The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
Screw Willie Nelson! Here's the definitive version!
southendmd:
--- Quote from: southendmd on February 19, 2010, 02:39:08 pm ---A little research suggests that "He Was a Friend of Mine" is closely related to an older folk song called "Shorty George".
The first line goes "Well-a Shorty George, he ain't no friend of mine", and was collected by the Lomax brothers as early as the 1930s. Apparently, there are several versions by Ledbelly. Another goes, "Well it's Shorty George, he died on the road."
I'll see if I can dig up an early recording somewhere...
--- End quote ---
Here's a 1939 version of "Shorty George" that very closely resembles "He Was a Friend of Mine" in structure, and several lines are the same. It's an old recording and takes some patience to listen to.
{Recorded in the dormitory of Clemens State Farm, Brazoria, Tx. April 16, 1939 by The Library of Congress.}
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35NQkumxbfo[/youtube]
Ellemeno:
Thanks Paul!
Marge_Innavera:
--- Quote from: southendmd on February 19, 2010, 01:46:24 pm ---I'll confess: I never liked Willie anyway. "To all the girls I've loved before" and "Don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys" always grated on my nerves. "You were always on my mind" could make me run from the room. :-X
--- End quote ---
It's interesting how different things start to seem as you get older. When I was young "You were always on my mind" wasn't exactly my favorite song but when I was in the mood I thought the lyrics were rather touching. Today, whenever I hear it, I think "what a bum! That woman should've dumped his ass years ago." 8)
Marge_Innavera:
--- Quote from: Katie77 on February 19, 2010, 05:34:57 pm ---The saving grace in the song is "what you do is your own business".
--- End quote ---
On the other hand, it could just be a rephrasing of one we've all heard, to-wit:
"I've nothing against anyone being hoe-moe-sekshull as long as they don't flaunt it."
southendmd:
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYzn8wxs9sI[/youtube]
Bumping this thread.
I think Bob's harmonica playing is similar to what Jake did in the film.
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