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11 Dec 12 - 10:45 PM (#3450777) Subject: Lyr Add: My Old Man (author unknown) From: GUEST,Alan Ackerman I am looking for the author of this song. I learned this song from Shay Black, in his Folk Song Repertoire class at Freight & Salvage coffeehouse in Berkeley. CA. (I highly recommend the class.) Shay learned it from Terry Coyne, back when they were both members of the group "Garva". (See http://www.thecelticlink.com/groups_bands_artists/band.aspx?id=171.) Shay doesn't know who wrote it, and I have been unable to find it on Google or Mudcat. MY OLD MAN My old man has a heart that is warm, as a breeze on a summer's afternoon. He's gentle with his hands, you should see his fingers dance, When he laughs he's as crazy as a loon. Well, we've been together now for nigh-on sixteen years, But I can't tell you how for I've cried so many tears. CHORUS: For he can't seem to lay off the bottle, He just doesn't know when to stop. Something snaps in his head, and he won't come to bed 'Til he's finished every drop. My old man has been in and out of work for as long as I can recall. It's all for his grog that he can't hold down a job And I don't know how we'll live at all. But there's nothing that I need, I'm not that way inclined But it makes my heart bleed for to see him get so blind. CHORUS: Well, I think I'll send the kids for a while with me mam, And I'll take some time on my own. We could talk but I doubt that we'd ever work it out And I don't know if I could live alone. Well, it's almost sixteen years, Christ, it's nearly half my life But he's married to his booze and I don't feel much like a wife. CHORUS: My old man has a heart that is warm as a breeze on a summer's afternoon. He's gentle with his hands, you should see his fingers dance, But now he's living in a rented room. Well, we meet from time to time, but there's nothing left to say. We once had something fine but the booze got in the way. CHORUS: With a nick-knack, paddy-whack, give a dog a bone, My old man comes rolling home. |
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12 Dec 12 - 01:26 AM (#3450809) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (author unknown) From: GUEST,Gerry The author of the song was the late Alistair Hulett. He recorded it, as did Gordon McIntyre and Kate Delaney, and Nancy Kerr and James Fagan. Alistair called it No Half Measures. |
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12 Dec 12 - 07:09 AM (#3450891) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett) From: GUEST,Gerry Nancy and James called it, Song of a Drinking Man's Wife. Alistair wrote some terrific songs. There have been several threads about him here. Oh, and I've never heard anyone do it with the knick-knack, paddy-whack ending. |
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12 Dec 12 - 08:11 AM (#3450908) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett) From: Sandra in Sydney not part of the original - Alistair's website Alistair Hulett on youtube I can't find Alistair singing it - sandra |
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12 Dec 12 - 12:32 PM (#3450995) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett) From: Susanne (skw) He recorded it on "Dance of the Underclass" - a collection of great songs which also contains The Internationale. He was the only one I ever heard do it in a live gig. |
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14 Dec 12 - 12:21 AM (#3451652) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett) From: GUEST,Alan Ackerman I think Garva, or Terry Coyne, added the knick-knack, paddy-whack line. |
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14 Dec 12 - 12:40 AM (#3451657) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett) From: GUEST,Alan Ackerman P.S. Thanks, Gerry, for the author's name! The group Garva recorded it on "Sweet Liberty". Terry Coyne recorded it on "The Other Side". I have neither CD, and they appear to both be OP. (Out of Pressing?) I found this on Google from IRTRAD-L: Hi Philippe, There exists indeed a song "My Old Man" (...), which I have on an album by Terry Coyne, who also used to sing this song with the now-defunct band Garva. he gives it as being "Trad. Arr. Terry Coyne", and in the notes to the song he mentions that he got it from Maurice Coyle from Coore, Co. Clare, who is a guitarist and singer himself. Hope this helps, Han. -- Han Speek But it sounds more modern than trad to me, so I'm sure you must be right that Alistair Hulett wrote it. |
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14 Dec 12 - 03:38 AM (#3451691) Subject: Lyr Add: NO HALF MEASURES (Alistair Hulett) From: Sandra in Sydney Leaflet with 'Dance of the Underclass' gives the words for No Half Measures/Song of the Drinking Man's wife - Words & Music by Alistair Hulett My old man has a heart that's as warm As the breeze on a summer's afternoon He's clever with his hands; you should see his fingers dance When he laughs he's as crazy as the moon. I've been with him now for nearly sixteen years But I can't tell you how, for I've cried so many tears CHORUS: He can't seem to lay off the bottle He just doesn't know when to stop Something snaps in his head And he won't come to bed 'Til he's finished every drop. My old man has been in and out of work For as long as I can recall It's all for his grog and he can't hold down a job So we've nothing much to show for it all. It'S not things that I need, I'm not that way inclined It just makes my heart bleed to see him get so blind CHORUS Well, I think I'll send the kids for a spell with me ma And I'll take some time on my own We could talk but I doubt we'd ever work it out But I'm not sure I can live alone. It's been so many years, Christ, it's almost half my life But he's married to his beer and I don't feel much like a wife. CHORUS My old man had a heart that's as warm As the breeze on a summer's afternoon. He was clever with his hands; you should have seen his fingers dance But now he's living in a rented room. We meet from time to time but there's nothing much to say We once had something fine but there's nothing left today. CHORUS |
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22 Sep 17 - 06:14 AM (#3878107) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett) From: GUEST,Donna Waring Alan, I think I can help you out with the Garva. I have the tape here signed by Shay himself. I don't know what the rules are here about exchanging Dropbox links, so perhaps you could let me have your email address. |
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22 Sep 17 - 06:17 AM (#3878108) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man (Alistair Hulett) From: GUEST Just so we're legit though, I'll ask Shay if it's ok for me to let you have the album. I'm sure he'll prob be ok with it. |
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12 Aug 18 - 01:40 PM (#3943410) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man / No Half Measures (A Hulett) From: GUEST,Emily Just found this thread looking for the same thing. Thanks, all. My favorite rendition is by Niamh Parsons, if anyone is interested. :) No Half Measures/The Song of the Drinking Man's Wife Also, if anyone is interested in Irish/Scottish folk music, Pandora Radio has a surprisingly large library of the stuff. It's really wonderful and is constantly giving me new things to listen to and learn. |
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14 Aug 18 - 08:23 PM (#3943980) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man / No Half Measures (A Hulett) From: vectis Has anyone got a set of chords for this song. I would love to learn it. |
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15 Aug 18 - 05:23 AM (#3944039) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man / No Half Measures (A Hulett) From: Nick A quick listen suggests it's something like this. I too like Niamh Parsons version and always love Graham Dunne's (who I'm guessing is playing the guitar) playing because of the way he arranges songs. The Old Simplicity is one of my favourite albums and has some wonderful songs on it So the basic chords you could do/get by with are (capoed up three to Bb). There are another couple of versions on Youtube played with less frills (and some more) Verse G C G C D G C G C D G D Am G C G C D Chorus G C G C G D C G C D G C G The Niamh Parsons version has more creative use of bass and inversions to my ear. And has a G-F# thing going on a lot of the time probably under a chord something like Gx0033 rather than just a straightforward G. It's not 100% but it has the gist. She sings it in Bb so probably capoed at 3 Verse G G/F# G/E G C D G (G/F#) C G/B bass note run from Am to D (however you choose) G D/A Am G/B G C G/B run from Am to D via C (perhaps a D/F# at end?) Chorus G C G (G/F#) C/E G/B D/A C G/B Am C D G C G (G/F#) |
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30 Nov 21 - 10:08 AM (#4127645) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man / No Half Measures (A Hulett) From: GUEST,Hazel Coyle I grew up with my father (Maurice Coyle) singing this song in sessions. Since he passed it's become a song that I sing at parties and family gatherings. I'm just starting to learn it on the guitar so I really appreciate having the chords up here. I've had a hard time trying find recordings of this song. I've heard Niamh Parsons' version and it's beautifully sung but i'd love to hear Terry Coyne's version. I grew up on Eamonn, Terry and Mick Coyne's music. I'll try and find the album. It really warms my heart that people remember the "knick knack paddy wack" at the end that daddy added. Thanks for brightening up my day. :) |
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02 Jun 22 - 10:57 PM (#4143291) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Old Man? / No Half Measures (A Hulett) From: GUEST,James Munro Any TAB for Niamh's version - I am a 74 years young (somewhat) beginner and would love to play this |