ADD: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)

Subject: RE: ADD: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Mar 24 - 02:47 AM

if you write the lyrics, then put the chord underneath.or above example    G                            C

I've been a wild rover for many a year

G            C       D7          G

I spent all me money on whiskey and beer

    G                                    C

But now I'm returning with gold in great store

      G          C             D7       G

And I never will play the wild rover no more

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)
From: Tom in Maine
Date: 09 Mar 24 - 01:37 PM

So, I take it no one knows the chords to this song… I play this song in G, usually capo on the 2nd fret. It is a bit sharp on the 2nd compared to the recording.
How do you post chords on mudcat? I recently submitted corrections for Red Velvet on Ultimate Guitar. Easy to do there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)
From: GUEST,GUEST Mary
Date: 21 May 21 - 03:29 PM

If ever a song needed to be re-recorded (or at least tweaked in the studio), this one's it. Over 50 years old and still axed from playlists.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 07 Feb 17 - 12:31 PM

Hey, guestFingerstyle! Welcome to the 'cat. been browsing, entertained, educated, and amused by the goings-on here for a good many years. come back. post stuff. as you can see, queries typically get a helpful response, often full of erudition, anecdotes, and links. no place like the Mudcat.org   use the DT.
a fellow fricker/tyson fan.
keep on pickin'
dennis

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)
From: GUEST,Fingerstyle
Date: 07 Feb 17 - 12:42 AM

Just discovered this site, than you for it. I've had only the greatest regard for Ian Tyson's and Sylvia Fricker's music; compositions, collaborations,recordings, human insight, and humane integrity. I've followed their work since I first became aware of them in maybe 1963. I was surprised as I first heard the lyric "no n....s linger by the door", it didn't fit , but that's what I thought I was hearing. I wanted to learn the song but couldn't reconcile the lyric. Then I thought again about the title and it all made sense; I just had to adjust my ears.
Thanks again

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 29 Nov 16 - 12:43 AM

I heard it on my way home from work and could swear it was "No n's linger by the door" and was wth did I just hear?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 14 Jul 14 - 02:50 PM

Many thanks. I've wondered about that lyric since the 60's…never seemed in keeping with the humanitarian sense of all their music. I mis-heard this lyric as others apparently have. Thank you again for clarifying this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 10 - 11:43 PM

Sure sounds like the N word to me. As seems to be the case with most others on this thresd, my curiosity lead me here. But Ian & Sylvia don't strike me as the type that would use such a word in their lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Oct 10 - 03:09 PM

Well that makes me fee better.
I always thought it was "No (N-word) linger by the doorway!"
Then I had someone with better hearing listen to it.
Wow was I relieved.
It's the phrasing that throws it off by breaking up the word Lonely.
Even now, when I listen to it KNOWING that it's Lonely Girls Linger, I STILL, from time to time, hear well you know...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)
From: GUEST,Jim H
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 10:43 PM

Wow. Looks like this song is as haunting as I remember it. One thing about Ian and Sylvia guitar - you cannot come close. I figured "Red Velvet" would be a wonderful tune to sing and play solo. I dropped by my sister's place, because she had the CD, and tho' it is a great singing song, the guitar work is ASTOUNDING - impossible to play for all but seasoned vets. I can see why it would inspire someone to start playing!
When I was a kid, my mom (who got us "hooked" on I&S) laughed about Lonely Girls' lyrics, as they had no "Google" in the 60's and tried to figure out the lyrics listening to a dinosaur, known then as "monaural" (one ear - pre-stereo). A friend of my mom's was certain (keep in mind - 60's) the words were "no niggers linger by the door". This is really not a stretch. I&S were "song stylists" In the same way that Annie Lennox says "sweet dreams are made of these" (and it's really "this") or Fats Domino said "I found my freedom" (and it's really "thrill"), I&S would stretch a lyric or two.
Mom reassured us that the lyric was "no lingerer's linger by the door" (which it ALSO sounds like!!!). Another hallmark of great songwriting - the ability to confound -and delight- a listener while remaining a great song.
(Read the song title, mom.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Girls (Ian & Sylvia)
From: GUEST,New at this
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 10:37 PM

HELP!

Does anyone know where I can find the guitar tab/chords to "Lonely Girls"? It's the reason I picked up the guitar in the first place, and I can't find the chords. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ian and Sylvia - Lonely Girl
From: Gary T
Date: 07 Oct 03 - 12:46 AM

Those are the correct lyrics. One person I knew thought I was singing "lone niggers linger by the door." I can understand how it could be hard to clearly hear that the words were "lonely girls" (the "-ly" syllable gets sort of swallowed) but I was shocked when she told me what she thought she heard. I guess she's not the only one, though.

Subject: Lyr Add: LONELY GIRLS (Ian Tyson/Sylvia Fricker)
From: Stewie
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 10:32 PM

Your co-worker seems to have a weird imagination. As pdq points out, it is a simple, straightforward song about lonely country girls longing for the bright lights where the diesel roadtrains are headed. This is how I hear it:



LONELY GIRLS
(Ian Tyson/Sylvia Fricker)

Instrumental intro

Light there is golden in the evening
Blue shadows forty feet and more
When night comes rushing fast 'cross the flatland you'll see
Lonely girls linger by the door
Lonely girls linger by the door

Linger and listen by the doorway
Lookin' down along the fence post line
To the highway beyond where the headlights roll on
Followed by a low diesel whine
Followed by a low diesel whine

Diesels' siren song of the prairies
Has a strong pull that never lets go
Diesels sing of bright spots with colours running wild
Follow me where the evenings overflow
Follow me where the evenings overflow

Instrumental break

Light there is golden in the evening
Blue shadows forty feet and more
When night comes rushing fast 'cross the flatland you'll see
Lonely girls linger by the door
Lonely girls linger by the door

Linger and listen by the doorway
Lookin' down along the fence post line
To the highway beyond where the headlights roll on
Followed by a low diesel whine
Followed by a low diesel whine

Source:   transcription from Ian and Sylvia 'Play One More' reissued on disc 3 of The Complete Vanguard Studio Recordings 4CD box set Vanguard 496/99-2.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ian and Sylvia - Lonely Girl
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 09:13 PM

I would just have to listen to it. But, there is no "n" word or any such thing in the lyrics. Ian Tyson wrote the song, along with his wife Sylvia. He is an honest, direct man and the lyrics reflect that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ian and Sylvia - Lonely Girl
From: GUEST,DonnaK
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 08:02 PM

Do you happen to know the lyrics to this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ian and Sylvia - Lonely Girl
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 07:55 PM

It is called "Lonely Girls" and can be found on "Play One More".

Subject: Lyr Req: Ian and Sylvia - Lonely Girl
From: GUEST,DonnaK
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 07:49 PM

I am searching for the lyrics to this song as we are confused about one verse in the lyrics where we think it says "lonely lingering in the doorway". Another co-worker believes it is the slang for a black person "n!" lingering in the doorway. Would anyone have the full lyrics to this song?