Lyr Req: Who Killed Davey Moore (Bob Dylan)

Subject: RE: Can you help find a protest song from the 60s
From: Barry Finn
Date: 01 Dec 98 - 11:49 AM

I don't know if this is what you're looking for. Bob Dylan did a song about the death of a boxer inside the ring & no one would except blame. Not the other boxer, the ref, the fans. etcIt's called Who Killed Davey Moore

Who killed Davey Moore, why & what's the reason fro
Not I said the man whose fists laid him into a cloud of mist
Who just arrived from Cuba's door where boxing ain't allowed not more
I hit him, I hit him, yes it's true but that's what I've been paid to do

Don't remember much of the rest, if this is the one maybe others can fill inn the blanks. Good Luck. Barry

Subject: RE: Can you help find a protest song from the 60s
From: Pete M
Date: 01 Dec 98 - 03:09 PM

No, Barry was right, Dylan wrote "Who killed Davy Moore", in much the same vein as "Who killed Norma Jean". Both based on Who killed Cock Robin. Unfortunately I haven't got the lyrics. Others have used the format to produce similar protests about issues where no one is prepared to accept involvement or responsibility far less blame, usually including an acknowledgement to Dylan rather than Anon.

Pete M

Subject: Lyr Add: WHO KILLED DAVEY MOORE? (Bob Dylan)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 01 Dec 98 - 05:46 PM

Got this off a Dylan webpage

Who Killed Davey Moore
by Bob Dylan


WHO KILLED DAVEY MOORE?
(Bob Dylan)

Who killed Davey Moore,
Why an' what's the reason for?

"Not I," says the referee,
"Don't point your finger at me.
I could've stopped it in the eighth
An' maybe kept him from his fate,
But the crowd would've booed, I'm sure,
At not gettin' their money's worth.
It's too bad he had to go,
But there was a pressure on me too, you know.
It wasn't me that made him fall.
No, you can't blame me at all."

Who killed Davey Moore,
Why an' what's the reason for?

"Not us," says the angry crowd,
Whose screams filled the arena loud.
"It's too bad he died that night
But we just like to see a fight.
We didn't mean for him t' meet his death,
We just meant to see some sweat,
There ain't nothing wrong in that.
It wasn't us that made him fall.
No, you can't blame us at all."

Who killed Davey Moore,
Why an' what's the reason for?

"Not me," says his manager,
Puffing on a big cigar.
"It's hard to say, it's hard to tell,
I always thought that he was well.
It's too bad for his wife an' kids he's dead,
But if he was sick, he should've said.
It wasn't me that made him fall.
No, you can't blame me at all."

Who killed Davey Moore,
Why an' what's the reason for?

"Not me," says the gambling man,
With his ticket stub still in his hand.
"It wasn't me that knocked him down,
My hands never touched him none.
I didn't commit no ugly sin,
Anyway, I put money on him to win.
It wasn't me that made him fall.
No, you can't blame me at all."

Who killed Davey Moore,
Why an' what's the reason for?

"Not me," says the boxing writer,
Pounding print on his old typewriter,
Sayin', "Boxing ain't to blame,
There's just as much danger in a football game."
Sayin', "Fist fighting is here to stay,
It's just the old American way.
It wasn't me that made him fall.
No, you can't blame me at all."

Who killed Davey Moore,
Why an' what's the reason for?

"Not me," says the man whose fists
Laid him low in a cloud of mist,
Who came here from Cuba's door
Where boxing ain't allowed no more.
"I hit him, yes, it's true,
But that's what I am paid to do.
Don't say 'murder,' don't say 'kill.'
It was destiny, it was God's will."

Who killed Davey Moore,
Why an' what's the reason for?



I don't believe there was a Davey Moore but I thought that around this time there was a death inside the ring & Bob had based this song on that event, but it's awhile back now. He's must've had a soft spot for fighters, his fight for right on behalf of Hurricane Carter was beyond any call. Barry

Subject: RE: Can you help find a protest song from the 60s
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 01 Dec 98 - 06:19 PM

Barry,

I have nothing to back up my belief except a fading memory. I believe Davey Moore was a boxer who died from wounds inflicted in the boxing ring. Perhaps Joe Offer, the Internet search wizard can do better than I in finding some information. I keep getting Dylan lyrics.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Can you help find a protest song from the 60s
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 01 Dec 98 - 06:39 PM

OK, I have some information. Davey Moore was a "featherweight" professional boxer from 1959 - 1963. On March 21, 1963 he was knocked out in the tenth round by "Sugar" Ramos, a cuban boxer. He died March 23, 1963. Davey Moore is the boxer in the song.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Can you help find a protest song from the 60s
From: Pete M
Date: 01 Dec 98 - 07:10 PM

Damn, beaten to it! As Roger says, the Davey Moore of the song was WBC Featherweight champion, who died two days after being knocked out in a title fight, (the site I found gave date of death as 25.3.63). There is another Davey Moore, a welterweight who was fighting in the eighties. If anyone is interested the site here gives an account of the fight, by the Cuban doctor who was one of Ramos's seconds.

No, I'm not a fan of boxing, or have any interest in it, but I can't resist a challenge Barry!

Pete M

Subject: RE: Can you help find a protest song from the 60s
From: Barry Finn
Date: 01 Dec 98 - 08:11 PM

Hi Pete & Roger, yup, you're right Roger, just came back from the same sites. I think that I had the Emile Griffith fight where he killed Benny Kid Paret in I think early 62. Davey "The Springfield Rifle" Moore the favored 5-1, died from injuries from Sugar (a very popular fight nickname) Ray Ramos, who left Cuba because Castro had outlawed boxing (wonder what led to that discussion). This song was part of his underground tapes, he did a nice version of 500 miles on it & some others that I can no longer recall. My the recording has long since been among the list of missing. Barry

Subject: RE: Can you help find a protest song from the 60s
From: rich r
Date: 04 Dec 98 - 10:52 PM

Pete Seeger recorded both "Who Killed Davey Moore?" and "Who Killed Norma Jean?" on his 1963 Carnegie Hall Concert. The Mitchell Trio recorded Paxton's "We Didn't Know".

rich r

Subject: RE: Can you help find a protest song from the 60s
From: Bojangles
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 08:25 PM

I do recall that Pete Seeger sang, and (I believe) recorded the song. It should be available under Pete Seeger"s exhaustive discography. Peter Stanley

Subject: RE: Can you help find a protest song from the 60s
From: Benson
Date: 16 Dec 98 - 04:28 PM

Pete Seeger did indeed record "Who killed Davey Morre" on a "Broadside album" in conjunction with "Who killed Norma Jean....(Marilyn Monroe)....in the latter '60's.....

Subject: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 06:52 AM

A friend came home on the weekend from cycling 'round Ireland for a week and he asked me if I knew a song that he'd heard there that started "Who killed Davy Jones?" That was all he could remember of it. He then went on to say "I think it was Davy Jones". (He likes traditional music). I asked him if he was taking the piss. Anyway I've searched the DT and forum for "who killed" and "Davy Jones" nothing comes to light.
Any takers?

Mike

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 06:56 AM

'Who killed Davey Moore?'??

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 06:58 AM

Bob Dylan, I should have added

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 07:10 AM

Wolfgang,

Thanks. I should have thought of that one but didn't.
May you always walk in sunshine

Mike

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 08:01 AM

Check this out in the threads, I think this Bob Dylan song was done some time ago. Davey Jones was a box who died in the ring. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: LR Mole
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 10:46 AM

Boxed under water, didn't he?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 11:25 AM

Yeah, it was quite common to hold minor boxing matches at public swimming baths in the UK for years!

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 12:41 PM

Who REALLY killed Davy Jones was the American record buying public. Yes they enjoyed the Monkees, and elevated the former English jockey to Rock and Roll superstardom, but all things must pass, and so now the little guy who still looks 25 (but with the face of a sixty year old) sticks to Info-mercials hawking Golden Oldies.

Davy Moore was the fighter in Bob's song. I seem to recall the line "......down to Cuba's shore, where boxing ain't allowed no more". Yah, sure Bob. Ever heard of Teofilo Stephenson?

Rick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: nutty
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 03:25 PM

I have "Who killed Davey Moore" sung by Pete Seegar - I believe Davey Moore was also a boxer who died in the ring. Without getting the record out all I can remember is the first 2 lines:-

"Who killed Davey Moore
Why did he die and whats the reason for"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: nutty
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 03:28 PM

Didn't remember it quite right but the definitive version is here

WHO KILLED DAVEY MOORE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: GUEST,Peter Tork
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 03:32 PM

I just spoke with Davy. He's very much alive.

Peter Tork

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: GUEST,Den at work
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 03:52 PM

They were probably aiming at Mickie Dolenz. Den

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: Pene Azul
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 03:53 PM

The lyrics to "Who Killed Davey Moore" are also here (click) in the Forum. There's also more info in that thread.

Jeff

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 04:04 PM

Guest Peter, your album with James lee Stanley is a Killer!

Giving it a ton of Canadian airplay.

Rick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who killed Davy Jones?
From: GUEST,Peter Tork
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 04:20 PM

That's very kind of you to say so. Working with James is a lot of fun.

Have you heard his new album with Michael Smith? Now, that one's a killer. That Michael Smith is one of the best singer-songwriters in the world.

Peter Tork