Good in Living(Steven Sellors)[Rosin Up Your Bow]

Subject: Rosin the Bow by Steven Sellors?
From: GUEST,roger conant
Date: 16 May 00 - 01:51 PM

Thread #3492   Message #17485
Posted By:
13-Dec-97 - 03:17 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Rosin the Bow? / The Good in Living
Subject: Rosin the Bow

Can anybody tell me the source for Rosin the Bow? This is the version that goes: "...You'd better rosin up your bow, before it's time to go..." The attribution is needed for this to go into the sequel to Rise Up Singing, the new songbook being created by Sing Out, by Peter Blood, Annie Patterson, and their friends. I like the song and recommended it for the book, but I don't know where it came from.

If you know, please send email to: [e-mail] because I don't often check in here. Thanks.

Roger Conant

---

in december 1997 I got email from Joe Offer stating that he had posted the words to "Rosin the Bow", which he attributed to Steven Sellors, at Digital Tradition. I can't find it here though. This is the version with a chorus that goes:

And all of life plays like a tune
It sounds so sweet and ends so soon
You'd better rosin up your bow
Before it's time to go.

Can anybody help me contact the author, Steven Sellors? His permission is needed to put these words into the sequel (under construction) to the Rise Up Singing songbook, being put together by Sing Out!

---

Click for lyrics in related thread

Thanks - Roger Conant ([e-mail])

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GOOD IN LIVING
From: MMario
Date: 16 May 00 - 02:12 PM

Joe mentions that here in another thread under another title

---

Thread #3492   Message #17780
Posted By: Joe Offer
17-Dec-97 - 06:48 PM
Thread Name: Rosin the Bow / Rosin Up Your Bow
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GOOD IN LIVING (Sellors)^^

Oh, THAT song!

THE GOOD IN LIVING
(Steven Sellors)

If the fiddle strings felt no bow-stroke,
If the concertina bellows broke,
If no one sang or cracked a joke
Then where's the good in living?

Chorus:
And all of life plays like a tune,
It sounds so sweet and ends too soon
You'd better rosin up your bow
Before it's time to go.

If no one threw their feet about,
if the Guinness boys stopped making stout
You'd soon forget what life is all about
And soon become quite thirsty.
Chorus

When all you own is hocked or pawned,
When all your money's spent and gone
You'll find out what you've been living on
And never even knew!
Chorus

If the fiddle strings felt no bow-stroke,
If the concertina bellows broke,
If no one sang or cracked a joke
Then where's the good in living?^^

(On "Faith's Favorites," a CD by Faith Petric, [e-mail])
Also recorded by Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen on "When Howie Met Sally." Anybody know of other recordings?
Glad you brought us back on track, Dick. Anybody know how to get hold of Sellors?
-Joe Offer-

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Rosin the Bow by Steven Sellors?
From: kendall
Date: 16 May 00 - 02:16 PM

Steves address is: [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Rosin the Bow by Steven Sellors?
From: Jeri
Date: 20 May 00 - 10:13 AM

In case Steve doesn't respond right away - I saw him last weekend, and he mentioned being away from his computer for a week or so.

Subject: RE: Rosin the Bow by Steven Sellors?
From: Barbara
Date: 20 May 00 - 10:56 AM

I don't think it's called "Rosin the Bow"; it might be called "Rosin UP YOUR Bow" though it looks like Joe has it: "Good In Living".
Blessings,
Barbara
Have you got a tentative publishing date for RUS2 yet?

Subject: RE: Rosin the Bow by Steven Sellors?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 20 May 00 - 10:59 PM

...And all of life is like a song
That starts too soon and lasts to long
You'd better finish with this verse
Before it gets much worse...."

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow by Steven Sellors?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 02:35 AM

Does anybody have a MIDI of "Good In Living" they can send me? I understand it's in Sing Out, Volume 34, #3, but my back issues don't go back that far.
-Joe Offer
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow by Steven Sellors?
From: Celtaddict
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 11:56 PM

This song is also on Gordon Bok and Friends "The February Tapes Volume 2" paired with a lively fiddle tune "Queen of Sluts." The Feb Tapes are, each Feb, on sale, currently for $6 each, from Gordon's site, gordonbok.com

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow by Steven Sellors?
From: Barbara
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 01:10 AM

Your wish is my command, Joe. I took a shot at it, anyway. I'll dig out my Feb tapes tomorrow, and see how it sounds there. I know I've got the basic tune, it's the how long you hold the ends of lines that always fouls me up. And this song has some fermatas in it (bird's-eyes) Most specifically it has one over the ROS sylable of of "ros-in up your bow".
Blessings,
Barbara

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow by Steven Sellors?
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 04:43 PM

Joe and Barbara--

Thank you! I've been wanting a MIDI of this tune for a long time (I'm hopeless at transcribing by ear, since I have none.) The 'Cat comes through again.

Gratefully,
Lin

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GOOD IN LIVING (Sellors)
From:
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 05:22 PM

When I was in the Catskills this year I heard a wonderful song from someone I didn't get to follow up with. As a result I've no idea who she was, or any details of where this song comes from. Any information would be appreciated

All of Life Plays Like a Tune

If the fiddle bow felt no bow stroke
If the concertina bellows broke
If no one sang or cracked a joke
Then where's the good in living?

Chorus
For all of life plays like a tune
It sounds so sweet and ends too soon
You'd better rosin up your bow
Before it's time to go

If no one threw their feet about
And if the Guinness boys stopped making stout
You'd forget what life was all about
And soon become quite thirsty

Chorus
When all you've owned is hawked or pawned
And all your money's spent and gone
You'll find out what you've been living on
And never even knew it

Chorus
If the fiddle bow felt no bow stroke
If the concertina bellows broke
If no one sang or cracked a joke
Then where's the good in living?

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: All of life is like a tune
From:
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 09:34 PM

Well I found a little more information. Apparently the song was written by Steve Sellors in 1995 and the title is really "The Good in Living"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: All of life is like a tune
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 03:19 AM

Hi, Robin - I think you have the lyrics down quite well. I posted my trnascription on the song here quite a while ago, but I can't pull it up right now because Mudcat's acting skittish. Faith Petric did a recording of this song, and so did Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: All of life is like a tune
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 10:25 AM

And all of life is like a song
That starts too soon and lasts too long
You'd better finish up, you lout
Before they chuck you out.

Subject: RE: Add: All of life is like a tune/The Good in Li
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 12:50 PM

Now that Mudcat is back in working order, I can see that I posted the lyrics and tune in this thread. The song is in the 2005 edition of the Digital Tradition, which hasn't been published yet.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: The Good in Living by Steven Sellors!
From: GUEST,easandymackay
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 07:30 PM

Steve Sellors is now

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow by Steven Sellors?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 09:16 PM

easandymackay-

Thanks for the update with regard to the contact address.

Hmmm? That the second thread I've noticed related to Steve Sellors. He is one of my favorite singer-songwriters as well. Are you from Canada?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow by Steven Sellors?
From: GUEST,julia L
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 11:02 PM

Didn't Anne Dodson record this. I can hear her voice singing it...great song!      Julia

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 11:21 PM

Yes, Anne Dodson recorded "The Good in Living" on her album titled In Its Own Sweet Time. Also recorded by Faith Petric (Faith's Favorites), and by Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen (When Howie Met Sally).
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: GUEST,Steve Sellors
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 01:19 PM

Hi Charley,
Yes, i live in Canada. I have the remarkable privelege of playing bass and tweedy-d guitar in Steve Sellors' band, and hearing these songs as written.

Steve Sellors is the best song-writer in Canada.

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: Barbara
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 02:05 PM

A friend of mine --Dick Lewis -- wrote an additional verse, working from the premise that the only thing wrong with this song is that it ends too soon -- even if you sing the first verse over again like many do.
Here's Dick's verse

The more we gather here and sing,
the more our hearts with joy will ring,
summer, autumn, winter, spring,
And all times in between.

Is this okay with you, Steve?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: maeve
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 02:10 PM

Barbara, Steve hasn't posted to this thread yet. Why don't you just email him about that nice additional verse? It's listed just a few posts back.

Steve Sellors is one of my favorite Canadian songwriters. He's a very nice guy, too.

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: GUEST,Sandy MacKay
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 03:38 PM

This post:

"Hi Charley,
Yes, i live in Canada. I have the remarkable privelege of playing bass and tweedy-d guitar in Steve Sellors' band, and hearing these songs as written.
Steve Sellors is the best song-writer in Canada."

wasn't written by Steve Sellors, actually; it was written by me, Sandy Mackay. I get to play with Steve. Steve is far too modest to say he's the best song-writer in Canada. That's my job, and I'll stand up on Bob Dylan's cowboy table in my coffee boots and say so.

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: Stewart
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 04:27 PM

on Jamcrackers (Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn and Dan Duggan)

and two other CDs on CDBaby:
Chimaera - Sarah Underhill & Ian Worpole
Faith's Favorites - Faith Petric


Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 07:08 PM

Sandy's channeling Steve Earle....

And yes, Steve's a great songwriter - and autoharp player, too!

Dan

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: GUEST,Steven Sellors
Date: 21 Dec 10 - 10:35 PM

This is the best and truest thread EVER.

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Dec 10 - 02:27 AM

Thanks for dropping by, Steve. I just sang your song for my wife, and she loved it.

-Joe Offer, Applegate, California-

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Dec 10 - 04:05 AM

Hey there, Steve.

Maeve, waving madly from Maine

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: GUEST,sandy mackay
Date: 16 Dec 14 - 04:16 PM

So, the Good in Living is going into RUS 2? That'd be great! Look forward to seeing this songwriter getting his just desserts- lots of folks covering his material these days, and he doesn't get the credit he deserves (imho).

Subject: RE: Rosin Up Your Bow [Good in Living](Steven Sellors)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Dec 14 - 05:09 PM

Hi, Sandy -

I thought "Good in Living" was going to be included in the Rise Again sequel to Rise Up Singing, but I don't find it on the list of songs. By the time I joined the editing team, all the songs had already been selected.

The song is well-known here in California because Faith Petric sang it often.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Good in Living(Steven Sellors)[Rosin Up Your Bow]
From: GUEST,Debra
Date: 06 Oct 16 - 11:45 PM

I know someone who recorded it and wants to pay Steve Sellers, but can not find him. Anyone have his contact?

Subject: RE: Good in Living(Steven Sellors)[Rosin Up Your Bow]
From: GUEST,Maeve
Date: 07 Oct 16 - 06:45 AM

Guest, Debra:

Steve's email address is already listed in this thread. I'll also let him know you've posted here.

Subject: RE: The Good in Living by Steven Sellors!
From: GUEST,easandymackay
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 07:30 PM

Steve Sellors is now

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Good in Living(Steven Sellors)[Rosin Up Your Bow]
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Oct 16 - 01:16 AM

I said everything that maeve said, but my post did not take. I am glad that she was able to post.

Subject: Origins: The Good In Living - Steve Sellers info ?
From: MickyMan
Date: 18 Jun 18 - 12:12 PM

Steve Sellers is listed as the writer of "The Good In Living"    - Does anybody have any info on Steve ........ and/or the early years of this song.
Does anybody know other recording than ....
"Faith’s Favorites," a CD by Faith Petric, [e-mail])
"When Howie Met Sally" bySally Rogers and Howie Bursen

Chorus:    And all of life plays like a tune,
                  It sounds so sweet, and ends too soon,
                  You'd better rosin up your bow,
                  Before it's time to go,

Subject: RE: Origins: The good In Living
From: GUEST,Steve Sellors
Date: 18 Jun 18 - 08:40 PM

Maeve, my watchful familar and agent with possible ties to Russian oligarchs, told me about this thread.

The GOOD IN LIVING was written about 1982. It was spared a dim fate of obscurity by Anne Dodson, who recorded my two favorite versions of it. And I'm not just saying that cuz she's short.

My favourite version is on THE FEBRUARY TAPE VOL... (I forget). It used to be available on Gordon Bok's website but I don't see it there now.

Anne also recorded my second favorite version on IN IT'S OWN SWEET TIME. That looks like it's still available on her website.

Gotta go rosin up my bow,
Steve

Subject: RE: Good in Living(Steven Sellors)[Rosin Up Your Bow]
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jun 18 - 09:17 PM

Thanks for stopping by, Steve. I've always loved this song. I like Anne Dodson's version very much; but I suppose since I'm a Californian, I like the version by Faith Petric best.

I've combined most of the threads on this song, so people can see the song's history at Mudcat. Roger Conant first requested information about the song in December, 1997 - and we've been gathering information about it ever since. Roger wanted to have the song included in the sequel to the Rise Up Singing Songbook, which finally came out in August, 2015, as Rise Again. The list of songs was more-or-less finalized by the time I joined the songbook staff as the Lyrics Guy in early 2014 - and "The Good in Living" wasn't on the list.

But I sure like the song. Peter Blood and Annie Patterson said they'd be glad to have me do a THIRD Rise Up Singing book, but I don't think that's gonna happen. If it does, I make sure it has every song that Faith Petric and Anne Dodson ever recorded.

Joe

Subject: RE: Good in Living(Steven Sellors)[Rosin Up Your B
From: MickyMan
Date: 19 Jun 18 - 10:44 AM

Lots of good info here, but please ....... does somebody have some simple bio info on Steve Sellors that i can include on a song word sheet that I'm making up. He's not exactly a household name here in the USA, so I'd like to include a few lines about who/where/what he is.   These sheets sometimes have a way of getting around.

Subject: RE: Good in Living(Steven Sellors)[Rosin Up Your Bow]
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Jun 18 - 03:33 AM

refresh for mickyman's question....

Subject: RE: Good in Living(Steven Sellors)[Rosin Up Your Bow]
From: GUEST,Steve Sellors
Date: 21 Jun 18 - 10:50 AM

Okay, okay, Mickey. I'll give you this much: I live in Grove Hill, NB, Canada. I'm self-made but poory constructed. I'm not a household name even in my own household. I consider playing in my backyard as being on the road. I'm unprofessional in every sense of the word. I'm evasive and unresponsive. Do not resuscitate.

Your ol' pal,
Steve