Minor characters deserving own song

Subject: Minor characters deserving own song
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 11:47 AM

I was reading this thread on the BBC/Open University Book Club forum, about minor characters in books who realy deserve to have their own book. There must be a few "walk-ons" in folksongs that we wonder about, and maybe warrant a song to themselves -- or maybe even got one. Any suggestions?

Steve

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: Padre
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 01:23 PM

The 'proud young porter' from "Lord Bateman"

Padre

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 01:26 PM

I've often wondered what happened to poor soldier after the lady he diddled then dumped left him his 'change'....

LTS

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: GUEST,~WYS~
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 01:49 PM

How about the dead dude in The Cremation of Sam McGee?

~S~

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: PoppaGator
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 05:01 PM

The little wee drummer in Arthur McBride.

John Hurt's woman, about to be sent back to her momma in "Payday" -- and also, for that matter, Ray Charles' woman being sent back to Arkansas in "What'd I Say."

Bob Willis, who cried "Billy de Lion, he's shot dead on the floor!"

I'll think of some more, no doubt.

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 05:27 PM

And if I may step into the reggae genre ... how is Sheriff John Brown's (who you admit shooting) deputy (who you deny shooting) making out?

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 06:10 PM

The landlady of the wild rover's local?

That long list of birds from Jake Thackray's Bantam Cock?.....Probably need a focus group to do this lot.

The officers commanding from Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy?.....Surely all admirals by now.

And does anyone know what happened to the sailor from Sally Free and Easy......Did he ever recover his loving?

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 08:33 PM

The landlady of the wild rover's local? That's an idea:

I was stood at the bar when this pillock came in,
And he asked for a drink without showing no tin.
So I told him "Look chummy, this isn't a bank,
If you want something free, just you go have a wash."
And there's no tick, never, these words I repeat,
If you ask me for credit, you'll be out in the street.

Well he dips in his pockets, this ignorant sod,
And he says "Loads-a-money" and he flashes a wad.
So I tells him quite politely, "If you've money to spare,
You are welcome to drink till you falls off your chair
But there's no tick, never, these words I repeat,
If you ask me for credit, you'll be out in the street."

Well he drinks and he drinks, till he can't drink no more,
Then he staggers around and he crawls out the door,
Going home to his Mummy, to beg for a sub -
There's some right bleeding nutters I serve in this pub.
And there's no tick never, these words I repeat,
If you ask me for credit, you'll be out in the street.

You'll note I've shipped it back to England - to what you might call an English theme pub in fact...

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 09:55 PM

Champeon - in Great Expectations - could he have brewed a brew that was was true - or did neferious leanings run within his genes?

Notice how notes of flatulance - better relegated to the "LOWER SECTION" frequently make use of an "aire freshener" to make them acceptable in the "UPPER SECTION" of polite MC society.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 10:21 PM

Bateman's porter did get a modest sequel of his own. From The Loving Ballad of Lord Bateman (1839: [Thackeray & Dickens] illustrated by George Cruikshank):

"Mr George Cruikshank has taken the liberty of adding three verses to this ballad ... to be said or sung by those parties who may approve of the alteration and addition."

Then up and spoke the proud young porter,
Who never was heard to speak so free;
Saying, "I will marry this lady's darter,
If so be that she will marry me."

"O," then his lordship said, "O then," says he,
"That is just what I would like to see."
And to the proud young porter's offer
The mother and the darter, did both agree.

Then for the two weddings they did prepare,
With all their hearts so full of glee;
And all did dance and all did sing,
Right merrily, right merrily!


Well, sequels rarely live up to the original. Cruikshank's accompanying illustration is quite cute, though.

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 12:32 PM

MGoH:

Is that all your own?

I want to keep a copy by me as a riposte to the original when needed. For that very reason I would like to be sure of my attribution.

CHEERS

Nigel

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: Auggie
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 01:14 PM

How about J. Alfred Prufrock ?
Elliot's already written the lyrics to his love song, but I don't think I've ever heard a melody.

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 01:22 PM

Never mind J. Alfred Prufrock, what did Miss J Hunter-Dunn think of her Subaltern?

We must know!

Nigel

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 01:24 PM

would be interesting to see what Paddy West's wife thought about all those young wanna be sailors passing through...

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 01:40 PM

I wonder about the gaffer (foreman?) in The Sick Note, and what he said when OSHA came around to investigate the accident.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 03:16 PM

McGrath of Harlow,

Thanks for that. I was thinking along the same lines, but hadn't got past the signal box when yours appeared. I don't know what fuel you are using, but I'd like a couple of gallons.

BTW May I use your creation in my act, with appropriate credits, of course?

Don T.

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: stevep
Date: 14 Jan 05 - 03:21 PM

Upspoke the cabin boy


SteveP

Hear something different - www.theacousticstage.net

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: reggie miles
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 12:02 PM

Here's a minor character that never made it into any folk song. That's why I wrote one for the Shopping Cart Wrangler.

For the click challenged here are the lyrics with complete intro.

Written to the tune of "Ghost Riders In The Sky" I didn't know if this song was technically a parody, or just insanity. You choose. It does, however, fill an important void in today's fast paced, sound and video bite oriented culture. This brief saga tells about a real, honest to goodness, folk hero who proudly steps forth from the canvas of modern America to be counted. It is just one of the stories about untold numbers of Americans who relentlessly toil away their lives at thankless, low paying jobs.


Shopping Cart Wrangler
Reggie Miles © 2004


In this day and age of modern conveniences like the World Wide Web we've got an awful lot of wonderful things. Now don't we? Resourcinatin' resusitators, resusitatin' resoucinators, fuel injected hubcaps…. But one thing you won't find, not roamin' the byways of that inflammation stupid highway, and not even on Ebay, are folk heroes. Many people say all the folk heroes are dead and gone.

But I say no, no way, uh-uh, shut-up, don't go there people friends. Cuz if there ever was a time when we needed folk heroes, it's today. With the state of the world as it is and rising tensions. We need heroes look up to. Like the straight shootin', hard ridin', singin' heroes of yore, who laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom and chuckled at catastrophe.

No, folk heroes aren't as plentiful as they once were, but they're still out there. You've just got to know where to look for 'em. And no, you ain't a gonna find 'em roamin' the wide open prairies of yesteryear. Cuz friends, they've all been fenced off. But there is still one prairie out there today where you can find 'em ridin' herd. It stretches out just as far as the eye can see. I'm talkin' about that vast asphalt prairie that surrounds Megalo mart malls and shopping centers all across this great land of ours. This song is dedicated to one of the last great American folk heroes, and if you listen, real close, you can hear it echoin' through those prefabricated concrete canyons of today's post-industrial answer to yesterday's general store.


I'm up at dawn, and work all day till the wee hours of the night.
My polyester uniform, it just don't fit me right.
And they don't allow me to take tips for the service I provide.
I work for minimum wage, with poverty by my side.

Yippee-yi-yah! yippee-yi-oh-oh-oh-oh! I'm a shopping cart wrangler, 16 years old.

In the drivin' rain or the blazin' sun or the freezin' ice and snow,
When the boss says, "Go and get them strays." It's out the door I go.
I round 'em up and corral them with all the rest inside.
I'm a shopping cart wrangler, I've got my price gun by my side.

Yippee-yi-yah! yippee-yi-oh-oh-oh-oh! I'm a shopping cart wrangler, is my cry!

Dodgin' trucks and automobiles over huge speed bumps and curbs.
And SUVs full of groceries, on their way back to the burbs.
Through potholes the size of Texas and puddles as big as lakes,
I drive my clatterin' herd homeward.
Then I take a coffee break.

Yippee-yi-yah! yippee-yi-oh-oh-oh-oh! I'm a shopping cart wrangler, till I die.

Heeya! Get along little shopping carts! Hey you, in the SUV, move it or lose buster! Oh yeah!? Same to you mister! Yeeha! Outta my way people! I've got shopping carts to wrangle! Yeeha!


Here's another about a character that I researched here. I was hoping to find a an entire list of songs about this guy, but only found him as a minor character in folk songs. So, once again, I put fingers (all two) to keyboard. I used elements from my research to paint a proper picture for my song about The Devil

For the click challenged, hear are the lyrics.

The Devil
Reggie Miles © 2004


He's known as Satan, Gozer, Beelzebub,
Old Scratch and Shiva he's been dubbed.
Any of the above will do.
Just call his name and he will come to you.

So, from the darkest depths inside my soul,
I called up the devil way down below,
And the demon screamed a fearsome growl,
So I set him loose just to hear him howl.

He said, "Son, I've met your kind before.
You're always knockin' on my door.
Hopin' you'll find in my pit of fire,
Somethin' to fulfill your every desire.

And I've always been there with open arms,
Willing to share my many charms,
Wanting to satisfy all your needs,
Your deepest hunger or vilest greed.

I'm experienced and have the skill,
To grant your every wish at will.
Just name your poison. What'll it be?
Fame, power, wealth, or all three?

Or do you want eternal life,
An end to war, or pain, and strife?
Youth, and health, or endless bliss,
I can give you all of this.

It's an easy enough thing to do.
Soon all your worries will be through.
Come on down with me to my fiery crib.
Don't forget to pack your asbestos bib.

Cuz glutony's no sin to me.
Will that be, Southern deep-fried, or extra crispy?
Charbroiled, or barbecued with plenty of fat,
Wanna try my guilt free hot sauce with that?

Pills, I've got plenty, to cure all your ills,
Uppers and downers for all of your thrills,
Drink, enough to quench any thirst,
Gamblin' and lust, I've got the best of the worst.

Have you made up your mind, or, shall I tell you more?
You'll have a great time! There are parties galore!
Every hate, crime, and fear
We've got it all, wall to wall, right here!

You've but to ask, no need to yearn.
I'll need just one thing in return.
To remove your name from heaven's roll,
You'll need to pledge to me your soul.

There's no need to worry your pretty head,
With pointless thoughts of doubt, or dread
Just sign along the dotted line,
And everything will all be fine.

Yes, I was there in the garden with Adam and Eve
I opened her eyes and made her believe
And I'll make a believer out of you too
Just call my name and I'll come to you

Just call my name and I will come to you

Just call my name

How will you know me? Okay, let's see.
I've got a sort of overly sunburned complexion.
I'm talkin' beet red, no, even more than George Hamilton.
I'll be wearing a red suit.
I've got pitch black hair, a small gotee, a thin mustache, and a receding hairline with a couple of hor… er, bumps, I mean, protrusions.
Okay, they're horns.
I've got cloven hooves too, and a longish tail that's kind of pointy on the end.
Oh, and I'll be carrying a pitchfork.
And just in case, why don't you jot down my toll free hot line number?
It's area code, 666,666-6666, and that's good 24/7 so don't hesitate to give me a buzz."

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: reggie miles
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 12:04 PM

I see the link maker is not functioning

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 01:34 PM

The Landlady's version - yes, all mine. It wrote itself.

A possible change to it for the chorus - perhaps instead of:

And there's no tick, never, these words I repeat,
If you ask me for credit, you'll be out in the street,

You might prefer

Oh there's no tick never, in the Rover's Return,
But you can drink like a fish if you've money to burn.

The point being, that gets the Rover into the song - "The Rover's Return" incidentally being the name of a pub in the English soap opera, "Coronation Street".

Or even, it occurs to me as I write:

No, No Never, Never no more -
I never give nobody credit no more.

Which has the advantage of being closer to the standard version, and therefore it might make it more acceptable as a substitute in response to a request for the Wild Rover.

I haven't tried the song out yet to see which chorus works best.

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: rich-joy
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 05:06 PM

Steve Parkes wrote : " ... There must be a few "walk-ons" in folksongs that we wonder about, and maybe warrant a song to themselves -- or maybe even got one. Any suggestions? ..."


Frankie Armstrong wrote the very powerful "Song of the Second Serving Maid" - it fits this bill perfectly.
I'm trying to remember though, where this maid originally featured? - perhaps "The Ballad of Tamlin" ...


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 07:59 PM

Not just minor characters - I can imagine Barbara Allen might have had a different angle on what happened from the narrator.

Or the girl being walked out on in Bob Dylan's Don't Think Twice.

Subject: RE: Minor characters deserving own song
From: Joybell
Date: 15 Jan 05 - 08:21 PM

The household semi-human spirit Billy Blin. He appears, briefly, in at least 4 Child Ballads. I really like him. Cheers, Joy