Lyr Req: Everybody Knew My Name

Subject: Everybody Knew My Name
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 08:52 AM

This is an obscure request. The thread about "Our Town" reminded me of another song. As best I remember it talks about growing up in a small town where "Everybody Knew (or Knows) My Name." Anybody know this one?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody Knew My Name
From: GUEST,Annegi
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 02:51 PM

Maybe the song you are thinking about is 'I wish it would rain' by Nanci Griffith. 'I want to walk the streets of my own home town where everybody knows my name' Anne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody Knew My Name
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 11:02 PM

I recall a song at the start of "Cheers" episodes than had a similar line about everybody knew your name. Can't help.

Subject: Lyr Add: MIRA^^
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 11:52 PM

I had fun searching for this song. It's amazing how many songs contain the phrase "everybody knew my name." Many of them are about the fleeting or unsatisfactory nature of fame: "I was a rock star, everybody knew my name, but…" Some of them are rock songs or even rap. I ignored those. I will post the ones that seem kind of folksy. But so far, I haven't even looked for variations like "everybody knows your name" etc. The one that seems most like the theme you had in mind is the following one, although it isn't exactly a folk song, either. I found it quoted in a sermon, of all things, so I don't know if the lyrics are complete.

MIRA
(Bob Merrill)

I came from the town of Mira, beyond the bridges of Saint Claire.
I guess you've never heard of Mira. It's very small, but still it's there.
They have the very greenest trees and skies as bright as flame.
But what I liked the best in Mira, is ev'rybody knew my name.
Can you imagine that? Can you imagine that?
Ev'rybody knew my name.

[Originally sung by Anna Maria Alberghetti in the role of Lili in the musical play, "Carnival," 1961.]

Subject: Lyr Add: THE KEY TO LIFE^^
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 11:54 PM

THE KEY TO LIFE
(Vince Gill)

I'd love to hear my daddy play once again
All the songs that he taught me when I was a kid
John Henry, Ol' Shep and Faded Love
I Fall To Pieces and On The Wings Of A Dove

Just a few chords on the banjo that was all he knew
But in the eyes of a child, man his fingers flew
I practiced and I practiced till I got it right
Packed up everything and just took off one night

I made it from the beer joints to the Opry stage
He said the only difference is what you're gettin' paid
He didn't care that everybody knew my name
He said it's all for nothin' if you don't stay the same

But when he died the preacher cried and said he's the lucky one
He's walkin' hand in hand in hand with God's only son
My faith and common sense tell me the preacher's right
But I'd love to hear the banjo ring for me tonight

And I will honor my father with these words I write down
As long as I remember him he'll always be around
And the pain of losin' him cuts like a Randall knife
I learned a few chords on the banjo as the key to life

And the pain of losin' him cuts like a Randall knife
I learned a few chords on the banjo as the key to life

Subject: Lyr Add: QUEEN OF THE NIGHT^^
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 11:55 PM

QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
Words and Music by Judy Collins, David Buskin, Dwight Batteau, Jr.
Universal Music Corp. (ASCAP)/ Rocky Mountain National Park Music (ASCAP)
(Administered by Universal Music Corp.)
Poso Music Co.

Hey mister can you lend me a dollar
I'm not like the rest of these bums
I just need it to tide me over
Till the mayor comes
He promised me that he'd give me my house back
We just got off of the phone

Don't walk away I can tell your future
Don't walk away, don't you know you're talking to

The queen, the queen of the night
I was the queen, the queen of the night
Everybody knew my name, everybody knew my face
Everybody treated me like I owned the place
I was the mistress of the moonlight
The queen of the night

When I was a girl I met the Prince of Wales
On a yacht in New York harbor
He told me I was pretty and I danced with him
He was a gentleman
He kissed my hand and gave me a dollar
Mister can you make it two

Hey don't walk away I can tell your future
Don't walk away, don't you know you're talking to
The queen, the queen of the night
I was the queen, the queen of the night
Everybody knew my name, everybody knew my face
Everybody treated me like I owned the place
I was the mistress of the moonlight
The queen of the night

I like your lavender limousine
I have a car just like that
My driver cracked it up last night
I think he drinks you know
But I just can't let him go
He'd drive through a wall of fire for me
Sometimes he treats me mean
He forgets that I'm the queen
I sure like that limousine mister

Don't walk away I can tell your future
Don't walk away, don't you know your talking to
The queen, the queen of the night
I was the queen, the queen of the night
I can see your future mister
I can see it in your face
I'll be riding in that limo
You'll be standing in my place

You know it's different in the moonlight
I was the queen of the night
You know it's different in the moonlight
I was the queen of the night
You know it's different in the moonlight
I was the queen of the night
You know it's different in the moonlight
I was the queen of the night
You know it's different in the moonlight
I was the queen of the night

Subject: Lyr Add: FAMOUS IN MISSOURI^^
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Oct 01 - 11:56 PM

FAMOUS IN MISSOURI
Robin and Linda Williams, Jerome Clark
1992 Southern Melody Pub Co /The New Music Times, Inc.
Hallnote Music Co., (BMI)

I was famous in Missouri
Everybody knew my name
Kansas City to St. Louis
They knew how well I played my game
Now it sure feels strange
To be in South Dakota, out on the range

Sometimes my heart feels heavy
Sometimes my head feels light
Sometimes I think back to Missouri
Other times I feel all right
Now it sure feels strange
To be in South Dakota, out on the range

'Cause there ain't nobody to hear it anymore
There ain't nobody here keeping score
When I look back, it seems like such a crime
To believe a woman who was lying all the time

I was famous in Missouri
I sure was fast with the deal
Long before the women and the whiskey
Made my heart forget to feel
Now it sure feels strange
To be in South Dakota, out on the range

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody Knew My Name
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 26 Oct 01 - 08:16 AM

Jim, I think that first one is it! Mira.

I tried to think of where I heard it, etc., and all I could come up with was that a Miss America contestant sang it ~20 years ago. Then I heard a minister mention that he read the words to it (because he couldn't afford to go to a show). I thought it was a Broadway show, but I really had no idea. About all I remember about it was it was kind of a soliloquy type song. When I searched the net I couldn't get to the page that listed Mira, so I'm sure glad you found it. Now I'll watch for music from Carnival. Can you imagine that?