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17 May 05 - 09:39 AM (#1486536) Subject: Tune Req: The Men Behind The Bar From: GUEST,DK Doyle's (in Jamaica Plain, MA) has this song printed on the back of their old menus, but no one there (so far) can tell me anything about it or give me a tune. Here's the start of it, below (there are another 4 verses or so). Maybe one of you can give me a tune of some background; if not I'll have to keep asking old timers at the bar... The Men Behind The Bar (by M.C. Heanney - spelling?) I have been in many countries in cities and in towns I have been up late and early and have seen some ups and downs I've been amongst the good and bad and was often in despair And danced and sang old Irish songs to drive away dull care I've been with men from every clime and men of every trade And men that weild the anchor the shovel and the spade I've been with men that carried the hod and soldiers from the war But the best and kindest men I met were the men behind the bar. chorus: The men behind the bar boys are men and no mistake They are always kind and generous and would sooner give than take They have cured the worst diseases and never left a scar And when you drink you must always think of the men behind the bar I crossed the briny ocean in a foreign land to roam I was always fond of rambling and would not stay at home I landed here in Boston when the streets were clad with snow I had no friends to meet me I knew not where to go I strolled into a barroom to escape the blinding storm to rest a while from care and strife and partake of something warm they trusted me like one they knew though a stranger from afar Ah I'll ne'er forget the kindness of the men behind the bar. |
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17 May 05 - 07:18 PM (#1486883) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Men Behind The Bar From: open mike i have heard of a fiddle tune called the maid behind the bar.. here is a web page that gives some info on that tune http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/64 |
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17 May 05 - 07:41 PM (#1486894) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Men Behind The Bar From: Peace It shares the same scansion as "The Lakes of Ponchetrain". I can't find anything with google. |
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17 May 05 - 08:40 PM (#1486921) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Men Behind The Bar From: Stewart How about the tune, "Little Stack of Wheat"? Here's the Midi It's a hornpipe with a nice bouncy feel that seems to match the character of the lyrics. Cheers, S. in Seattle |
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17 May 05 - 10:18 PM (#1486965) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Men Behind The Bar From: GUEST,Q Is the author's name spelled correctly? Did find this: "Men Behind the Bar," from the Binghampton, NY "The Legionaire," in honor of the bartenders at the American Legion Club. Clipping in scrapbook, 1939, Calumet Public School and Library, Calumet, Michigan. Anyone know a library or Legion hall where the Legion magazine, "The Legionaire," is archived? Information about the clipping can be had from an email address, but the clipping may not have information about the author, etc. Record The poem once was printed on kitchen linen (vintage). |
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17 May 05 - 10:18 PM (#1486966) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Men Behind The Bar From: GUEST Donnegan's (sp?) "My Old Man's a Dustman". |
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17 May 05 - 10:28 PM (#1486972) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Men Behind The Bar From: GUEST,Q Try this for the Calumet website: http://slc2.uproc.lib.mi.us/CFDOCS/digit/DrillDown.Cfm?ID=321 Scroll down to- Williams Album O: p. 97. |
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18 May 05 - 02:22 PM (#1487391) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Men Behind The Bar From: GUEST,DK Next time I'm in Doyle's I'll bring a magnifying glass and see if I have the author's name right. In the meantime, thank you all very much for the suggestions (keep 'em coming!). I'll follow all those threads and see where they lead. Of course I may just have to keep visiting Doyle's and offering to buy a round for the first person who can sing me the song. Ahh, research! |
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04 May 11 - 09:24 PM (#3148147) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Men Behind The Bar From: GUEST,JeffK Hi, David! Am at Doyle's right now with the same question Just spoke to the owner who says yes there's a well known tune that he doesn't remember but will send me the name of Still, it might be that one of the above suggestions works better --Jeff |
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06 May 11 - 01:59 PM (#3149313) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Men Behind The Bar From: GUEST,JeffK I just heard back from the owner. He says that it wasn't written for any particular tune, but they used to sing it to "The Men Behind the Wire", which I presume is this: http://unitedireland.tripod.com/id110.html (Also, I make the author's name to be Heaney, not Heanney.) --Jeff |
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06 May 11 - 02:37 PM (#3149343) Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Men Behind The Bar From: Jack Campin I woukld be VERY leery of singing that in a pub in the British Isles without being sure of the audience. You don't know who would assume you were singing "The Men Behind the Wire" straight and take offence, or who'd take offence at it being parodied. |