I am going to be part of an event that will spotlight the Irish accordian and the people who play it.
(Waits for snickering in the back to die down.)
Anyway.
There will likely be an opportunity at some point for a song, and I thought about doing one in which an accordian plays a prominent or semi-prominent role, and/or is mentioned in the chorus (if there is one). So, does anyone know of such a song?
And, no, please don't bother to suggest "Squeeze Box" by The Who. This is a family event, after all.
Not "Palesteena" either -- that's about a concertina.
Hmm... Les Barker's song/poem "Arnold" comes to mind, although I think it's probably not exactly - make that "exactly not" - what you're looking for. It's about a love that could never be, the chorus goes "For he was an armadillo... and she was a concertina."
But I see that it's been recorded by a number of people, including the Austin Lounge Lizards, so maybe there's a setting that'll grab you.
Great Big Sea (Newfoundland, very much like Irish music) have a song called 'Goin Up' - it mentions the box a few times and the instrument plays a prominent role in the sogns music - www.greatbigsea.ca
I am a comely female and my name is Mary Flynn
A face to launch a thousand ships and my box is nicely trimmed
I play my box by evening and I play my box by day
But to play the box-and-banjo sure it takes my breath away
Chorus
I am a comely female and my name is Mary Flynn
A face to launch a thousand ships and my box is neatly-trimmed
On a recent date, I'll now relate, at a session where I go
Yer man sits down fornent me and takes out his oul banjo
"Do you like my Little Wonder?" "Ah" says I "no mind the size
But the way that you are playing it brings tears into my eyes"
Chorus
He fiddled with his yoke before the session did begin
And I asked him most politely, "Tell me, is your banjo in?"
Says he "No need to question, for when I'm in you'll know
For the sweetest music ever heard is the box-and-the-banjo."
Chorus
All night we made sweet music, all night we two did play
And it wasn't till the morning that he put his yoke away
Says I "My brisk young fella, we played so well we two
From now on to play my box alone, it simply will not do"
Chorus
Says he "My fair young damsel, your point is so well-made
For to play my banjo solo now, just doesn't make the grade
I'll pluck no more my banjo when there's no-one else around
Cos for now the box-and-banjo is the only game in town"
# Posted on December 22nd 2004 by Aidan Crossey
I've got a great recording by an all-accordion group with a punk attitude called Those Darn Accordions! (Flying Fish 70627). They do a cover/homage/parody of Grand Funk Railroad with "We're an Accordion Band". Other selections include versions of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" with accordion breaks instead of fiddles, and Costello's "Pump It Up".
Frank Maher performs a song (with embedded tunes) about taking his accordion to a party. Easiest just to quote the liner notes: "4 Miss Gilhooley’s Party: A little ditty also known as This Is the Tune That Came Out. It was adapted by Frank from a similar song he heard on a recording as a youngster. In the original version, the offending instrument was the bagpipes. The tunes that accompany the song are The Rambling Pitchfork, The Black Rogue, and Auntie Mary (Cock of the North). Brother’s Jig, the last tune in the set, was composed by Emile Benoit."
Con o' Drisceoil wrote "The Two-Row Cake" about an accordion-shaped cake baked by Geraldine McCarthy for Con's 40th birthday and unveiled at a session in the Spailpin Fanach in Cork. Recorded on "The Spoons Murder", and included in the accompanying book.
On the same album, there's a song called "An Fear Báite" about an encounter with a strong current while wading in a river in France. There's a verse that goes:
So the rescue party bravely dived into the fearsome pond
They reached the massive estuary the French call La Gironde
"If we don't find this man tonight" says Browne, "I am afraid,
The sharks will dine on box-player in a red wine marinade."
Arnold was an armadillo, in oh so in need of romance
That is chanced one Saturday evening Arnold went out to a dance.
The moment he walked in the room, he saw her as if he had known
She'd be there by the side of the stage, all he wanted, all in black, all alone.
She was there she was his dress to kill-o
If only his glasses where cleaner.
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
He struggled to make conversation, he leap frogged from topic to topic
If only she'd say something back, if only he wasn't myopic
Bright silver buttons in rows, from head down to toes in black leather
Could this beauty love him here goes, poor Arnold thought its now or never.
He could picture her head on his pillow
He loved her the moment he'd seen her
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
You can't help but feel for the lad-o, how happy poor Arnold would be
If he could make love in the shadows and no one but no one could see.
Alas what he thought might have been-o, a sweet secret was soured completely
Sex with a concertina is rarely accomplished discreetly.
The dancer stopped stripping the willow
Oh what a loud misdemeanor
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
Picture love as a kind of concerto, poor Arnold his first was unfinished.
What let everyone who was there know, was a very loud C sharp diminished
Somebody said "Hey look its Arnold", and he ran from there scorn and their laughter
Into the darkness outside and never returned ever after.
Tales of lost love and dreams unfulfill-o
Cruel cupid you've never been meaner.
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
Mamas got a squeeze box
She wears on her chest
And when daddy comes home
He never gets no rest
cause shes playing all night
And the musics all right
Mamas got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night
Well the kids dont eat
And the dog cant sleep
Theres no escape from the music
In the whole damn street
cause shes playing all night
And the musics all right
Mamas got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night
She goes in and out and in and out and in and out and in and out
Shes playing all night
And the musics all tight
Mamas got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night
She goes, squeeze me, come on and squeeze me
Come on and tease me like you do
Im so in love with you
Mamas got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night
She goes in and out and in and out and in and out and in and out
cause shes playing all night
And the musics all right
Mamas got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night
I heard a rumour that Noel Hill did a bit of moonlighting in Italy.
Oh listen to the music I hear
Old Poppa Piccolino is near
To win a smile or maybe a tear
Before travelling on
A vagabond who wanders along
A millionaire but only in song
As though the world might really belong to him
This fellow plays a melody so mellow
That ev’ryone keeps shouting "Bello Bello"
All over Italy they know his concertina,
Poppa Piccolino, Poppa Piccolina,
He plays so prettily to ev’ry signorina
Poppa Piccolina from sunny Italy.
No matter what the calendars show
It can’t be spring and I ought-ta know
Until I hear him singing "Hello Hello,
I’m here again."
A flower in his batter’d old hat
A smile for ev’ry doggie and cat
And children get the friendliest pat of all
I’ll give his name so if yo ever meet him
Then you will know exactly how to greet him.
All over Italy they know his concertina,
Poppa Piccolino, Poppa Piccolina,
He plays so prettily to ev’ry signorina
Poppa Piccolina from sunny Italy.
Thanks for the zeal and enthusiasm, as well as for some of the suggestions (excluding "Squeeze Box" and the songs about concertinas -- all of which I had specifically said I _didn't_ want. Oh well.)
Songs about, or involving, accordians?
Songs about, or involving, accordians?
I am going to be part of an event that will spotlight the Irish accordian and the people who play it.
(Waits for snickering in the back to die down.)
Anyway.
There will likely be an opportunity at some point for a song, and I thought about doing one in which an accordian plays a prominent or semi-prominent role, and/or is mentioned in the chorus (if there is one). So, does anyone know of such a song?
And, no, please don't bother to suggest "Squeeze Box" by The Who. This is a family event, after all.
Not "Palesteena" either -- that's about a concertina.
Thanks.
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by sts
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
only Irish songs or folk in general?
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by camwebby
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
>only Irish songs or folk in general?
Well, _ideally_ I'm looking for Irish songs. But I realize that might be narrowing the potential sample quite a bit.
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by sts
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
Hmm... Les Barker's song/poem "Arnold" comes to mind, although I think it's probably not exactly - make that "exactly not" - what you're looking for. It's about a love that could never be, the chorus goes "For he was an armadillo... and she was a concertina."
But I see that it's been recorded by a number of people, including the Austin Lounge Lizards, so maybe there's a setting that'll grab you.
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
Great Big Sea (Newfoundland, very much like Irish music) have a song called 'Goin Up' - it mentions the box a few times and the instrument plays a prominent role in the sogns music - www.greatbigsea.ca
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by camwebby
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
To the tune of "The Hot Asphalt".
I am a comely female and my name is Mary Flynn
A face to launch a thousand ships and my box is nicely trimmed
I play my box by evening and I play my box by day
But to play the box-and-banjo sure it takes my breath away
Chorus
I am a comely female and my name is Mary Flynn
A face to launch a thousand ships and my box is neatly-trimmed
On a recent date, I'll now relate, at a session where I go
Yer man sits down fornent me and takes out his oul banjo
"Do you like my Little Wonder?" "Ah" says I "no mind the size
But the way that you are playing it brings tears into my eyes"
Chorus
He fiddled with his yoke before the session did begin
And I asked him most politely, "Tell me, is your banjo in?"
Says he "No need to question, for when I'm in you'll know
For the sweetest music ever heard is the box-and-the-banjo."
Chorus
All night we made sweet music, all night we two did play
And it wasn't till the morning that he put his yoke away
Says I "My brisk young fella, we played so well we two
From now on to play my box alone, it simply will not do"
Chorus
Says he "My fair young damsel, your point is so well-made
For to play my banjo solo now, just doesn't make the grade
I'll pluck no more my banjo when there's no-one else around
Cos for now the box-and-banjo is the only game in town"
# Posted on December 22nd 2004 by Aidan Crossey
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by joesmith
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
I've got a great recording by an all-accordion group with a punk attitude called Those Darn Accordions! (Flying Fish 70627). They do a cover/homage/parody of Grand Funk Railroad with "We're an Accordion Band". Other selections include versions of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" with accordion breaks instead of fiddles, and Costello's "Pump It Up".
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by fidkid
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
How about the one that goes "Mama's got a squeezebox, Daddy can't sleep at night" ? (sorry...)
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
oh, sorry, sts...hadn't read your original post thoroughly...
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
Frank Maher performs a song (with embedded tunes) about taking his accordion to a party. Easiest just to quote the liner notes: "4 Miss Gilhooley’s Party: A little ditty also known as This Is the Tune That Came Out. It was adapted by Frank from a similar song he heard on a recording as a youngster. In the original version, the offending instrument was the bagpipes. The tunes that accompany the song are The Rambling Pitchfork, The Black Rogue, and Auntie Mary (Cock of the North). Brother’s Jig, the last tune in the set, was composed by Emile Benoit."
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by Sol Foster
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
Con o' Drisceoil wrote "The Two-Row Cake" about an accordion-shaped cake baked by Geraldine McCarthy for Con's 40th birthday and unveiled at a session in the Spailpin Fanach in Cork. Recorded on "The Spoons Murder", and included in the accompanying book.
On the same album, there's a song called "An Fear Báite" about an encounter with a strong current while wading in a river in France. There's a verse that goes:
So the rescue party bravely dived into the fearsome pond
They reached the massive estuary the French call La Gironde
"If we don't find this man tonight" says Browne, "I am afraid,
The sharks will dine on box-player in a red wine marinade."
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by GaryAMartin
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
Over the years there have been some nice songs featuring words appertaining to the box.
Have a look at these utube links for starters:
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=rlpEVxjGWQo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YD2NIbWeQc
'He played the Sally Gardens' by the Shannon Bros was another one about the accordion
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by Free Reed
Re: Songs about, or involving, concertinas?
Arnold
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker
Arnold was an armadillo, in oh so in need of romance
That is chanced one Saturday evening Arnold went out to a dance.
The moment he walked in the room, he saw her as if he had known
She'd be there by the side of the stage, all he wanted, all in black, all alone.
She was there she was his dress to kill-o
If only his glasses where cleaner.
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
He struggled to make conversation, he leap frogged from topic to topic
If only she'd say something back, if only he wasn't myopic
Bright silver buttons in rows, from head down to toes in black leather
Could this beauty love him here goes, poor Arnold thought its now or never.
He could picture her head on his pillow
He loved her the moment he'd seen her
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
You can't help but feel for the lad-o, how happy poor Arnold would be
If he could make love in the shadows and no one but no one could see.
Alas what he thought might have been-o, a sweet secret was soured completely
Sex with a concertina is rarely accomplished discreetly.
The dancer stopped stripping the willow
Oh what a loud misdemeanor
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
Picture love as a kind of concerto, poor Arnold his first was unfinished.
What let everyone who was there know, was a very loud C sharp diminished
Somebody said "Hey look its Arnold", and he ran from there scorn and their laughter
Into the darkness outside and never returned ever after.
Tales of lost love and dreams unfulfill-o
Cruel cupid you've never been meaner.
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by geoffwright
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
Here it is (without repeatedn lines)
Mamas got a squeeze box
She wears on her chest
And when daddy comes home
He never gets no rest
cause shes playing all night
And the musics all right
Mamas got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night
Well the kids dont eat
And the dog cant sleep
Theres no escape from the music
In the whole damn street
cause shes playing all night
And the musics all right
Mamas got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night
She goes in and out and in and out and in and out and in and out
Shes playing all night
And the musics all tight
Mamas got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night
She goes, squeeze me, come on and squeeze me
Come on and tease me like you do
Im so in love with you
Mamas got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night
She goes in and out and in and out and in and out and in and out
cause shes playing all night
And the musics all right
Mamas got a squeeze box
Daddy never sleeps at night
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by geoffwright
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
I heard a rumour that Noel Hill did a bit of moonlighting in Italy.
Oh listen to the music I hear
Old Poppa Piccolino is near
To win a smile or maybe a tear
Before travelling on
A vagabond who wanders along
A millionaire but only in song
As though the world might really belong to him
This fellow plays a melody so mellow
That ev’ryone keeps shouting "Bello Bello"
All over Italy they know his concertina,
Poppa Piccolino, Poppa Piccolina,
He plays so prettily to ev’ry signorina
Poppa Piccolina from sunny Italy.
No matter what the calendars show
It can’t be spring and I ought-ta know
Until I hear him singing "Hello Hello,
I’m here again."
A flower in his batter’d old hat
A smile for ev’ry doggie and cat
And children get the friendliest pat of all
I’ll give his name so if yo ever meet him
Then you will know exactly how to greet him.
All over Italy they know his concertina,
Poppa Piccolino, Poppa Piccolina,
He plays so prettily to ev’ry signorina
Poppa Piccolina from sunny Italy.
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by Sean Lead Liath
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
Is this event going to be in Boston? Where can we find out more information...where, who's playing, etc. Thanks!
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by rorywillie
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
How about Al Yankovic's 'Al in the Box" or "Polka Party"
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by zippydw
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
>Is this event going to be in Boston? Where can we find out more information...where, who's playing, etc. Thanks!
Here's a link where details are posted, and will be updated-
http://bcmfest.com/schedule.html
# Posted on April 29th 2008 by sts
Re: Songs about, or involving, accordians?
Thanks for the zeal and enthusiasm, as well as for some of the suggestions (excluding "Squeeze Box" and the songs about concertinas -- all of which I had specifically said I _didn't_ want. Oh well.)
# Posted on April 30th 2008 by sts