Song Challenge! - Part 52

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 08 May 01 - 06:09 PM

The Blue China Jug

When Vernon and Katy had said their goodbyes
They turned to the West with a dream in their eyes
With one yoke of oxen, a bed and a rug
a shotgun, a rocker, and a blue china jug

They crossed to St Louis where they joined with a train
And set out for Texas in a cold, driving rain
In West Oklahoma with its dust and its bugs
They dipped clear creek water in the blue china jug

Where the plains of West Texas met the trees of the East
They finally declared that their searching had ceased
They built them a soddy, not pretty, but snug
And a pine corner shelf held the blue china jug

In those first years of farming they struggled for life
And the babies were sick, and Vernon said to his wife
"We've only this dollar for all the dirt that I've dug"
But Kate dropped the coin in the blue china jug

"This is a place where our fortune can grow
We'll start with this dollar and add as we go"
And as the years passed, and their work turned to wealth
The jug grew quite heavy on the old pinewood shelf

In the summer of 61, Tom rode off with a force
Of Texas Militia in a company of horse
From Mill Springs to Shiloh his letters he sent
Until at Resaca his young life was spent

And Vernon took money from the blue china jar
To bring Thomas home from the fields of the war
But the people were hungry, and the farm prospered well
In the spring of 72 they decided to sell.

They bought a frame house and a business in town
And they loaded the wagons on the hard clay ground
It was while Kate was loading the jug at the last
That it slipped from her hands and shattered like glass

She gathered the pieces in an old cloth of gray
And dug out a place in the layer of clay
For one hundred thirty years the china jug laid
until it was troubled by the touch of a spade

She said to her husband "Quick, look what I've found
Lying just under that piece of clay ground!"
And he laughed and he said "what a fine piece of junk
You can stick it in the shed by the old cardboard trunk"

But she washed it and cleaned it til the jar shone like new
And she brought it to life with patience and glue
And she said as she placed it on the mantle of stone
"Here's a place to put dreams. Welcome back home."

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 May 01 - 04:20 PM

With apologies to accordian players everywhere. I think concertinas are sexy. Some of my best friends are concertina players...

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 May 01 - 04:19 PM

Rough Draft

THE TWELVE DAYS OF DIGGING

ON THE FIRST DAY OF DIGGING, OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
A DETESTED ACCORDION!

ON THE SECOND DAY OF DIGGING OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
TWO BLACK BODHRANS
AND A DETESTED ACCORDION!

ON THE THIRD DAY OF DIGGING OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
THREE BANJO PLAYERS
TWO BLACK BODHRANS
AND A DETESTED ACCORDION!

ON THE FOURTH DAY OF DIGGING, OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
FOUR WILTED WHISTLES
THREE BANJO PLAYERS
TWO BLACK BODHRANS
AND A DETESTED ACCORDION!

ON THE FIFTH DAY OF DIGGING, OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
FIVE TURKEY TURD BEERS
FOUR WILTED WHISTLES
THREE BANJO PLAYERS
TWO BLACK BODHRANS
AND A DETESTED ACCORDION!

ON THE SIXTH DAY OF DIGGING, OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
SIX NEIL YOUNG CDs
FIVE TURKEY TURD BEERS
FOUR WILTED WHISTLES
THREE BANJO PLAYERS
TWO BLACK BODHRANS
AND A DETESTED ACCORDION!

ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF DIGGING, OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
SEVEN MORRIS DANCERS
SIX NEIL YOUNG CDs
FIVE TURKEY TURD BEERS
FOUR WILTED WHISTLES
THREE BANJO PLAYERS
TWO BLACK BODHRANS
AND A DETESTED ACCORDION!

ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF DIGGING, OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
EIGHT MOUSTACHE TUNERS
SEVEN MORRIS DANCERS
SIX NEIL YOUNG CDs
FIVE TURKEY TURD BEERS
FOUR WILTED WHISTLES
THREE BANJO PLAYERS
TWO BLACK BODHRANS
AND A DETESTED ACCORDION!

ON THE NINTH DAY OF DIGGING, OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
NINE ROCK GUITARISTS
EIGHT MOUSTACHE TUNERS
SEVEN MORRIS DANCERS
SIX NEIL YOUNG CDs
FIVE TURKEY TURD BEERS
FOUR WILTED WHISTLES
THREE BANJO PLAYERS
TWO BLACK BODHRANS
AND A DETESTED ACCORDION!

ON THE TENTH DAY OF DIGGING, OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
TEN HUNGRY FOLKIES
NINE ROCK GUITARISTS
EIGHT MOUSTACHE TUNERS
SEVEN MORRIS DANCERS
SIX NEIL YOUNG CDs
FIVE TURKEY TURD BEERS
FOUR WILTED WHISTLES
THREE BANJO PLAYERS
TWO BLACK BODHRANS
AND A DETESTED ACCORDION!

ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF DIGGING, OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
ELEVEN PLASTERED PIPERS
TEN HUNGRY FOLKIES
NINE ROCK GUITARISTS
EIGHT MOUSTACHE TUNERS
SEVEN MORRIS DANCERS
SIX NEIL YOUNG CDs
FIVE TURKEY TURD BEERS
FOUR WILTED WHISTLES
THREE BANJO PLAYERS
TWO BLACK BODHRANS
AND A DETESTED ACCORDION!

ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF DIGGING, OUR AINE UNEARTHED:
TWELVE TONE-DEAF BUSKERS
ELEVEN PLASTERED PIPERS
TEN HUNGRY FOLKIES
NINE ROCK GUITARISTS
EIGHT MOUSTACHE TUNERS
SEVEN MORRIS DANCERS
SIX NEIL YOUNG CDs
FIVE TURKEY TURD BEERS
FOUR WILTED WHISTLES
THREE BANJO PLAYERS
TWO BLACK BODHRANS
AND A DETESTED ACCORDION!

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: MMario
Date: 08 May 01 - 04:15 PM

oh CRAPFARDLES!!!!

that's what I get for trying to be fancy. last line of chorus should be: and it's time to dig down, Áine!

The second verse begins with "There are rocks and junk..."

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: MMario
Date: 08 May 01 - 04:10 PM

Well the ground is hard and the work is slow
Dig down, Áine, dig down!
Destroys your shovel and your hoe
And it's time to dig down; Áine!

chorus:Dig down, Áine, dig down!
Oh, Dig down, Áine, dig down!
we'll tell your tale in a a song, you know
There are rocks and junk and people's trash
Dig down, Áine, dig down!
and enough poison ivy to give you rash
And it's time to dig down; Áine!

chorus

There are broken dreams and broken lives
Dig down, Áine, dig down!
The shattered hopes of other times
And it's time to dig down; Áine!

chorus

There's a treasure in a wooden chest!
Dig down, Áine, dig down!
there's a broken spoon and a woolen vest! And it's time to dig down; Áine!

chorus

An old tin plate with a dented rim!
Dig down, Áine, dig down!
Like cowboys ate their dinner in! And it's time to dig down; Áine!

chorus

there are flowers buried way down deep
Dig down, Áine, dig down!
You'll find them when you fall asleep
And it's time to dig down; Áine!

chorus

There's a swimming pool and a floating chair
Dig down, Áine, dig down!
And an end to all of it, I swear!
And it's time to dig down; Áine!

chorus

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 08 May 01 - 03:36 PM

Oh sure, Bert, go ahead and bring in reality, why don't you? LOL!

Good stuff, everybody--good challenge, Aine.

Lin

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: Bert
Date: 08 May 01 - 03:26 PM

How many kinds of things can you dig
From a Texas Homestead Garden
I'll tell you now of some that are big
And those I miss you'll surely pardon
There are wagon wheels and boots and socks,
forty seven concrete blocks
And tin cans and bed pans all buried among the rocks
in a Texas Homestead Garden.

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: Bert
Date: 08 May 01 - 03:09 PM

I went into a guy's office once and saw this object on his window sill. I said "What's the coffin handle for?", He replied "Oh! is THAT what it is? I found it in my garden". I suggested that he not do too much more digging.

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: mousethief
Date: 08 May 01 - 02:09 PM

Aine's Mysterious Mud
by Alex Riggle

Well now I ain't superstitious
And I don't get fooled a lot
But I got a might suspicious
At the subsoil on my plot

Everywhere it's soft and loamy
'Cept for one place right out back
Where the rocks are big as softballs
And the soggy clay is black

So I got my pick and shovel
And began to dig and pry
Hoping I would soon discover
What was hidden to the eye

For a week I scraped and scrappled
Bruised my shins and stained my clothes
But I wouldn't be discouraged
Though the sun had burned my nose

My husband thought me batty
The grandkids thought me daft
But I was happy digging
In my home-made mining shaft

And when the week was ended
I hit something hard like wood
I carefully uncovered it
And there beside it stood

It was a wooden coffin
And so carefully I pried
The lid came off and Jimmy Hoffa's
Body was inside.

(C) Alex Riggle 2001 All rights reserved.

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 May 01 - 07:01 AM

I've got a rock
and a sock
and a brick
and a stick
and a great lump of something
made me feel a little sick.
In this ground
I have found
that the world indeed is round,
for I've dug clear to Australia,
where the kangaroos abound.

It's a fact
I attract
such a crowd
talking loud
and they're saying that such digging
should never be allowed.
It's not right
day and night slogging on with all my might
and it really isn't ladylike,
and I'll never get it right.

I once lived high
in the sky
but now I'm deep down
underground
And I'll keep on with my digging
till I get where I am bound.
I'm a-digging like the devil,
I've got muscles like King Kong
And those nosy neighbours shut their ears
when they hear me sing this song.

I've got a rock
and a sock
and a brick
and a stick
and a great lump of something
made me feel a little sick.
In this ground
I have found
that the world indeed is round,
for I've dug clear to Australia,
where the kangaroos abound.

Strictly speaking of course implying that I know that Australia is the Antipodes when you're in Texas is all wrong... I suppose the Texan Antipodes would be somewhere ion the Indian Ocean? But they don't have kangaroos down there. (Tune? A sort of variant on Eileen Oge seems to fit it.)

And welcome back Áine.

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 08 May 01 - 04:58 AM

Stories of Texas

It wasn't all that long ago
The government sent back East
Offering sections of land to plow and sow—
A homestead claim in Texas.

Adventurers, gunmen, gamblers and rakes
Heard the rumors blowin' on the wind.
Land-poor families pulled up stakes—
And they all headed west to Texas.

Ranchers fought to carve out a life
From that hard-rock wilderness.
And every day brought storm and strife—
But they stayed on in Texas.

Tornadoes, gullywashers, cattle stampedes,
Drought, and flood, and snow—
The land tested them and made them bleed
In the East Cross Timbers of Texas.

Now another family lives on the old homestead,
But the values and dreams are the same.
Someone new digs a flower bed
Under the oaks in Texas.

An arrowhead, a piece of glass
Turned purple from years in the sun
Raked up by a lissome Irish lass
Raised in the heart of Texas.

A leather strap, a frayed old rope
A rusted rowel from a spur—
Symbols of bravery and of hope,
Just part of the song of Texas...


I apologize for being maudlin, folks, but I do love my home state. Aine, best wishes for the new home!

Lin

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 May 01 - 02:40 AM

Aw jeez...it's over before it even gets started! Well done, A-moss!

Digging in the clay dirt
All covered with rock
Is a wild Irish womon
Sitting, cleaning her clocks.

She found them down under
Amid the debris
Of last year's big doings
Dumped out on the scree.

She came upon rubbers
To wear on your feet
Her pick axe struck pay dirt
When she went too deep

That black Texas oil
Came spurting up high
She yelled, "Got the big one!"
The Shrub shrivelled and died.

For he knew that our Aine
Was richer than he
For she struck the big one
And wealthy she'd be!

Now the moral of this story
If you go digging for dirt
With a heart that's wide open
You won't have to live in a yurt!

LOL!!!

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: Amos
Date: 08 May 01 - 02:25 AM

Things on my Land

Three miles of bubble gum, used and extended!
Fifty four jacks, of which four had got bended!
Six round-head railroad spikes, and one golden band,
These are some things I have found on my land!

Half an alarm clock with Mickey Mouse pointers,
Three rusty blades from an adze or a jointer!
One Marshall Dillon badge, one Band-Aid can,
These are some things I have found on my land!

When my back aches, when my lungs wheeze, when my arms are sprained,
I simply imagine the things in my land,
And then I don't feel soooo pained!

A waterstained ticket stub to see Maggie's Maulers!
One can of Red Man full of limp Rebel dollars!
A dance card from Dallas in 1903!
These are some things which my land brought to me!

Half of Colt handle, signed by Bill Bonnie
Three mossy Moxie jars and shards from a jonny!
A Stevenson button, a pearl-handled fan,
Wonderful things i have found in my land!

When my back aches, when my lungs wheeze, when my arms are sprained,
I simply imagine the things in my land,
And then I don't feel soooo pained!

Love,

A

Subject: RE: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 May 01 - 01:24 AM

Oh dear! I'll have to dream on this one a bit!

Are you gonna sell what we have you finding at a garage sale then or what? How much does Max get then?

~S~

Subject: SONG CHALLENGE! - Part 52
From: Áine
Date: 07 May 01 - 07:22 PM

Yep, it's your one and only Giver-upper of the Golden Cow Chips, back from the 'moving' wars and ready to test your little gray cells once again!! I'll just take this opportunity to let all you wonderful Challenge!rs know how much I've missed you -- and I hope we won't ever be parted for so long again . . .

This Challenge! will be sorta personal, if y'all don't mind too much ;-) . . . I do think, however, that it will test your collective imagination and rhyming capabilities satisfactorily . . . Here's a picture of the new homestead, perched appropriately on a high sandstone hill in the Post Oak Savannah of Texas (the East Cross Timbers, to be exact). Please note the sandstone wall on the left . . . behind that wall is a curious little patch of broken stones, buried in a sandy clay loam, quite different from the rest of the grounds (you can't 'dig' here -- there's one inch of dirt, then rock, then THICK wet (not damp) clay).

I've been digging and breaking rocks with my trusty spade and pickaxe for two weeks now, and I still haven't reached the bottom of this strange plot of earth. However, I have discovered a few interesting things buried under the first layer of dirt and rock . . . your Challenge! is to write a song about what I found buried beneath the red-tipped photinias, honeysuckle and asian jasmine . . . let your minds run wild and let your collective freak flags fly, my dear Challenge!rs and GO FOT IT!

Hugs and snogs to each and every one of you -- and two kisses on each of your cheeks (hahaha) -- Áine (songtress, chef, chief bottle washer and now Mad Gardener)