Lyr Req: O Captain! my Captain! (Walt Whitman)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: O Captain! my Captain! (Walt Whitman)
From: Stewie
Date: 18 Nov 11 - 11:43 PM

There's an excellent rendition by Ron Thomason on Dry Branch Fire Squad 'Echoes of the Mountains' Rounder CD 11661-0574-2 2009.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: O Captain! my Captain! (Walt Whitman)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Nov 11 - 10:23 PM

I hate to appear the 'pleb' in this discussion, but ...
As I'm British (decidedly not English) I only recognise this through its being a quotation used in "The Dead Poets Society".

I'm sorry if I see no connection with the assassination of Lincoln. A quick check on 'Wiki' says it's an extended metaphor. But if you don't know it's supposed to be about Lincoln. there is no clue available!

Thanks Mmario for the full quote. That extends my reading a little.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: O Captain! my Captain! (Walt Whitman)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Nov 11 - 09:59 PM

Sheet music is available by several composers. Perhaps the most used is that by Edgar Stillman Kelley, published 1901 (re-issue 1921) in The Laurel Songbook, edited by W. L. Tomlins, C. C. Birchard & Co., and as sheet music.

I also like the thoughtful arrangement by the high school student (Kim?). Thanks for linking it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: O Captain! my Captain! (Walt Whitman)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Nov 11 - 12:53 PM

Here's an excellent arrangement very nicely performed by a high-school student. She doesn't say where she got the arrangement, but if she wrote it herself, I'm truly amazed at her talent.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: O Captain! my Captain! (Walt Whitman)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 11 - 01:44 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaXRQKKppGQ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: O Captain! my Captain! (Walt Whitman)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 10 - 07:06 AM

what is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

Subject: RE: Earworm - 'Captain, Oh my Captain'
From: wildlone
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 03:38 PM

A search on this site .
turned up Captain .

Subject: RE: Earworm - 'Captain, Oh my Captain'
From: Cavia_P
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 03:16 PM

Thank You MMario, That certainly looks like the source poem for the song. I just sung it through to the tune I remembered (near enough and nowt like King of the Swingers!)

In time I might remember where I heard it or find a copy. If I do I'll try and forward the details.

Many Thanks,

Cavia_P

No more Swingin' Orange Monkies!

Subject: RE: Earworm - 'Captain, Oh my Captain'
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 01:45 PM

in the third grade, this was always followed by:

The boy stood on the burning deck
His feet were full of blisters
He tore his trousers on a nail
And now he wears his sister's."

Sorry for the irreverence. I haven't had my prerequisite coffee this morning.

Subject: RE: Earworm - 'Captain, Oh my Captain'
From: MMario
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 01:00 PM

lyrics by walt whitman - I see references to recordings out there but haven't found a tune

Subject: Lyr Add: O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN! (Walt Whitman)
From: MMario
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 12:56 PM

This it?

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Walt Whitman

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Subject: Earworm - 'Captain, Oh my Captain'
From: Cavia_P
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 12:38 PM

I wonder if anyone could help me sort out a particularly ticklish earworm? [An ear worm is a song or tune once heard and forgotten that hatches out maybe years later as a fragment of memory. It crawls around inside your head singing to itself until you can figure out what it is or where you heard it.]

My current earworm has been bothering me for the last few days and I've not pinned it down yet... :o)

"Captain, oh my captain, our fearful trip is through".

This earworm also comes with a fragment of sleevenote! The song was arranged from a poem lamenting the assasination of Abraham Lincoln following the American Civil War.

I've searched for that phrase as a song title or first line without success, it may even be part of the refrain or chorus, tho' I don't remember it as a chorus song. I heard it once at a festival in England and it has a very vague association with Judy Dunlop or possibly Si Kahn!

If that was all I wouldn't bother you with it, as I'm sure it will either go away or I will work it out. However, this earworm has managed to cross breed itself with songs from the Jungle Book. It turns into..

"Captain, oh my captain, Our fearful trip is through,... ...I've reached the top and had to stop and that's what's bothering me!"

AND THAT'S WHAT'S BOTHERING ME, it's in my head and it won't go away! I'm sure it's not part of the original song but there may be some similarity in the tune. I can't get at the original song while I have King Louie swinging between my ears!

Is there any help for me?

Cavia_P