Lyr Req: National Hotel (Ian Tyson)

Subject: Lyrics: National Hotel
From: GUEST,Phil Nuytten
Date: 15 May 05 - 03:58 PM

Not sure if this is the official title. Some snippets:
'A' verse
          'All the halls are haunted - at the national hotel,
          Screaming and a-dreamin' - down the hallways as well,
          Ev'ry night a'knockin' - comes a'knockin' at my door,
          Callin' out for Shirley - but she don't live here anymore

Scrap: The carpet lives on catsup,an'the light bulb lives on flies,
       The wallpaper pattern lives on anything that it can
       hypnotise . . . .and so on

Any ideas appreciated - no sign of it under 'national hotel' I first heard this in Halifax, Nova Scotia, being done by a group called 'The Tewksbury Transmission' - in th 60's. It was at the Halifax Hotel - which is the old 'National Hotel' ( Canadian National Railways) so maybe it was peculiar to that area - but seemed too polished a piece not to have had wider appeal.
Thanks
PN

Subject: RE: Lyrics: National Hotel
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 May 05 - 04:53 PM

Sounds intriguing. It doesn't come up on Mudcat's search engine, so I guess it hasn't been discussed here. It's not at the Traditional Ballad Index, either. I hope somebody can come up with information on it. In Nevada City, California, there's a National Hotel that's supposed to be haunted. It's a fascinating place, and I've always wanted to stay there.

Nevada City - The National Hotel - Apparent hauntings occur here. Built in the late 1800's the building was restored recently with the exception of the left wing. Lights flicker, cold spots and creepy feeling in this wing of the building. The hotel has hosted miners and tourists who come looking for hauntings. (http://theshadowlands.net/places/california1.htm)

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyrics: National Hotel
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 May 05 - 05:44 PM

Ian Tyson, Canadian singer living in Alberta, wrote a song called "National Hotel." Recorded 1967-1968, "Lovin' Sound" album. (Wish I had it)

Subject: RE: Lyrics: National Hotel
From: Peace
Date: 15 May 05 - 05:58 PM

Q,

FYI

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:MT-tUDExa-UJ:www.quartette.com/Sylvia/Ian_Sylvia.html+%22Lovin%27+Sound%22,+Ian+Tyson&hl=en

BM

Subject: RE: Lyrics: National Hotel
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 15 May 05 - 06:15 PM

Q and Brucie got it right, that's the one.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: National Hotel
From: Peace
Date: 15 May 05 - 06:28 PM

Found this on a board somewhere with a google of "The National Hotel", Ian, sylvia, lyrics

A wonderful ditty called "The National Hotel." They refused to release it as a single because they didn't want to have to sing it endlessly in concerts. It has a bouncy little air. The lyrics go:

"All the halls are haunted in The National Hotel. Running and a screaming in (something) and evening's as well. Every night a knocking comes a knocking at my door, calling out for Shirley, but she don't live her any more (she.don't.live.her.any-more.)

The carpet lives on ketchup and the lightbulbs live on flies The wallpaper pattern lives on anything that it can hypnotise (it can hypnotize.)

And the waitress who (somethings) in the dining room (Something, something something, da-duh) bays at the moon."

Subject: RE: Lyrics: National Hotel
From: GUEST,Phil N.
Date: 15 May 05 - 09:47 PM

Hey, Brucie!
You got it. I do remember the waitress line:

"Oh, the smell that keeps a-risin'.
From the green-lit dining room,( greasy spoon)
An' I'm mad about the waitress.
An' she's got me howlin' and bayin' at the mo-o-on

or something similar.

Thanks, Brucie and Q - I had no idea this was an Ian 'never sell your saddle' Tyson song - but it is a canuck song, and Tyson 's about as canuck as you get!

Subject: RE: Lyrics: National Hotel
From: Peace
Date: 15 May 05 - 10:52 PM

Ian, beaver and maple leaves. I hear ya.

Subject: RE: Lyrics: National Hotel
From: GUEST,Joe Offer
Date: 16 May 05 - 07:36 PM

It's not in the Complete Vanguard Recordings box set, which covers 1963-1968. The Lovin' Sound album came out in 1967 - but on the MGM label. It's on a two-fer CD called Movin' On, 1968-1968. If I break down and buy Movin' On, am I going to like it?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyrics: National Hotel
From: GUEST,brucie
Date: 16 May 05 - 07:44 PM

Joe,

See the link I posted for Q. There has been a re-release.

BM

Subject: RE: Lyrics: National Hotel
From: MaineDog
Date: 16 May 05 - 08:08 PM

Ian and Sylvia recorded this back in the sixties. When I get around to unpacking my old lp's I'll find it. I remember that the words were quite clear, and the song was very funny and perhaps a little off-color for back then.
MD

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: National Hotel (Ian Tyson)
From: GUEST,Mike Carter
Date: 28 Nov 05 - 04:52 AM

the bridge on National Hotel goes like

And the smell that keeps drivin'
from down in the Greek dining room (greasy spoon)
Reminds me of the waitress that's 'bout got me howlin'
and bayin' at the moon

at least that's what I've been singing for a few years. Put any modifications down to Folk Process ...... my favorite euphemism for faulty memory.


Cheers

Subject: Lyr Add: NATIONAL HOTEL (Ian Tyson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Nov 05 - 08:24 AM

Lyrics copied from The WoodenBoat Forum (I guess when they discuss music, it's considered BS.):

NATIONAL HOTEL

CHORUS: All the halls are haunted at the National Hotel,
Snorin' and a-screamin' on the holidays as well.
Every night I hear them knockin'. They come a-knockin' at my door,
Callin' out for Shirley. (She don't live here anymore.)

The radiator rumbles, just-a-tryin' to get away
From the cockroach in the corner that likes livin' this-a-way. CHORUS

The carpet lives on ketchup and the light bulb lives on flies.
The wallpaper pattern lives on anything it can hypnotize, (It can hypnotize,)

And the smell that keeps rising from down in that green dining room (greasy spoon)
Reminds me of the waitresses that got me howling and baying at the moon. CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: NATIONAL HOTEL (Ian Tyson)
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 01:10 AM

NATIONAL HOTEL
(Ian Tyson 1967)

from "Ian anad Sylvia Loving Sound Songbook"

All the halls are haunted at the National Hotel,
Snorin' and a-screamin',
And down the hall the demons dwell.
Ev'ry night they knockin', come a-knockin' at my door,
Callin' our for Shirley,
She don't live here any more! (She don't live here any more)
The radiator rumbles, he's try'n' to get away,
From the cockroach in the corner
Who likes a-livin' this a-way.
And the smell that keeps risin' from down in the Greek dining room,
Reminds me of the waitresses that got me howlin' and bayin' at the moon.
The carpet lives on ketchup,
And the light bulbs live on flies,
The wallpaper pattern lives on anything it can hypnotize, it can hypnotize.
All the halls are haunted at the National Hotel,
Snorin' and a-screamin',
And down the hall the demons dwell.
Ev'ry night they knockin', come a-knockin' at my door,
Callin' our for Shirley,
She don't live here any more! (She don't live here any more)

Oh, I'm so sorry, Madam!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: National Hotel (Ian Tyson)
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 10:22 AM

And at the end tag line there's a drum lick that sounds like a door slamming.

Back when this first came out in the late 60s it was definitely the oddest song I & S had ever recorded.

SC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: National Hotel (Ian Tyson)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Oct 10 - 03:45 PM

It's a sound effect NOT a drum lick, (Door opens) Oh! Sorry Madam (Door closes) at the end!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: National Hotel (Ian Tyson)
From: GUEST,tlwaltz
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 11:31 PM

I totally loved it, don't know whatever happened to my LP!