Favourite Jinxed Songs

Subject: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Steve T
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 12:04 AM

It's nice to feel the hug of warm ideas and memories that I can so readily identify with.

I was reading the thread about why we gravitate to Mudcat and came across a bit about forgetting lyrics. Now, I have a pretty good memory, but sometimes it fails to reconstruct things properly, particularly on certain songs. The song that I've screwed up the most times is:

Mr. Bojangles

I know that song cold. I love it. But I think I've messed it up in front of friends at least fifty times (it feels like a hundred). Parts of the second and third verses often get interchanged or repeated. Once I got the giggles in "the dog up and died" part. Very embarrassing. And yet I usually think, THIS time, it'll be perfect :-) Funny how these things grow on you.

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 05:02 AM

Hello.

There is a song we sing pretty regulally, but at one venue in particular the song appears to be jinxed. Once we played it there, in true 'the show must go on style' whilst two 'ladies' were rolling around on the floor trying to kill one another. On another occasion a chap who was already having trouble moving around due to a broken leg and a crutch, decided to compound the issue by drinking vast ammounts of what, I shall now call 'The Sisters Of Murphy's. During the song he very loudly disappeared of his stool to the floor, spilling drinks and other customers in his wake, with just his plastered leg visible, shooting up in the air.

And the name of this song?

The Games People Play !

Maybe it's the way we play it?

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 22 Oct 98 - 08:03 PM

My pick is "A man's a man for a' that". On my own, I can generally sing it without screwing up (although, I have to admit, I've never tried performing it.) However, when I sing it with the quartette I'm in, we never seem to get it right during practices. We all love the song, and are seriously committed to learning the damn thing, but for some reason, the lyrics are illusive when we start to sing it. We have performed it maybe twice--getting it right each time! Go figure!

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: alison
Date: 22 Oct 98 - 08:30 PM

Hi,

Ralph McTell's "Hiring Fair."

There is a verse were he caresses "her eyes, her lips and her dark brown hair". Except one time when Alan was singing, (I was harmonising on something or other in the background). He happened to sing about caressing "Her ears" instead...... not a huge mistake but enough to reduce me to fits of giggles.

We're lucky to get through that verse now without one of us getting an attack of the giggles.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Big Mick
Date: 22 Oct 98 - 08:58 PM

The Reel and the Flickering Light.

Like Moira, I can do a fair rendition on my own, but when the rest of the Conklin Ceili Band is with me, we just can't get the time right. Very frustrating, but we will get over the hump yet.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 08:33 AM

"Kathy's Song" By Simon and Garfunkel.

I can never time the last line properly when performing it - fine in the shower, crap on the stage.

There are people wandering around this town who had never heard it before I sang it........and are convinced the final line is:

...and the only truth I know is.......bugger.

Graeme

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 11:43 AM

There are two songs that my husband and I often screw up when we perform them:

ONE WAY, by Peter Rowan, has a line saying "I saw an aged man...." which always comes out of my mouth as "I saw a naked man...." Does this mean something?!

Then there's the line in LAST OLD SHOVEL where the line says "I long to be laid by the side of my darling" but after singing "I long to be laid" we burst out laughing and can't finish the line, thinking about what the widow's real problem is. Does this mean the same thing?!

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 12:35 PM

Dang, Barbara--I don't b'lieve I'd 'a' told that!

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 09:14 PM

"They granted her her final wish To be laid by young Monroe... (Jam on Gerry's Rocks)

Or the line from Red River Valley that tends to bring me to a screeching halt: "Can I leave her behind, unprotected.."

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 10:12 PM

Then there's Paul Simon's "Linclon Duncan", "& just like a dog I was rear ended" insteaded of befriended, & another is "Sitting On Top Of The World" no it really goes "shitting on top of a squirrel". Barry

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 10:21 PM

Barry, it sounds as if you'd have to be pretty drunk to come out with those lyrical mistakes.

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 10:37 PM

Hi Moira, I used to with this friend, maybe 15 years, & these were the lines he'd sing, after a while, if not singing with him, & I'd be the one singing these lines, I'd have to try to sing it the right way. Now I don't think I've sung these for ages & have forgotten them right or wrong. Barry who hopes you're not yet seeing the white stuff.

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Alice
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 11:42 PM

I've been practicing the song "The Country Lassie" and yesterday finally got to the point where I could put it on tape to listen back to how it sounded... it's hard to get the Scottish words to come out right, but I'd get to the name Johnie o' the Buskie-Glen and can only come out with "Bluskie-Blen". No matter what, it keeps happening so that it may get to be a habit.

alice

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Barbara
Date: 24 Oct 98 - 09:47 AM

Somehow I have a terrible time keeping the verses straight on Star of The County Down, and am usually a bit rattled already when we hit the "No pipe I'll smoke and no horse I'll yoke/Till my plow turn rusty brown.." I once crossed 'pipe' and 'plow', and another band member sang "and fall off" .
Sheesh. I haven't been able to sing it since.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Paul
Date: 24 Oct 98 - 10:50 AM

I might not be in the right place for this, but does anyone here know who the song "abaline" is by? It's been killing my friends and I!

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 24 Oct 98 - 01:08 PM

Paul,

Ye seem a bit lost laddie. If you are seeking information, click on Create a New Thread on the main forum page. Gie it a title that explains what you seek and ye get many'a reply.

As it is there have been two recent Abilene threads here and here.

Enjoy the song and take this new found knowledge with you. Pass it on to others so that they may rightly search the DIGITAL TRADITION!!!, searching for truth, justice, and the American way.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 24 Oct 98 - 02:17 PM

Roger- While I applaud your sentiments, I can only point out that Mudcat is truly international. We once received a request for an Irish song by someone in Germany which was promptly filled by someone else in Japan. Only in America!

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Allan S.
Date: 24 Oct 98 - 08:03 PM

What about Jack-A-row " To leave his darling girl's behind"

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 24 Oct 98 - 08:24 PM

Ah, yes Dick I truly know the Mudcat is International, but I thought it a funny line.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: BSeed
Date: 25 Oct 98 - 05:47 PM

Of course we Americans spend a lot of effort insisting that others in the world do things our way, unless, of course, the others are major sources of oil or are otherwise major trading partners, to wit Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, China, Burma (Massachusetts is currently defending in court its right to refuse to buy from Burma: the state is being sued by a bunch of multinational corporations which claim the ban interferes with their right to do business in the state). --seed

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Bardic Gypsy
Date: 25 Oct 98 - 07:44 PM

My favorite song (and the one I screw up all the time) is probably Courting in the Kitchen. I keep "blending" verses together. Oh dear. Either that or Twa Sisters. Bardic Gypsy

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Dave T
Date: 25 Oct 98 - 10:27 PM

I don't really have any that are my favourites to screw up. I tend to cycle through a lot of songs so none of them feel left out. I understand these mixed up lyrics are called "Mondegreen's". There's a link here to an index of pages devoted to this sort of thing if anyone's interested.
Dave T

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 25 Oct 98 - 10:48 PM

Singing comedic or parody versions can be damn near fatal for when you have to sing them straight.

From a spoonerised version of " Waltzing Matilda"the phrase "camped by a billabong" can pop into the serious version as "bonged by a camperbill" most embarrasing

Regards Ted

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 12:18 PM

(smiles) Have you ever been "bonged by a camperbill", missus?

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Bert
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 12:27 PM

Ah! someone remembers Ken Dodd.

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 12:29 PM

I cannot sing Wild Mountain Thyme anymore since hearing the Kipper Family's parody of it. I just get a mental block and slip automatically into their version, the first verse of which follows.

Wild Mounting Time

Do you go lassie, go
And shall we go together
In the wild mounting time
Or will I get blooming Heather...

...and so on!

Peace

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Ebbie
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 12:33 PM

I have a friend who is always afraid that in Red River Valley she'll sing: and the love we exchanged 'neath the flowers.

Somewhat different connotation.

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: GUEST,rabbitrunning
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 12:34 PM

I keep learning the parodies first, and then having to really think hard when I'm singing the "straight" version. This is my father's fault, I think, since he invariably changed the words. I was 23 before I learned the right words to the "Davy Crockett" theme from TV. My dad always ended the verse with:
"He became a daddy when he was only three."

cd

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 01:08 PM

The UK tax man never forgot Ken Dodd.

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Midchuck
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 01:14 PM

Probably not many people on here are familiar with Steve Frumholz's "Bosque County Romance," but it contains a line that should go:

"...and Mary broke the horses, and blew the baby's nose.."

Talk about a jinx...!

Peter.

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: The Walrus at work
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 01:19 PM

GUEST,rabbitrunning wrote:-

I keep learning the parodies first, and then having to really think hard when I'm singing the "straight" version.

That sounds horribly familiar (and embarrassing). A few months ago I was at my Aunt's funeral, one of the chosen hymns was "Take it to the Lord in Prayer", I had to concentrate hard on the hymn book to avoid singing "When This Lousey War Is Over".

Walrus

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: KT
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 01:26 PM

I've had that same problem, Ebbie. Either the flowers are very big or we're talking about very tiny people! Quite an image!

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: M.Ted
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 01:35 PM

As to Davey Crockett, some (particularly of the French Canadien extaction) are disgusted by the fact that "he killed him Hebert when he was only three"

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Barbara
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 02:05 PM

It has been years since I have heard or been able to sing "The Rolling Hills of the Border" or "Spencer the Rover", the parodies have so permeated my brain that I can no longer recall the original words. Ten or so of us sat down of an evening recently and tried to recreate Spencer the Rover. We got to the fountain and wiped out.
It was a truly great parody,[Irving Abramovitz] but it's sad that the original song is getting lost because of its power.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Pseudolus
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 04:07 PM

I think we need a parodies thread!! I have the same problem. I have done a song called "Cats in the Kettle" which is a parody of "Cats in the Cradle" and now, one of my favorite songs is the hardest thing I do 'cause I tend to uh, let's say, wander.....bummer.

Frank

P.S. I'm gonna look for a parodies thread and if I can't find one, I'll start one, it could be good. If anybody knows of one out there to refresh, feel free!

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 04:34 PM

I saw the look of sheer terror come over Nick Dow's face, when he was singing Jenny of the Moor - he is not a small man and he muddled two lines into one, making '7 long years since I've seen my Willie-O'........

LTS

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: coriander
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 05:43 PM

also on the parody theme..... I always have trouble with the last line of Dancing at Whitsun. Someone else in our folk group sings a parody ending "the motorist goes wincing at Datsun". Have to fight the urge to giggle....

cori

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 06:04 PM

the hardest songs to sing are the ones with no 'story' and double verses...almost any two lines can be interchanged at the beginning of a verse...."Stern Old Batchelor" comes to mind...or..."Give Me the Roses While I Live"...4 verses, and they all say the same thing! You can't 'hook' your memory to anything......

and yes, when you know too many parodies, life does get interesting as you try to do the original straight..We have a woman in FSGW who knows "Pleasant and Delightful" and does NOT do parodies of it...we DO depend on her..*smile*

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Rollo
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 06:24 PM

Someone above mentioned massachusetts... this one word never, never passes my lips. I cannot get the hang on it... spelling english is difficult enough for germans, expecially the "th" makes pupils cry and confess their sins... but "Massash-whatever" beats everything.

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 07:31 PM

"mass -- a -- choo -- sets." Just sneeze in the middle.

Frank, if you'll start a parody thread, I'll send in the only words I know to "The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia."

Mixing up verses is worst when they're _supposed_ to follow a sequence. And even the five year olds notice!

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 12:02 AM

I was singing Phil Coulter's "Town I Love So Well" one night in a bar - putting a lot of feeling into it, I might add, when I came to the line "There was music there, in the Derry air." Well, a young gay waiter was going by with a tray full of drinks just as I sang the line, and he stopped, turned to me and said, "Music in the derriére? Must have been a flute!" Whereupon I lost it, and the whole damn bar lost it too. Uproarious laughter! Couldn't finish the song, and to this day, I have difficulty getting past that line. All the best. Seamus

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Peyton
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 03:58 AM

Say it like this: Mass et Chew sutts. You think it's hard to say? ...Try spelling it! - (I'm from Connecticut): -An old techer told me to think of it like the university of Connecticut...... U connect I cut. Take off the U, and you're set. Worked for me whe ni had to write my address on stuff for school. Morgan

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Peyton
Date: 23 Aug 00 - 03:59 AM

Say it like this: Mass et Chew sutts. You think it's hard to say? ...Try spelling it! - (I'm from Connecticut): -An old techer told me to think of it like the university of Connecticut...... U connect I cut. Take off the U, and you're set. Worked for me when I had to write my address on stuff for school. Morgan

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Mr Happy
Date: 03 May 04 - 07:47 AM

Far away in Australia
Soon will fate be kind
And I will be ready to welcome at last
The girl that I left behind

as sung by Anne Taggart of '& Wright'

came out in the audience chorus as

The girl with the nice behind

Subject: RE: Favourite Jinxed Songs
From: Mudlark
Date: 03 May 04 - 12:01 PM

Two songs I screw up regularly, and both I've sung for years: Strawberry Faire: "Her eyes were blue, and gold was her hair..." adjectives definitely not interchangeable; and The May Carol...so many verses with "make no delay," "not long to stay," type phrases that no matter how many times I do it properly when playing it alone, I get them mixed up when playing for an audience...I can feel the choke coming as early as the 2nd verse...oh no, I'm going to do it again.