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Lyr Req: The Wall (Harlan Howard)

03 Oct 00 - 07:39 PM (#311444)
Subject: The Wall
From: Winters Wages

Looking for information on a song that came out around 1957 (I believe) My senior moments have not all gone, but for the life of me I cannot remember who wrote this song or the history of it. I believe it was called "The Wall" and was done Freddie Harte??? It is not in the dta base, at least not under that title. Cowpie has no info on it. I used to sing this to my son and daughter to put them to bed ( I was a jailer at the time) It went something like. " theres a lot of strange men in cell block ten, but the strangest of them all, was a friend of mine who spent his time, just staring at the wall, staring at the wall. I guess I dont remember the artist's name correctly or the spelling. Any help out there?? Thanks a lot WW.

03 Oct 00 - 08:17 PM (#311473)
Subject: RE: The Wall
From: khandu

I am quite certain it was not Freddy Hart. The lyrics sound vaguely familiar, but at this time I don't know. khandu

03 Oct 00 - 08:36 PM (#311492)
Subject: RE: The Wall
From: bbelle

Fred Neil.

03 Oct 00 - 09:57 PM (#311547)
Subject: RE: The Wall
From: Gene

It was INDEED FREDDIE HART of EASY LOVIN' Fame..

and JOHNNY CASH also recorded it, among others

03 Oct 00 - 10:03 PM (#311553)
Subject: RE: The Wall
From: Gene

Freddie Hart website-- * CLICK/FREDDIE HART *

04 Oct 00 - 12:17 AM (#311650)
Subject: RE: The Wall
From: Winters Wages

Thanks folks. I still could not find the song on the "blue Clicky Thing" I will try Johnny Cash. I do not recall him doing that though. Funny how the old memory works. I can remember clear back then but not so clear now. Must have to do with association and what was going on in life then.**BG I have a lot of problems with some tunes..like "Im walking the high road" by er>>Randy Sparks or "Rainbow" by Marvin Rainwater. they seem to not exist. Thanks a lot..I will kee searching..Call out the FBI if necessary **BG WW

04 Oct 00 - 04:00 PM (#312123)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WALL (Harlan Howard)
From: Gene

Another one from the great Harlan Howard:

THE WALL
Words and music by Harlan Howard
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "Orange Blossom Special" (1965)

There's a lot o' strange men in cell block ten,
But the strangest of them all
Was a friend of mine who spent his time
Starin' at the wall,
Starin' at the wall.

In his hand was a note that his gal had wrote
And it proves that crime don't pay.
Was the very same gal he robbed and stole for
Namin' her weddin' day,
Namin' her weddin' day.

As he looked at the wall so strong an' tall,
I could hear him softly curse.
"Nobody at all ever climbed that wall
But I'm gonna be the first,
I'm gonna be the first."

Well, the warden came by and said: "Son, don't try.
I'd hate to see you fall,
'Cause there ain't no doubt they'll carry you out
If you ever touch that wall,
If you ever touch that wall."

Well, a year's gone by since he made his try
But I can still recall
How hard he tried and the way he died
But he never made that wall,
He never made that wall.

There's never been a man ever shook this can
But I know a man who tried.
The newspaper called it a jailbreak plan
But I know it was suicide,
I know it was suicide.

05 Oct 00 - 11:04 AM (#312748)
Subject: RE: The Wall
From: GUEST,Winters Wages

Thanks so much Gene.There are a couple of verses I did not exisited. Thanks again. Winters Wages

05 Oct 00 - 11:11 AM (#312751)
Subject: RE: The Wall
From: Lox

Thank God this has nothing to do with Pink Floyd

06 Oct 00 - 04:02 AM (#313360)
Subject: RE: The Wall
From: CarolC

You sang that to your kids?

When you put them to bed?

Did they ever get any sleep?

(Preparing to dive under the covers right now) Carol

06 Oct 00 - 02:51 PM (#313666)
Subject: RE: The Wall
From: folk1234

There was another "The Wall (Come Down)" that goes like this:

I made bombs and bullets for to keep my country free,
Tryin' to make a livin' for my wife 3 kids and me.
But now I'm home sittin' by the phone hopin' luck will shine on me,
While my wife's out there a workin' for herself 3 kids and me
Chorus
All around America they're dancin' in the street
The Wall's come down, there's happiness on every face you meet.
I wisht I'd be happy Lord for the peace that's come to be,
But I can't make no livin' for my wife 3 kids and me.

This song was written shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall. While peace was truly a welcomed event, many hard workin' defense plant workers found themselves out of work.
There are several other verses that go on the further describe the plight of the happless defense plant worker.

06 Oct 00 - 04:10 PM (#313708)
Subject: RE: The Wall
From: GUEST,Winters Wages

Here we go...Carol, Yes, I sang that to my kids. They were two and three years old. they did not understand the words..just liked to melody and the way I sang it. they went right to sleep all the time..I probablt bored them to sleep**BG My grandfather used to sing me coal mining songs the same way. WW

06 Oct 00 - 07:43 PM (#313832)
Subject: RE: The Wall
From: CarolC

Winters Wages,

I understand. I used to try to help my son go to sleep by reciting multiplication tables. (Whenever I tried to sing to him, he would beg me to stop.)

Carol