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14 Nov 04 - 07:54 PM (#1326830) Subject: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Amos I am reconstructing from ancient memory the lyrics to an American ballad called "The Locktender's Lament". It was recorded by Burl Ives, most likely on his album "Songs For and About Men", and there are no lyrics listed anywhere in the DT or on the web for it. The chorus as he recorde it was lines interspersed by a measure of whistling. The words I remember are: Oh, I am the locktender at lock number ten, And I whistle and sing every now and again. I will tell you the story about how and when I once met a mermaid at lock number ten! CH: Oh, a locktender's life may be happy and gay (Whistle) But probably not many see it that way Whistle One night as the moon shone on lock number ten I heard a halloo and I heard it again And there shining whitely against the lock wall I spied a young mermaid, her flipper and all. Alt. CH: Oh, a locktender's life may be happy and gay (Whistle) But probably not on the Monon-gay-halee (Whistle) "'T is government property, Madame," I said. She gave me a letter, which drippingly read: "All rights and all privileges, Lizzie my dear, Singed General Tom Muskrat, the Chief Engineer". Cho. I said to her "Lizzie, you'll soon catch your death!" She said to me "Guvnor, I 'm catching my breath! I have swum from the sea to the Monongahalee Just to find Jackie Swabby, my husband to be." I said to her "Lizzie, young Jack is me son. I am sorry to tell you, his family's begin! And I'm the grandfather of triplets, you see, His name is Jack Swabby, of the U.S. Nae-veee." I believe there is another verse or two I have forgotten and I have not been able, after due diligence, to find the lyrics anywhere. Anyone out there have this recording, know where the song comes from, or have the lyrics? Many thanks. Amos |
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14 Nov 04 - 08:26 PM (#1326844) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: GUEST Howdy Amos ... I'm delighted to tell you that I do indeed have this album. If you'll PM me with your mailing address, I'll mail it off to you this week. By the way, thank you for your many splended contributions. CHEERS, Bob |
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14 Nov 04 - 08:42 PM (#1326858) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Deckman Amos, that was me that just posted above. When I posted that note, I didn't realize that I'd lost my cookie. I am Bob(deckman)Nelson. See you at the PM. |
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14 Nov 04 - 09:14 PM (#1326887) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Amos Bob: Thanks so much! Amazing that this song seems to have no other history than the Ives recording. A |
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14 Nov 04 - 09:43 PM (#1326909) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Deckman Amos ... I suspect that you and I run around in our daily lives with probably a couple of thousand songs ringing in our ears. And this song is one of those. It's a great ballad. CHEERS, Bob |
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14 Nov 04 - 11:45 PM (#1326976) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Amos Yer right about that. As years go by I find that what rings in my ears are shards and parts rather than the whole songs I could once trippingly recite all night!! LOL A |
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15 Nov 04 - 12:32 AM (#1327007) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Nancy King I learned this song many years ago from my college roommate, Lois, and in the last few years have been singing it again. When I reminded Lois of it a couple of years ago, she was delighted to hear it again, but neither of us knew where it came from until someone told us it was from Burl Ives. Glad to have that confirmed! The words I learned are quite close to those above, except that the fourth verse goes I says to her, "Lizzie, you might catch your death!" She says to me, "Guv'nor, I'm catchin' me breath! I've swum from the Thames to the Monongaheelee, To find pretty Jackie, me 'usband to be." And then continues: I met pretty Jackie at Tilbury Lock, And sat on the bowsprit a-mendin' 'is socks. 'E said that 'e loved me and 'e'd marry me -- 'Is name is Jack Swabby, the U. S. Nae-vee." Chorus I says to her, "Lizzie, young Jack is my son. I'm sorry to tell you his family's begun, And I'm the grandfather of triplets, you see, He married Miss Catfish from Lock Number Three." Then sadly, oh, sadly, she gazed upon me, And says to me, "Guv-nor, oh, 'ow can it be?" Then slipped in the water so despondently, And flippered her way down the Monongaheelee. And the last chorus goes: Oh, a locktender's life can be happy and free, (whistle) Though probably not on the Monongaheelee. (whistle) I'll have to admit I sing a little la-da-da bit in the chorus instead of whistling, because I've never been able to make the transition from singing to whistling -- and back again -- with any success. Humming or singing really works just as well. It's a fun song! Cheers, Nancy |
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15 Nov 04 - 03:43 AM (#1327052) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Micca I seem to vaguly remember that one chorus, maybe the last one went " Oh a Locktenders lot can be lonesome at times (Whistle tune) But probably not if he whistles and rhymes (Whistle tune)" |
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15 Nov 04 - 03:47 AM (#1327055) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Joe Offer Bob, are there background notes on the album that give any information? The only other information I could find about the song was that it was on a 1996 cassette by Don Bille, called From Here on Up. I'm guessing this is a modern composition, not traditional. This page (click) seems to indicate the song was written by Robt. Schmertz. I couldn't find a CD recording of the song - just the two out-of-print recordings by Don Bille and Burl Ives. -Joe Offer- |
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15 Nov 04 - 08:30 AM (#1327241) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Deckman I just located my recording of Burl Ives singing "The Locktender's Lament." This is one an extended play 45 record, produced by "Decca." It is # ED2235. I'm guessing it was made in the early 60's. Here are all the notes about this song: "This song is an inheritance from World War II. It is a bit of lampoon on an English girl who follows an American sailor across the Atlantic to the Monongahela River, and what awaits her there when she meets with his father, the locktender." The album title is "MEN." On the record itself, it gives credit for the song to "Robert Schmertz." I'll get this in the mail to Amos later on today. Bob |
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15 Nov 04 - 09:23 AM (#1327288) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: GUEST,Nancy King at work Micca, you're right -- the chorus does change slightly each time, and that's one of the variations. But I do think the last one is "...but probably not on the Monongaheelee". It rounds out the song rather nicely. Joe and Bob, that's more information than I ever heard on this song! Thanks! Nancy |
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15 Nov 04 - 05:17 PM (#1327753) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Deckman Amos, I just returned from the P/O/ where I mailed the record off to you. You should have it in three days. Bob |
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15 Nov 04 - 08:01 PM (#1327919) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Amos Superbp!! Thanks so much. You is goodness incarnate. A |
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15 Nov 04 - 09:47 PM (#1328067) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: Deckman "Goodness Incarnate." What a great name for a new salad dressing! Bob |
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16 Nov 04 - 08:40 AM (#1328456) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: muppitz Not the song you're looking for but thought it might be worth a mention, Stan Rogers wrote a lovely song called "The Lockeeper". muppitz x |
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04 Jun 06 - 04:44 AM (#1752595) Subject: ADD: Lock Number Ten (Robert Schmertz) From: Joe Offer I found this at http://www.robertschmertz.com Lock Number Ten(Robert Schmertz)Oh, I'm the lock tender at Lock Number Ten; 'Twas night as the moon shone on Lock Number Ten Oh, a lock tender's lot can be lonesome at times, "'Tis government property, Madam!" I said; I said to her, "Lizzie, you might catch your death!" Oh, a lock tender's lot can be lonesome at times, "I met pretty Jackie at Tilbury Docks And then I said, "Lizzie, young Jack is my son - Oh, a lock tender's lot can be joyous and free, Then sadly, oh, sadly she gazed upon me The Schmertz site says the song is called "The Locktender’s Lament" on the Burl Ives recording. |
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30 Oct 14 - 08:26 PM (#3673168) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Locktender's Lament From: GUEST,ron I purchased this song on a set of 45rpm records "Down to the sea in ships" sometime in the 1950's by Burlington Ives. There were 2 songs on each record |