Category: songs

Alex Sturbaum 2017

Alex Sturbaum: https://alexsturbaum.bandcamp.com/track/way-down-in-the-toad-mines

It was way back in ’14 when first I went west
Hopped an old empty boxcar and the rails did the rest
Spat me out in Wyoming, Bighorn Mountain range
It was then that my life took a turn for the strange
Heard tell of a job out by Chugwater way
They needed some hands, they were willing to pay
And me, I was tired of life on the road
So I went out prospecting for Wyoming toad

Chorus 1:
Way down in the toad mines
I guess that’s where my sin began
Way down in the toad mines
Digging for them damn amphibians

Now the bull-goose prospector was Warty Joe Flynn
And he knew of the state the toad business was in
A dollar a day we was paid for our time
In hopes we could find a good spot for the mine
They came off the skids, off the rails and the roads
And soon came the cry: Warty Joe had struck toad
We dug the first toad shaft the very next day
And the miners came next: where there’s toads, there’ll be pay

Chorus 2:
Way down in the toad mines
Where the time is always evenin’
Way down in the toad mines
Digging through them toad secretions

Well, we found us some hoptoads and found us some leapers
And damn near caved in once in a seam of spring peepers
But in April of that year we struck mother lode
A big, croaking vein of pure Wyoming toad
We worked day and night to that ribbiting sound
Every day we hauled six tons of toad out the ground
Chugwater sprung up, and was much talked about
No one could have guessed that the toad might run out

Chorus 3:
Way down in the toad mines
For the gods of wealth are jolly gods
Way down in the toad mines
With your pockets full of polywogs

Well, the mine it dried up, and the town dried up too
There ain’t no place to go, there ain’t nothing to do
We went out prospecting to find a new vein
But the good days of toad mining won’t come again
I went back on the bum and I hopped a freight train
I cut timber for a while, but it weren’t quite the same
There never was more than one business for me
And boys, the toad business ain’t what it used to be

Chorus 4:
Way down in the toad mines
That’s where I spent my youth
Way down in the toad mines
Think I might go back east and try panning for newts 

Jess Arrowsmith 2011

Written for the wedding of Sara and Phil Rose.

The Melrose Quartet: https://melrosequartet.bandcamp.com/track/wedding-bells

On a Winter’s day I walked alone
The coldest day of all the year
And I wished that I had for my own
A sweetheart who would be my dear

Chorus:
Oh wedding bells ring out one day of joy (x2)

On a day in Spring ‘neath skies so clear
I met my love for the very first time
And my heart was filled with joy and cheer
That I was his and he was mine

On a Summer’s day the sun did shine
We shared our thoughts and did agree
That evermore our hearts would twine
And therefore married we should be

This Autumn day as all can see
We stand together clasping hands
In front of friends and family
Are joined as one with marriage bands 

Harry Robertson 1971

The whaling station in the South Georgia islands, operated by a Scottish company from 1909 until 1965. Robertson worked there in 1950-51. I love this video but I have no idea who they are.

Now the winter blizzards blow and the whaling fleet’s at rest,
Tucked in Leith Harbour’s sheltered bay safely anchored ten abreast.
The whalers at their stations from shed to shed they rove,
Carry bags of coal with them and a little iron stove.

Chorus:
In that wee dark engine room where the chill seeps through your soul,
How we huddled round that wee pot stove that burned oily rags and coal.

The fireman Paddy works with me on the engines frozen cold,
A stranger to the truth was he, there’s no lie he hasn’t told.
Well, he boasted of his gold mines and all the hearts he’d won
And his bawdy sense of humour shone just like a ray of sun.

We live it seven days a week, cold hands and frozen feet,
Bitter days and lonely nights, making grog and having fights.
There’s fish and whale-meat sausage and penguin egg’s a treat;
Then we struggle on to work each day through the icy winds and sleet.

Then one day we saw the sun, saw the factory ships return,
Meet your old friends, sing a song; hope the seasons won’t be long.
Then it’s homeward bound it’s over and we’ll leave this icy cove;
But I always will remember that little iron stove. 

trad 

Archie Fisher recorded in 1976 on The Man With a Rhyme, where he wrote: "I have a soft spot for the Chief Lochiel mentioned in this song, for the story goes that he talked Prince Charlie out of ransacking my native city of Glasgow when its burghers refused to supply the retreating Jacobite army with shoes and supplies. Charlie was not always as welcome in some places as this song implies. If he had been, the result of the '45 rebellion might have been very different." doited = foolish, childish. Daurna = dare not. Shiel = highland cottage.

The prince who should oor king hae been, he wore the royal red and green
A bonnier lad was never seen than our brave royal Charlie

Chorus:
Oh, ye’ve been lang a-comin’,
Lang, lang, lang a’comin’
Oh, ye’ve been lang a-comin’,
Welcome royal Charlie

Since oor true king was sent awa’
A doited German rules us a’
And we are forced against the law
For the right belongs to Charlie

We daurna brew a peck o’ malt
Or German Geordie finds a fault
And for oor kail we’d scarce get salt
For the want o’ royal Charlie

When Charlie in the hielan’ shiel
Forgithered wi’ the great Lochiel
Oh what kindness did prevail
Atween the chief and Charlie

At Falkirk and at Prestonpans,
Supported by oor heilan clans
He broke the Hanoverian bands;
The right belongs to Charlie 

trad 

Wikipedia: New Zealand-based music teacher and folk music compiler Neil Colquhoun claimed to have collected the song around 1966 from one F. R. Woods. Woods, who was in his 80s at the time, had allegedly heard the song. In 1973, "Soon May the Wellerman Come" was included in Colquhoun's book of New Zealand folk songs, New Zealand Folksongs: Songs of a Young Country.

There was a ship that put to sea
And the name of the ship was the Billy of Tea.
The wind blew up, her bow dipped down,
Oh, blow, my bully boys, blow.

Chorus:
Soon may the Wellerman come
And bring us-sugar and tea and rum.
One day, when the tonguing is done,
We’ll take our leave and go.

She had not been two weeks from shore
When down on them a right whale bore.
The captain called all hands and swore
He’d take that whale in tow.

Before the boat had hit the water
The whale’s tail come up and caught her.
All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her,
But she dived down below.

No line was cut; no whale was freed.
The captain’s mind was not on greed.
He belonged to the whaleman ‘s creed:
She took that ship in tow.

For forty days or even more
The line went slack, then tight once more.
All the boats were lost ( there were only four),
But still that whale did go.

As far as I know the fight’ s still on,
The line’s not cut and the whale’s not gone.
The Wellerman makes his regular call
To encourage the captain, crew and all. 

Edgar Dowell 1924

Charlie Ipcar's website says "From the singing of Ella Madison and Esther Bigeou, 1920's". Charley Noble on Mudcat says "By Edgar Dowell, Transcribed from Piron's New Orleans Orchestra, vocals by Esther Bigeou, recorded December 14, 1923; From The Complete Works of Esther Bigeou, Lillyn Brown, Alberta Brown & the Remaining Titles of Ada Brown in Chronological Order (1921-1928)"

Been all over this doggone world, Been as far as China;
Worst place I ever did see Was Charleston, South Carolina.

Chorus:
I’m going home, won’t be long,
Going home, as sure as you’re born
I’m going home, won’t be long,
Got them West Indies Blues

Got my grip and trunk all packed, The ship, I’m going to take her;
Say goodbye to Charleston Town, I’m going to Jamaica.

Them Charleston folks eat alligator meat, Fried with rice and potatoes;
Best eating I ever did have Was monkey hips and tomatoes.

Now when I get to Kingston Town, Gonna hang around the water;
Make my living, sure as you’re born, Diving after quarters.

And when I get to Kingston Town, Going to get myself a carriage;
Roll on down to Sally’s house And ask her hand in marriage.

So goodbye, dear old Charleston Town, My packet sails tomorrow;
Goodbye, all you dance hall girls, I leave you without sorrow. 

Archie Fisher 1976

Fisher wrote "A combination of partially fulfilled pipedreams. There's still time?" Last two verses tweaked by Alex Ellis

Chorus:
I came to a western island as far as a man can walk is my land
Cleared ten acres and a house I built, into the side of the hill

One cow and a lean-to bier, a spring close by and a driftwood fire
A clear view of the setting sun and 12 gauge hammer gun

I keep sheep, I fish deep water in a high bowed boat called the Neptune’s Daughter
She’ll ride any western gale and can carry a stack of sail

Some nights when the bright lights flicker I sail to the mainland for my liquor
I haven’t got a bed there to call my own but I never wake up alone

We all need to feel the ground and wind to tell us that the world spins round
To watch the stars and taste the sea, and village to keep us free 

Tom Paxton 1964

Chorus:
What did you learn in school today Dear little boy of mine? (x2)

I learned that Washington never told a lie
I learned that soldiers seldom die
I learned that everybody’s free
And that’s what the teacher said to me
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school

I learned the policemen are my friends
I learned that justice never ends
I learned that murderers die for their crimes
Even if we make a mistake sometimes
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school

I learned that war is not so bad
I learned about the great ones we have had
We fought in Germany and in France
And some day I might get my chance
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school

I learned our goverment must be strong;
It’s always right and never wrong!
Our leaders are the finest men
And we elect them again and again
And that’s what I learned in school today
That’s what I learned in school 

The Vox Hunters: "A million-dollar question, and first related to us by locomotive Irish fiddler Alison Perkins, one half of a groovy-as-all-get-out duo with her uilleann-piping gentleman husband, Nicolas Brown. The Muskerry Queen of Song herself, Elizabeth Cronin, learned this from the aforementioned Mary Delaney. Sung in the unison as influenced by two of our favorite singers, Will Duke and Dan Quinn."

The Vox Hunters: https://thevoxhunters.bandcamp.com/track/what-will-we-do-if-we-have-no-money

What will we do if we have no money? (All true lovers, what will we do then?)
Only hawk through the town for a hungry crown (And we’ll yodel it over again)

What will we do it I marry a tinker?
Only sell a tin can and walk on with my man

What will we do if I marry a soldier?
Only handle his gun and we’ll fight for the fun

What will we do if I have a young daughter?
Only take her in hand and walk on with my man

Phil Ochs

What’s that I hear now ringing in my ears?
I’ve heard that sound before
What’s that I hear now ringing in my ears?
I hear it more and more
It’s the sound of freedom calling
Ringing up to the skies
It’s the sound of the old ways a-falling
You can hear it if you try (x2)

Oh, what’s that I see now shining in my eyes?
I’ve seen that light before
Hey, what’s that I see now shining in my eyes?
I see it more and more
It’s the light of freedom calling
Shining up to the skies
It’s the light of the old ways a-falling
You can see it if you try (x2)

Hey, what’s that I feel now beating in my heart?
I’ve felt that beat before
Hey, what’s that I feel now beating in my heart?
I feel it more and more
It’s the rumble of freedom calling
Climbing up to the sky
It’s the rumble of the old ways a falling
You can feel it if you try (x2)