it comes in pints?

My (recent) brush with greatness

or The Long-awaited Banjo Post

or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Just Accept That I Suck at Transcribing

Lisa posted about some of her brushes with greatness. Sheila replied with some of hers. Now it's my turn. Not that I have many. Oh yes, I could talk about running into Michael McDonald in our hotel in Atascadero some years ago when he was playing, and we were attending, the Mid-State Fair. But we didn't actually get to talk to him, unlike we did with Paul Revere (of "and the Raiders") just a few short minutes later, who held the door in a very gentlemanly manner for Daughter Number One (who, in turn, was really jazzed that she got to meet "the pirate guy" we had seen performing the night before and made him hold the door several seconds while she stared at him). Nor about the other celebrities and performers we saw at the same hotel that trip.

No, I'm going to describe a much more recent and personal brush with greatness which, tangentially, involves a banjo:

No doubt, you all remember the post in which I posted the lyrics to a beautiful song called "Parnell Square", recorded by the bluegrass group Sidesaddle. That post was sadly turned into something cheap and tawdry by Bingley and Bill, who, to everyone's shock and horror, made tasteless comments about Sheila's sainted boobs.

Well, sad to say, my transcription skills are marginal and I got some of the lyrics wrong. How did I learn this? I'm glad you asked, because it is my recent brush with greatness.

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by Jackie Miller of Sidesaddle, who noted that the lyrics I had posted were not completely accurate (but not bad for an idiot - my word, not hers). The lovely and talented lady very kindly provided me with the corrected lyrics and the story behind the song. The tune was originally "Music City USA", by John Westly Ryles. The lyrics were later rewritten as "Parnell Square" by Peter Yeates, who sang the song with a very Irish accent (I've heard part of his recording of it, too). Ms. Miller heard Yeates sing it in Portland, OR, in the mid-80s and Sidesaddle then recorded it in 1991 (along with several other great songs - buy the album, dammit!)

The banjo connection? Well duh. Sidesaddle is a bluegrass group. They have a banjo. Okay, Jackie Miller plays guitar so this point to Cullen (but don't push your luck, boy; I can still hunt you down).

And so, to complete the circle, here the corrected lyrics:

"Parnell Square"

Mary, back from county Kerry, singin' songs and Dublin's all you talked about
I sold everything I owned to bring you here so you'd be famous, there's no doubt
Last night you knocked 'em out in Gallway now Kilkennies runnin' wild
Your new show on the telly isn't bad
But May I'm livin' yet I'm dyin', starin' out at Parnell Square from me cab

Traffic lights blink red and orange, Finlayder's church bells ring out, it's late alright
They're comin' out of the Eiron, and the National Ball Room's closin' for the night
Two young Dublin punks with their safety pins streamin' bottles at me car
These jackeens here can make ya awful mad
But May I'm livin' yet I'm dyin', starin' out at Parnell Square from me cab

Guitars, banjos, mandolins, oh how they play
Pumpin' out the sound from every pub and club 'round Dublin Bay
Although I know I lost ya to the swingin' showbiz world
I remember all the happy times we had
But May I'm livin' yet I'm dyin', starin' out at Parnell Square from me cab

I picked up a fellow kultchy, he was starin' out at Dublin quite amazed
In his hand he had a gatto roll, said that he was just up for the day
So I showed the yob your picture and he made a cut remark
So I floored 'im, jeez was I mad
But May I'm livin' yet I'm dyin', starin' out at Parnell Square from me cab

Guitars, banjos, mandolins, oh how they play
Pumpin' out the sound from every pub and club 'round Dublin Bay
Although I know I lost ya to the swingin' showbiz world
I remember all the happy times we had
But May I'm livin' yet I'm dyin', starin' out at Parnell Square from me cab

Two young fellas told me how they hate the violence and the killin' in the North
Then the big one pulled a gun, held me up, took everything except me shorts
They said it wasn't for themselves, as they headed for the Pond
I know it wasn't for the Lads
But May I'm livin' yet I'm dyin', starin' out at Parnell Square from me cab

Guitars, banjos, mandolins, oh how they play
Pumpin' out the sound from every pub and club 'round Dublin Bay
Although I know I lost ya to the swingin' showbiz world
I remember all the happy times we had
But May I'm livin' yet I'm dyin', starin' out at Parnell Square from me cab
But May I'm livin' yet I'm dyin', starin' out at Parnell Square from me cab

Posted by Ken S at April 30, 2006 05:43 PM | TrackBack (0) |