Lyr Req: St Olav's Gate (Tom Russell)

Subject: St Olavs Gate
From: little john cameron
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 01:49 PM

Help please, ah'm lookin for the words an also the story o Tom Russells sang St Olavs Gate.Couldnae find oot on the search. ljc

Subject: Lyr Add: ST. OLAV'S GATE (Tom Russell)
From: Robo
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 05:19 PM

Aye, good call Little John. Pulled this from the Nanci Griffith site. I think this should do it for ye . . .

Rob-o

ST. OLAV'S GATE
(Tom Russell)

Drinking black market vodka in the back of the Scotsman's saloon
Then it's red meat and whiskey like a coyote drunk on the moon
Outside in Oslo the buskers' all sing the same tune
And it's Waltzin' Matilda while the bagpipes play old Clare de Lune

Chorus:
Here's to the lady you love and don't see again
The night is warm whiskey... the mornin's a cold bitter wind
The blue eyed madonna leaves town while the drunken man waits
Standing alone in the shadows of St. Olav's Gate

She was a lady, she came down from Bergen she said
She spoke little English, they laughed and drank whiskey instead
In the mornin' he found it... a rose with a note on his plate
It said, meet me at midnight on the corner of St. Olav's Gate
(repeat chorus 2)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olavs Gate
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 06:13 PM

By the way, isn't one of the gates in the city walls of York, England called St. Olav's gate? I know there is a church called St. Olav's right next to the western gate. I was there in August. Or maybe they spelled it "Olave". I suppose it's just a coincidence because the song seems to be about Norway ...

In Minnesota, we would spell it "Olaf". There is St. Olaf College in Northfield, and several churches called St. Olaf's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olavs Gate
From: Stewart
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 06:40 PM

That's right, I used to teach at St. Olaf College, in Northfield, Minnesota, before I fled to Seattle. They wouldn't allow that sort of thing (in the song, that is) at St. Olaf's gate!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olavs Gate
From: little john cameron
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 07:35 PM

Ta Rob,dis this mean that it is a local meetin place in either Bergen or Oslo?
This Tom Russell is a braw writer,is he no?Anither pal o Tysons is playin here on Setterday.David Wilcox, an ah hae tickets tae go.The last time ah saw him wis at Tysons Hoose tae watch the moon landin!!Ricks auld pal Alan Macrae wis there tae.Puir auld A.G. is deid noo. ljc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olavs Gate
From: Robo
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 06:40 PM

Did find this on the web: "Actually, St. Olav's Gate ranks as one of Oslo's more non-descript streets, while 'The Scotsman saloon' is a busy pub on the main pedestrian Karl Johans gate." Don't know much more about it. Do know that Tom Russell is generally a wonder, occasionally a master. He'll be here in Denver 11/25 and me and My Sweet will be, too! Can't wait!

Rob-o

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olavs Gate
From: little john cameron
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 08:05 PM

Strange,ah thocht ah answered this a wee while ago?Anyhoo, thanks again rob. ljc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olavs Gate
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Sep 01 - 06:45 PM

CDNow says the song was recorded by Nanci Griffith on Last of the Ture Believers, by Tom Russell on Heart On A Sleeve and Long Way Around (Acoustic Collection), and by Doug Sahm on Get a Life. Good song.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olavs Gate
From:
Date: 02 Feb 06 - 11:09 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olavs Gate
From: Beer
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 07:00 AM

Tom is always producing great material. If you haven't heard his latest "Hot Walker" do your self a favor and get it. His Folk Opera is something else as well.
Beer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olavs Gate
From: kendall
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 08:56 AM

My good friend, Bernie Houlahan recorded this, among others, and I can guarantee you have never heard it done better. Bernie is a mudcatter who doesn't post, so if you want to hear this and others, done extremely well say so here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olav's Gate (Tom Russell)
From: GUEST,Dave Weaver
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 07:20 AM

Hi, worked with Tom in Oslo in the early 80's when he wrote this song. Basically it's about us musicians that all worked there and the girls that followed us around. The Scotsman is a beer cellar on St Olavs Gate where we worked, Tom and the band worked aroung the corner. Hope this throws some light on this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olav's Gate (Tom Russell)
From: Brendy
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 08:15 AM

Tom... The Man From God Knows Where...

Played in The Scotsman for a while myself, some 15 years later.
But The Scotsman is on Karl Johansgate.
St. Olavsgt. is about 1/2 a mile away.

B.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: ST. OLAV'S GATE (Tom Russell)
From: GUEST,Jan Hauenstein
Date: 03 Mar 16 - 07:27 AM

St. Olav's Gate    Tom Russell

Capo 3rd fret

(G) Drinking black market vodka
In the back of the Scotsman sa(Am)loon,
And then it's (D)red meat and whiskey,
Like a coyote drunk on the (G)moon.
But outside in Oslo
The buskers all sing the same (C)tune, (C/B) (Am) (Am/G)
Well, it's (D)Waltzing Matilda,
While the bagpipes play old Clare de (G)Lune.

She was a lady,
She came down from Bergen, she (Am)said.
She (D)spoke a little English,
They laughed and drank whiskey in(G)stead.
In the mornin' he found it,
A rose with a note on his (C)plate, (C/B) (Am) (Am/G)
It said, (D)"Meet me at midnight
On the corner of St. Olav's (G)Gate."

So here's to the ladies
You love and you don't see a(Am)gain,
The (D)night is warm whiskey,
The morning's a cold bitter (G)wind.
Yeah, the blue eyed madonna leaves town,
But a drunken man (C)waits, (C/B) (Am) (Am/G)
(D)Standing alone
In the shadows of St. Olav's (G)Gate.
- Instrumental verse -

So here's to the ladies
You love and you don't see a(Am)gain,
The (D)night is warm whiskey,
The morning's a cold bitter (G)wind.
Yeah, the blue eyed madonna left town,
But a drunken man (C)waits, (C/B) (Am) (Am/G)
(D)Standing alone
In the shadows of St. Olav's (G)Gate,
(D)Standing alone
In the shadows of St. Olav's (G)Gate.

© Tom Russell, All Rights Reserved

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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: St Olav's Gate (Tom Russell)
From: clueless don
Date: 03 Mar 16 - 08:36 AM

Also recorded by the Ceili Bandits on their first CD.