Metasongs, songs within songs

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 01:11 PM

It's called "Captain Collins and the Mermaid" and I'm trying to find the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: GUEST,Ravenheart
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 02:44 PM

The way Norma Waterson runs from "Al Bowlly's in Heaven" to "The Very Thought of You" should qualify.

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: Joe_F
Date: 21 Sep 08 - 09:50 PM

To the same tune as "Turkey in the Straw" is another song, much more extensively self-referential, called "Old Zip Coon":

Oh, there was a man with a double chin,
Who performed with skill upon a violin,
And he played in time, and he played in tune,
But he never played anything but "Old Zip Coon".
"Old Zip Coon" he played all day,
Till he drove his friends away, etc.

For all we know, the man with the double chin may himself have been old Zip Coon.

Kipling's "Absent Minded Beggar" mentions "Rule Britannia" and "God Save the Queen".

Subject: Lyr Add: I HEARD IT FIRST ON THE RADIO (Gaither)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 06:54 PM

I HEARD IT FIRST ON THE RADIO
Words and music by William J. & Gloria Gaither
(As sung by the Gaither Vocal Band on the Homecoming Picnic album)


1. Jesus loves me, this I know.
For the Bible tells me so,
And I heard it first on the radio.
This love of God so rich and strong,
Shall be the saints' and angels' song,
And I heard it first on the radio.

2. Amazing grace-- how sweet the sound--
The lost and lonely can be found,
And grace can even save a wretch like me!
No other love could make a way;
No other love my debt could pay.
And I heard it first on the radio.

3. Needing refuge for my soul,
When I had no place to go--
And I heard it first on the radio.
From a life of wasted years,
He gave me peace and calmed my fears,
And I heard it first on the radio.

4. Had I not heard where would I be,
Without this love that lifted me,
When I was lost and nothing else would help?
Just as I was without one plea,
Sweet Jesus came and rescued me--
And I heard it first on the radio.

5. Alas, and did my Savior bleed,
That captive spirits could be freed,
And I heard it first on the radio.
My soul has found a resting place,
Until I meet Him face to face--
And I heard it first on the radio.

6. I love to tell the story true,
And those who know still love it, too;
Oh, what a precious Friend we have in Him!
And when in glory saints will tell,
'Twill be the theme they love so well--
And we heard it first on the radio.


Tag: Na na na na na na na, Na na na na na na na.
And I heard it first on the radio.
Na na na na na na na, Na na na na na na na.
And I heard it first on the radio.
I heard it first on the radio.
And I heard it first on the radio.

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: GUEST,Karen Impola
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 02:50 PM

This one's more subtle, as it doesn't refer to the songs *as songs*, but simply incorporates their names into the lyrics:

The Grateful Dead's "Uncle John's Band" mentions several oldtime/American trad songs and tunes. "Buckdancer's Choice" and "A Story the Crow Told Me" are the ones that come to my mind, but there may be more. Uncle John, supposedly, is John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers, who Garcia crossed paths with several times in the early 1960's.

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 03:17 PM

The lyric song 'Waly Waly' from the early years of the 18th century was incorporated into the ballad 'Jamie Douglas' (Child 204) some time before 1800, probably by a broadside writer, or it could have been someone like Lord Hailes (James Dalrymple). There was a lot of mixing and matching going on at that time.

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: JHW
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 06:58 AM

More memories. Soon as I saw this title I remembered the song about Long Way To Tipperary being written to claim a bet. Regret I don't know who sang it (nor who wrote it until now) but remember well the Southfield Bar at Girvan where the singing was outstanding. Alas that Bar is now (was) just a B&B, no licence.

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 09:49 AM

I didn't realize those were other songs in Dire Straits' song till rereading this thrwad just now. Musta missed that the first time around.

And I was looking for songs that mention other songs. If the word for that isn't metasong, then what is it?

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 01:56 PM

'Medley of titles' is what you are looking for. 'Metasong' is perfectly well explained in the subject heading. 'songs within songs' so presumably not 'song titles within songs' which is what this thread has been filled with. Or not as the case may be!"

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 03:34 PM

Hmmmm, just looked it up on Wikipedia.
'Songs that refer to themselves or to songwriting'. Even more confused now!

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 03:53 PM

Medley of titles is not, from what it sounds like [I have not looked it up] what I sought. I was looking for songs that mention other songs. Not songs that list songs.

So And the band played Waltzing Matilda, or that song about Kissed her while the guitars played the Bonaparte's Retreat, or Kick the Pope mentioned in the Ould Orangle Flute.

Thanks for the definitions, though!

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: GUEST,David Ingerson
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 02:23 AM

From "The Half Door" Irish trad.

She said, "Play up The Shaskeen Reel,
And I will make yeh happy feel."
And turning smart upon her heel,
She lifted down the half door.
I played that tune with grace and style,
With every note she winked and smiled
Until she had my heart beguiled
While dancing on the half door.

Cheers, David

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 06:05 AM


THEY DO'NT WRITE THEM LIKE THAT ANY MORE
by Pete Betts

Chorus:
And oh, how we could sing, what fun those nights would bring
Singing for hours on end
Once we found the key - oh what harmony
Those drunken voices could blend
Heart of My Heart, just for a start
Walkin' My Baby Back Home
When it comes to an end let's sing it again
They don't write them like that any more

They don't write them like that anymore    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muEW1LJv2ig

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 06:14 AM

Vin Garbutt- They don't write them like that anymore     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7Jr3_po1LA

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 08:34 AM

Did Bettsy write that? Didn't know that.

Subject: ADD: Hurricane of Reels
From: GUEST,Jiggers
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 09:41 AM

Has anyone mentioned Hurricane of Reels.

HURRICANE OF REELS

I rolled with Roaring Mary and I cuddled Bonnie Kate,
I got drunk with Bonnie Annie, scared The Pigeon On The Gate,
After all these Comely Maidens, with whom I did parade,
I most often took my chances with the darling Sligo Maid.

Tim Moloney took The Bag o’ Spuds, it was A Heavy Load,
Fed them out to Jenny’s Chickens Coming West Along the Road.
The merry Maids of Mitchelstown are missing from the floor,
They’ll be in The New Mown Meadows with The Bucks of Oranmore.

Lord McDonald and Lord Gordon swing the Lasses from Fermoy,
But sure Drowsy Maggie told me that they were The Soldier’s Joy.
I met with Tim Moloney, he was feeling mighty proud,
As the hieland danced the highland with the darling Miss McLeod.

I met The Jolly Tinker, he was singing like a thrush,
And The Lark was in the Morning and The Bird was In The Bush.
After all my great adventures with these maidens great and small,
I settled down and married to the lass from Donegal

Subject: ADD: The Sinner & the Song
From: Newport Boy
Date: 26 Mar 21 - 12:26 PM

A partial metasong is The Sinner & the Song, a gospel song for soloist and chorus by Will Thompson.

THE SINNER AND THE SONG

1 A sinner was wand’ring at eventide,
His tempter was watching close by at his side;
In his heart raged a battle for right against wrong;
But then from the church he hears the sweet song:
Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly.

2 He lingered and listened to ev’ry sweet chord,
He remembered the time that he loved the Lord:
Come on! says the tempter, come on with the throng;
But hark! from the church again swells the song:
While the billows near me roll,
While the tempest still is high.

3 O tempter, depart, I have served thee too long.
I fly to the Saviour, He dwells in the song:
O Lord, can it be, that a sinner like me
May find a sweet refuge by coming to Thee?
Other refuge have I none:
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.

I come, Lord, I come,
Thou’lt forgive the dark past,
And O, receive my soul at last.

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 01 Apr 21 - 07:15 PM

THE OLD FIDDLE
Cicely Fox Smith © 1920
In SMALL CRAFT, pp. 91-95
tune by Charlie Ipcar

has the lines
,,,,,,,narrow street
Full of dinky Chinee houses, where the East and West do meet;
"Ranzo, Ranzo, Reuben Ranzo" – came the sound to me
Of a chantey chorus roaring 'bove the roaring of the sea.



thread
The Old Fiddle
thread.cfm?threadid=79690#1448343

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: John C. Bunnell
Date: 02 Apr 21 - 05:35 PM

Forest Lawn - written by Tom Paxton, best known for John Denver's performance per the link - includes passages from "Church in the Wildwood" and "Rock of Ages" (though both involve partially parodied lyrics).

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 03 Apr 21 - 05:34 AM

There, I read through all the old posts and Geoff got there just a week ago with 'They don't write them like that Anymore'.
But has no-one mentioned 'The Egg'. Not only words from the songs but the tunes too. Somewhere there's a thread that decodes all the songs -some very obvious, some more obscure.
And how about 'A Wand'ring minstrel I', not song titles, but the tune changes to the style of the song he is singing - sentimental ballad, song of the sea, martial.

Subject: RE: Metasongs, songs within songs
From: Mrrzy
Date: 03 Apr 21 - 09:48 AM

Somehow I am reminded of the wandering minstrel, a thing of threads and zatches [biting his lip in consternation at the slip it made], whose name began with X and didn't.