Guest, Ed has posted on this thread?

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: GUEST,Woodsie
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 12:13 AM

Guest, Ed

Bollox - Where did you read this shit?

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: GUEST,tcn
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 11:52 PM

I've read that while the term was intentioanlly ambiguous - and could refer to a hamonica for mainstream artists like Miller - Kristofferson saw the characters as addicts and the harpoon is a heroin syringe.

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: Biskit
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 06:37 PM

Well.....I always thought the harpoon mentioned was a harp, (harmonica) but then I pulled my harp out of my dirty red bandanna,really wouldn't 'ave flowed. -Biskit- (on the road)

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: GUEST,Bill in Alabama
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 05:38 PM

In the area where I grew up, a harmonica was commonly called a harpoon, a french harp, or just a harp. I can't remember for certain, but I believe I remember hearing the term harpoon used by the M.C. in introducing Deford Baily on an old recording of a '40's broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry. Whatever the etymology, the fact is that, in this neck of the woods, a harpoon is a folk name for harmonica.

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: Grab
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 08:30 AM

Must be a harmonica. You don't blow on a Jew's harp, you twang.

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: Mark Clark
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 02:09 AM

A harpoon/harmonica was also commonly known as a French harp. Odd since they were mostly made in Germany.

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: Mike Billo
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 09:56 PM

When I first started playing harmonica,(early 60's)harpoon was a common term for the harmonica. Country harp hot shot Charlie McCoy had a hit in the mid-60's called "Harpoon Man" which included vocals by McCoy about "the harpoon man at the Club Oriole" punctuated by McCoy playing super hot solos to recreate the sound of the Harpoon man.

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 09:52 PM

I have searched and can't find the answer to the origins of this use of the word harpoon although I to feel it is the harmonica being referred to. I found this on my search though; it appears that the Finnish for Jews Harp is Munniharppuuna which apparently is literally, a mouth harpoon.

Jon

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: DADGBE
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 09:08 PM

I think the whole line is: "I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna and was blowing soft while Bobby sang the blues."

It always gave me the mind picture of two hitch hikers climbing into the truck cab, settling their gear and starting to play music.

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From:
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 08:22 PM

I had always thought of it as the harmonica. That's the impression it always gave to me.

Sorry I misunderstood your original request.

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 08:13 PM

Hi there Drop-D, that is an interesting thought. I have always had this mental picture of the singer pulling his harp out of his headband, but you could be right. But why would he blow his stick? (Unless he carried his bundle on a flute ??)

Murray

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 08:07 PM

George, I was aware that a harp is a colloquial term among American musicians for a harmonica. Larry Adler played harmonica, Charlie McCoy harp, also known as mouth-harp (not to be confused with Jew's -harp). But my question is, is a "harpoon " a harp ?

Murray

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: DADGBE
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 07:52 PM

Hi Murray,

I've always thought that the line, "I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna..." refered to the stick that held a hobo's red bandanna wrapped bindle on his shoulder.

'Course I could be wrong.

Subject: RE: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From:
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 07:32 PM

I think you'll find that the harp is the harmonica. It's a term used for that instrument.

Subject: Bobbie McGee's 'harpoon'
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 07:29 PM

Can anybody enlighten me as to whether a mouth-harp is refered to as a "harpoon" anywhere else in recorded song, or in print for that matter ? Or did Kris Kristofferson invent the term? (I am assuming thay a "harpoon" is in fact a mouth-harp)

Murray