Holy moley, where is it now?
There once was a trapper named Chester
Whose bad reputation in Leicester
Was due to this fact:
The moles that he tracked
Outsmarted their brainless molester!
© 2014 David E. Miller
Archives
All posts for the month September, 2014
Original compositions by Chris Almoada / Lyrics by LividEmerald
PATCH OF GREEN
Eaux-Malignes
Music in the air
Joséphine
Beatin’ the ‘tit-fer
On frottoir, Evangéline
I’m the fiddle player
“Pirogue Green”
That’s our favorite tune
Two-step queen
Her name’s Bonnie June
For some other music scene
Read The Picayune
Eaux-Malignes
That is where we are
Patch of green
Nearly one hectare
Come and see just what we mean
Otherwise, au revoir!
© 2012 David E. Miller
COME TO NEW ORLEANS
(The Butcher’s Shop)
Tchoupitoulas that’s m’street
Gonna chop you up some meat
Alright
I’ll wrap
An extra bite, that’s a swell lagniappe
(Cajun Art)
Hallelujah! Cajun art
Julia Street is where to start
All frames
Deluxe
No pricey games, you save beaucoup bucks
(Mardi Gras)
Mardi gras, big party needs
Feathers, hats, balloons, ‘n beads
Kazoos
Tattoos
Decatur Street, gators browse ‘n choose
(The Jazz Club)
Winter chill or summer heat
Music flows in Bourbon Street
Some jazz
Some blues
Sing Dixie as Barman pours the booze
(Southern Cuisine)
Jambalaya, étouffée
Fixins reign in Vieux Carré
Pecans
Pralines
Dessert bonbons, come to New Orleans
© 2010 David E. Miller
NOTE: This song is an alternate version of the 2010 CD title song. Look elsewhere on this blog for additional spoken lyrics that were published with the disc, but not performed.
I’VE SEEN A GHOST
Half asleep one stormy night
It all came to me in black and white
A poor slave who nearly died
His sweet nurse blue-eyed
Pushed love across the great divide
Two miles long and two yards wide
Velma combed the town, no place to hide
So they left St. Francisville
Walked a path downhill
Hearts guided by a whip-poor-will
I’ve seen a ghost
Miss Velma’s ghost
And her woeful cry gave me a chill
Take me to the whipping post
Past the cotton mill
One mile below St. Francisville
There beneath a dogwood tree
They embraced their love and set it free
When they lost the midnight shade
They came back afraid
For secret loves are oft betrayed
Velma’s care did not suffice
At the whipping post she paid the price
Though she got what lovers want
One night’s crime will haunt
The spirit of Miss Velma Schwandt
I’ve seen a ghost
Miss Velma’s ghost
And her woeful cry gave me a chill
Take me to the whipping post
Past the cotton mill
One mile below St. Francisville
One mile below St. Francisville
One mile below St. Francisville
© 2011 David E. Miller
RED HAT BOY
Three by six
Tradin’ for a wooden box
Your clock ticks
Gonna count electric shocks
Red Hat boy, ‘tis dirty shame
Gruesome Gertie calls your name
Not your fault
If a little blood was spilt
You cried halt
But they came at you full tilt
Red Hat boy, your dirty hands
Gruesome Gertie now demands
Got a cross
Gonna pray for holy grace
Call the boss
Have him come clean up your face
Red Hat boy, your purdy “wife”
Gruesome Gertie wants your life
Three by six
Tradin’ for a wooden box
Your clock ticks
Gonna count electric shocks
Red Hat boy, ‘tis dirty shame
Gruesome Gertie calls your name
Red Hat boy, ‘tis dirty shame
Gruesome Gertie calls your name
Red Hat boy, ‘tis dirty shame
Gruesome Gertie calls your name
© 2012 David E. Miller
RABBITS MAY BE DANCING
(The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek)
Rabbits may be dancing, but we abandon life
Choctaw tribes are leaving, Whites have the sharper knife
Rabbits may be dancing, but we are pushed away
Choctaw tribes are leaving, the skies are turning gray
Eagle’s tail
Dancing pale
On the trail
(Death by Cholera)
Vicksburg is deserted, the steamboats have no crew
Choctaw tribes are stranded, we camp without a clue
Vicksburg is deserted, the Devil ate its soul
Choctaw tribes are stranded, death takes a heavy toll
Burning brush
Shadows rush
Spirits hush
(The Great Flood)
Storm birds rake the heavens, but Brandywine departs
Choctaw tribes see omens, they prey on craven hearts
Storm birds rake the heavens, bring floods to Arkansas
Choctaw tribes see omens, cry “Oka Falamah!”
Anchors lift
River’s swift
Land’s adrift
(The Trail of Tears)
Little Rock is waiting, for we have been delayed
Choctaw tribes are praying, for we must walk and wade
Little Rock is waiting, two thousand souls afoot
Choctaw tribes are praying, we’re down and desperate
Watch us cry
Flaming eye
In the sky
Watch us cry
Flaming eye
In the sky
Watch us cry
Flaming eye
In the sky
© 2011 David E. Miller
MEMPHIS ODYSSEY
In my heart, there’s just one place
Memphis, Tennessee
I was born a child of grace
Hotel Regency
Always had a star to chase
Lifelong odyssey
Voice of silk that songs embrace
Music ecstasy
On the stage, my silky voice
Brought me instant fame
My songs made the ears rejoice
People knew my name
Soon I drove a white Rolls Royce
Never dressed the same
Fashionistas have no choice
But to play the game
Learned to pick a mean guitar
I could do no wrong
I gave concerts near and far
My fans tagged along
Somewhere in my repertoire
Was their favorite song
In the Hall of Fame my star
Shone before too long
Studios were my last stop
On the music road
Never had a single flop
My tunes always flowed
Never missed a photo op
Gave more than I owed
I was living at the top
Reaping what I sowed
Growing old, I knew I’d face
Unsought privacy
But, of course, there’d be a trace
Of my legacy
History cannot erase
Fading stars, you see
Music has a special place
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Oh, Memphis?
Yeah, Memphis!
Memphis, Tennessee
© 2012 David E. Miller
OSCEOLA BLUES
Major Booth, I’m concerned
Have you learned? Speak the truth!
Has my brother spent his youth?
Please excuse my request
I can’t rest! Don’t refuse
Yet another search for clues
Waitin’ for some news
Life and death will choose
If we win or lose
Osceola blues
Can a scout disappear?
Let’s be clear! Let’s rule out
Any shadow of a doubt
Waitin’ for some news
Life and death will choose
If we win or lose
Osceola blues
Former slave, soldier now
Took a vow to be brave!
To Fort Pillow chased his grave
Waitin’ for some news
Life and death will choose
If we win or lose
Osceola blues
Let us praise those who’ve died
Who with pride fought the Grays
Oh! Blue heaven! Glory days!
Wooden crosses, sad displays
Farewell, brother! We part ways….
© 2011 David E. Miller
PADUCAH SUE
Paducah Sue, ’tis dawn
Last time crackin’ one
Hominy High, goodbye….
Soon you will be gone!
Catch a ride on Red Brick Road
Chuck the quilt that grandma sewed
Calico cat, roadblock…?
Throw that cat a sock!
Paducah Sue, move fast
Too much time has passed
Lickety-split, that’s it….
You are free at last!
Brookport Bridge, the traffic’s slowed
Cross the river grandma rowed
Corn on the Cob, her boat,
Matched her yellow throat!
Paducah Sue, turn back
Grandma’s Cadillac
Accelerate, V-8….
Your first heart attack!
You don’t know what she moonshined
But she drives corn liquor blind
Uranium perhaps…?
May her bones collapse!
Paducah Sue, return
You’ve got much to learn
Don’t be idle, angel….
Crank the butter churn!
Popcorn popper, plug it in
Watch a movie once again
Wannabe star, be good!
Dream of Hollywood….
Dream of Hollywood….
Dream of Hollywood….
Paducah Sue
© 2011 David E. Miller
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