Lyr Req: Walking Song (Kate McGarrigle)

Subject: McGarrigles
From: GUEST,Tina
Date: 20 Oct 00 - 02:49 PM

I have fond memories of this song, it's about walking.. I know it as the walking song. It has "wouldn't it be nice just to walk together, bearing our souls while wearing out leather...

Subject: RE: McGarrigles
From: Groucho Marxist (inactive)
Date: 20 Oct 00 - 03:29 PM

It is called "Walking Song" and was written by Kate McGarrigle.

It's on Kate & Anna McGarrigles second album, "Dancer With Bruised Knees."

Groucho

Subject: RE: McGarrigles
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Oct 00 - 05:01 PM

What a great album. However, I must protest this Mudcat habit of whenever I go to ask something, someone has *just* posted to what *I* was about to ask about. I'm beginning to feel as if the community is reading my mind (*BG*)...

Anyway, MY McGarrigle question, sparked by that very album although not that song (yes! I *do* still have some secrets, aaah ha ha ha) was about the song about the biscuit, and the sweater to wear, to keep me from the cooooooold... 2 things: One, what is that song ABOUT? It is very weird, albeit extremely likable. Secondly, what is the lyric about what daddy had to hold?

Subject: RE: McGarrigles
From: Groucho Marxist (inactive)
Date: 20 Oct 00 - 05:28 PM

"No Biscuit Blues" is a song that the McGarrigles used to do when they were in the Mountain City 4, a folk group in Montreal in the 1960s. It was written by Galt McDermott (who would later compose the music to "Hair") and William Dumaresq.

The song is sung from the POV of a kid from a family that had nothing, so the father turned to crime to provide for them. You probably misheard the line that says "that made my daddy have to PULL a job" to which the bass voice (Anna's husband, Dane Laneken) sings "which means he had to rob."

Groucho

Subject: RE: McGarrigles
From: Mrrzy
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 02:50 PM

But then Why is he lying with the biscuit and the sweater on the cold stone floor, while my mammy and me we don't want for nothing more? Was he killed on the job? If so, what was he doing with the biscuit, which I assume in Canadian is a cookie?

Subject: RE: McGarrigles
From: Groucho Marxist (inactive)
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 02:57 PM

You're adding something there. The daddy is lying with "no biscuit and no sweater on the stone cold floor."

I have two possible interpretations. First is that he's in jail. Second is that he's dead, presumably shot by the cops.

Yes, a biscuit is a cookie.

Groucho

Subject: RE: McGarrigles
From: Mrrzy
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 03:03 PM

Aha, another wonderfully misheard lyric! Since about 1974 I've been hearing with THE biscuit and THE sweater... presumably the biscuit and the sweater she {the singer} had to keep her from the cold. I kinda figured the papa for a drunk... Thanks, Groucho Marxist!