Thursday, December 31, 2009

Feliz Navidad (Christmas Bonus)


Lyrics and chords copied and pasted from
http://zepperfan.tripod.com/feliz_navidad_tab.txt

Intro:
D G A7 D
D G A7 D

Em A7
Feliz Navidad
D
Feliz Navidad
G
Feliz Navidad
A7 D
Prospero Año y Felicidad.

Em A7
Feliz Navidad
D
Feliz Navidad
G
Feliz Navidad
A7 D
Prospero Año y Felicidad.

G A7
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
D Bm
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
G
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
A7 D
From the bottom of my heart.

Em A7
Feliz Navidad
D
Feliz Navidad
G
Feliz Navidad
A7 D
Prospero Año y Felicidad.

Em A7
Feliz Navidad
D
Feliz Navidad
G
Feliz Navidad
A7 D
Prospero Año y Felicidad.

G A7
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
D Bm
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
G
I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas
A7 D
From the bottom of my heart.



CHORDS:
Em (022000)
A7 (x02020)
D (xx0232)
G (320003)
Bm (x24432)

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Noche de paz / Silent Night (Spanish)


La versión original fue compuesta por Joseph Mohr (letra) y Franz Xaver Gruber (música) y interpretado por primera vez en 1818.

Acordes:
D - / A7 D / G D / G D / A7 D / DA7 D

Esta traducción de www.lexilogos.com

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor.
Entre sus astros que esparcen su luz
Bella anunciando al niñito Jesús
Brilla la estrella de paz
Brilla la estrella de paz

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor
Sólo velan en la oscuridad
Los pastores que en el campo están ;
Y la estrella de Belén
Y la estrella de Belén

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor
sobre el santo niño Jesús
Una estrella esparce su luz,
Brilla sobre el Rey
Brilla sobre el Rey

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Stille Nacht (Christmas Bonus)


"Silent Night" in the original German.
Lyrics by Joseph Mohr and melody by Franz X. Gruber
First performed on Christmas eve 1818 at the St. Nicholas church in Oberndorf, Austria.

Many versions at http://silentnight.web.za/
Lyrics copied here from http://www.lexilogos.com/chant_stille_nacht.htm

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute heilige Paar
Holder Knabe im lockigten Haar
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht!
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'
Jesus in deiner Geburt!
Jesus in deiner Geburt!

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht!
Die der Welt Heil gebracht
Aus des Himmels goldenen Höhn
Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt sehn
Jesum in Menschengestalt!
Jesum in Menschengestalt!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Ping An Ye / Silent Night (Christmas Bonus)


Silent Night (Stille nacht) performed (or underperformed) in Mandarin Chinese.

Chords: C - / G7 C / F C / F C / G7 C / CG7 C

平安夜,圣诞夜
píng ān yè, shèng dàn yè
(Peaceful eve, Christmas eve (2 ways to say Christmas eve))
万籁寂,闪金光
wàn lài jì, shǎn jīn ɡuānɡ
(Definitely quiet, emitting golden rays)
圣母圣婴,可爱安详
shèng mǔ shèng yīng, kě ài ān xiáng
(The Virgin Mary and the holy baby, adorable and composed)
宁静温柔在梦乡
níng jìng wēn róu, zài mèng xiāng
(Quiet and gentle, off in dreamland)
静静安睡在天堂
jìng jìng ān shuì zài tiān táng
(Ever so still, sleeping peacefully in heaven)
静静安睡在天堂
jìng jìng ān shuì zài tiān táng
(Ever so still, sleeping peacefully in heaven)

From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIg1Nb8Dq8E , translated by me.

Alternate first verse (not sung here):
平安夜圣善夜
píng ān yè shèng shàn yè
(Peaceful eve, holy, good eve)
万暗中光华射
wàn àn zhōng guāng huá shè
(Out of the darkness splendour springs forth)
照着圣母也照着圣婴
zhào zhe shèng mǔ yě zhào zhe shèng yīng
(The illuminated Virgin and her illuminated child)
多少慈祥也多少天真
duō shǎo cí xiáng yě duō shǎo tiān zhēn
(How kind and how innocent!)
静享天赐安眠
jìng xiǎng tiān cì ān mián
(Blissfully still in heaven-bestowed sleep)
静享天赐安眠
jìng xiǎng tiān cì ān mián
(Blissfully still in heaven-bestowed sleep)

From http://blog.jxwmw.cn/u/2021/archives/2009/23966.html , translated by me.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Silent Night English (Christmas Bonus)


Silent Night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright, etc.

I'll do a more complete posting of the lyrics and chords in the future. Probably in the very near future, but NO PROMISES. Sometimes I'm a scatterbrain.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Liang Zhi Lao Hu (Bonus)


Liang zhi lao hu, liang zhi lao hu

两只老虎, 两只老虎
Pao de kuai, pao de kuai
跑得快, 跑得快
Yi zhi mei you er duo, yi zhi mei you wei ba
一只没有耳朵, 一只没有尾巴
Zhen qi guai, zhen qi guai
真奇怪, 真奇怪

Two tigers, two tigers
Run fast, run fast
One has no ears, one has no tail
Really strange, really strange

To the tune of "Frère Jacques"

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping
Brother John, Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing
Ding, dang, dong, ding, dang, dong

Friday, December 25, 2009

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Let It Be Me


Happy New Year!
I'm back from China, where I was for 8 days. That's why this video and the others to come after it are 8 days late. As usual, I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. Daily videos are hard (waah waah, I know).

Comments are welcome as always, and I've even got a request or two to fulfil in the next (few?) days. A few leftover Christmas songs to come as well.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Lullaby for Christmas Eve


(Song begins at 1:04, chord review at 3:05)
Melody by Pete King
Lyric by Paul Francis Webster
Appears in "104 Giant Christmas Songs", p.37
F - - - / - - Bb Bbm / F Dm7 G7 C7
F Dm G7 G#dim / F Dm7 Gm7 C7 F - Gm7 C7 (last verse end on F)

There'll be snow falling down from the skies
You'll awake by a tree strung with popcorn and holly that
Jolly old Santa will leave
Not a peep little doll, go to sleep, little doll, while I
Sing you a lullaby for Christmas eve

Go to sleep, little doll, pleasant dreams
You'll awake Christmas day in a room full of gaily wrapped
Presents to give and receive
So to bed, little one, nod your head, little one, while I
Sing you a lullaby for Christmas eve

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Coventry Carol with Lizzie


This is a double now, but it's one Lizzie and I recorded in Maine this past August and that I've been saving for Christmas. So, Merry Christmas from Maine in August!

Words by Robert Croo; melody from a 1591 manuscript (I would love to see that manuscript, man.)
Em - Am B7 / Em AmB7 Em - / D Bm A B7 / Em AmB7 Em -

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child
By by, lully, lullay
Lullay thou little tiny child
By by lully, lullay

O, sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we sing
By by, lully, lullay

Herod the King in his raging
Chargèd he hath this day
His men of might in his own sight
All children young to slay

Then woe is me, poor child, for thee
And ever mourn and say
For thy parting nor say nor sing
By by lully, lullay

Monday, December 21, 2009

Ma'oz Tzur


A song for Hanukkah, late in coming, I know. From Rise Up Singing in the chapter Faith, p.45
Authorship: Rise Up Singing says the first English verse is traditional, and the second by Sam Hinton.
Wikipedia says that both, and a third I didn't sing but I'll copy below, are by Marcus Jastrow and Gustav Gottheil.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma%27oz_Tzur
More information and a free streaming clip of the song:

http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/104615/jewish/Maoz-Tzur.htm


Chords (as in video):
D DG DA D / DG A DA D ://
D G D - / Bm G D A / D - A - / D G D A / D - A - / D G A D

or (as in R.U.S.):
D DG DA D / DG A DA D ://
D G D - / Bm G A - / D - A - / D G A - / D - A - / D G A D

Rock of Ages let our song / Praise thy saving power
Thou amidst the raging foes / Wast our sheltering tower
Furious they assailed us / But Thine arm availed us
And Thy word broke their sword / When our own strength failed us
And Thy word broke their sword / When our own strength failed us

Children of the martyr race / Whether free or fettered
Wake the echoes of the songs / Where ye may be scattered
Yours the message cheering / That the time is nearing
Which will see all men free / Tyrants disappearing
Which will see all men free / Tyrants disappearing

Kindling new the holy lamps / Priests approved in suffering
Purified the nation's shrine / Brought to God their offering
And His courts surrounding / Hear in joy abounding,
Happy throngs, singing songs / With a mighty sounding
Happy throngs, singing songs / With a mighty sounding

Hebrew 1st verse (transliteration from Wikipedia):
Ma'oz Tzur Yeshu'ati, lekha na'eh leshabe'ah
Tikon beit tefilati, vesham toda nezabe'ah
Le'et takhin matbe'ah mitzar hamnabe'ah
Az egmor beshir mizmor hanukat hamizbe'ah

Meaning (from Chabad.org):
O mighty stronghold of my salvation, to praise You is a delight
Restore my House of Prayer and there we will bring a thanksgiving offering
When You will have prepared the slaughter for the blaspheming foe
Then I shall complete with a song of hymn the dedication of the Altar


Verses 2-5:
Ra'ot sav'ah nafshi, byagon kohi kala
Hayai mareru bkoshi, beshi'abud malkhut egla
Uvyado hagdola hotzi et hasgula
Heil par'o vekhol zar'o yardu ke'even bimtzula

Dvir kodsho hevi'ani, vegam sham lo shakateti
Uva noges vehiglani, ki zarim avadti
Vyein ra'al masakhti, kim'at she'avarti
Ketz Bavel Zerubavel, leketz shiv'im nosha'ati

Krot komat brosh bikesh, Agagi ben Hamdatah
venihiyeta lo lefah ulemokesh, vega'avato nishbata
Rosh yemini niseta, ve'oyev shmo mahita
Rov banav vekinyanav al ha'etz talita

Yevanim nikbetzu alai, azai bimei Hashmanim
Ufartzu homot migdalai, vetim'u kol hashmanim
Uminotar kankanim na'asa nes lashoshanim
Bnei vina yemei shmona kav'u shir urenanim

Hasof zroa kodshekha, vekarev ketz hayeshu'a
Nkom nikmat dam avadeikha me'uma haresha'a
Ki arkha hasha'a, ve'ein ketz limei hara'a
Dkheh admon betzel tzalmon, hakem lanu ro'im shiv'a

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Joy to the World (Christmas Bonus)


The BTS is Bangkok's lovely, efficient elevated train. In 2009 one of its 2 lines got extended to cross to 2 stations on the other side of the river, but it's 2010 now and I'm still waiting for them to start service out past On Nut. This won't mean much to you if you've never visited. Here, I'm recording on the skywalk justoutside the Ploen Chit Station. Merry Christmas!

Joy to the world, the Lord has come
Let earth receive her king

Saturday, December 19, 2009

We Three Kings of Orient Are (Christmas Bonus)


From the book "104 Giant Christmas Songs". Recorded at Ploen Chit BTS (skytrain) station in Bangkok. A Christmas bonus.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Up On The Rooftop (Christmas Bonus)

To set the record straight: neither "104 Giant Christmas Songs" NOR Raffi use "rooftop". They both use house-top. My false Raffi lyrics obviously sprung from my own long-term misremembering (and Megan's too, apparently).

(I still like "rooftop".)

Thursday, December 17, 2009

This Old Man (Raffi)


Melody: Traditional
Rise Up Singing chapter: Play, p.178
New words: Raffi, D. Pike, B. and B. Simpson

Chords:
D - / - D7 / G - D - / A7 G7 D -

This old man, he plays one
He plays one on his old drum
Oh, yes, yes yes, uh huh
He plays one on his old drum, uh huh

This old man, he plays two
He plays two on his kazoo
Oh, yes, yes yes, unh huh
He plays one on his kazoo, unh huh

This old man, he plays three
He plays three on his ukulele
O, yes, yes yes, uh huh
He plays three on his ukulele, uh huh

He plays four on his guitar
He plays five with his friend Clive
[Tag]: This old man, he plays one / This old man, he plays two / This old man, he plays three / This old man, he plays four / This old man, he plays five / Knick-knack, paddy-whack!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

This Old Man


Rise Up Singing chapter: Play, p.178
D - / G A - D - / A D

This old man, he played one
He played knick-knack on my thumb
With a knick-knack, paddy-whack, give a dog a bone
This old man came rolling home

This old man, he played two
He played knick-knack on my shoe
With a knick-knack, paddy-wack, give your dog a bone
This old man came rolling home

This old man, he played three
He played knick-knack on my knee
With a knick-knack, paddy-whack, give your dog a bone
This old man came rolling home

This old man, he played four
He played knick-knack on my door
With a knick-knack, paddy-wack, give a dog a bone
This old man came rolling home

He played five / He played knick-knack on my hive
He played six / He played knick-knack with some sticks
He played seven / He played knick-knack up in heaven
(He played seven / He played knick-knack up to heaven)
He played eight / He played knick-knack on my pate
(He played eight / He played knick-knack on my plate)
He played nine / He played knick-knack on my spine
He played ten / He played knick-knack once again

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Why, Oh Why? (Woody Guthrie)


By Woody Guthrie
Rise Up Singing chapter: Home and Family, p.113

D - G D / G D A D
or transposed to A (the R.U.S. key):
A - D A / D A E A

Why, oh why, oh why-oh? Why, oh why, oh why?
Because, because, because, because, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

Why can't a dish break a hammer? Why, oh why, oh why?
Because a hammer's a hardhead - goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.

Why can't a bird eat an elephant? Why, oh why, oh why?
Because an elephant's got pretty hard skin - goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

Why can't a mouse eat a streetcar? Why...
Because a mouse's stomach ain't big enough to fit no streetcar - goodbye...

Why does a horn make music?
Because the horn-blower blows it...

Why does the landlord take money?
I don't know that one myself...

Why can't a rabbit chase an eagle?
Because the last rabbit that decided he'd go out and chase an eagle, well it didn't turn out so good, that's why a rabit can't chase an eagle, and that's all I know about rabbits and eagles...

Why don't you answer my questions?
Because I don't know the answers...

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Isn't She Lovely?

(Song begins at 3:13)
By Stevie Wonder
Rise Up Singing chapter: Home and Family, p.109
Chords:
Bm7 E9 A11 D / Bm7 E9 A11 D / Gmaj7 F# Bm7 E9 / A11 - D -

See the video for how to play these weird chords. I swear they're not difficult, just uncommon.

Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful?
Isn't she precious? Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love?

Ain't No More Cane (Bonus)

Friday, December 11, 2009

O Come O Come Emmanuel

The Coventry Carol


Recorded yesterday in Lumphini Park, Bangkok
Future note: I've now also posted a version of this done by Lizzie and me this past summer.

Words by Robert Croo; melody from a 1591 manuscript (I would love to see that manuscript, man.)
Chords in the video:
Dm - Gm A7 / Dm GmA7 Dm -
C Am G A7 / Dm GmA7 Dm -
(last time finish on a D instead of a Dm)

Chords in RUS (same, but in Em)
Em - Am B7 / Em AmB7 Em -
D Bm A B7 / Em AmB7 Em -


Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child
By by, lully, lullay
Lullay thou little tiny child
By by lully, lullay

O, sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we sing
By by, lully, lullay

Herod the King in his raging
Chargèd he hath this day
His men of might in his own sight
All children young to slay

Then woe is me, poor child, for thee
And ever mourn and say
For thy parting nor say nor sing
By by lully, lullay

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Joe Hill

Rise Up Singing, page 256. Written in C in the book, but I used a capo to move it up!

By theacousticburgoo !

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Arthur McBride


Rise Up Singing chapter: Ballads and Old Songs
Irish: first published by P.W. Joyce in the book Old Irish Folk Music and Songs, 1908

Chords (in D):
Odd verses:
D - - - / G Bm Em G / D - - - / D Bm A -
Even verses:
D - - - / G Bm Em G / D - - - / D Bm A D

Oh, me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride
As we went a-walking down by the seaside
Now mark what did follow and what did betide
For it being on Christmas morning...

*Shillelagh*

Monday, December 7, 2009

When Irish Eyes are Smiling


Words by George Graff, Jr. and Chauncey Olcott
Melody by Ernest R. Ball
Rise Up Singing chapter: Golden Oldies, p.82


Find Rob and Hector's performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSX9f1EEwOg


Chords: C - F C / F C D7 G / C - F C / F CA7 DG C

When Irish eyes are smiling, sure it's like a morn in spring
In the lilt of the Irish laughter you can hear the angels sing
When Irish HEARTS are happy all the world seems bright and gay
And when Irish eyes are smiling sure they steal your heart away

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The Water is Wide (Waly Waly)

The song starts really far in, at 3:54 (so skip to it for the music).
I spend a lot of time at the beginning talking about Nobody Waved Goodbye, the Canadian movie from which I learned this song. Later on, I heard James Taylor do a version of it on his New Moonshine album, I think, but I still like the Nobody Waved Goodbye version better.

Rise Up Singing chapter: Ballads and Old Songs, p.15
My chords:
D G D - / Bm Em A - / D G Bm G / D A D -
R.U.S. chords:
D G A - / Bm Em A - / D G Bm G / A - D -

The water is wide, I can't cross o'er
Neither have I wings to fly
Build me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my true love and I

There is a ship and she sails the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
But not so deep as the love I'm in
I know not how I sink or swim

I leaned my back against some young oak
Thinking it was a sturdy young tree
But first it bended and then it broke
Thus did my love prove false to me

I thrust my hand into some soft bush
Thinking the fairest flower to find
But pricked my finger unto the bone
And left the fairest flower behind

O, love is handsome and love is fine
As the fairest flower when first it's new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like the morning dew

O waly waly up the bank
And waly waly down the braes
And waly waly by yon burn side
Where me and my love were wont to gae

When sea and sand turneth far inland
And mussels grow on every tree
When cockle shells turn silver bells
Then would I love my love for thee

Friday, December 4, 2009

Mary Hamilton

From the Child ballads (Child ballad #173)
Rise Up Singing chapter: Ballads and Old Songs, p.13
For lyrics and some good historical information on this ballad, go here: http://www.contemplator.com/scotland/4marys.html

D - G D / - - A - / G A D Bm / D A D -
1. Word is to the kitchen gone
2. And word is to the hall
3. And word is up to Madam the Queen
4. And that's the worst of all
5. That Mary Hamilton's born a babe
6. To the highest Stuart of all [chords to lines 5&6 as for lines 3&4]

"Arise, arise, Mary Hamilton
Arise and tell to me
What thou hast done with thy wee babe
I saw and heard weep by thee?"

"I put him in a tiny boat
And cast him out to sea
That he might sink or he might swim
But he'd never come back to me"

"Arise, arise, Mary Hamilton
Arise and come with me
There is a wedding in Glasgow town
This night we'll go and see"

She put not on her robes of black
Nor her robes of brown
But she put on robes of white
To ride into Glasgow town

And as she rode into Glasgow town
The city for to see
The bailiff's wife and the provost's wife
Cried, "Ach, and alas for thee"

"Ah you need not weep for me" she cried
"You need not weep for me
For had I not slain my own wee babe
This death I would not dee"

"Ah, little did my mother think
When first she cradled me,
The lands I was to travel in
And the death I was to dee" [I forgot to sing this verse]

"Last night I washed the Queen's feet
And put the gold in her hair
And the only reward I find for this
The gallows to be my share"

"Cast off, cast off my gown" she cried
"But let my petticoat be
And tie a napkin 'round my face
For the gallows I would not see"

Then by and come the King himself
And looked up with a pitiful eye [pronounced "ee"]
"Come down, come down, Mary Hamilton
Tonight you'll dine with me"

"Ah, hold your tongue, my sovereign liege
And let your folly be
For if you'd a mind to save my life
You'd never have shamed me here"

"Last night there were four Marys
Tonight there'll be but three
There was Mary Beaton, and Mary Seaton
And Mary Carmichael, and me"

Thursday, December 3, 2009

This World is not my Home

Take My Hand, Precious Lord


By Thomas A. Dorsey, "the father of Black gospel music" according to American Folklore: an encyclopedia, who remarked of himself, "I've been thrown out of some of the best churches in America"
Biographies of Dorsey, A.K.A. Georgia Tom: short, medium, long

Rise Up Singing chapter: Gospel, p.95
D D7 G - / D - A7 - / D D7 G - / D A7 D -

Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home

When my way goes drear, precious Lord, linger near
When my life is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home

When the darkness appears and the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home

A.K.A. Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Lonesome Valley

Oh, Mary Don't You Weep

(Song begins at 2:10, chord review at 2:23)
Rise Up Singing chapter: Freedom, p.63

Chords: D A / - D / G D / DA D ://

If I could I surely would
Stand on the rock where Moses stood
Pharaoh's army got drownded
Oh, Mary don't you weep

Chorus:
Oh, Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn
Oh, Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn
Pharaoh's army got drownded
Oh, Mary don't you weep

Moses stood on the Red sea shore / Smotin' the water with a two by four...
(or "Moses stood on the Red sea shore / Smiting the water with a two by four...")
The Lord told Moses what to do / To lead those Hebrew children through...
God gave Noah the rainbow sign / No more water but fire next time...
Mary wore three links of chain / And every link was Jesus' name...
When I get to heaven, gonna sing and shout / Nobody up there to put me out...
One of these mornings, it won't be long / You're gonna call my name, but I'll be gone...
One of these days about twelve o'clock / This old world is gonna reel and rock...
One of these days in the middle of the night / People gonna rise and set things right...

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Put Your Hand in the Hand


Rise Up Singing chapter: Gospel

D - A - / - - D - / D D7 G E / DBm EA DG D (as far as I can remember...)
"Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the waters
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea..."

Which reminds me, one of my very own brothers wrote a song with lyrics cribbed from the Bible that goes "He maketh the storm calm so that the waves thereof are still
He maketh the storm calm so that the waves thereof are still
He maketh the storm calm so that the waves thereof are still
He maketh the storm calm so that the waves thereof are stillllllllll"

It's quite repetitive, as you can see, but I think it's really good too. Worth a listen. I'll see if I can find a link to a performance of it online. I think there's one somewhere.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Let It Be


By the Beatles. I'm days behind on this project! Feel free to chastise me liberally. Or feel liberal to chastise me freely - whichever. It'll probably help.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Heveinu Shalom Aleichem

TenaciousFlea guest-starring:
Ukulele cover of a traditional Israeli folk song. Translation of the lyrics: We bring Peaceful greetings to you.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Christmas is Coming (R.U.S. Christmas Bonus)


It's the beginning of the Christmas season on the Rise Up Singing project! I'll definitely do some Channukah songs (or A Channukah song - as many as I can learn...) but for now, it's the Christmas season and we'll diversify as soon as I learn songs to diversify with.
Enjoy!

Lyrics:
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat
Please to put a penny in the old man's hat
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny then God bless you

Chords: none: this one's acappella

Friday, November 27, 2009

Beans In My Ears

D - / A D ://

Rise Up Singing has D A / - D :// but I don't think that works as well.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Down By the Bay


Introduced to me by Raffi
Rise Up Singing chapter: Play, p.168

G D7 / - G / C G / - D7G
Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow
Back to my home I dare not go
For if I do, my mother will say:
*Have you ever seen a goose kissing a moose* - down by the bay!

Also: "Did you ever see a goose kissing a moose"

*Have you ever seen a whale with a polka-dot tail*
*Have you ever seen a fly wearing a tie*
*Have you ever seen a bear combing his hair*
*Have you ever seen a llama wearing pyjamas*
*Have you ever seen a llama eating its pyjamas*
*Have you ever had a time when you couldn't make a rhyme*

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Boom Boom Ain't it Great to Be Crazy?


Rise Up Singing chapter: Play, p.167

G Bm C D / G Bm C D / G Am Bm C / D - - -

G Em Am D / G Em Am D / C Bm Am G / - - D G

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Morningtown Ride


Song by Malvina Reynolds
Rise Up Singing chapter: Lullabies, p.134

Chords: D - G D / G D Em A / D - G D / G D A D

Train whistle blowing, makes a sleepy noise
Underneath their blankets go all the girls and boys
Heading from the station, out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown, many miles away

Sarah's at the engine, Olivia rings the bell
Isabel swings the lantern to show that all is well
Rocking, rolling, riding, out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown, many miles away

Maybe it is raining where our train will ride
But all the little travellers are snug and warm inside
Somewhere there is sunshine, somewhere there is day
Somewhere there is Morningtown, many miles away

Monday, November 23, 2009

Grace Song (Thanksgiving Bonus)


Happy Thanksgiving number 2!

Thank You for the world so sweet
Thank you for the food we eat
Thank you for the birds that sing
Thank you, God, for everything

So you sing this holding hands around the table before a meal as a grace. As taught to me by my grandmother.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Sinaloa Cowboys Cover (R.U.S. Bonus)


Song begins at 1:34 runtime
I talk about Bruce Springsteen's subtle rhythm and lyrical phrasing at 6:10
and Paul Simon's subtle rhythm and lyrical phrasing at 6:48

By Bruce Springsteen, from the album The Ghost of Tom Joad.
It's not Bruce Springsteen singing it here, though, it's me, Matthew. Sometimes people get pretty confused about that.

A - - D / A - - E / A - - D / A E A -
Miguel came from a small town in northern Mexico
He came north with his brother Luis to California three years ago
They crossed at the river levee when Luis was just sixteen
And found work together in the fields of the San Joaquin

They left their homes and family
Their father said, "My sons, one thing you will learn:
For everything the North gives, it exacts a price in return"
They worked side by side in the orchards
From morning 'til the day was through
Doing the work the güeros wouldn't do

Word was out some men in from Sinaloa were looking for some hands
Deep in Fresno county there was a deserted chicken ranch
There in a small tin shack on the edge of a ravine
Miguel and Luis stood cooking methamphetamine

D - A - / D - A E / D - A D / A E A -
You could spend a year in the orchards or make half as much in one ten-hour shift
Working for the men from Sinaloa, ah, but if you slipped
The hydriatic acid would burn right through your skin
They'd leave you spitting up blood in the desert if you breathed those fumes in

It was early one winter evening as Miguel stood watch outside
When the shack exploded, lighting up the valley night
Miguel carried Luis' body over his shoulder down a swale to the creekside
And there in the tall grass Luis Rosales died

Miguel lifted Luis' body into his truck and then he drove
To where the morning sunlight fell on a eucalyptus grove
There in the dirt he dug up ten thousand dollars, all that they'd saved
Kissed his brother's lips and placed him in his grave

Friday, November 20, 2009

I Come and Stand


(Song begins at 3:00 runtime)
Words by Nazim Hikmet, English translation by J. Turner.
Melody by James Walter ("The Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie")
Rise Up Singing chapter: Peace, p.160
D C - D / - C - D / G D C D / Em - C D, or...
D C - D / - C - D / G D C D / Em C - D
(See the beginning of the video for details on that C in the last line)

Lyrics:
I come and stand at every door
But no one hears my silent tread
I knock and yet remain unseen
For I am dead, for I am dead

I'm only seven although I died
In Hiroshima long ago
I'm seven now as I was then:
When children die they do not grow

My hair was scorched by swirling flame
My eyes grew dim, my eyes grew blind
Death came and turned my bones to dust
And that was scattered by the wind

I need no fruit, I need no rice
I need no sweets or even bread
I ask for nothing for myself
For I am dead, for I am dead

All that I ask is that for peace
You fight today, you fight today
So that the children of this world
May live and grow and laugh and play

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Sixteen Tons


By Merle Travis
Rise Up Singing chapter: Mountain Voices, p.149
Verses:
Em - C B7 / Em - C B7 / Em - Am - / Em - - B7
Chorus:
Em - C B7 / Em - C B7 / Em - Am - / Em - B7 Em

Now some people say a man's made out of mud
But a poor man's made of muscle and blood
Muscle and blood, skin and bone
A mind that's weak and a back that's strong

Chorus:
You load sixteen tons and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me, 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi


Rise Up Singing chapter: Faith, p.46
Written by Sebastian Temple (I had been under the impression it was written by Saint Francis himself. I'm still not sure I want to accord credit to this Temple character.)

D - - - / - - A - / - - - - / - DA D -
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring your love
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there's doubt, true faith in You

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there's sadness, ever joy

Bridge:
G - D - / A - D - / G - D - / E - A -
O Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we're born to eternal life
("And in death born to eternal life" fits better with the meter, if you want to take my word for it...)

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Pete Seeger's My Dirty Stream (R.U.S. Bonus)


I talk a lot at the beginning about my former life in Chengdu, my dream of canoeing the Hudson, and bike-riding with no hands. The song really begins only at 3:37 . I know I tend to babble.

You can download a PDF of the song here: http://spikesmusic-folk.spike-jamie.com/Pete-Seeger.html

This isn't in the Rise Up Singing songbook, so I suppose I don't have much else to post for it. Lyrics, I guess. Might as well. Here you go:

Sailing up my dirty stream
Still I love it and I'll keep the dream
That some day, though maybe not this year
My Hudson River will once again run clear.
She starts high in the mountains of the north
Crystal clear and icy trickles forth
With just a few floating wrappers of chewing gum
Dropped by some hikers to warn of things to come.

At Glens Falls, five thousand honest hands
Work at the Consolidated Paper Plant
Five million gallons of waste a day,
Why should we do it any other way?
Down the valley one million toilet chains
Find my Hudson so convenient place to drain
And each little city says, "Who, me?
Do you think that sewage plants come free?"

Out in the ocean they say the water's clear
But I live right at Beacon here
Half way between the mountains and sea,
Tacking to and fro, this thought returns to me:
Sailing up my dirty stream
Still I love it and I'll dream
That some day, though maybe not this year
My Hudson and my country will run clear.

Words and Music by Pete Seeger (1961)
(c) 1964 (renewed) by Fall River Music, Inc.

Monday, November 16, 2009

A Horse Named Bill


Rise Up Singing chapter: Play
Chords coming in the morning. I'm sleeping now in the Thailand time zone.
Love, Matthew

Ok, here they are: C - / F FG7 / C - / G C
Song begins at 0:34 runtime
There's a chord discussion at 3:02 runtime

I had a horse and his name was Bill / And when he ran he couldn't stand still
He ran away one day / And also I ran with him

He ran so fast he could not stop / He ran into a barbershop
And fell asleep / With his teeth in the barber's left shoulder

My horse Bill fond a grocery store / He ate some food then he ate some more
He ate, and he ate / And also I ate with him

My horse Bill he ate some more / He stayed all night in that grocery store
He ate and he ate / And also I ate with him
I'm going out in the woods next year / To shoot for gear, but not for deer

I am-I ain't / I'm a great sharpshootress

At shooting birds I am a beaut / There is no bird I cannot shoot
In the eye, in the ear / In the teeth and in the fingers

Oh, I went up in a balloon so big / That the people on earth all looked like a pig
Like a mice, Like a geese (or: "Like a giraffe, like a katydid")
Like fleases, and like flieses

The balloon turned up, with its bottom side high / It fell on the head of a country squire
She made a noise-like a steamboat / And, also, like a popsicle
(or: "She made a noise like a doghound / Like a steam whistle and like dynamite")

Oh, what could you do in a case like that? / Oh, what could you do, but stamp on your hat?
On your mother, on your toothbrush? / On anything that's useful
(or: "On anything that's helpless")

I had a gal and her name was Daisy / And when she sang the cat went crazy
With deliriums - St. Vituses - / And all kinds of cataleptics

One day she sang a song about / A man who turned himself inside out
And jumped into the river / He was so very sleepy

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Put Your Finger in the Air


By Woody Guthrie
Rise Up Singing chapter: Play, p.176
D - / - A7 / D GD / DA D

1. Put your finger in the air, in the air (2x)
Put your finger in the air, leave it there about a year (or: "and let it wiggle there")
Put your finger in the air, in the air

2. Put your finger on your head / tell me is it green or red?
3. Put your finger on your nose / and feel the cold wind blow
4. Put your finger on your shoe / leave it there a week or two
5. Put your finger on your chin / that's where the food slips in
6. Put your finger on your cheek / leave it there about a week
7. Put your finger on your finger on your finger / on your finger... (or: "and leave it there to linger")
8. Put your fingers all together, all together / in both dark and stormy weather (or: "and clap for better weather")

If you'd like to play it to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It" do this:
D A7 / - D / G D / A D
Rise Up Singing lists no author for "If You're Happy and You Know It", but mentions it's "based on [the] traditional hymn "Watch Your Eyes" which has the same tune."


That's all!
Check out Lew Dite's version here to compare: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb7pOZSXW6Q

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Hava Nagila


A traditional Hebrew song
Rise Up Singing chapter: Good Times, p.86

A - Dm A / A - Dm A / A Gm - A / A Gm - A
Hava nagila hava nagila hava nagila venisma-cha (repeat)
Hava na-ranana, hava na-ranana, hava na-ranana venisma-cha (repeat)

Dm - / - - C - / A ADm
Uru, uru achim
Ur'achim be-lev sa-me-ach (4x)
Ur'achim, ur'achim, be-lev sa-me-ach

Rise Up Singing has these chords (same, I just transposed them so Megan could sing it more easily):
E - Am E / E - Am E / A Dm - E / A Dm - E
Am - / - - G - / E EAm

Friday, November 13, 2009

We Shall not be Moved (in Spanish)


English version here
Words to version 1 from the United Farmworkers. Words to version 2 from a Salvadoran union organizer who fled death squads to take "sanctuary" in the U.S.
Melody from a Black spiritual: "I Shall Not Be Moved"
Rise Up Singing chapter: Work, p.260

G - D - / - - G G7 / C - G - / - D G -
Fuertes, fuertes, fuertes somos ya (2x)
Como un arbol firme junto al rio / Fuertes somos ya

1. Luchamos por librarnos, fuertes somos ya...
2. Luchamos por los hijos, fuertes somos ya...

2nd Spanish version:
No, no, no nos moverán (2x)
Como un arbol firme junto al rio / No nos moverán

1. Y el que no crea que haga la prueba, no nos moverán...
2. Unidos en la lucha, no nos moverán
3. Unidos en la huelga, no nos moverán
4. Unidos en sindicatos, no nos moverán
5. Construyendo el socialismo, no nos moverán
6. Y con un golpe de estado, no nos moverán

Thursday, November 12, 2009

We Shall Not Be Moved (English)


Words by anonymous textile workers and melody (and a lot of the words, frankly) from a Black spiritual: "I Shall Not Be Moved"
Rise Up Singing chapter: Work, p.260

G - D - / - - G G7 / C - G - / - D G -
We shall not be, we shall not be moved (2x)
Just like a tree that's planted by the water
We shall not be moved

1. For the union is behind us, we shall not be moved...
2. We're fighting for our freedom, we shall not be moved...
3. We're fighting for our children, we shall not be moved...
4. We'll build a mighty union, we shall not be moved...
5. _________ is our leader, we shall not be moved...
6. We are black and white together, we shall not be moved...
7. We are young and old together, we shall not be moved...

Spanish version in the next video!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

What a Friend We Have in Jesus


Words by Joseph Scriven, melody by Charles C. Converse
Rise Up Singing chapter: Gospel, p.98

D G D A / D G DA D / A D GD A / D G DA D
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer
...

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Seventy-Six Trombones

From The Music Man
D - A - / - - D - / - D7 G E7 / A E7 A -
D - A - / - - D - / - D7 G E7 / A - D -
Seventy-six trombones led the big parade
With a hundred and ten cornets close at hand
They were followed by rows and rows of the finest virtuosos
The cream of every famous band
76 trombones caught the morning sun
With 110 cornets right behind
There were more than a thousand reeds springing up like weeds
There were horns of every shape and kind

G CG D7 - / - F# G - / - CG D - / A - DA D7
G CG D7 - / - F# G - / G CG C F# / G D7 G -
(bridge) There were copper bottom tympani...

Monday, November 9, 2009

Heartbeat (Bonus)


By Buddy Holly

G - C D G -
Heartbeat, why do you miss when my baby kisses me?

G - C D G - / D C G - / C - G D
Heartbeat why does a love kiss stay in my memory
Pitity-pat, I know that new love thrills me
I know that true love will be

G - C D G -
Heartbeat why do you miss when my baby kisses me?

G - C D G - / - - C D G - / D C G - / C - G D
Heartbeat why do you skip when my baby's lips meet mine ?
heartbeat why do you flip then give me a skip beat sign ?
Pitity-pat , and sing to me love's stories
and bring to me love's glory

G - C D G -
Heartbeat, why do you miss when my baby kisses me?

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Song of the Soul


By Cris Williamson
Rise Up Singing chapter: Faith, p.47

A E / - A / - D / E A

Open mine eyes, that I may see

Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me
Open mine eyes, illumine me
Spirit divine

A ED / E DE / A ED / E A
Love of my life, I am crying
I am not dying, I am dancing
Dancing along in the madness
There is no sadness, only a song of the soul

E - AD A / D E D A / E - AD A / D E A -
And we'll sing this song, why don't you sing along?
And we can sing for a long, long time
Why don't you sing this song? Why don't you sing along?
And we can sing for a long, long time

What do you do for your living?
Are you forgiving, giving shelter?
Follow your heart, love will find you
Truth will unbind you, seek out a song of the soul

(Or: Truth will unbind you, sing out a song of the soul)

Come to your life like a warrior
Nothing will bore you, you can be happy
Let in the light, it will heal you
And you can feel you, sing out a song of the soul