Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon

Subject: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From:
Date: 29 Apr 98 - 12:51 AM

This gets sung to the tune of The Seven Joys of Mary. Came to me as I slogged across the lawn last week.

THE SEVEN JOYS OF OREGON

The first good joy of Oregon, It was the joy of one
To see our pickup sinking fast,Stuck axle deep in the lawn
Stuck axle deep in the lawn, Good man,
(And) Where forever it will be
The rain it raineth evermore
throughout eternity.

two
To see our own sky always gray, to nevermore turn blue

three
To see our topsoil flowing past, as it doth wash to sea

four
To see our own creek rising fast, to run the threshold o'er

five
To see our own oak leaning o'er, to fall across the drive

six
To see our home slide down the bank, to be a pile of sticks
seven
To see our own sun, blessed be, to shine just once from the heavens.
But nevermore ‘twill be)

Barbara Millikan 1998

Alternate lines include, in the 1st verse: "To see our pick-up - Jesus Christ! - stuck axle deep in the lawn. And in the refrain, "The rain it raineth every day; all the days; everywhere. Whatever, sure rained a whole lot this year. Barbara

Subject: RE: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 May 98 - 10:19 PM

30 years ago my wife, Carol, and I lived in Depoe Bay, Oregon---(owned the FOLK ART SHOP there)---went broke (but had a ball doing that)! Loved the coast---low tides exposing wondrous creatures and sights!! Loved the rain and the fog and walking the tide pools below Cape Foulweather in the rain (and on the one or two sunny days when everybody brought out their cameras).

Now, with health gone south, I know I did it right! Climbed the mountains and the Oregon bluffs when I had the strength to do that! We traveled the first 3 years we were married on very little cash. Knew, despite family freaking out, it was the way to go. I've never been sorry!

Today I can get nostalgic for Oregon whenever we have a foggy and wet time like we're having in Illinois now; a true benefit from those other times which are preserved in my memory better than the finest laser photo!

Folks, youth is the time to DO IT! As Joe Campbell said, "Follow Your Bliss"; never put it off! Your own OREGON TRAIL IS WAITING for your footfall. No matter that your Grail be somewhere else---get there! (That's why I became a folksinger.)

Black Elk said that Harney Peak was the center of the world but that EVERYWHERE could be that also!

Go for it!

Art Thieme

I pray that they'll never Californicate Oregon!!!

Subject: RE: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From: rosebrook
Date: 01 May 98 - 11:15 PM

Barbara, Greetings from the beautiful south coast of Oregon! (Coos Bay) Terrific song!! How about a verse about the gorgeous sunsets from the sand duned-beaches? "wrote it as you slogged across your lawn.." I've never heard of slogged before, but I know exactly what you mean!! : )

Rosebrook

Subject: RE: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From: Barbara
Date: 02 May 98 - 05:44 AM

Yes, the beauty of this place is a well kept secret, while the rain is a standing joke, and, still, Rosebrook, didn't it seem to you that this last winter was *unusually* wet? Art, when I was at a Juneau Folk Festival a few years back one man sang a rather hauntingly sweet song, the chorus of which ended "Rainy weather always makes me homesick, Southeast, for you."
n.b. Southeast is what residents of the panhandle of Alaska call their part of the state. Barbara.

Subject: RE: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From: Leprechaun
Date: 03 May 98 - 01:36 PM

It seemed to me that the last two years have been unusually wet, even for Oregon. I'd love to hear your song, Barbara. Do you sing it anywhere besides your lawn?

Subject: RE: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From: steve t
Date: 04 May 98 - 07:42 AM

Sigh. All I wanted to add was that I broke up laughing the last time I heard 7 Joys of Mary. They're SO gruesome. Ever get a group into a song and there's just no way to stop it?

Ah well. Oregon sounds nice. I wonder what the joys of Oregon would be that you know you ought not to like, but which you've come to love anyway. Here in Ottawa for example, I don't really like winters anymore, but there is something JOYFUL in that first day where the wind chill factor runs to minus fifty. One feels more alive, especially if you go out for a walk.

Subject: RE: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From: Barbara
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 03:42 PM

I forget who it was that asked for these words at Singtime last weekend. So, anyway, here it is, again.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From: Genie
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 03:56 PM

I think that Jean Lepley (sp?) - Mudcat's own "Robinia" - sang this or a very similar song at the Friday night Singtime Frolics song circle as "The Seven Joys Of Puget Sound."

Works equally well for the Willamette Valley, of course.

Thanks, Barb,

Genie

Subject: RE: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From: Barbara
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 07:18 PM

Maybe it was Jean. She adapted my parody structure for her song and her region (if it matters). Of course, any place that is wet enough will find this easily adaptable.

The year that I put this together was one of those no-sun-for-a-month springs and the lawn was so soggy that when I walked on it, the water would squirt up around my feet. Water was fountaining out of gopher holes. (We live on a hillside, and the uphill end of the gopher's residence was taking in the water; it was coming out under pressure in the middle of our lawn).

As I squelshed along, I kept hearing "...Jesus Christ! Stuck ankle deep in the lawn". The rest of the song followed.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From: Barbara
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 07:24 PM

And these days, when I sing it, the structure is:

The first good joy of Oregon, it was the joy of one
To see our pickup sinking fast, stuck axle-deep in the lawn
Stuck axle-deep in the lawn good man,
Where forever it will be
The rain it raineth every day
Throughout eternity.

And so on.
I wonder if we could get Jean to post her verses?

Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From: Genie
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 03:13 AM

Send her a PM and I'll bet she will.

Subject: RE: Parody: 7 Joys of Oregon
From: robinia
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 11:18 PM

Here it is (a bit closer to the Xmas song, I now see, than Barbara's, and I never quite settled on the last verse --- sing what you will)

The first good joy of of Puget Sound, it is the joy of one,
To see the friendly clouds o'erhead, a-shielding us from the sun,
Shielding us from the sun, good Lord, and happy may we be,
The rain it raineth every day through all eternity.

The next good joy . . .
To see our sky all colors of gray, with occasional patches of blue . . .

To know that Mt. Rainier is there, though its summit we rarely see . . .

With gaiters and gortex and silicone wax, the rain forest to explore . . .

To be cold and wet in the high Cascades and still come down alive . . .

The Skagit, Skykomish, Snoqualmie, Stillaquamish, playing their springtime tricks . .

To see our own sun, glory be, shine forth just once in God's heaven . .