Holy Singing Kirk (Douglas) Cow!  Apparently an old song called WHISKEY that Mary Birdsong & the OK Canaries sang for YEARS was inspired by an even older song from a 1952 Kirk Douglas movie called The Big Sky.  Kirk’s version was called, “Oh, Whiskey Leave Me Alone.”   Greg Talenfeld wrote our song, and he never told me til this week what it came from. I just figured it came from our mutual love of the devil’s nectar.

Listen to Kirk’s version in the video above, then compare it to the version by Mary Birdsong & the O.K. Canaries!  

MONTANA PLAINS

[Another old rehearsal cassette tape recording from Mary Birdsong & the OK Canaries.  I think it was originally recorded by a singer named Ruby Blevins (aka Patsy Montana). Sorry this is very distorted.  I will upload it again later and tweak it so it’s not so grungy.]

MONTANA PLAINS

(yodeling)

I wanna drink my java from an old tin can when the moon goes to shin in’ high. I wanna hear the call of the whippoorwill I wanna hear that coyote whine.  I wanna have my saddle horse by my side, a-ridin’ him out on the range. Just to kick him in the side, just to show his stepping’ pride.  Out on Montana plains!

(yodeling)

Each night in my dreams somehow it seems I’m back where I belong- just a country hick from way back in the sticks- back where I belong.  These city lights and all these crazy city ways, they’re driving me insane.  Oh I wanna go back.  Oh, yes, please take me back- back to Montana plains.

(yodeling)

Sometime soon I’ll be going back- back where the skies are blue.  In a little hut that’s just built for two— back where our dreams come true.  Oh, I’m tired of subways and forty-story shacks.  I’m a-craving the wide-open range.  Oh I wanna go back.  Oh, yes, please take me back- back to Montana plains.

I like to think of this tune as the song Wimpy (of Popeye fame) would’ve sung had he ever gotten animatedly drunk, as he swaggered past the hamburger shop.

Just another old chestnut from Mary Birdsong & the O.K. Canaries.  That’s Greg Talenfeld on the banjolin (that’s right— I said BANJO-LIN.  Not MANDO-LIN).  Paul Gold on upright bass.  Sorry it’s so distorted in places.  Hopefully Greg or I can sweeten it up for your computer-age listening pleasure. But for now, I just wanted to archive it.

WHISKEY

Oh, whiskey leave me alone.  Oh, whiskey leave me alone.  Remember I must get home.  Oh, whiskey leave me alone.

Oh, whiskey, don’t drag me down.  Oh, whiskey don’t drag me down.  Don’t you keep me in this town.  Oh, whiskey don’t drag me down.

This bottle will be empty soon.  This bottle will be empty soon.  And my heart feels empty too.  This bottle will be empty soon.

Would a bottle that is new?  Would a bottle that is new?  Make me think that you are true?  Would a bottle that is new?

Oh whiskey leave me alone.  Oh, whiskey leave me alone.  Remember I must get home.  Oh, whiskey leave me alone.

P.S. holy cow!  i had no idea until just now, but apparently the song above that my band used to play is inspired by an even older song from a 1952 kirk douglas movie called The Big Sky, called, “Oh, Whiskey Leave Me Alone.” http://youtu.be/ZmrOi3n98nM

THE CIGARETTES ARE A SIGN

(THE LYRICS FOR SINGALONG FUN!) 

Ah ah, ah ah…. la da da da da la da da da da la da da la da da la da da da la ah dahhhh

And the cigarettes R a sign of confidence      And the alcohol?  It is a sign of strength.
At least the cigarettes show a sign of optimism.                                                   Ya got 2 hold @least 1 thing dear.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh.                                     Come on & hold @least 1 thing, dear.

Jackie Gleason always admits that Audrey Meadows ‘s right.
Jellyfish can sting but Homer’s on the couch 2night.
Coke® adds life but Life® w/milk & sugar sure is grand— straight out of the box. Straight out of the box right into your hand.

And the cigarettes R a sign of confidence     And the alcohol?  It goes w/the beer.                 At least the cigarettes show a sign of optimism. Ya go to hold @least 1 thing dear. Ooh ooh ooh ooh. Come on & hold @least 1 thing, dear.

Come here, Sugar Bear. Ooh ooh ooh…
Come here, Sugar Bear!                             My, my Sugar Bear.

Tout de suite….

Come here, come here, Sugar Bear!             Oh, my my Sugar Bear!                            Come here, come here, Sugar Bear!            Oh my my Sugar Bear!                              Come here, tout tout de suite!                  Tout tout de suite!                                      Oh, my my Sugar Bear.

THE DADDY LOOK (by Cottonhead, circa mid-90’s NYC)

My guitar playing is abysmal, but it sort of suits the sad optimism of the song.  :-)  This song is from my old band Cottonhead. It was written by Greg Talenfeld, the driving force behind the band. I just learned how to play it on guitar this weekend, so this is a work in progress to help me learn to play it. Please forgive all the clunky, misplaced chords and awkward tempo stops. :-) Gotta start somewhere. 

Come on, everybody…. SING ALONG!  (here are the lyrics):

Its not unclear that yr unkind  Its not unclear that I dont mind 
Just one more night and Ill admit yr always right 
And the less you say, the more I have to feel. 

It’s not unfair that you don’t care You’ve got so many friends out there
That Daddy Look just had me hooked   I even tried to learn to cook
And the less you say, the more I have to fear

And its no big news that Ive been screwed   This aint the first time I been used 
Just one more nite, just one more nite yes I admit yr always right. 
Just one more night before I disappear. Love is a blessing Love is good enough.