Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things (Harnick)

To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café ^TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=14005
33 messages

Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things (Harnick)

27 Sep 99 - 11:14 AM (#118085)
Subject: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Gwenzilla

Looking for a tune for the "Ballad of the Shape of Things," which I believe has also been called "The Shape of My Love." I have been unable to procure a copy of the Kingston Trio album with the "Ballad of the Shape of Things" on it. DT says it was recorded by Ellie Stone and by the Limelighters, but I'm having a tough time finding those recordings, as well. I really would like to learn the song! I'll take midis, ABC files, .gifs of sheet music, etc., etc. :)

Thanks in advance,
Gwen Knighton (harp for hire)

Click for lyrics in the Digital Tradition (The Shape of My Love)

27 Sep 99 - 11:34 AM (#118095)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Allan C.

An alternative might be to go to The Kingston Trio Pick of the Week Page and request that what the KT recorded as "The Shape of Things" be next weeks Pick of the Week. Each "POTW" is a playable RealAudio recording of one of their songs. BTW, there are already some interesting selections available in the POTW archive.

27 Sep 99 - 09:03 PM (#118278)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: raredance

The Kingston Trio version of "The Shape of Things" is on at least two recordings. "An Evening With The Kingston Trio" is a live recording of a 1962 concert with John Stewart. It exists as a CD on the Folk Era label. It is still in circulation because I saw it sometime in the last week at a major retailer. The other recording I am aware of is on a 2-record set called "Once Upon A Time - The Kingston Trio" issued in 1969 by Tetragrammaton Records. This is not the most common of Trio LPs, but it is available if you haunt the WWW used vinyl dealers or on-line auctions.

rich r

25 Oct 01 - 10:05 AM (#579418)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Snuffy

I've got it on a cheapo "Best of" KT album. If this is still on Mmario's "Mudcat Missing Tunes" list, I will try to do a MidiText/abc over the weekend.

The CD gives no details of authorship etc. Anybody know who wrote it? Is it a parody of a specific song, or just of a general style? How old is it?

WassaiL! V

25 Oct 01 - 10:24 AM (#579425)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: MMario

it's still on the list.

25 Oct 01 - 03:56 PM (#579742)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Herga Kitty

If this is the song that goes:-

Completely round is the perfect pearl the oyster manufactures
Completely round is the steering wheel that leads to compound fractures
Completely round is the golden fruit that hangs in the orange tree
Yes the circle shape is quite renowned
And, sad to say, it can be found
In the dirty low-down runaround
My true love gave to me, yes my true love gave to me

I learnt it off a recording by Blossom Dearie which was taped and sent to me by a friend.

Kitty

25 Oct 01 - 06:56 PM (#579902)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Noreen

And no doubt Micca sang it at the Getaway?

25 Oct 01 - 08:00 PM (#579954)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Snuffy

The lyrics are in the DT database as THE SHAPE OF MY LOVE, but Gwenzilla was looking for the tune 2 years ago. She might not have long to wait now.

In the meantime, any info on where it's from?

WassaiL! V

26 Oct 01 - 04:31 PM (#580570)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE SHAPE OF MY LOVE (from Kingston Trio)
From: Snuffy

Here's my attempt at the tune used by the Kingston Trio. I worked it out in G on my whistle, then transposed it to the F that the KT sing it in.

There are several minor differences from the DT text - I have shown them in bold type. And one major difference affecting the tune - KT add an interjection at the end of the penultimate line of verse 1 (shown in BOLD CAPITALS).

THE SHAPE OF MY LOVE

Completely round is the perfect pearl
The oyster manufactures
Completely round is the steering wheel
That leads to compound fractures
Completely round is the golden fruit
That hangs in the orange tree
Yes the circle shape is quite renowned
But sad to say it can be found
In the dirty low-down run around
My true love gave to me - YES
My true love gave to me

Completely square was the velvet box
He said my ring would be in
Completely square was the envelope
He said farewell to me in
Completely square was the handkerchief
I flourish constantly
As it dries my eyes of the tears I've shed
And blows my nose till it turns quite red
For a perfect square is my true love's head
He will not marry me
No, he will not marry me

Rectangular was the hotel door
My true love tried to sneak through
Rectangular was the transom
Over which I had to peek through
Rectangular was the hotel room
I entered angrily
Now rectangular is the wooden box
Where lies my love 'neath the golden phlox
They said he died of the chicken pox
In part I must agree
One chick too many had he

Triangular is the piece of pie
I eat to ease my sorrow
Triangular is the hatchet blade
I plan to hide tomorrow
Triangular the relationship
That now has ceased to be, and
Triangular is the garment thin
That fastens on with a safety pin
To a prize I had no wish to win
It's a lasting memory - THAT
My true love gave to me

MIDI file: SHAPELOV.MID

Timebase: 480

Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Key: F
TimeSig: 4/4 48 8
Name: The Shape of My Love
Text: N:Filename [SHAPELOV
Start
1680 1 65 090 0239 0 65 000 0001 1 60 127 0479 0 60 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 65 090 0239 0 65 000 0001 1 65 090 0239 0 65 000 0001 1 67 127 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 69 090 0479 0 69 000 0001 1 65 090 0719 0 65 000 0001 1 69 090 0239 0 69 000 0001 1 70 127 0719 0 70 000 0001 1 69 090 0239 0 69 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 67 127 0239 0 67 000 0001 1 64 090 0239 0 64 000 0001 1 60 090 0959 0 60 000 0241 1 60 090 0239 0 60 000 0001 1 60 127 0479 0 60 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 65 090 0239 0 65 000 0001 1 67 090 0239 0 67 000 0001 1 69 127 0479 0 69 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 65 090 0719 0 65 000 0001 1 69 090 0239 0 69 000 0001 1 67 127 0719 0 67 000 0001 1 69 090 0239 0 69 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 64 127 0239 0 64 000 0001 1 62 090 0239 0 62 000 0001 1 60 090 0959 0 60 000 0241 1 60 090 0239 0 60 000 0001 1 72 127 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 70 090 0239 0 70 000 0001 1 69 090 0239 0 69 000 0001 1 70 127 0479 0 70 000 0001 1 70 090 0479 0 70 000 0001 1 70 090 0719 0 70 000 0001 1 67 090 0239 0 67 000 0001 1 69 127 0479 0 69 000 0001 1 69 090 0239 0 69 000 0001 1 69 090 0239 0 69 000 0001 1 69 090 0239 0 69 000 0001 1 67 090 0239 0 67 000 0001 1 65 090 0239 0 65 000 0001 1 69 090 0239 0 69 000 0001 1 67 127 1199 0 67 000 0241 1 60 090 0239 0 60 000 0001 1 60 090 0239 0 60 000 0001 1 65 127 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 69 127 0479 0 69 000 0001 1 70 090 0479 0 70 000 0001 1 72 090 0719 0 72 000 0001 1 60 090 0239 0 60 000 0001 1 65 127 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 69 127 0479 0 69 000 0001 1 70 090 0479 0 70 000 0001 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 60 090 0239 0 60 000 0001 1 60 090 0239 0 60 000 0001 1 65 127 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 69 127 0479 0 69 000 0001 1 70 090 0479 0 70 000 0001 1 72 090 0959 0 72 000 1441 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 70 090 0239 0 70 000 0001 1 69 127 0479 0 69 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 67 090 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 60 090 0479 0 60 000 0001 1 72 127 0959 0 72 000 0001 1 74 090 0719 0 74 000 0001 1 70 090 0239 0 70 000 0001 1 69 127 0479 0 69 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 65 090 0239 0 65 000 0001 1 64 090 0239 0 64 000 0001 1 62 090 0239 0 62 000 0001 1 64 090 0239 0 64 000 0001 1 65 127 0959 0 65 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

T:The Shape of My Love
  M:4/4
  L:1/8
  Q:100
  N:Filename [SHAPELOV
  D:Ellie Stone, Limelighters, Kingston Trio, Blossom Dearie, etc.
  K:F
  z4 z3F|
  C2F2 F2FF|G2A2 F3A|B3A   G2F2   |(GE)C2-C2zC|
  C2G2 G2FG|A2G2 F3A|G3A   G2F2   |(ED)C2-C2zC|
  c2c2 c2BA|B2B2 B3G|A2AA (AGF)A  | G4-   GzCC|
  F2F2 G2G2|A2B2 c3C|F2F2  G2G2   | A2B2  c2CC|
  F2F2 G2G2|A2B2 c4 |z4    z2(dB) |
  A2F2 G2C2|c4   d3B|A2F2 (FE)(DE)| F4    z2z2||

Wassail! V

Click to play

26 Oct 01 - 04:43 PM (#580583)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: MMario

Okay - Thank you snuffy - but how did you get BLUE miditxt?

26 Oct 01 - 05:12 PM (#580601)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Snuffy

I was feeling playful - just changed FONT COLOR=#FF0000 SIZE=1 to FONT COLOR=#0000FF SIZE=1.

What colour would you like next?

WassaiL! V

27 Oct 01 - 03:51 PM (#581015)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: John MacKenzie

Also recorded by the Brothers Four on an album called Cross Country Tour, some other good stuff on it too.

Jock

29 Oct 01 - 03:09 PM (#582132)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Noreen

Oh you devil, Snuffy!

12 Jan 03 - 12:21 PM (#865265)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Joe Offer

My Kingston Trio College Concert album says the songwriter for "The Ballad of the Shape of Things" is "Harnick." I'll have to look further for verification, but I think this is Sheldon Harnick, who is better known for "Fiddler on the Roof."

12 Jan 03 - 12:30 PM (#865272)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Sooz

It is on Hilary Spencer's solo album "Other Roads Other Lives" and is credited to Sheldon Harnick.

12 Jan 03 - 12:51 PM (#865286)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE SHAPE OF THINGS (Sheldon Harnick)
From: Joe Offer

OK, I think this is a definitive transcription of the original.
-Joe Offer-

THE SHAPE OF THINGS
(Sheldon Harnick)

Completely round is the perfect pearl
The oyster manufactures.
Completely round is the steering wheel
That leads to compound fractures.
Completely round is the golden fruit
That hangs in the orange tree.
Yes, the circle shape is quite renowned,
And sad to say, it can be found
In the dirty low-down runaround
My true love gave to me,
Yes, my true love gave to me.

Completely square is the velvet box
He said my ring would be in.
Completely square is the envelope
He wrote farewell to me in.
Completely square is the handkerchief
I flourish constantly,
As it dries my eyes of the tears I've shed,
And blows my nose till it turns bright red,
For a perfect square is my true love's head
He will not marry me,
No, he will not marry me.

Rectangular is the hotel door
My true love tried to sneak through.
Rectangular is the transom
Over which I had to peek through.
Rectangular is the hotel room
I entered angrily.
Now, rectangular is the wooden box
Where lies my love 'neath the grazing flocks,
They said he died of the chicken pox,
In part I must agree;
One chick too many had he

Triangular is the piece of pie
I eat to ease my sorrow.
Triangular is the hatchet blade
I plan to hide tomorrow.
Triangular the relationship
That now has ceased to be.
And the self-same shape is a garment thin,
That fastens on with a safety pin
To a prize I had no wish to win;
It's a lasting memory
That my true love gave to me.

from The Littlest Revue, 1956

source: Their Words are Music: The Great Theatre Lyricists and Their Lyrics, edited by Lehman Engel, 1975

Click to play

12 Jan 03 - 02:44 PM (#865316)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Charley Noble

All neatened up!

Charley Noble

12 Jan 03 - 03:09 PM (#865326)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: GUEST,Treesha

Wow, that's amaxing! This site never fails to impress me with the amazing knowledge of it's contributors, the rapidity of replies, or that it seems so msny of us have nothing better to do that spend our lives on the net.
Is this why the folk clubs are empty? We're all sitting here, pounding keyboards, lost in the nostagia of our lost youth?
Thanks anyway, I do appreciate the answer as I will now be frustratedly humming in the spaces where I didn't know the words .

12 Jan 03 - 06:12 PM (#865442)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Snuffy

grazing flocks???????????

12 Jan 03 - 08:01 PM (#865510)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Bob Bolton

G'day Snuffy,

" ... ('neath the) grazing flocks??????????? ..."

Rural cemetery? (Waste not, want not!)

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

12 Jan 03 - 09:09 PM (#865544)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Joe Offer

Ayup, Snuffy. "Grazing flocks" is what the book says. I kinda like it - a quiet, pleasant, pastoral feel to it....

You'll also find "grazing flocks" in the transcription of the song in Reading Lyrics, the terrific collection that came out in 2000 - editors Robert Gottlieb and Robert Kimball.
-Joe Offer-

13 Jan 03 - 05:14 AM (#865774)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Dave Bryant

I've usually heard it sung:

Where lies my love with the golden locks.

13 Jan 03 - 08:21 AM (#865840)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: GUEST,Sooz(at work)

Treesha - which Folk Clubs are empty? I was in a packed one at Grimsby last night and a mostly full one in Gainsborough on Friday and still found time to have a look at the Forum!

13 Jan 03 - 10:31 AM (#865920)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: JennyO

There is a duo called Cloudstreet in Oz, who do "The shape of things". It is on a recently released CD, called "Violet Sarah and Muckle John". I can't do blue clickies yet, but their website is:
www.7thdimension.com.au/cloudstreet/

Jenny

13 Jan 03 - 06:56 PM (#866256)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Snuffy

I'm almost sure the KT sing "golden phlox" (a yellow flower, apprently).

WassaiL! V

14 Jan 03 - 04:45 AM (#866480)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: JennieG

I have been singing this one for several years - it is one of my party pieces! I learnt it from a recording of Blossom Dearie. And I have always sung "grazing flocks"....like Bob, I assume it refers to a quiet hillside cemetery.
Cheers
JennieG

14 Jan 03 - 10:37 AM (#866697)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: GUEST,Treesha

Last time I heard it sung it was 'hollyhocks', but that was a long time ago.
Sorry about the 'empty folk clubs' remark, I'm glad to hear they still thrive somewhere.

14 Jan 03 - 03:31 PM (#866886)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: denise:^)

I learned it as "golden phlox," and, yes, it's a flower...

I got my copy of this (on a Kingston Trio LP--don't remember which one) for about a dollar at a used record store. Those stores aren't as plentiful as they used to be, but they're still around, and worth checking out on occasion--especially if you have, shall we say, 'out of the mainstream' musical tastes.

denise:^)

14 Jan 03 - 05:13 PM (#866928)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Steve-o

....his casket is buried beneath the grazing flocks. What's wrong with that? Flocks of sheep might well graze through an old cemetery...what's the controversy?

14 Jan 03 - 11:26 PM (#867118)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Joe Offer

The Kingston Trio sing "low-down dirty runaround" on their College Concert LP. And yes, they sing "golden phlox," and they sing in the past tense.
But what I typed is what was in the Broadway play. And I typed it that way because I thought it would be interesting to see the disagreement from the Kingston Trio fans.
I think it's interesting to see the differences, slight though they may be.
Now, are phlox golden?
-Joe Offer-

Actually, phlox are usually white or pink, but there is a golden desert variety that grows in Mexico and the Southwest U.S.

15 Jan 03 - 08:27 AM (#867320)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: GUEST

And are golden phlox normally used as coffin wreaths?

And thanks for the author and date, Joe.

31 Jul 03 - 05:59 PM (#994532)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: freightdawg

I appreciate the lyrics to the song, does anyone have the chords? I would appreciate it.

31 Jul 03 - 07:14 PM (#994597)
Subject: Chord Add: Ballad of the Shape of Things
From: Sorcha


  
  THE BALLAD OF THE SHAPE OF THINGS   Time: 2/4   Tenor: D   Bass: C
  
      1       *            4       *          *      *    57        *
  Com-pletely round is the perfect pearl, the oyster manu-factures
      1       *            4        *          *        *        57         *
  Com-pletely round is the steering wheel that leads to compound fractures
      4       *            1      *          4            *      1       *
  Com-pletely round is the golden fruit that hangs in the orange tree
           1      57       1        57
  Yes, the circle shape is quite re-nowned
      1      57      1      57
  And sad to say, it can be found
         1      4        57    1
  In the dirty, low-down run-a-round
     1         4       1    57          1         57      1    *
  My true love gave to me - ee, yes, my true love gave to me
  
  Completely square is the velvet box, he said my ring would be in
  Completely square is the envelope, he wrote farewell to me in
  Completely square is the handkerchief I flourish constantly
  As it dries my eyes of the tears I've shed
  And blows my nose 'til it turns bright red
  For a perfect square is my true love's head
  He will not marry me; no he will not marry me
  
  Rectangular is the hotel door my true love tried to sneak through
  Rectangular is the transom hole which I had to peek through
  Rectangular is the hotel room I entered angrily
  Now, rectangular is the wooden box
  Where lies my love 'neath the grazing flocks
  They say he died of the chickenpox
  In part I must agree; one chick too many had he
  
  Triangular is the piece of pie I eat to hide my sorrow
  Triangular is the hatchet blade I plan to hide tomorrow
  Triangular the relationship that now has ceased to be
  And the self-same shape is a garment thin
  That fastens on with a safety pin
  To a prize I had no wish to win
  It's a lasting memory: that my true love gave to me
  
  NOTES:
  - Sung in madrigal style
  - V3L2: "over" for "hole"
  - V3L5: "golden flox" for "grazing flocks" (Kingston Trio)
  - V4L4: "triangular" for "the self-same" (Kingston Trio)
  
  SYMBOLS:
  - Asterisk (*) =  new measure, play same chord
  - Period (.)   =  1/8 note rest at start of a measure
  - Underline(_) =  sustain note into next measure
  
  CHORDS (Nashville Number System):
  - This system permits you to play a song in any key
  - It uses the numeric relationships between chords in a given key
  - The numbers are the notes of the diatonic scale (do-re-me-fa-so-la-ti-do)

From:http://donnybravos.com/ndtabulature.php?go=download&path=%2FK%2Fkingston_trio%2F&file=the_ballad_of_the_shape_of_things.num