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Lyr ADD: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter

08 Jan 02 - 07:13 PM (#623752)
Subject: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: Franz S.

I heard on the radio today a song parody of Stan Rogers' "Mary Ellen Carter", using that tune and theme but with the character of the Eency Weency Spider. I thought it was very well done, but didn't catch the name of the writer/performer. Can anyone help?

08 Jan 02 - 07:27 PM (#623767)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

We have it in the database and a couple of message threads. Quickly looking through with the SuperSearch, we get :

Database Listing
Lyric Request: Itsy Bitsy Spider
Itsy Bitsy Spider

08 Jan 02 - 09:17 PM (#623849)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Another listing in the database is

<Eensie Weensie Spider

09 Jan 02 - 07:33 AM (#624005)
Subject: Lyr Add: EENSIE-WEENSIE SPIDER - Mary Ellen Carter
From: magician

THE EENSIE-WEENSIE SPIDER

parody of the Mary Ellen Carter
Words: Bob Blue et al
Music: Stan Rogers

The eensie-weensie spider went up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the eensie-weensie spider climbed again
She wouldn't let the elements distract her from her goal;
The purpose of her struggle was embedded in her soul.
Now, see the sun shine down on beasts, on women and on men
And like the eensie-weensie spider, rise again!

Chorus:

Rise again, rise again!
She will not let misfortune keep her from doing what she can,
So whether your legs number two, or four, or eight, or ten,
Be like that eensie-weensie spider, rise again!

This eensie weensie metaphor's a lesson for us all -
We cannot be defeated if we rise each time we fall,
And if you think this story's one you learned too long ago,
Then think about some other ones you know.
You know the myth of Sisyphus, and you know Jack and Jill
It's such a potent image going up and down a hill,
So every time you fall, or lose a lover or a friend,
Be like that eensie-weensie spider: Rise again!

Chorus

Perhaps you think this allegory goes a bit too far
Climbing up a pipe is not like reaching for a star
But whether its's a water spout or mountain that you climb
You've come this far; indulge me one more time.
It could be said that each of us climbs up a water spout.
The downward pull of gravity is not what it's about:
The upward pull of hope is what will save us in the end.
Be like that eensie-weensie spider: Rise again!

Final Chorus:

Rise again, Rise again!
Never let misfortune keep your from doing what you can,
And whether your legs number two, or four, or eight, or ten,
Be like the eensie-weensie spider: Rise again!

(line breaks added by a Joeclone)

09 Jan 02 - 08:44 AM (#624036)
Subject: Lyr Add: MARY ARDEN'S CARTHORSE/Mary Ellen Carter
From: Snuffy

There's also this 400-year-old fragment from Warwickshire:

We set off last October and the rain was pouring down
For some fun and lots of drinking at the Mop in Stratford town
So we didn't fancy walking, but Bill Shakespeare knew the trick
And so Mary Arden's carthorse we did nick.
There were five of us aboard her when we finally hit the road
She started off all right, but then she stumbled with the load
And the noise she made when she went down, it caused us to exclaim
We'd make Mary Arden's carthorse ride again.

Ride again, ride again
That her mane not be tossed to the cruel knacker's men
Those of us who loved her and were with her to the end
Will make Mary Arden's carthorse ride again.

WassaiL! V

09 Jan 02 - 09:21 AM (#624059)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: MMario

Snuffy - I'm going to have to snitch that for use at my ren-fair (set in Warwick)

09 Jan 02 - 09:36 AM (#624066)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: Snuffy

Yer welcome, Mario. i presume you don't need a tune for it?

WassaiL! V

PS the Mop Fair still brings the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon to a halt every October 12th(?). It was originally a hiring fair, and workers used to display a tool of their trade. Domestic skivvies would therefore hold a mop in their hand.

09 Jan 02 - 09:51 AM (#624077)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: CharlieA

MMario - when and where is your ren fair in warwick?! i live in cov and would love to go see! Cxxx

09 Jan 02 - 10:58 AM (#624109)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: MMario

*SET* in warwick.

Actually held in Sterling, NY - weekends; july and august.

Sterling Festival

09 Jan 02 - 11:36 AM (#624129)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: breezy

Sacrilege, but nevertheless very clever and ,does it work with children?

09 Jan 02 - 02:07 PM (#624212)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: Franz S.

Thanks very much! I'm still trying to learn how to use Mudcat, so I missed the things in Digitrad. I'll keep working on it. I may try using the song with 4th-5th grade kids some day. Or get someone else to.

10 Jan 02 - 01:30 AM (#624675)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: CRANKY YANKEE

Parody of chorus to Mary Ellen Carter

RISE AND SHINE
FRAMKENSTEIN
WITH A BOLT THROUGH YOUR NECK
AND ORANGE EYES THAT SHINE
NO MATTER WHAT YOU'VE LOST
A PIECE OF ROPE, A BALL OF TWINE
LIKE "FRAMKEY" AND HIS MONSTER,
RISE AND SHINE.

Do any of you mudcatters know who Mary Ellen Carter was?(The person, not the boat named after her)

She was Edgar Cayce's biographer. Maybe that's a different Mary Ellen Carter,

13 Dec 09 - 07:26 AM (#2787321)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: Mr Happy

Brilliant, author!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn4xmAwkcFs

14 Dec 09 - 06:54 AM (#2787912)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eency Weency Mary Ellen Carter
From: Mr Happy

Will definitely be adding it to my repertoire!