Lyr Add: The Last Scene of the Titanic (Hutchison)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAST SCENE OF THE TITANIC (Hutchison)
From: Stewie
Date: 09 May 01 - 01:41 AM

THE LAST SCENE OF THE TITANIC
(Frank Hutchison)

The Titanic – the greatest ship ever was known
Takin' its first sail across the sea
Everybody was loaded up and wavin' their glad hands goodbye
Captain Smith says how's your machinery? All right
How's your compass? Settin' dead on New York
Keep a-cluckin' on down – ah boy – right on down the pike
Blowed his old whistle and went right on down

Everybody's fiddlin' and dancin', havin' a big time on the lower deck
Now you're right, you don't get wrong
Get that girl and promenade on
Good morning, babe, hello now, go on babe

Captain Smith says gonna make a world record out of this ship
Gonna make it to New York in about two days and a half to three days ahead of time
How's the machinery now? All right
How's your compass? All right
Keep a-cluckin' on down, let her go right on down the pike
Blow the whistle right on down

Everybody's still havin' a big time
Now you're right, you don't get wrong
Get that gal with the red dress on
Good morning, babe, hello now

Captain Smith got the message, it's foggy on the sea
Couldn't see how to travel, all boats are tied up
Otherwise there's an iceberg at the North Pole
Biggest ever was known, about a mile square
Impossible for any ships to run
Captain Smith says don't mind the fog on the sea
We've got the strongest dynamite headlight ever was known
Otherwise the ship was unsinkable, plough through all icebergs

Now how's your machinery? All right
How's your compass? Still on New York
Keep a-cluckin' on down – let go – right on down the pike
Blowed his old whistle and went right on down the pike

Everybody's still havin' a big time
Now you're right, but don't get wrong
Get that girl and go right on
Good morning, babe, hello now

The last scene ever of the Titanic before it hit that iceberg
Twenty miles past the lighthouse
You could hear the music on the lower deck

Source: transcription of Frank Hutchison 'The Last Scene of the Titanic' OK 45121. Recorded 29 April 1927 in St Louis, Missouri. Reissued on Frank Hutchison 'Complete Recorded Works Vol 1 1926-1929' Document DOCD-8003.
PS.

This is from one of Hutchison's most fascinating recordings, a type of talking blues over some very tasty guitar work using a pocket knife. It is quite distinct from the myriad other recordings about the Titanic. It has been suggested that Hutchison may have been inspired to create it after hearing a spoken toast called 'Shine and the Titanic'. The latter has been referred to in a thread on 'Traveling Man' and information on it may be found in Alan Lomax's 'Land Where the Blues Began'. Hutchison's piece ends abruptly because apparently he ran out of recording time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Last Scene of the Titanic
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 May 01 - 06:26 AM

Hutchison's piece ends abruptly - well, that's appropriate enough for a song about the Titanic

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Last Scene of the Titanic
From: RWilhelm
Date: 09 May 01 - 01:19 PM

It's a great recording. Frank Hutchison is another underappreciated artist who deserves to be "rediscovered"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Last Scene of the Titanic
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 May 01 - 02:00 PM

Wow! This is certainly a case for writing that last verse. I mean, what happened next? I've been away a long time. Maybe I'll play around with three times 'round, "Blowed his old whistle and went right on down."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Last Scene of the Titanic
From: MMario
Date: 15 May 01 - 11:00 AM

stewie? got a tune to go with that?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Last Scene of the Titanic
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Feb 16 - 04:36 PM

It's "Keep a-truckin on down" not cluckin. I'm pretty damn sure.