Lyr Req: Uncle (Norman Blake)

Subject: Lyr Req: Uncle by Norman Blake
From: GUEST,MJM
Date: 06 Dec 03 - 04:52 PM

Trying to get the lyrics to Uncle by Norman Blake on his Old Ties CD - can't understand the line in the second verse - sounds like it starts with "And he'd learn ????? just to have someone...."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle by Norman Blake
From: Sorcha
Date: 06 Dec 03 - 05:19 PM

No luck at all. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle by Norman Blake
From: GUEST,Ely
Date: 06 Dec 03 - 05:43 PM

Imparticular grammar aside, I always assumed it was "It learns a boy just to have someone to show him things sometimes", or whatever the rest of the verse is.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle by Norman Blake
From: GUEST,MJM
Date: 06 Dec 03 - 07:10 PM

That sounds right, imparticular grammar disregarded. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle (Norman Blake)
From: GUEST,PrairieFlyer
Date: 12 Jan 20 - 08:16 AM

Uncle ~ Norman Blake

Well he fiddled all his natural life
And he farmed a long, long time
His wife and kids all passed away
And left him here behind
And he came one day to live with us
When I was a child
Still he had to ramble round the countryside a while

(Chorus)
Money was scarce and times was bad
And groceries mighty plain
If I was it to do over, boys, I’d live them times again
(fiddle break)

He’d leave home with noth’in much
He’d come back leading a cow’
Always rode a horse or mule
He traded for somehow
And it learns a boy just to have someone
To show him things sometimes
Set him straight on down the road
And help to ease his mind

(Chorus)
(fiddle break)

Well, you know I road behind him there
Three of four miles
Up that creek and across that bridge
Lord, he’d fiddle all the while
Well, they clear out a room and then we’d play
While they all danced around
And if we made any money there
We’d always split it down

(Chorus)
(fiddle break)

Now, I recall them times so well, seems like yesterday
Live’in just the two of us, and all the tunes we’d play
Now he's gone away someplace
There’s nothing left to show
‘except an old brown fiddle on the wall
Hanging next to a worn out bow

(Chorus)
(fiddle break)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle (Norman Blake)
From: Hagman
Date: 12 Jan 20 - 09:22 PM

From LP cover of the first airing of "Uncle" - on "The Fields of November" (Flying Fish 004, 1974)

Uncle ~ Norman Blake

Well, he fiddled all his natural life
And he farmed a long, long time
His wife and kids passed away
And left him here behind

He came one day to live with us
When I was a child
Still he had to ramble 'round
The countryside awhile

(Chorus)
Money was scarce and times was bad
And groceries mighty plain
Was it to do over, boys,
I’d live them times again

(fiddle break)

He’d leave home with nothing much
He’d come back a-leadin' a cow
Lord, he always rode a horse or mule
He'd traded for somehow

It learns a boy to have someone
To show him things sometimes
To set him straight on down the road
And help to ease his mind

(Chorus)
(fiddle break)

Well you know I road behind him there
Maybe three or four miles
Up that creek and across that bridge
He fiddled all the while

They'd clear out a room and then we’d play
While they danced around
If we made any money there
We’d always split it down

(Chorus)
(fiddle break)

Now I recall them times so well
They seem like yesterday
Livin' just the two of us
And all the tunes we’d play

Now he's gone away someplace
There’s nothin' left to show
But an old brown fiddle on the wall
Hangin' next to a worn out bow

(Chorus)
(fiddle break)