Lyr ADD: Forest Lawn (Tom Paxton)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forest Lawn (Tom Paxton)
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 03:45 PM

Forest Lawn took care of everything. Credit card or cash and carry, death is so contemporary. All is so efficient and so new, that we really wished we could have stayed another day...

I may have mixed some lyrics in the chorus but would love more info on this song as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Forest Lawn (Paxton)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 May 09 - 04:20 PM

Not longer after learning this song , back in the Seventies , I had the chance to chat with Tom Paxton at a Festival . With particular reference to the 'Likeness Cast in Brass' etc I asked if he had been at all influenced by the writing of Tom Lehrer . " Of COURSE I was!" was his reply .

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Forest Lawn (Paxton)
From: GUEST,Ken Brock
Date: 27 May 09 - 04:05 PM

Worthy of this discussion also is "A Dying Business", recorded by the Chad Mitchell Trio.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Forest Lawn (Paxton)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 May 09 - 03:57 PM

FOREST LAWN was on Tom Paxton's LP "Tom Paxton 6" which came out in 1970.

"The American Way of Death" by Jessica Mitford, was published in 1963, and an updated revision "The American Way of Death Revisited" in 1998.

Forest Lawn, the cemetery, was also an inspiration to Evelyn Waugh, whose satirical novel "The Loved One: An Anglo-American Tragedy" was published in 1948.

Paxton was familiar with both works, and cited them both in the notes to "The Compleat Tom Paxton [Even Compleater]" (Rhino Handmade, 2004) – according to this footnote at Wikipedia.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Forest Lawn (Paxton)
From: open mike
Date: 24 May 09 - 08:58 PM

as i recall the tom paxton song came out about the same time
as the book The American Way of Death Revisited (Paperback)
by Jessica Mitford . Perhaps every book could have a theme song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Forest Lawn (Paxton)
From: pdq
Date: 24 May 09 - 10:35 AM

There was another song with the line "Forest Lawn took care of everything". Completely different than Tom Paxton's song.

I think it was written by Dick and Don Addrisi, but I can't find a mention of it anywhere.

Anybody know anything about "the other Forest Lawn song"?

Subject: Lyr Add: Forest Lawn (Paxton)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 May 09 - 10:02 AM

Just looked at the Lyrics in the D T (http://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=2086)
and noticed the first two line of Verse One are missing !!

Oh lay me down in Forest Lawns in a Silver Casket
Put golden flowers overhead in a Silver Basket

Subject: Chords Add: FOREST LAWN (Tom Paxton)
From: Newport Boy
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 06:11 AM

Chords from Tom's book.

FOREST LAWN -- Tom Paxton

{Verse}
Oh, lay me [C]down in Forest Lawn in a silver [G7]casket,
Put golden flowers over my head in a silver [C]basket.
Let the [F]drum and bugle corps blow [C]taps while cannons [A7}roar,
Let [D7]sixteen liveried employees pass out [G7]souvenirs from the funeral store.

{Chorus}
I [C]want to go [G7]simply, when I go, [C]
They'll [E7]give me a simple fun'ral there, I [Am]know,
[C7]With a [F]casket lined in fleece,
And [C]fireworks spelling out [A7]"Rest In Peace."
Oh, [D]take me, when I'm [G7]gone, to Forest [C]Lawn.

{2nd tune}
Oh, [G]come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the [D7]wildwood,
Kindly leave a contribution in the [G]pail.[G7]
Be as [C]simple and as trusting as a [G]child would,
And we'll [D]sell you the [D7]church in the [G]dale.[G7]

{Coda}
[C]Rock of Ages, [F]cleft for [C]me, for a slightly [G7]higher [C]fee.
Oh, [D7]take me, when I'm [G7]gone, to Forest [C]Lawn.


Hope you can make sense of that - it's much easier with the music.

Phil

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forest Lawn (Tom Paxton)
From: oldhippie
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 07:47 PM

How about the words to "The Little Brown Church In the Vale" which is kinda mentioned in Forest Lawn?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forest Lawn (Tom Paxton)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 08 - 01:14 PM

any one got the chords to forest lawn?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forest Lawn (Tom Paxton)
From: Newport Boy
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 02:40 PM

Joe

I've copied Tiger's version so that I can mark a few subtle edits. I have "Tom Paxton - The Honor of Your Company", pub. 2000, Cherry Lane Music Co. This is Tom's sort of autobiography, edited by Milton Okun, and has about 85 of Tom's songs. Tom signed my copy, so you can't get any more "authoritative" than that! (I don't suppose he proofread the text, though :-)

The differences are very minor, and I've put them in {braces}. More interesting, the book has a facsimile of Tom's original handwritten version, including rewrites, and I've put these in [brackets]. The facsimile is about 4 x 3 inches, so the writing is very small, but a magnifying glass works wonders.

Forest Lawn -- Tom Paxton

Oh, lay me down in Forest Lawn in a silver [diamond] casket,
Put golden flowers over my head in a silver [diamond] basket.
Let the drum and bugle corps blow taps while cannons roar,
Let sixteen {liveried} employees pass out souvenirs from the funeral store.

I want to go simply, when I go,
{ }They'll give me a simple fun'ral there, I know,
   [They'll sell me a budget funeral there, I know]
With a casket lined in fleece,
And fireworks spelling out "Rest In Peace."
Oh, take me, when I'm gone, to Forest Lawn.

Oh, lay me down in Forest Lawn – they understand there,
{ }They have a heavenly choir and a military band there.
{ }Just put me in their care{,} I'll find my comfort there,
With sixteen [thirty] planes in a last salute, dropping a cross in a parachute.

I want to go simply, when I go,
{ } They'll give me a simple {funeral} there, I know,
    [They'll sell me a tasteful funeral there, I know]
With a hundred [sixty-five] strolling strings,
And topless dancers in [with] golden wings,
Oh, take me, when I'm gone, to Forest Lawn ...

Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood,
Kindly leave a contribution in the pail.
Be as simple and as trusting as a child would,
And we'll sell you the [a] church in the dale.

To find a simple resting place is my desire,
    [I want a simple resting place when I expire]
To lay me down with a smiling face comes a little bit higher.
My likeness, done in brass, will stand in plastic grass,
And weights and hidden springs will tip its hat to the mourners filing past.

I want to go simply, when I go,
{ } They'll give me a simple {funeral} there, I know.
    [You'll take me to the proper place, I know]
I'll sleep beneath the sand,
With piped-in tapes of Billy Graham.
Oh, take me, when I'm gone, to Forest Lawn.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, for a slightly higher fee.
Oh, take me, when I'm gone, to Forest Lawn.

Copyright 1969 (Renewed 1996) EMI U Catalog Inc
All rights controlled by EMI U Catolog Inc (Publishing) and
Warner Bros Publications US Inc (Print)

Choose which combination of lines you like!

John Denver's recording has been mentioned. Tom's intro in the book says "My friend, the late John Denver, sang this song with such relish that in an early appearance on the TONIGHT show he was forbidden from doing it. Undaunted, he waited until he was a guest host on the show, and then declared that since it was his show that night, he'd sing what he liked, and he let it rip."

Phil

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forest Lawn (Tom Paxton)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 05:53 AM

I had just learnt this song when I had the chance to meet Tom Paxton at Bracknell festival - I asked him if , especially in the lines 'My Likeness cast in Brass will stand in plastic grass ' etc he was ever influenced by Tom Lehrer , and he replied "Of COURSE I was!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forest Lawn (Tom Paxton)
From: GUEST,Rog Peek
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 05:49 AM

Here:

http://www.mydfz.com/Paxton/lyrics/fl.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forest Lawn (Tom Paxton)
From: scouse
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 05:19 AM

Pretty sure they are correct apart from line three, first verse. Should read "Let the drum and bugle corp play taps while cannons roar." Joe.. I used to sing it years back exactly as was written above.
As Aye,
Phil.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forest Lawn (Tom Paxton)
From: mandotim
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 03:51 AM

Those words look correct to me; at least that's how I've always sung it!
Tim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Forest Lawn (Tom Paxton)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 11:21 PM

the Version in the Digital Tradition has a lot of mistakes, so I'd like to submit a corrected version. Does anybody have an authoritative source of the original Tom Paxton lyrics for this song? Are Tiger's lyrics above correct, or are there other corrections?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Forest Lawn
From:
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 09:28 PM

Many thanks group... Someone gave me a source for the lyrics within 10 minutes of my posting the request.... I'm impressed!!!

joe

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Forest Lawn
From: Gene Graham
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 09:00 PM

Since the lyrix were not posted..if anyone else is interested!!

you can find the lyrix and chords arrangement at:

http://www.dejanews.com

Do a POWER SEARCH...set the AGE to OLD and enter:

[ paxton | forest | lawn ]

Subject: RE: Lyrics: Forest Lawn
From:
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 08:37 PM

Many thanks group... Someone gave me a source for the lyrics within 10 minutes of my posting the request.... I'm impressed!!!

joe

Subject: Lyrics: Forest Lawn
From:
Date: 04 Jun 97 - 08:21 PM

Does any have the rest of these lyrics or know where I can find them on the net?

Oh lay me down in Forest Lawn they understand there, They have a heavenly choir and a military band there, In a casket lined with fleece, And fireworks spelling out 'Rest in Peace' Oh, take me when I'm gone to Forest Lawn.

Thanks very much from 60's folkie. joe

Subject: RE: Lyrics, please: Forest Lawn
From:
Date: 05 Feb 97 - 11:44 PM

The song is on "An Evening With John Denver"

and also Tom Paxton "#6"

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyrics, please: Forest Lawn
From: Karen
Date: 05 Feb 97 - 09:43 PM

Since you have the words and I can't add to them--just another note. John Denver recorded this in the mid-70s on one of his albums--maybe the Universal Amph. Concert?

Subject: Lyr Add: FOREST LAWN (Tom Paxton)^^^
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 01 Feb 97 - 07:58 AM

Hi Mary.....

Tom Paxton wrote it. Here it is, one of our favorites.

....Tiger

---------------------

Forest Lawn -- Tom Paxton

Oh, lay me down in Forest Lawn in a silver casket,
Put golden flowers over my head in a silver basket.
Let the drum and bugle corps blow taps while cannons roar,
Let sixteen liv'ried employees pass out souvenirs from the funeral store.

I want to go simply, when I go,
And they'll give me a simple fun'ral there, I know,
With a casket lined in fleece,
And fireworks spelling out "Rest In Peace."
Oh, take me, when I'm gone, to Forest Lawn.

Oh, lay me down in Forest Lawn – they understand there,
And they have a heavenly choir and a military band there.
Oh, just put me in their care and I'll find my comfort there,
With sixteen planes in a last salute, dropping a cross in a parachute.

I want to go simply, when I go,
And they'll give me a simple fun'ral there, I know,
With a hunderd strolling strings,
And topless dancers in golden wings,
Oh, take me, when I'm gone, to Forest Lawn ...

Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood,
Kindly leave a contribution in the pail.
Be as simple and as trusting as a child would,
And we'll sell you the church in the dale.

To find a simple resting place is my desire,
To lay me down with a smiling face comes a little bit higher.
My likeness, done in brass, will stand in plastic grass,
And weights and hidden springs will tip its hat to the mourners filing past.

I want to go simply, when I go,
And they'll give me a simple fun'ral there, I know.
I'll sleep beneath the sand,
With piped-in tapes of Billy Graham.
Oh, take me, when I'm gone, to Forest Lawn.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, for a slightly higher fee.
Oh, take me, when I'm gone, to Forest Lawn.^^^

Subject: Lyrics, please: Forest Lawn
From:
Date: 01 Feb 97 - 06:40 AM

My husband has been trying to remember the lyrics/artist for a song about Forest Lawn.

Some of the parts we almost remember:

Lay me down in Forest Lawn in a silver casket Put golden flowers o'er my head in a silver basket Let the drum and bugle corps play taps while cannons roar and 16 liveried employees sell souvenirs at the funeral store...

Rock of Ages cleft for me In a slightly higher key...

Oh, take me when I'm gone to Forest Lawn!...

And a system of hidden weights, levers, & springs Tip my hat to the mourners fileing past...

Anybody have any hints?

Mary H