The Hidden Ball Trick

Am I alienating my audience by only posting song lyrics and updates about my favourite sports teams?

Discuss.

Ruminants Are Funny

I feel the need to complete the Bob Dylan/Traditional by way of Taj Mahal set, so here are the lyrics to Blackjack Davey.

Blackjack Davey come riding through the woods,
Singin' up a song so gay.
Well, he played and he sang, 'til the green woods rang,
He charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady, ooh,
He charmed the heart of a lady.

"Won't you come along and be my pretty little missy?
Won't you come along and be my lady?"
She said, "Ooh, you know it's right, I'm'a sleep on the ground tonight,
With my man Blackjack Davey.
With my man Blackjack, Blackjack Dave.
With my man Blackjack, Blackjack Davey."

"Tell me now, who gonna shoe your pretty little feet, now?
Who gonna glove your hands?
Who gonna kiss your ruby red lips,
While I'm in a long-distant land?
Honey, while I'm in a long-distant land.
While I'm in a long-distant land."

She said, "Papa gonna shoe my pretty little feet, now.
Sister gonna glove my hands.
Mama gonna kiss my ruby red lips,
And I'll want no man.
While you in a long-distant land.
Honey, while you in a long-distant land."

Flute, flute...

(Here there's an excellent flute solo.)

Blackjack Davey come riding through the woods,
Singin' up a song so gay.
Well, he played and he sang, 'til the green woods rang,
He charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady.

What did he do?
He soothed her with his music,
Soothed her with his song,
Sung 'til she was nearly crazy.
She said, "Ooh, it's right, you know I'm'a sleep on the ground tonight
With my man Blackjack Davey.
With my man Blackjack, Blackjack Davey.
With my man Blackjack, Blackjack Davey.

Blackjack Davey come riding through the woods,
Singin' up a song so gay.
Well, he played and he sang, 'til the green woods rang,
He charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady,
He charmed the heart of a lady.

(And then there's a vocal improvisation, and a long flute solo to the end.)

In the interest of full disclosure, I'll point out that the cut I was listening to was from a live concert on October 18, 1974. The lyrics for others may be slightly different, as may the configuration of the backup band; perhaps the best rendition I have in my collection is from 2002, with a power trio of bass, drums, and Taj's guitar and vocals.

Good times.

Les Brers In A Minor

I guess should talk about the election. I don't know about you, but I'm voting Liberal, and the reason is Derek Lee. Not only has he been one of Canada's best MPs for eighteen years, but he led the Major Leagues with a .335 average and 50 doubles, aside from hitting 46 home runs and batting in 107 while scoring 120 runs and winning a Gold Glove at first base. With a resume like that, how can you vote against him?

Especially considering the less-than-token resistance being put up by the other parties.

Incidentally, I'm looking forward to baseball season already. Terrifying.

And also: You are tired. You are true of heart!

An Open Letter to Adam McLeod

Your boy Mike Miller got a triple-double tonight.

First of all: I am tired. I am true of heart!

The song: Cole Porter's classic Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love).

The album: Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson (1957).

The performers: Louis Armstrong (Vocals, Trumpet); Oscar Peterson (Piano); Herb Ellis (Guitar); Ray Brown (Bass); Louie Bellson (Drums).

When the little bluebird,
Who has never said a word
Starts to sing sweet Spring-
When the little bluebell,
At the bottom of the dell
Starts to ring 'Ding, ding,'
When the little blue clerk,
In the middle of his work
Starts a tune to the moon up above-
It is nature that's all,
Simply telling us to fall in love.

And that's why birds do it, bees do it,
Even educated fleas do it.
Let's do it, let's fall in love.

In Spain, the best upper sets do it,
Lithuanians and Letts do it.
Let's do it, mama, let's fall in love.

The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it,
Not to mention the Fins.
Folks in Siam do it; just think of the Siamese twins.

Some Argentines without means do it,
People say in Boston even beans do it, hm,
Let's do it, let's fall in love.

Romantic sponges, they say, 'Do it,'
Oysters down in Oyster Bay do it,
Let's do it, mm, mama let's fall in love.

Cold Cape Cod clams, 'gainst their wish, do it.
Even lazy jellyfish, do it.
Let's do it, mama let's fall in love.

Electric eels I might add do it,
Though it shocks em I know.
Why ask if shad do it? 'Waiter, bring me "shad roe."'

In shallow shoals, English soles do it,
Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love.

Oh, dragonflies in the reeds do it,
Sentimental centipedes do it,
Let's do it, mama let's fall in love.

Mosquitoes, heaven forbid, do it,
So does every katydid do it,
Let's do it, mama let's fall in love.

The most refined ladybugs do it,
When a gentleman calls.
Moths in your rugs do it,
Well, lookie here, what's the use of balls?

Locusts in the trees do it,
Why, even the bees do it,
Even over-educated fleas do it,
Let's do it, let's fall in love.

I said, the chimpanzees in the zoo do it,
Some courageous kangaroos do it,
Let's do it, mama let's fall in love, ooh fall in love.

I'm sure that giraffes (on the sly) do it,
Heavy hippopotami do it,
Let's do it, mama let's fall in love.

Oh, sloths who hang down from the twigs do it,
Though the effort is great.
Yes, sweet guinea pigs do it-
Buy a couple, and wait.

Yeah, the world admits bears in the pits do it,
Even Pekingeses in the Ritz do it,
Let's do it, mama let's fall in love.

I figured I'd better post something, and I've been listening the hell out of this tune. It was another one where I couldn't just copy the lyrics, so I had to listen to them all. Louis is so damn awesome. Just incredible.