To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=42413
29 messages

ADD: Rolling Down to Bethlehem (Flawn Williams)

24 Dec 01 - 05:58 PM (#615997)
Subject: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Charley Noble

Anyone have a clue who wrote this fine Xmas parody of "Rolling Down to Old Maui"? I have lots of fun singing it this time of year but I'm not sure where it came from. It doesn't appear to be in the DT or the threads. I'll post what I sing if anyone is interested.

24 Dec 01 - 07:07 PM (#616029)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Anglo

It was written by Flawn Williams, when he's not working for National Public Radio in the summer he can usually be found at Augusta (folk school in Elkins WV for the noncognoscenti). I believe he's been running Vocal Week there for the last couple of years.

24 Dec 01 - 10:49 PM (#616094)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Charley, please do. I should check with a fellow in BC. He re-wrote Rolling Down to Old Maui from the whale's point of view.

25 Dec 01 - 10:12 AM (#616214)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: GUEST,Bud

Yes please do. And George, could you post the whale-point-of-view song?

25 Dec 01 - 02:31 PM (#616270)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Like I said, I have to e-mail the author first. Brian Robertson.

25 Dec 01 - 02:36 PM (#616272)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

In the mean time, have a look at:

Cruising Down To Old Maui

25 Dec 01 - 04:15 PM (#616295)
Subject: Lyr Add: ROLLING DOWN TO BETHLEHEM (Flawn Williams
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Found it!

Rolling Down To Bethlehem
Melody: Rolling Down To Old Maui
Words by: Flawn Williams

It's a thoughtful life, full of mental strife we Wise Men undergo.
But we don't give a care, now the Christ Child's come, how fast our camels go.
Now we're Westward bound over desert ground with our gifts to bring to Him.
He's fast asleep with the pigs and the sheep in the town of Bethlehem.
 
Chorus:
Rolling down to Bethlehem, me boys,
Rolling down to Bethlehem,
We're Wise Men bound to the Holy Ground
Rolling down to Bethlehem.
 
Once more we pounce on our camel mounts and ride toward the stars
With sacks of gold and bags of myrrh and frankincense in a jar.
There'll be angels there with golden hair and shepherds on the hill
But they'd better make way when we come today to bestow our wise goodwill.
 
His father Joseph and Mary his mum had come their tax to pay,
But in Bethlehem there were so many men the hotels turned them away.
They were forced to go to the stable low to deliver the Baby then.
But we won't fuss - for Kings like us there's always room at the inn!
 
So thanks, good peasants, we now must go and continue our journey West.
We've enjoyed our short time here with you, so we'll grant your small request.
We are Wise Men true, so may God bless you, and your village poor and small
And we'll take away when we leave today that crippled boy named Amahl.

26 Dec 01 - 09:12 AM (#616482)
Subject: Lyr Add: ROLLING DOWN TO BETHLEHEM (Williams/Ipcar
From: Charley Noble

Thanks for all the help. I was a little suspect of the name Flawn Williams, wondering if it was a nomme de plume. My own version has strayed a little from what's above, more internal rhyming and I never did like the term "crippled" in the last line. I had fun singing it to the gathering at the Press Room in November and for the Toongabbie Folk Club in Oz a couple of weeks ago amidst their more traditional carols; they did ask me to sing one more song:

ROLLING DOWN TO BETHLEHEM-II

(Original words by Flawn Williams Slightly modified by Charlie Ipcar, 2001 Tune: Rolling Down to Old Maui)
It's a stressful life, full of mental strife we Wise Men undergo;
But we don't give a care, now the Christ Child's there, how fast our camels go;
We's Westward bound over desert ground with gifts to bear for Him;
He's fast asleep with the pigs and sheep in the Town of Bethlehem.

Chorus:

Rolling down to Bethlehem, me boys,
Rolling down to Bethlehem;
We's Wise Men bound, to the Holy Ground,
Rolling down to Bethlehem.

Once more we pounce on our camel mounts and tear off towards the star,
With chests of gold and sacks of myrrh and frankincense in a jar;
There'll be angels there with golden hair and shepherds on the hill,
But they better make way when we come today to bestow our wise goodwill. (CHO)

His father Joe and Mary his mum, their taxes came to pay,
But in Bethlehem there were so many men the hotels turned them away;
They was forced to go to a stable low to bear their Babe within,
But we won't fuss – for Kings like us – there's always room at the inn! (CHO)

Now, good peasants, adieu to you, we'll renew our journey West;
We've enjoyed our stay with you this day, so we'll grant your small request;
We's Wise Men true, so may God bless you, and your village poor and small,
And we'll haul away when we leave today that obnoxious boy Amahl. (CHO)

26 Dec 01 - 10:49 AM (#616517)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Anglo

No, Charley, he's a quite real person. And up to a year or two ago he was a regular producer for All Things Considered, and you would have heard his name on the credits.

07 Jan 02 - 07:43 PM (#622999)
Subject: Lyr Add: MAUI WHALES (Brian Robertson)
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

I got an answer from Brian today, so....

Maui Whales
© Brian Robertson
Posted with his permission, from his CD Saltchuck Serenade.
To contact Brian, e-mail to him at saltchuckserenade@hotmail.com

'Tis a damn fine life, free of trouble and strife
We great whales undergo
And we don't give a damn when a gale is rough
How hard the winds may blow
Oh, we're homeward bound, 'tis a damn fine sound,"
All blowin' loud and free
Now we're bound from the Arctic grounds
Rolling down to old Maui
 
Chorus
Rolling down to old Maui, me whales,
Rolling down to old Maui
We're homeward bound from the Arctic grounds
Rolling down to old Maui.
 
We lift our tails to the northerly gales
The ice and wind and rain
And them coral fronds in the tropical ponds
We soon shall see again.
Oh, six swellish months have passed away
In the rich Kamchatka Sea
But now we're bound from the Arctic grounds
Rolling down to old Maui.
 
Once more we swim with a favouring wind
Head for our island home
Our bellies sprung, our feedin's done
And we've got six months to roam
Oh, my sweetheart looms, I'm carried away
In soulful singing sound
A living whale will come from us
Thank Pod! We're homeward bound.
 
How soft the breeze in them tropical seas
Now the ice is far astern
And the sperms and seis in them tropical waves
Is a-waitin' our return
Even now their big black eyes look out.
Hoping some fine day to see
Our flashing tails, driving 'neath the gales
Rolling down to old Maui.

07 Jan 02 - 08:10 PM (#623017)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Amos

I love it!!! Thank Pod!!!

A

08 Jan 02 - 08:09 AM (#623273)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Charley Noble

Thanks, George.

Thanks, George.;-)

08 Jan 02 - 08:47 AM (#623298)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: MMario

wonderful bunch of lyrics in this thread.

02 Dec 02 - 07:59 PM (#839247)
Subject: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Charley Noble

The season is upon us and it's time to brush off those outrageous parodies as we carol through the streets. Here's a holiday parody of the old forebitter "Rolling Down to Old Maui."

Anyone have a clue who Flawn Williams is?

ROLLING DOWN TO BETHLEHEM

(Original words by Flawn Williams ©
Slightly modified by Charlie Ipcar, 2001
Tune: "Rolling Down to Old Maui"


It's a stressful life, full of mental strife we Wise Men undergo;
But we don't give a care, now the Christ Child's there, how fast our camels go;
We's Westward bound over desert ground with gifts to bear for Him;
He's fast asleep with the pigs and sheep in the Town of Bethlehem.

Chorus:

Rolling down to Bethlehem, me boys,
Rolling down to Bethlehem;
We's Wise Men bound, to the Holy Ground,
Rolling down to Bethlehem.

Once more we pounce on our camel mounts and tear off towards the star,
With chests of gold and sacks of myrrh and frankincense in a jar;
There'll be angels there with golden hair and shepherds on the hill,
But they better make way when we come today to bestow our wise goodwill. (CHO)

His father Joe and Mary his mum, their taxes came to pay,
But in Bethlehem there were so many men the hotels turned them away;
They was forced to go to a stable low to bear their Babe within,
But we won't fuss – for Kings like us – there's always room at the inn! (CHO)

Now, good peasants, adieu to you, we'll renew our journey West;
We've enjoyed our stay with you this day, so we'll grant your small request;
We's Wise Men true, so may God bless you, and your village poor and small,
And we'll haul away when we leave today that obnoxious boy Amahl. (CHO)

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

02 Dec 02 - 10:40 PM (#839363)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Celtic Soul

:::SNORT!!!:::

Too funny. Might gotta borrow it.

02 Dec 02 - 11:07 PM (#839382)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: GUEST,Q

Making copies of this one. Hope they keelhaul Amahl under a camel with a weak bladder. Always hated that imitation of an opera.

02 Dec 02 - 11:17 PM (#839388)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

You posted last year, and got informaion on Mr. Williams in this thread:

/thread.cfm?threadid=42413

Your memory is going, my friend.

03 Dec 02 - 06:01 AM (#839491)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan

Gonna try this one, laright....

Regards

03 Dec 02 - 07:58 AM (#839498)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Charley Noble

George-

The memory is going, but so is Mudcat's when I tried to check last evening. So I thought I'd risk being redundant again for the greater good of the holiday season!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

03 Dec 02 - 08:05 AM (#839501)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Charley Noble

Refreshed notes from last year.

Charley Noble

05 Dec 02 - 05:16 AM (#841192)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan

Trying to learn this one.
Two cultural points:
1. "cows and sheep"?
2. Am I missing something in the Amahl reference?

Regards

05 Dec 02 - 08:26 AM (#841266)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: MMario

I like the pigs and sheep reference - pigs WERE present - as scavengers - and His birth was among the lowest of the low...

Amahl and the Night visitors?

05 Dec 02 - 09:06 AM (#841310)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Charley Noble

Ryan-

Nothing against cows, in fact I was raised among a small Jersey herd. And, yes, the reference is to "Amahl and the Night" visitors which makes some sensitive people cringe. I prefer "obnoxious" to the original "crippled" but make your own choice.

Happy holidays,
Charley Noble

05 Dec 02 - 04:16 PM (#841749)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: MartinRyan

Thanks but.....

Forgive my ignorance - I'm no wiser for the "Amahl and the night visitors" reference.

Regards

05 Dec 02 - 04:19 PM (#841752)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: MartinRyan

OK, OK! Google sorted out Amahl for me. Opera, of any shape or sort, has always been my musical blindspot!

Regards

05 Dec 02 - 04:23 PM (#841755)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: MMario

brief description

05 Dec 02 - 04:45 PM (#841773)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Charley Noble

Mudcat is so educational! Thanks, MMario. Now I know where that horrible opera came from.

Charley Noble

10 Dec 02 - 11:37 AM (#844587)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan

Sang it in the Goilín singers club in Dublin last Friday - omitting the last verse. I softened the audience up by claiming I'd found evidence that the Three Wise Men were.... sailors!

Regards

10 Dec 02 - 05:49 PM (#844910)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rolling Down to Bethlehem
From: Charley Noble

Fun, ain't it!

Charley Noble