Archive for September, 1996



Boatman


h1 Sunday, September 1st, 1996

ohio.gif

After the War of 1812, thousands of people moved to Ohio from the eastern states. Many came from New England, New York, and Pennsylvania. Immigrants arrrived from Germany and Great Britain.

The Erie Canal opened in 1825. The Ohio and Erie Canal, joining Cleveland and Portsmouth, was completed in 1845. For 25 years these canals were busy trade routes, piloted by burly, aggressive boatmen on long narrow craft. These keelboats were sharp at both ends, built on a keel and ribs.

Gradually the railroads replaced the keelboat as a form of commercial transportation and the canal traffic was greatly reduced.

I chose this song because we are on the road and traveling through Ohio. We stopped at Bill Lee's house in Dublin Ohio, and recorded this at his studio. We used a Martin D-41, 6-string and a 5-string banjo. The background vocals were provided by the Ohio River Boys.

Lyrics:
D
BOATMAN SING BOATMAN DANCE

A7 D
BOATMAN LOVE MISS MARY ANN

D
DANCE BOATMAN DANCE

D A7 D
DANCE BOATMAN DANCE

D G
DANCE ALL NIGHT 'TIL THE BROAD DAYLIGHT

G A7 D
GO HOME WITH THE GALS IN THE MORNING

G D
HEY HO BOATMAN ROW SAILING DOWN THE RIVER ON THE OHIO

G D A7 D
HEY HO BOATMAN ROW SAILING DOWN THE RIVER ON THE OHIO

G D
HEY HO BOATMAN ROW SAILING DOWN THE RIVER ON THE OHIO

G D A7 D
HEY HO BOATMAN ROW SAILING DOWN THE RIVER ON THE OHIO

D
BOATMAN DANCE BOATMAN SING

D A7 D
BOATMAN DO MOST ANYTHING

D
DANCE BOATMAN DANCE

D A7 D
DANCE BOATMAN DANCE

D G
DANCE ALL NIGHT 'TIL THE BROAD DAYLIGHT

G A7 D
GO HOME WITH THE GALS IN THE MORNING

G D
HEY HO BOATMAN ROW SAILING DOWN THE RIVER ON THE OHIO

G D A7 D
HEY HO BOATMAN ROW SAILING DOWN THE RIVER ON THE OHIO

G D
HEY HO BOATMAN ROW SAILING DOWN THE RIVER ON THE OHIO

G D A7 D
HEY HO BOATMAN ROW SAILING DOWN THE RIVER ON THE OHIO

Tribute to Bob Gibson


h1 Sunday, September 1st, 1996

Bobby.gif

I got a letter from Bob Gibson the other day:

'From the Computer of … Bob Gibson

August 15, 1996

Dear Friends,

As my health has declined, I have found that I may miss
music more than anything else. I miss making music,
listening to music and being around others who have
music in their blood. So, I'm going to have a party and
invite everyone to bring their voices, instruments and
songs!

Please join me, just north of Chicago, at the Sheraton
North Shore on Friday, September 20, 1996 to visit and jam!
I've arranged for a small sound system, a no host bar,
light refreshments, and a view of the Chicago skyline. I
would like to see you, hear you and just say hello.

This may be the last chance I have to see many of you. I
am finding it increasingly difficult to do the simplest
things and traveling is really a challenge. I won't be
able to play and sing with you, but I'm really looking
forward to being an audience of one! Please RSVP to my
daughter Susan by September 15, 1996.

I hope to see you there.

Bob

John Brown and Spanky McFarlane wrote a new
version of 'Sweet Betsy From Pike' for this
occasion.

I won't be able to attend, but I wanted to sing
their song, here in the Folk Den for Bob.

The capo is on the third fret.

'Bobby From Chi'

To the tune of 'Sweet Betsy From Pike'
Lyrics by: John Brown & Elane McFarlane

Lyrics:
C Em F C

Oh don't you remember sweet Bobby from Chi?

C Am Dm G

He sang in a cellar, a folk-singin' guy

F

He picked on the banjo and 12-string guitar

C Em F C Em Am G

At the old Gate of Horn, what a wonderful bar!

And down in that cellar, all smoky and damp

He sang of Old Blue with young Bobby Camp

The crowd was ecstatic, my gosh what a scene

With liner notes written by Shel Silverstein

They gave the old folk songs a twist that was new

Camp hollered 'I'm sorry your mother turned blue'

In three-button suits they were polished and lean

They kept off the weight with that pure methadrene

Now all us young folkies thought Bob was the rage

We'd sneak in the 'Gate' and we'd sit near the stage

But we didn't go there just lookin' for kicks

We'd check out his changes and copy his licks

Oh don't you remember sweet Bobby my friend?

We'll be playing your music from now 'til the end

Now here's to you Bobby, a toast from the heart

Make Saint Peter smile with that 12-string guitar