Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?

Subject: Lyr Add: SUDDENLY IT'S CHRISTMAS (L Wainwright)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 08:55 AM

This year the stores didn't even wait for after Halloween to lay out the Christmas holiday decorations. Some folks have no shame. Tom Lehrer had his biting anti-holiday song and here's another favorite of mine (copy and paste into WORD/TIMES/12 for chord placement, or buy the CD):


SUDDENLY IT'S CHRISTMAS

(Words & Music by Loudon Wainwright III
© 1993 Snowden Music Inc.
Slightly adapted by Charlie Ipcar - 1993)


G------------D-------------G-D-G-----C
Sud-den-ly it's Christ-mas, just af-ter Hall-o-ween;
---G----------------D-----------C----------D
For-get a-bout Thanks-giv-ing, that buf-fet in be-tween;
-------G--------------D------------------G----D—G----C
There's lights and tin-sel in the shops, they're stock-ing up the shelves;
G--------------D----------------C--------------D-G
San-ta's slav-ing at the Pole with his sweat shop full of elves.

There's got to be a build up for the day that Christ was born;
The malls are decked with pumpkins and ears of Injun corn;
Dragging through the falling leaves in a one-horse open sleigh;
Suddenly it's Christmas, seven weeks before the day.


Chorus:

C-------------G-------------D-------G-D-G
Sud-den-ly it's Christ-mas, the long-est hol-i-day
----------C------------G-------------------------C----G--D
When they say "Sea-sons Greet-ings!", they mean just what they say;
-----G------------D-------------G-D-G----C
It's a sea-son, it's a mar-a-thon – re-tail e-ter-ni-ty,
-----------G-----------D------------C--------------G
And it's not o-ver 'til it's o-ver and you throw a-way the tree.

Outside it's nice and balmy, in the air nary a nip;
Suddenly it's Christmas, Santa's on his trip;
Yes, they're working overtime, Santa's little runts;
Christmas comes but once a year – and hangs on for two months.(CHO)

Christmas carols in December, and November too;
It's no wonder we're depressed when the whole damn thing is through;
Finally, it's January, drag out Auld Lang Syne;
And here comes another heartache shaped like a valentine.

Final Chorus:

Suddenly it's Christmas, the longest holiday;
The season is upon us – it just won't go away;
It's a season, it's a marathon – retail eternity,
And it's not over 'til it's over and you throw away the tree;
No, it's not over 'til it's over and you throw away the tree;
It's still not over 'til it's over and you throw away the tree.

Any other seasonal thoughts?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: weerover
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 10:53 AM

The Loudster also has a good one about Thanksgiving and a *very* heavy one about April Fool's Day morning.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: breezy
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 02:11 PM

Available form Geentrax inc 2 by Cyril Tawney written 40 years apart.The Lone Shepherd was a hit at his gig when he played the ST.ALBANS Folk Club where Jeremy Taylor will appear on Fri29th Nov,at The Comfort Hotel
My wife banned me from playing it at home when the kids are in the house
Good value

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 02:29 PM

I have a wonderful casette from twenty odd years ago,Adrian May and Chris Weger together doing their Christmas show.Over an hour of GREAT Christmas bah humbug material.I wish I had the tech gen to put it on here for you all.
My two favourites are 'I Hate Christmas' and 'When Father was Pantomime Dame'
A friend does a lovely job of 'I'm Very Worried about our Jack'- the beanstalk story from Jacks mothers point of view.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: breezy
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 02:37 PM

c u soon ts, jb

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 04:15 PM

Teasers, always the teasers!

Come on, Breezy and Leadfingers, lay out your wares! Maybe just a verse or two, please!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 11:11 AM

Also Hot off the press from Greentrax is
Title:- Bah! Humbug - The Alternative Christmas Album

1 The Bells! The Bells!
2 Santa Bloody Claus - Eric Bogle
3 A Christmas Carol - Tom Lehrer
4 There Are No Lights on our Christmas Tree - Cyril Tawney
5 The Man That Slits the Turkey's Throats at Christmas - Robin Laing
6 The Present - Tom Cleland
7 The Twelve Days of Christmas - Bill Barclay
8 Mary Christmas - His Worship & the Pig
9 God Bless the Birthday Boy - McCalmans
10 Christmas Comes But Once a Year - Enoch Kent
11 Christmas Morning - Louden Wainwright III
12 The Lone Shepherd - Cyril Tawney
13 We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Greentrax Choir

The CD is in aid of Cancer Research Ie all the artist on it have waived their fees
Words to track 5 to follow in seperate thread, only for those whe like irreverant Xmas songs

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 11:24 AM

I'm the Man That Slits the Turkeys' Throats at Christmas

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 12:07 PM

Thank you! Thank you, Kenny!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: vectis
Date: 14 Nov 02 - 03:33 PM

Brilliant.
Harvested.
Regards Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Orac
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 12:33 PM

I have just ordered a copy of "Bah! Humbug - The Alternative Christmas Album". It was me that sent Robin Laing a recording of John Rudkin's "CHRISTMAS MAN" (sung by John "Struggling Jack" Rudkin). Robin has renamed it "THE MAN THAT SLITS THE TURKEYS' THROATS AT CHRISTMAS". It's a really funny song. I hope the album does well. I had to go round and get John to sign a bit of paper giving his permission for Robin to record it. John was thrilled to say the least. John Rudkin has written many funny songs like this that have not been recorded. My favorite is "Hi-Hum" a song about a Morris Dancer with a personal problem.

The first verse goes:

Me name is Arthur Postlethwaite. By day I am a florist.
Me chief delight on a summer's night is the dancing of the Morris.
I've been denied me place in the side by arguments most petty.
They say I pong and it ain't 'alf strong when I get 'ot and sweaty.

CHORUS: Still I keep on dancing till me feet are worn to the bone,
And if nobody will dance with me I'll do it all on me own.

There's lots of others. "Captain Birdsnest" is a song based on the Captain Birdseye adverts but in this one he takes the kids all out in the boat, fillets them, and cooks them different ways. "Started with a crew of a hundred and two and now there's only four"... Great stuff.
It's sad that it will all get lost as he doesn't perform anymore.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 12:58 PM

Orac-

Yes, there's room for thread creep! Especially if you're talking about that inspiring old salt Captain Birdseye, or Birdsnest if you're concerned about legal issues. If you post the words here, or in a new thread which would be better, I'll swap you John Williams' "Fish Fingers" song that also has a passing reference to "Birdseye", and a compelling description of how fish fingers are made.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Nov 02 - 01:25 PM

Im sure it would do well if it gets daytime airtime on the Beeb.
If that is the standard of John Rudkins songs they should be preserved
Orac, can't you get him to do a tape?
Old performers shouldn't dematerialise wihout posting their work for posterity.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Orac
Date: 17 Nov 02 - 07:14 AM

There is private tape which I converted to a CD which has 10 of John Rudkin's songs. It was a copy of this I sent to Robin. My friend Jan is the only person who ever sings any of his songs nowadays. On Thurs she did "Chistopher the Chiropodist". A song about Jack the Ripper's brother.
"He'd tarted up her tootsies,
they looked so flipping smart
So the coppers left 'em dangling
from undertaker's cart.
I'm not sure how John would feel about his songs being givem away so for the moment at least I'm reluctant to post a complete song. There is an 11th song too which he wrote for Jan but has never been performed yet... it still needs an Appalachian type tune. Its about a young mountain girl who kills off her family one by one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Nov 02 - 09:18 AM

Well, Orac, you should check back with John before posting such treasures on Mudcat. Once a song is posted here it is not exactly safe. People may even sing it to others, or tamper with the words or tune, or make millions in royalties. Still, I am intrigued and hope you discuss posting, with appropriate copyright information provided.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, from the dark side of Mudcat

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Orac
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 06:55 AM

Actually its a bit of a pity that Robin changed the title of this song. The secret of comedy is surprise. In the first part of "Christmas man" the listener is led to belive that the song is about Father Christmas ... its only when you get to the punch line that the illusion is broken. John Rudkin has got a copy of the CD and is very pleased at Robin's rendering. I understand that he will be getting some copies to give to friends this Christmas. I have a copy too ..its great.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: GUEST,Dave Hunt
Date: 23 Nov 17 - 08:18 PM

Has anyone got the tune for Christmas Man/Slitting turkey's....
in abc   That would be great so I can hear the tune....such a great one for a particular event I'm involved in just after Christmas.
Ta!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Acorn4
Date: 24 Nov 17 - 04:00 AM

This one is appropriate for today: Leicester songwriter Steve Cartwright and myself, under the title of "The Ebenezers" have released a "Bah Humbug" CDE all proceeds of which will go to "Rainbows" our local children's hospice. £6.00 with postage - PM for details.

Black Friday

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Bah, Humbug! Any other Songs?
From: Acorn4
Date: 24 Nov 17 - 04:01 AM

Should have read "CD" there.