Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)

Subject: Lyr Req: Mercey Brothers - Uncle Tom
From:
Date: 16 Nov 03 - 12:20 PM

I have a friend looking for the lyrics to this old (1968) song by the Mercey Brothers. I found a 40 second clip which has the following:

Hey Uncle Tom, how are you getting on
Are you still living easy and in style
Do the girls still seek your hand
Looking for a wedding band
Uncle Tom, I haven't seen you for a while
 

Well, I still remember when
One evening you came in
From the cold and stormy darkness of the night
And as if you hadn't been,
You were there and gone again.

Does anyone know the song? Thanks in advance....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mercey Brothers - Uncle Tom
From: Glen Reid
Date: 16 Nov 03 - 07:21 PM

I used to do it on a regular basis, but am at a loss as to who wrote it. The first time I ever heard it, was on a LP by none other than Canada's much loved folk band, The Travellers.
These guys are still on the go, so its a good chance they would be singing it still.
All the best,
Glen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mercey Brothers - Uncle Tom
From:
Date: 17 Nov 03 - 03:29 PM

Thanks, Glen.

Looked for information on the Travellers, but none of the web-site had anything other than a list of the titles of their LPs, and nothing which listed the songs on the LPs.

Oh well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mercey Brothers - Uncle Tom
From:
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 01:42 PM

Glen, would you at least have the rest of the words to the song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mercey Brothers - Uncle Tom
From: Cattail
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 03:12 PM

Glen, I have a recording of theirs which states on it that it was
recorded at the Mercey Brothers own studio in Elmira, Ontario.

Recorded at Mercey Brothers Recording Studio, Elmira, Ontario.

Mastered at RCA Studio, Toronto, Ontario.

Titled: The Mercey Brothers "Homemade"

Disk Number: RCA PL 10188

Possibly a letter to either of these, (the Elmira one looks best)
could produce results.

If you would like the track listing of this album let me know,
(obviously it doesn't have a track titled "Uncle Tom" or I would
have transcribed it for you)

Sorry I can't help you any more than this.

Best of luck with your search.

Cattail !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mercey Brothers - Uncle Tom
From:
Date: 09 Feb 06 - 08:21 PM

i have a recording of this song on my computer if it is any help

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mercey Brothers - Uncle Tom
From: GUEST,Agnes Gillis
Date: 21 Nov 06 - 03:52 PM

I too have been looking for information on this song. I used to sing it a long time agp because it was a favorite of my husband's, then boyfriend. And now almost 30 years later, a new friend has asked me to see if I can get the words of this song but haven't had any luck. If you are more fortunate, please send me the words. Thanks, Agnes Gillis

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mercey Brothers - Uncle Tom
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Nov 06 - 10:21 AM

The Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame says the song title is HEY UNCLE TOM and it was written by Don Cochrane and Doug Ballard.

Don Cochrane also recorded it (as HEY UNCLE TOM).

Subject: Lyr Add: UNCLE TOM (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST,Chris Murphy
Date: 26 Feb 07 - 01:19 PM

This was taken from the Mercey Brothers version. Cheers.

UNCLE TOM

CHORUS
Hey Uncle Tom how are you getting on
Are you still living easy and in style
Do the girls still seek your hand looking for a wedding band
Uncle Tom I haven't seen you for a while

VERSE 1
Well I still remember when one evening you came in
From the cold and stormy darkness of the night
And as if you hadn't been, you were there and gone again
And for many years you've dropped right out of sight

CHORUS

VERSE 2
I thought that I had seen you on the corner of a street
In a town that I was just passing through
But I must have been mistaken for the man he looked forsaken,
A beggar and a pauper not like you

CHORUS

VERSE 3
If you can spare the time, would you please write me a line
Or stop in any time you pass my way
See my wife and see my son, see the life that we've begun
And if it's to your liking you may stay

CHORUS
Uncle Tom I haven't seen you for a while

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST,Bruce Foden
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 06:18 PM

Thanks to you all - I've been looking for these lyrics for some time. My recollection of the Mercey Brothers' version has slightly different wording for the very last line: it is "Uncle Tom I'd like to see you for a while."

Does anyone have the guitar chords to go with the words?

Cheers

Bruce Foden
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST,Kristen
Date: 04 Dec 09 - 07:20 PM

These are the chords I could come up with for the chorus. I am not sure about the Verse....anyone? Ive only heard this song once before by a fellow guitarist during a random jam night. Please help, i cant get this tune out of my head!


C         G          D          G
Hey Uncle Tom how are you getting on
C                   G            D
Are you still living easy and in style
C                            G            D             G
Do the girls still seek your hand looking for a wedding band
C                   D             G
Uncle Tom I haven't seen you for a while

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST,Bob
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 11:45 PM

In the same key, the chords for the verse would be:
          C                        G                D                              G
Well I still remember when one evening you came in
                C                           G                         D
from the cold and stormy darkness of the night
             G                     C                        G                            D
and as if you hadn't been you were there and gone again
             G                               D                                  G
and for many years you've dropped right out of sight


Years ago I played steel guitar for Don Cochrane for a short while, and I had always loved this song - it was a real thrill to back him up on it

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST,Bob Balir
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 09:50 AM

I was just giving this a listen on Don's website (www.doncochrane.com) and in the key of G the chorus goes like this:

C                G                      D                   G
Hey Uncle Tom how are you getting on
               C                G                   A-D
Are you still living easy and in style
             G                               C                     G                        D
Do the girls still seek your hand looking for a wedding band
          C                      D                      G
Uncle Tom I haven't seen you for a while

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST,Bob Blair
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 10:59 AM

P.S. the chords I wrote seem to have drifted a bit to the right in some cases when it uploaded - for example, in the first line of the chorus you would hit the " D" right when you sing "you" and "G" chord right on the word "on". Same thing on the chords to the verse - towards the end of the line they show up a little to the right of where you would make the change. Hope this helps. What a great song - it conveys a story in so few words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 09:40 PM

Hey Uncle Tom, how are you getting on?
Are you still living easy and in style?
Do the girls still seek your hand
looking for a wedding band
Uncle Tom I haven't seen you for a while

Well I still remember when, one evening you came in
from the cold and stormy darkness of the night
and as though you hadn't been you were there and gone again
and for many years you dropped right out of sight

chorus

I thought that I had seen you on the corner of a street
in a town that I was only passing though
but I must have been mistaken for the man he looked forsaken
a begger and a pauper not like you

chorus

If you can spare the time, would you please drop me a line
or stop in any time you pass my way
see my wife and see my son
and the life that we've begun
and if it's to your liking, you may stay

chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST,Don Cochrane
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 09:24 AM

Thought I'd drop in on the conversation.... Doug Ballard and I co-wrote "Hey Uncle Tom" back in 1964, along with "Whistle on the River". Doug and I had formed a folk music trio and Doug was seriously into writing lyrics. He kept urging me to try putting music to them. These were our first and most successful collaborations. Both songs were recorded by the then very popular Mercey Brothers, mostly because of Doug's promotional efforts. We went our seperate ways musically shortly after, although we kept in touch regularly. Doug passed away a few years ago in Thunder Bay. I went on to write a number of songs, some of which were recorded by various artists, and some I recorded on two albums in the mid 70's. I also recorded a predominantly acoustic cd last year (2009) Samples from the original recordings and the new one can be heard at www.doncochrane.com I still perform regularly at small venues and festivals, mostly around eastern ontario.

Thanks to all for the interest,
Don Cochrane, [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST,markyoloup
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 05:05 PM

There is also a recovery in this French song sung by a French Canadian band Les Taillefer under the title of "Petite fille"("Little Girl").

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 12 - 01:39 PM

It was written by my aunt and uncle - Doug & Pat Ballard.
Still find myself humming it once in awhile.
Doug Ballard is dead now, but did say he wrote it for a uncle he remembered as a kid.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Feb 13 - 02:42 PM

I LOVE THAT TUNE I ALSO LOVE HELLO MOM BY THE MERCY BROTHERS. DOES ANYONE KNOW THE CHORDS FOR THAT ONE.?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Mar 13 - 12:38 PM

To get the record straight it was written by Don Cochrane of Kingston , Ont. He also wrote "Whistle on the river"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 15 - 03:52 PM

Try contacting the Mercey Brothers and they may give you a copy of the lyrics

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Tom (from Mercey Brothers)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Mar 17 - 11:44 AM

looking for who wrote the words by mercy brothers