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08 Jul 07 - 12:05 AM (#2096773) Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALLAD OF SCOOTER LIBBY (Michael Rose From: mrdux I posted this below the line to a thread that turned rather noisy; someone noticed it and suggested that, since it is, after all, a song (albeit a topical song), maybe I should repost it above the line. OK. It was begun in the office on Tuesday and finished while mowing the lawn on the 4th of July, which seems somehow appropriate. Any editorial suggestions are appreciated. Thanks. michael THE BALLAD OF SCOOTER LIBBY (to the tune of "Charley on the MTA," or "The Wreck of the Old 97") Let me tell you a story 'Bout a guy named Scooter And this story it has a point. He was Cheney's lieutenant, Took a fall for his bosses And got thirty months in the joint. Chorus: But did he get to the pen? No he's out of the pen, 'Cause he's one of Cheney's men. He showed no repentence He won't serve his sentence And he sure stayed out of the pen. It was old Joe Wilson Told us Bush was lyin' When he said about old Saddam, That "he's buyin' up parts And we're sure he's tryin' To build him a nucular bomb." Then Dick Cheney said "We're gonna get Joe Wilson He can't talk about us that way. We can get at his wife, Tell the Wall Street Journal That she works for the CIA." When the FBI Came to talk to Libby 'Bout who outed Valerie Plame, Scooter wound up being Just a little bit fibby, Said he barely remembered her name. ch. Scooter was charged with obstruction of justice for his bits of dishonesty He was was tried and convicted He was sent off to prison Just as sad as he could be. But then W. said: "I sure like that Scooter And I do hate to see his pain, So I'll do him a favor, Since I am the Commuter." And Scooter walks free once again. ch. Now listen my friends All across the nation To the moral that ends this tale: You can break any law for this Administration And you'll never ever end up in jail. Final ch: And will you go to the pen? No you'll be out of the pen, If you're one of Cheney's men. You can show no repentence You won't serve your sentence And you'll sure stay out of the pen. (c) michael rose, 2007 |
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08 Jul 07 - 12:43 AM (#2096795) Subject: RE: The Ballad of Scooter Libby From: katlaughing Great! The only change I would suggest is writing out "W" to "Dubya," although I spell it "Dumbya." |
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08 Jul 07 - 12:48 AM (#2096797) Subject: RE: The Ballad of Scooter Libby From: mrdux that works. thanks. michael. |
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08 Jul 07 - 01:06 AM (#2096801) Subject: RE: The Ballad of Scooter Libby From: Jim Lad Very well written. Reminiscent of the old union songs. Nicely done. |
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08 Jul 07 - 06:53 AM (#2096876) Subject: RE: The Ballad of Scooter Libby From: Azizi Michael, Thanks for posting "The Ballad of Scooter Libby" song above the line. I love the words and spirit of your song. It reminds me of the songs that Phil Ochs composed and sang. And I mean that as a sincere compliment. Songs like this can help break through the mental fog surrounding lots of folks who still think that it doesn't personally matter to them what Scooter Libby did and that Bush commuted Libby's criminal sentence. Kudos!!! ** And now, a question. You wrote that: [this song is sung]"(to the tune of "Charley on the MTA," or "The Wreck of the Old 97")" Given my admittedly sparse knowledge of folk songs, I confess to not knowing those two songs. But the beginning line for "The Ballad of Scooter Libby" reminds me of the beginning line of the theme song for the American television show "The Beverly Hillbillies". And that's the tune I used in my head when I read the lyrics to your song. Is the Beverly Hillbillies song the same tune and pattern structure as "The Ballad of Scooter Libby" and the other two songs that you mentioned? For any one who is interested, click http://www.bussongs.com/songs/beverly_hillbillies_tv_show_theme.php for the lyrics to that tv show theme song. |
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08 Jul 07 - 07:55 AM (#2096889) Subject: RE: The Ballad of Scooter Libby From: van lingle Well done mrdux. No, Azzizi they are different songs. Charley on the MTA does however open with the line "Let me tell you a story about a man named Charley,".It's in the DT. |
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08 Jul 07 - 08:34 AM (#2096908) Subject: RE: The Ballad of Scooter Libby From: Azizi Thanks, van lingle. I'll check out that song in the DT. |
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08 Jul 07 - 12:49 PM (#2097052) Subject: RE: The Ballad of Scooter Libby From: Charley Noble Michael- Very well done! You may be able to work this pun in if you're interested: "He was pardoned with the stroke of a pen" Odd, I was thinking just the other day that a ditty might be composed on this topic to the tune of "Charley on the MTA." The original song, by the way, was a 19th century ballad entitled "The Sailor on the Deep Blue Sea (Will He Ever Return)." Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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09 Jul 07 - 12:52 AM (#2097437) Subject: RE: The Ballad of Scooter Libby From: mrdux Charley -- Thanks. I was sitting at my desk musing about how "the decider" had become "the commuter," and "Charley on the MTA" was the only song about commuting that came to mind. The 19th Century original tune (a.k.a. "The Ship That Never Returned") was written c. 1865 by Henry Clay Work, who also wrote "My Grandfather's Clock," and "Marching Through Georgia." I'll give the pun a try. Azizi -- If you go to the Kingston Trio home page, scroll down and click on the Jukebox (lower right), you'll find a live early '60s performance of the MTA song. A 1925 recording of "Wreck of the Old 97" is at the fascinating site here . And thanks again. Jim Lad and van lingle -- Thanks for the compliments. michael |