Lyr Req: Mister Blue (Tom Paxton)

Subject: Mister Blue
From: Hollowfox
Date: 21 May 02 - 10:07 PM

I think this was written by Tom Paxton, and I think it was recorded by Judy Collins. My teens are reading 1984, and the song came to mind. I couldn't find it in the DT. The chorus goes:
What will it take To keep you...(two syllables) line? A broken heart? A broken mind? It can be arranged.

Subject: Lyr Add: MISTER BLUE (Tom Paxton)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 May 02 - 11:01 PM

MISTER BLUE
(Words & music by Tom Paxton, 1966)

(verse)
1. Good morning, MISTER BLUE,
We've got our eyes on you,
The evidence is clear that you've been scheming
You'd like to steal away and while away the day
You'd like to spend an hour, dreaming.

(chorus)
What will it take to whip you into line?
A broken heart? A broken head?
It can be arranged! It can be arranged!

2. Step softly, MISTER BLUE,
We know what's best for you
And we know where your precious dreams will take you
You've got a slot to fill and fill that slot you will
You'll learn to love it or we'll break you.

(chorus)

3. Be careful, MISTER BLUE,
This phase you're going through
Can lead you nowhere else but to disaster
Excuse us while we grin,
You've worn our patience thin,
It's time we showed you who's your master.

(chorus)

4. Don't worry, MISTER BLUE,
We'll take good care of you.
Just think of it as sense and not surrender.
But never think again
Or you'll get a something you'll remember.

(chorus)

SOURCE: Broadside, Vol III (Oak, 1970, p. 34; with music & chords)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Blue
From: raredance
Date: 21 May 02 - 11:37 PM

One of Tom's renditions is on the CD "Best of the Vanguard Years"

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Blue
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 22 May 02 - 04:55 AM

In 1968, I think, a rock group covered this, with a very menacing sort of style. I remember hearing it on Dave Herman's "underground" radio show "The Marconi Experiment" on WMMR-FM in Philadelphia. Anybody remember which group it was? Vanilla Fudge, maybe?

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Blue
From: GUEST,micca at work
Date: 22 May 02 - 06:15 AM

I am sure in the lyric provided above there is an omission, in the 2nd last line of verse 4, I am sure it should read
"But never think again that you can think again"
it doesnt match the other verses for meter or rhythm without!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Blue
From: masato sakurai
Date: 22 May 02 - 06:30 AM

micca, thanks. I've copied it as it is written in the book.

~Masato

Subject: Lyr Add: MISTER BLUE (Tom Paxton)
From: songs2play
Date: 22 May 02 - 08:57 AM

Spot on, Micca - Lyrics as taken from "Tom Paxton in Concert" yes there was part of the line missing in the fourth verse.

MISTER BLUE
(Tom Paxton)

Good morning, Mister Blue. We've got our eyes on you.
The evidence is clear: you've been scheming.
You like to steal away and while away the day.
You like to spend an hour dreaming.

CHO: What will it take to whip you into line?
A broken heart? A broken head?
It can be arranged. It can be arranged.

Step softly, Mister Blue. We know what's best for you.
We know where your precious dreams will take you.
You've got a slot to fill, and fill that slot you will.
You'll learn to love it, or we'll break you. CHO.

Be careful, Mister Blue. This phase you're going through
Can lead you nowhere else but to disaster.
Excuse us while we grin. You've worn our patience thin.
It's time to show you who's your master. CHO.

Don't worry, Mister Blue. We'll take good care of you.
Just think of it as sense and not surrender.
But never think again that you can think again,
Or you'll get something you'll remember. CHO.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 24-May-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Blue
From: Hollowfox
Date: 22 May 02 - 09:18 AM

Many thanks. I knew you folks would come through.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Blue
From: GUEST,Greg F (remote computer)
Date: 22 May 02 - 10:10 AM

John Ashcroft's version of this is pretty popular in the U.S. at present. He's also working up a duet with the Veep.

Best, Greg