Lyr Req: Rivers of New Jersey

Subject: Rivers of New Jersey
From:
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 02:19 AM

Does anyone have the words to a parody of The Rivers of Texas called "The Rivers of New Jersey"?

I am also looking for a song which is either called - or has in it the line - "The Long Branch branch of the Red Bank bank"

Thanks much

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: dwditty
Date: 15 Feb 01 - 07:09 AM

Though I have never heard of either of these, I suggest checking out "Garden State Stomp" on Dave Van Ronk's "Going Back to Brooklyn" cd. Every word in the song is the name of a town in New Jersey. Once when I saw him perform it live, someone yelled out "What exit?" after he finished. Cracked him up.

dw

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Wotcha
Date: 16 Feb 01 - 03:09 AM

Check out Roberts and Barrands' "Live at Holsteins" (1983)cassette (not on CD yet, or ever ... Front Hall are you listening?): A parody of the "Rolling Hills of the Border."

Cheers,
Brian

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: radriano
Date: 16 Feb 01 - 11:35 AM

Ed Silberman, one of our local singers here in the San Francisco Bay Area, does The Long Branch Bank of the Red Bank Bank. I'll give him a ring this weekend and get the lyrics for you. Actually, Ed has logged on to Mudcat himself from time to time - maybe he'll post the song himself - actually he might know the other one as well. He grew up around New Jersey himself and knows quite a few songs about the area.

Richard

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: annamill
Date: 16 Feb 01 - 12:54 PM

HEY!!

L.A.

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 01 - 06:22 PM

It that the one that is supposed to be sung in an authentic Joisey accent...eg, "the rulling rivers of New Joisey"? If so, I may have the lyrics around some place.

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Feb 01 - 06:45 PM

from an OLD thread...Longbranch branch

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Feb 01 - 06:50 PM

The only one I ever heard do the Rivers of New Jersey was Dick Levine...it has been mentioned in the forum before, but seemingly not posted...

now, if you wanted "The Rivers of Wisconsin"

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Feb 01 - 04:39 AM

Wotcha, funny you should mention the John Roberts & Tony Barrand Live at Holsteins! (Eat Bertha's Mussels) album. I got the CD in the mail today - from Folk-Legacy Records. It's not listed on their website yet, but they have it in stock. I don't see "Rivers of New Jersey" on it, but they do have "The Rolling Mills of New Jersey."
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: GUEST,Roll&Go-C
Date: 17 Feb 01 - 07:18 PM

Thanks for reminding me to look for the Long Branch Bank of the Red Bank Bank in the archives.

Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN BY TOMS RIVER (Richard Levine)
From: Susan of DT
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 07:22 PM

I thought I posted that I was asking Dick Levine for the words. Here it is:

DOWN BY TOMS RIVER
(Richard Levine)

I've crossed the broad Rahway, I've forded the Batsto,
I've swum in the Millstone, I've followed the Hackensack,
Ramapo rusty, Metedeconk clear,
But down by Tom's River I courted my dear.

CHO: Lai, lai lai lee, lee, lee give me your hand (3x)
There's many a river that waters the land.

The Delaware always runs glossy and gliding,
The crooked Passaic runs weaving and winding,
The Raritan River, it runs to the sea,
She never will walk by Toms River with me.

She hugged me, she kissed me she called me her dandy,
The Shrewsbury's clear and the Navesink's sandy,
She hugged me she kissed me she called me her own,
But down by Toms River she left me alone.

Lai lai lai lee lee lee pole the boat on (3x)
My Toms River sweetheart has left me and gone.

The girls of the Shark oh they're fine and they're pretty,
The Manasquan also holds many a beauty,
The Salem it flows past girls by the score,
So down by Toms River I'll wander no more.
Lai lai lai lee lee lee give me your hand (3X)
There's many a river that waters the land.

(to the tune of Down By the Brazos) filename[ NJRIVERS ^^

---

Added to DT July 01 (click)

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 07:58 PM

Hey, I crossed most of those rivers during my New Jersey vacation in November. Can't say much for the town of Toms River. It looks like it was once a pretty place, but then it grew and came out looking just like California. Seemed just like Fresno to me, or San Jose.

There are lots of pretty places to the north of Toms River, though.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 10:27 PM

There is a bit of confusion here, which is not surprising when you consider we're talking about New Jersey, where the state tree is the telephone pole, the state flower is the beer can, the state bird is the mosquito, and the state motto, is, "It smells funny here...let's go inside." I'm not sure if the original request was actually for Down by Toms River or, as I suspect, for The Rolling Mills of New Jersey. I know Ed Silberman does that one too, as I've sung it with him and a bunch of other folks, all trying to sound as discordant as possible. Quite an effect! (radriano, after all this time I finally realized who you are! Say hello to Ed and the other SFFMCers for me, and I promise to get back to Harmony one of these years!) I didn't grow up in New Jersey, just across the Delaware River, but I went to school there for a while.

An interesting sidelight on "Rolling Mills": it's a parody of "The Rolling Hills of the Border", by Matt McGinn, which is a lovely song. I have heard, though it may not be true, that Matt wrote a lot of parodies, and "The Rolling Hills of the Border" was one of his first "serious" songs. Then it was beautifully parodied by John and Tony! I don't know what Matt's reaction was.

Mary Garvey of Vancouver, Wash, formerly of Seattle, and also a 'Catter, has written a wonderful version of "The Rivers of Texas" called, not surprisingly, "The Rivers of Washington." I don't think it's in the DT, but it should be.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: annamill
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 09:46 AM

HEY!!!!!!!!

(joe, you've hurt my feelings)

L.A.

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Rowana (at work)
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 10:26 AM

Anna,

WE know the beautiful towns that New Jersey has to offer. And, of course, WE live in two of them! Let them have their little jokes; WE know better.

Reen (your southern New Jersey neighbor)

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Clifton53
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 10:59 AM

I got 'ya freakin' telephone pole, right heah!! That's it Row and Anna baby, tell 'em where it's at!! And we won't even mention per-capita income will we? Buncha Pennsyltucky toothless river-crossin' wannabes(BG)!!

Cliffjerseybornandraisedandkissoffmofo

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: R!
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 10:35 PM

Yeah! And that goes double for me! Oops better cancel that. I live in the kindest town in New Jersey (it's documented - you can look it up) so I'll just say "Please don't cast aspersions on our dear state."

And Clifton53 - your name or your town?

Reen (back at home)

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: jaze
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 11:02 PM

Sadly, most people think of NJ as just exits off the turnpike. I grew up in a beautiful and quaint quaker town in South Jersey. Much of south Jersey was farm land. Jersey tomatoes and corn are famous! Right Reen?

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 11:37 PM

Sorry, folks, I let humor get out in front of truth again, and I humbly accept the well-deserved chastisement. Cape May, Delaware Water Gap, Pine Barrens, Princeton (well, before the corporatization of Route 206 and Route 1), tomatoes, corn, learning to sail off Long Beach Island, many fond childhood memories of the pre-casino Atlantic City Boardwalk and beach (like shaking hands with Mr. Peanut), and who could forget Lucy the Elephant? I apologize to all you Garden Staters.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 11:37 PM

Hey, Annamill, don't get me wrong. All I said was that I was disappointed by Toms River. the center of town is gorgeous, but overflowing with traffic; and the outskirts of town are filled with tract houses and chain stores, just like California.
I had a delightful time on my New Jersey vacation. I especially liked the towns along Delaware Bay and from Sandy Hook to Perth Amboy, and Sandy Hook south to Sea Girt. My favorite place was Spring Lake, an absolute jewel of a town on the Atlantic Ocean. I spent a whole week in Sea Bright, NJ - and I think I'll do it again next October.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Dani
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 08:02 AM

I have to say, having spent many formative years in Jersey, and many others elsewhere (somehow, always near a coast ;) that Long Beach Island still has, for my money, the most wonderful beaches on the continent. All a matter of taste, I suppose. But I will always treasure the taste of the fresh salt air that hits you on the top of the causeway, the Country Kettle Fudge, the murky wet smell bayside, the spectacular sunsets/-rises... I could go on forever.

There are plenty of good and beautiful places, and good and beautiful people. The Pine Barrens are a national treasure. I won't tell you the best places. If you live there, you know 'em - if you don't, you wouldn't believe me anyway.

The Stone Pony should be a national monument :)

That said, after I go back for visits, I come home and say, "Oh yeah. THAT'S why we left."

Dani

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Clifton53
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 08:53 AM

Sadly, an over-developed, over-populated state is becoming even more crowded, if that is possible. I think there may now be more real estate agents per square mile here than any place else on earth. The new homes are mansions compared to the old tract homes and colonials we all know, and out of reach financially for most people. Even the condos are very high, everything is designated 'luxury'. There sure is a lot of money floating around here, and if anyone can tell me where to find it I'd be most grateful.

Rowena; I live in South Amboy, right at the beginning of the shore area, hard by Raritan Bay. Right in the stretch Joe describes from Sandy Hook(nude beach there!) to Perth Amboy.

Mark; no offense was taken, s'why I put the (bg) there, just like to give folks something to chuckle over.

The Stone Pony is operative again, though I doubt it will ever be the same.

Glad to be reading all these nice references to Jersey, kind of a change of pace for us here,heh heh.

Clifton, Exit 11

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: annamill
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 09:16 AM

No Joe, you misunderstand. You were so close to me and you never even called. Did you go down to see Old Barney? Tom's River is only a half hour drive from my house and I would have loved to see you. Oh well, maybe next time.

Yeah guys. New Jersey has some real good qualities. (go getem Clifton).

Love, annamill Exit 117, 105, 109.

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Dani
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 12:05 PM

I forgot to sign off

Dani (formerly of 7A)

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 03:08 PM

OK, Annamill, I have to admit I'm guilty as charged. My shy side got the better of me, and I decided against dropping in unannounced. I had seen you at the Getaway just the week before, but didn't get a chance to talk with you. I have to go back and see the airship hangars at Lakehurst Naval Air Station. They wouldn't let me on base last time due to the USS Cole bombing. I got lost in some beautiful woodlands near Lakehurst, so the trip there wasn't wasted.

Radriano, Ed Silverman sang me a New Jersey chantey that was very similar to The Bigler's Crew - I was going to ask you to get the lyrics and post them, but I see Light on Cape May is already in the Digital Tradition. I climbed several lighthouses in New Jersey. The view from Cape May Light was spectacular. Sandy Hook and Navesink Lights had the best view I've ever had from a lighthouse.

Any more New Jersey songs? Here's Jerseywocky.

Oh, and I'm still not satisfied with the information I have on the Intracoastal Waterway. People (Jerry & Bev for two, I think) tell me you have to go around New Jersey, out in the open ocean, to get from Delaware Bay to New York Harbor. I can't imagine taking a small boat there - can't boats get through on the Raritan River or something like that? Maybe not - looks like my answer is here (click) - you have some protection from barrier islands, but maybe not all the way.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: annamill
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 05:31 PM

Sandy Hook is 5 minutes from my house.... We call them the twin lights and yes, it's extremely beautiful there. Honey and I go often.

Joe, my brother-in-law works at Lakehurst Naval Air Station and he might show you around. I would have to ask him first.

Ummm..try to stay away from the Raritan. Yikes.

See you soon, Joe..

Love, annamill

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 11:14 PM

Oh, and as long as we're doing New Jersey songs...here's Black Jack Davy in Atlantic City. There's also The Delaware River, which, if you're talking New Jersey songs, would be considered a border ballad. (By the way, Joe, maybe you or somebody can fix the formatting on that one? The first four lines are the chorus, which does come first, but there should be four verses with the chorus after each.)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: Correction: Delaware River ^^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 03:32 AM

Hi, Mark - Is this how it should look?
Nice song.
-Joe Offer-

---

DELAWARE RIVER
(Mark Cohen)

CHORUS:
Hi, ho, the Delaware River,
It's gloomy and grimy and makes quite a stink.
In Philly they'll feed you the finest of foods
But it's Delaware water you drink.

'Way up in the North as a trick'lin' stream
The Delaware's born in a small mountain pass.
They call that the headwater, so it might seem
That makes Philadelphia the Delaware's . . . port.

Now, fishin' the Delaware's not too much fun,
But once I met quite a successful young man --
He told me that it was most easily done
By baiting his hook with a Budweiser can.

There's a river in Cleveland, the great Cuyahoga,
Caught fire one day just like it had been hexed,
And the people from Tinicum up to Tioga
Will tell you the Delaware's gonna be next.

Our fair city boasts of another fine creek,
Spelled S-C-H-U-Y-L-K-I-L-L.
A friend of mine drank from the Schuylkill* last week
Now he's asking for Delaware water in Hell.

A second repeat of the chorus may be added at the very end if sung in the broadest Philadelphia accent. [Hint: ``water'' is pronounced ``wooder.'']

@humor @America
Copyright Mark Cohen 1983
[* pronounced "skookle"

@river @drink
filename[ DELWATER
BR^^^

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Dani
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 08:27 AM

Priceless!

I'm reading a biography of Abigail Adams, and there's this gem: She is riding down from Massachusetts to Philadelphia (then the capital) to catch up with John Adams just after he is inaugurated as our second President. He can't wait for her to get there (they are 53 and 62 and still madly in love). He rides out to meet her and, "we rode on to Bristol where I had previously engaged a dinner, and there upon the banks of the Delaware we spent the day, getting into the city at sunset".

"Issues of peace and war loomed on the horizon, ...but he took a day off to drive to meet his wife and honeymoon with her among the peach and dogwood blossoms."

Isn't that sweet?

And isn't it odd to think of a President being ABLE to do such a thing?

Dani

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Rowana (at work)
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 12:22 PM

Apologies accepted from all you contrite 'catters and in full agreement with all you current and former Jerseyites. ((hugs)) to you all! There are areas of astonishing beauty and, sadly, areas of repelling blight, as well as lot of rather ordinary looking spots. Probably just like almost everywhere else. But a Jersey tomato, fresh out of the garden, is food of the gods. Pity about all the traffic, though. . .

Reen (closer to exit 4 than 3)

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 05:06 PM

Thanks, Joe! And I hope very soon to have the tune added to the DT (found a great deal on a MIDI keyboard at Wal-Mart!)

Mark

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: radriano
Date: 02 Mar 01 - 02:28 PM

Hey, Mark, how's it going? I'll probably see Ed Silberman this weekend at the monthly song circle which, incidentally, Ed himself started up many years ago. I'll give him a hello from you.

Mark, there's something else I want to discuss with you. You can reach me at: [e-mail]


Richard

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Robo
Date: 02 Mar 01 - 07:10 PM

Clifton . . . don't forget, "ya gotta take pride in that South Amboy stride!"

Robo-of-woodbridge-then-south-amboy-&-now-denver

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Barbara
Date: 02 Mar 01 - 08:54 PM

Radriano, when you talk with Ed would you see if he would also post/part with that version of Froggy Went a Courtin' that I think came from NJ and has the [just about] unsingable refrain of "Kitty [a-khm, a-khm, a-khm] (throat clearing noise)Kitty a'khm and I alone."
Thanks,
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Mar 01 - 09:24 PM

You know, it seems these New Jersey people might be just a tad bit sensitive. I just mentioned that Tom's River looked like California, and people started sounding downright defensive....
On the whole, I have to say that I thought New Jersey was delightful.
-Joe Offer, in California-

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 02 Mar 01 - 10:29 PM

Joe, New Jersey has had an inferiority complex for a very long time. In the early 70s, there was a program on New Jersey Public Television called "A Lot Happens Between New York and Philadelphia"!

But of course, I'm from a city in which one of the winners in a Tourism Bureau slogan contest was: "Philadelphia Isn't As Bad As Philadelphians Say It Is"! Truth. However, it is NOT true that W.C. Fields' tombstone says, "I'd rather be here than in Philadelphia." (It says, "On the whole, I'd rather be in Philadelphia." There's a hell of a difference.)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: jaze
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 12:54 AM

Truth be told, I'm ready to leave NJ after about 4 days. But it really does have a lot more going for it than is commonly believed. There are many great beach resorts. The Pine Barrens are unique. We grew up with tales of the Jersey Devil! In altered states we would actually drive to the "Pines" looking for him! There is also a lot of history. Get OFF the damn turnpike and check it out. You'l l be surprised. And it's no joke about the best tomatoes and corn any where.

Subject: RE: Rivers of New Jersey
From: Dani
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 10:48 AM

And eggplant. Don't forget the eggplant. What passes for tomatoes, eggplant and corn here is so sad.

I dream of Summer nights when dinner was nothing but a huge platter piled high with steaming hot fried eggplant.....

Dani (drooling)