Lyr Add: Young Man (Ray Phoenix & Mae Axton)

Subject: Lyr Add: YOUNG MAN (Ray Phoenix)
From: Allan C.
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 01:55 PM

YOUNG MAN
(BMI) Phoenix*
(as performed by The Womenfolk)

With what do you concern yourself, young man?
With what do you concern yourself, young man?
With the breath of life in a lover's eye,
The pale of the moon in the midnight sky,
The birth of a man and the death he dies
And love.

What are you living for, young man?
What are you living for, young man?
I live for the line of a lover's lips,
The touch of the summer on my fingertips,
The song I sing, a thousand things
And love.

What are you crying for, young man?
What are you crying for, young man?
I cry for the pain of a heart that's torn,
The tears of a woman when her son is born,
The death of a man in the early morn
And love.

What will you be when your life is through, young man?
What will you be when your life is through, young man?
I'll be one with the fire in a lover's eye,
The pale of the moon in the midnight sky,
The birth of a man and the death he dies
And love.

*Note: I did a diligent search at BMI but was unable to find any further information on the author. This is as the credit appears on the record label of "Never Underestimate the Power of the Womenfolk", by The Womenfolk.

Womenfolk recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHwDsk-UQhA

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man
From: mjm
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 04:13 PM

Allan,

I just read the lyrics. Wow. Thank you. Anywhere for me to download a sample of that tune? I'd like to listen as long as it's free. Ha!

m

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man
From: Allan C.
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 07:03 PM

I wish I could say that it could be heard on the net. But it isn't. Send me a personal note and I'll make arrangements to send a tape your way.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man
From: Stewie
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 09:51 PM

This song was recorded several times by the late Hoyt Axton. You can find it on Hoyt Axton 'Spin of the Wheel' dpi Records DPICD-1000. There it is credited as a joint composition by Ray Phoenix and Hoyt Axton's mother, Mae B. Axton - copywright 1961 Lady Jane Music BMI. Mae B. Axton was also cowriter of 'Heatbreak Hotel'.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man
From: Stewie
Date: 20 Apr 00 - 09:54 PM

Sorry about the innovative spelling of 'copyright'.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man
From: Allan C.
Date: 21 Apr 00 - 12:02 PM

Thanks, Stewie! Although I still have the old vinyl of the Womenfolk's version but would be happy to hear someone else's treatment. The Womenfolk, (bless them all!) did some marvelous treatments to a really nice selection of old and new songs. But I would generally prefer to hear someone who is a little less "uptown". (This is a rather odd statement from someone who used to idolize the Kingston Trio!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man
From: GUEST,Babs
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 10:41 AM

The record reads "Young Man" - by Ray Phoenix

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man (Ray Phoenix & Mae Axton)
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 08:23 AM

Also, it's listed as "unknown" author on Hoyt Axton's Gold album, Rhino Entertainment Co., CD COL-CD-7267. The CD is in their "Collectable Series."

Lin

Hoyt Axton recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM0T50-4zkk

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man (Ray Phoenix & Mae Axton)
From: GUEST,Ray Phoenix
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 05:00 PM

I am the author of "Young Man". I wrote it, and, seeking publication, allowed Hoyt Axton to put his mother's name on it. I would love to locate an mp3 of any of the recordings of it. I also wrote a song I called "Roads", which Hoyt also recorded. Young Man was also translated into Russian at some point, and I'd like to know more about that.

My email address is [e-mail] I'd love to hear from anyone who liked either of the songs I mentioned.

Small note: According to Hoyt, Johnny Cash would have recorded Roads in its original form, but wanted to have 1/2 the song writing credit. That would have made Mae's part 1/4, and Hoyt says he told Johnny Cash, "No". Of such decisions are changes made. I became a computer programmer for 22.5 years. Who knows what might have happened if Johnny had recorded the song. :-)

The original words are close to what is here, I can comment on the changes if anyone is interested.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man (Ray Phoenix & Mae Axton)
From: GUEST,Garn
Date: 10 Jan 10 - 12:20 PM

Hoyt has recorded a number of his mother's tunes at different times in his career and life. He does totally different versions from one era to another and all are excellent. The best example of this is Heartbreak Hotel. We lost a true artist.
Garn

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man (Ray Phoenix & Mae Axton)
From: GUEST,Bill Forshay, a voice from Ray's distant pas
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 08:34 PM

Subject: Lyr Req: Young Man
From: BDenz
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 04:03 PM

Back in 2000, one addition to a topic (Allen C's addition) contained bits of a song I'm looking for. I THOUGHT it was written and performed by Phil Ochs, but could be wrong.

Allen's bit: There are even some great songs about this topic. For instance, "Young Man" (which I have only heard performed by The Womenfolk). The first line is, "With what do you concern yourself, young man?" Succeeding verses begin with, "What are you crying for, young man?" and "What will you be when your life is through, young man?" Good questions. I'll try to post the lyrics after a while in a different thread. But I will tell you what the response to the last question is: "I'll be one with the fire in a lover's eyes, the pale of the moon in the midnight skies, the birth of a man and the death he dies - and love."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Young Man
From: BDenz
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 04:04 PM

AllAn C. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Young Man
From: maeve
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 08:00 PM

What are you wanting to know, BDenz? Are you hoping to have the lyrics posted?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Young Man
From: maeve
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 08:11 PM

Sorry for the one line posts, mods...I found this recording, mentioned by Allan C:

http://www.jango.com/music/The+Womenfolk?l=0

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Young Man
From: BDenz
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 03:52 PM

Thanks for all the above. I'll archive this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man (Ray Phoenix & Mae Axton)
From: GUEST,Greg Trafidlo
Date: 13 Dec 18 - 02:23 PM

This was really helpful.

I first heard the song (and couldn't get it out of my head) since the early '60's.

Heard it at a coffehouse called Knowhere in the Chicago suburbs. Performed by a guy named. Clark Moffatt.(sp)

One correction it's the BIRTH of a man and the death he dies. Not BREATH.

I plan on recording this song on my next project, but could find no attribution.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man (Ray Phoenix & Mae Axton)
From: GUEST,Greg Trafidlo
Date: 22 Jun 21 - 06:58 PM

I learned it with an additional verse which may have been added later:

Tell me what you're smiling now young man?
Tell me what you're smiling now young man?
I smile for the way that the children run
The fields and the rivers in the noonday sun
The songs I sing, ten thousand things and love

(This may have been added by Clark Moffat, when I heard it at the Know Where Coffeehouse in Aurora, Illinois in the mid-1960's.

I still perform this song. 'May even record it someday.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Young Man (Ray Phoenix & Mae Axton)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 22 Jun 21 - 08:53 PM

Robert Dickson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOf3Y20xCtM