Thursday 8 July 2010

Million Dollar Bash


Fairport Convention

listen for Ashley Hutchings doing his best Bob Dylan impersonation

Well, that big dumb blonde with Gorgeous George
And Turtle, a friend of theirs, with his cheques all forged
And his cheeks in a chunk with a cheese in the cash
They're all gonna be there at that million dollar bash, and it's

Ooh baby, ooh-ee
Ooh baby, ooh-ee
It's that million dollar bash
Everybody from right now go over there and back
The louder they come, well, the bigger they crack
Come now, sweet cream, and don't forget the flash
We're all gonna meet at that million dollar bash

Well, I took my counsellor out to the barn
Silly Nelly was there, she told him a yarn
Then along came Jones and emptied the trash
Everybody went down to that million dollar bash

Ooh baby, ooh-ee
Ooh baby, ooh-ee
It's that million dollar bash
Everybody from right now go over there and back
The louder they come, well, the bigger they crack
Come now, sweet cream, and don't forget the flash
We're all gonna meet at that million dollar bash

Well, I been hittin' it too hard, you know, my stones won't take
I get up in the morning, bit too early to wake
First it's ``Hello'' and ``Goodbye'', and then push and then crash
But everybody's gonna make it to that million dollar bash

Ooh baby, ooh-ee
Ooh baby, ooh-ee
It's that million dollar bash
Everybody from right now go over there and back
The louder they come, well, the bigger they crack
Come now, sweet cream, and don't forget the flash
We're all gonna meet at that million dollar bash
Well, I looked at my watch, then I looked at my wrists
Punched myself in my face with my fists
And I took my taters back a-home to be mashed
But then I made it right on to that million dollar bash

[Bob Dylan]

Copyright © 1967 by Dwarf Music; renewed 1995 by Dwarf Music
Fairport Convention arrangement Copyright © Warlock Music 1968

Sandy Denny lead vocals
Ashley Hutchings vocals, bass guitar
Martin Lamble percussion
Simon Nicol vocals, electric guitar
Richard Thompson vocals, electric guitar
Dave Swarbrick mandolin
Marc Ellington vocals

Percy's Song


Fairport Convention

a supurb version of Bob Dylan's song

Bad news, bad news, come to me where I sleep
Turn, turn, turn again
Say, one of your friends is in trouble deep
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind


Tell me the trouble, tell me once to my ear
Turn, turn, turn again
Joliet prison and ninety-nine years
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

Oh, what's the charge of how this came to be?
Turn, turn, turn again
Manslaughter in the highest degree
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

I sat down and wrote the best words I could write
Turn, turn, turn again
Explaining to the judge I'd be there on Wednesday night
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

Without a reply, I left by the moon
Turn, turn, turn again
And was in his chambers by the next afternoon
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

Would you tell me the facts, I said without fear
Turn, turn, turn again
That a friend of mine could get ninety-nine years
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

A crash on the highway, flew the car to a field
Turn, turn, turn again
There was four persons killed and he was at the wheel
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

But I knew him as good as I'm knowing myself
Turn, turn, turn again
And he wouldn't harm a life that belonged to someone else
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

The judge he spoke out of the side of his mouth
Turn, turn, turn again
Saying "The witness who saw, he left without doubt"
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

That may be true, he's got a sentence to serve
Turn, turn, turn again
But ninety-nine years he just don't deserve
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

Too late, too late, for his case it is sealed
Turn, turn, turn again
His sentence it is passed and cannot be repealed
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

But he ain't no criminal and his crime it is none
Turn, turn, turn again
What happened to him could happen to anyone
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

At that the judge jerked forward and his face it did freeze
Turn, turn, turn again
Saying, "Could you kindly leave my office now please?"
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

His eyes looked funny and I stood up so slow
Turn, turn, turn again
With no other choice except for to go
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

I walked down the hallway and I heard his door slam
Turn, turn, turn again
I walked down the courthouse stairs and did not understand
Turn, turn, to the rain and the wind

And I played my guitar through the night to the day
Turn, turn, turn again
And the only tune my guitar could play
Was "The Old Cruel Rain And The Wind"

[Bob Dylan]

Copyright © Warlock Music 1968
Copyright © 1964, 1966 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1992,
1994 by Special Rider Music

Sandy Denny lead vocals
Ashley Hutchings bass guitar
Martin Lamble percussion
Simon Nicol electric dulcimer
Richard Thompson electric guitar
Ian Matthews backing vocals

Who Knows Where The Time Goes


Fairport Convention

The song forwhich we are ever grateful to Sandy Denny for

Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving
But how can they know it's time for them to go?
Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming
I have no thought of time

For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

Sad, deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving
Ah, but then you know it's time for them to go
But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the time

For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

And I am not alone while my love is near me
I know it will be so until it's time to go
So come the storms of winter and then the birds in spring again
I have no fear of time

For who knows how my love grows?
And who knows where the time goes?

[Sandy Denny]

(Copyright © 1967 Sonet Music)

Sandy Denny lead vocals
Ashley Hutchings bass guitar
Martin Lamble percussion
Simon Nicol electric guitar
Richard Thompson vocals, electric guitar

Cajun Woman


Fairport Convention

inwhich RT goes cajun and shows us he can play a really good piano accordion
(think
Jimmy Shand)

The baby that the preacher gave you in the Spring
Spent the winter with his finger in the undertaker's ring

Oh Cajun woman, some people still call you a queen
I don’t believe you’re sinking but look at all the trouble you’ve been

He grew up in the bayou with a bible ‘round his neck
He never loved a woman the way you would expect

Oh Cajun woman, some people still call you a queen
I don’t believe you’re sinking but look at all the trouble you’ve been

Don't tell him 'bout his Father, don't tell him 'bout his name
The Gods won't get to Heaven if you crucify his brain

Oh Cajun woman, some people still call you a queen
I don’t believe you’re sinking but look at all the trouble you’ve been

Well it’s welcome to the graveyard and welcome to the throne
Welcome to the orphanage where your family sit and moan
Welcome to the liquor stile and welcome to the poor
Your momma never told you how lucky you are

Oh Cajun woman, some people still call you a queen
I don’t believe you’re sinking but look at all the trouble you’ve been

[Richard Thompson]

Copyright © Warlock Music 1968

Sandy Denny lead vocals
Ashley Hutchings vocals, bass guitar
Martin Lamble percussion
Simon Nicol vocals, electric guitar
Richard Thompson vocals, electric guitar, piano accordion
Dave Swarbrick fiddle

A Sailor`s Life


Fairport Convention

you could use all the superlatives you could think of to describe this piece and you still wouldn't even come close, just listen and let yourself be carried away.

A sailor's life, it is a merry life.
He robs young girls of their hearts' delight,
Leaving them behind to weep and mourn,
They never know when they will return.

Well, there's four and twenty all in a row
My true love he makes the finest show.
He's proper tall, genteel and all,
And if I don't have him, I'll have none at all.

Oh father, build for me a bonny boat,
That on the wide ocean I may float
And every Queen's ship that we pass by,
There I'll enquire for my sailor boy

They had not sailed long on the deep
When a Queen's ship they chanced to meet.
"You sailors all, pray tell me true,
Does my sweet William sail among your crew?"

"Oh no, fair maiden, he is not here
For he's been drownded we greatly fear
On yon green island as we passed it by,
There we lost sight of your sailor boy."

Well, she wrung her hands and she tore her hair.
She was like a young girl in great despair.
And her little boat against a rock did run.
"How can I live now my sweet William is gone?"

trad. arr Fairport Convention
Copyright © Warlock Music 1968

Sandy Denny lead vocals
Ashley Hutchings bass guitar
Martin Lamble percussion
Simon Nicol electric rhythm guitar
Richard Thompson electric lead guitar
Dave Swarbrick fiddle

Autopsy


Fairport Convention

short sweet and too the point, one of Richard Thompson's finest songs

You must philosophise,
But why must you bore me to tears?
You're red around the eyes,
You tell me things no one else hears.
You spend all your time crying,
Crying the hours into years,
Crying the hours into years.

Come, lend your time to me,
And you will know that you are free.
And when you look at me,
Don't think you're owning what you see,
For remember that you're free,
And that's what you want to be,
So just lend your time to me.

[Richard Thompson]

Copyright © Warlock Music 1968

Sandy Denny lead vocals
Ashley Hutchings bass guitar
Martin Lamble percussion
Simon Nicol electric dulcimer
Richard Thompson electric lead guitar

Si Tu Dois Partir


Fairport Convention

Bob Dylan in French anyone?

Si Tu Dois Partir
C'est pas que je te demande
De faire que tu n'as jamais fait
C'est seulement qui'il fait trop tard
Et qu'il fait trop noir pour trouver la porte

Chorus (after each verse):
Mais si tu dois partir, va-t'en
Mais si tu dois partir, va-t'en
Si non, tu dois rester la nuit

C'est pas que je te demande
De prendre part dans ce jeu
C'est seulement, je n'ai pas de montre
Et tu demandes toujours l'heure par contre

Tu sais, j'aurais des cauchemars
Et aussi mauvaise conscience
Si je t'empêchais de faire
Ce que vraiment tu espères

La La La ...

[Bob Dylan][trad. arr. Fairport Convention]
Copyright © Warlock Music 1968
and © 1965 by Warner Bros. Inc.;
renewed 1993 by Special Rider Music

Sandy Denny lead vocals
Ashley Hutchings vocals, bass guitar
Martin Lamble percussion and chairs falling over
Simon Nicol vocals, rhythm guitar
Richard Thompson vocals, electric guitar, accordion
Dave Swarbrick fiddle
Trevor Lucas triangle

Genesis Hall


Richard Thompson.
a different version of this song from that which is
to be found on
Unhalfbricking (1969)

My father he rides with your sheriffs,
and I know he would never mean harm,
But to see both sides of a quarrel
Is to judge without hate or alarm

Chorus
Oh, oh, helpless and slow,
And you don't have anywhere to go

You take away homes from the homeless
And leave them to die in the cold
The gypsy who begged for your presents
He will laugh in your face when you're old

Chorus
Oh, oh, helpless and slow,
And you don't have anywhere to go

Well, one man he drinks up his whiskey
Another he drinks up his wine
And they'll drink till their eyes are red with hate
For those of a different kind

Chorus
Oh, oh, helpless and slow,
And you don't have anywhere to go

When the rivers run quicker than trouble
I'll be there at your side in the flood
It was all I could do to keep myself
From taking revenge on your blood

Oh, oh, helpless and slow,
And you don't have anywhere to go
Oh, oh, helpless and slow,
And you don't have anywhere to go

[Richard Thompson]

Copyright © Warlock Music 1968

Richard Thompson - Guitar