Bluebird > Redbird, Redbird > Reef
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p)2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Bluebird flies tonight
Climb the stairs it's time to say goodbye
goodbye Dinoland
Goodbye brontosaurus
Real cool meeting you
Will you wait here for us?
Bluebird flies tonight
Our crowded train rides on the 7 line
Goodbye giant rockets pointed up at space and
Goodbye giant globe
Do you see me waving?
Bluebird painted red
A fast train taking us to see the Mets
I see you, giant Globe
Globe, do you remember
How cold it gets out here
In November?
Gb Db Bbm Cb
Bluebird turned to silver blue
they wrote their names all over you
They hid those tags in white then red
The red changed shades
We met again
My bluebird was a redbird now
Headed west
Manhattan bound
Redbird takes a dive
The ocean floor is where you'll end your ride
You went in with a splash
And now you're slowly sinking
I should get a scuba mask
And come ask what you are thinking
Bluebird redbird redbird reef
A subway car beneath the sea
Goodbye bluebird
Can you see
The sun in the waves
Up here?
Inspired by a trip my daughter and I took to the NYC Transit Museum. In the 1960s, the World's Fair came to Queens and the Bluebirds --painted light blue -- were the cars of a special express train that took you right to it. These cars remained in service after the World's Fair and continued to run along the 7 line -- the line that takes you to Shea Stadium / now Citi Field.
In the 80s, these cars were painted a graffiti-resistant red and started being called Redbirds.
These cars were finally retired starting in the late 90s. Many of them were then submerged to be used as artificial reefs off the coasts of New Jersey, Delaware, and elsewhere.
Dinoland, giant rockets = exhibits at the World's Fair
giant globe = that globe that was built for the World's Fair but still lives in Flushing Meadows Park and shows up in lots of movies
Gb Db Bbm Cb = the chords for this section. I always forget them so I decided to just leave them there so I can always find them on this blog.
Who does what on "Bluebird > Redbird, Redbird > Reef"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): electric bass, stylophone, toy piano
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): acoustic lead guitar
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): acoustic rhythm guitar, vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Henry (Hudson), How Ya Gonna Find a Way?
Henry (Hudson), How Ya Gonna Find a Way?
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p)2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
He tried to find a Northwest Passage
a way from Africa to India
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
He found an island and a river
and sailed around what we call New York City
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
Hi-yi-ya
Hi-yi-ya-ya-ya
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
If you believe Rip Van Winkle
Henry retired to the Catskills
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
Henry and crew, they all got smaller
At night they make nine-pin thunder
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
I wrote this in my head while driving to a school show in White Plains / Westchester / somewhere in that netherworld between NYC and upstate. The school was doing a curriculum about Henry Hudson and the 400th anniversary of his arrival. I taught the other Dees the tune while we plugged everything in and we performed it that morning.
The second verse is inspired by Washington Irving's short story, "Rip Van Winkle." Everybody knows about how Rip fell asleep then woke up to find everything changed (most notably the British are no longer in charge of the colonies in which he lives). But do you remember the whole bit about Henrik Hudson and his crew bowling in the mountains? They've become gnomes or something and all have long beards. I remember reading the actual "Rip Van Winkle" (rather than a kid's adaptation) as an adult and being like "What? I don't remember this!"
Who does what on "Henry (Hudson), How Ya Gonna Find a Way?"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p)2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
He tried to find a Northwest Passage
a way from Africa to India
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
He found an island and a river
and sailed around what we call New York City
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
Hi-yi-ya
Hi-yi-ya-ya-ya
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
If you believe Rip Van Winkle
Henry retired to the Catskills
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
Henry and crew, they all got smaller
At night they make nine-pin thunder
Henry, how ya gonna find a way?
I wrote this in my head while driving to a school show in White Plains / Westchester / somewhere in that netherworld between NYC and upstate. The school was doing a curriculum about Henry Hudson and the 400th anniversary of his arrival. I taught the other Dees the tune while we plugged everything in and we performed it that morning.
The second verse is inspired by Washington Irving's short story, "Rip Van Winkle." Everybody knows about how Rip fell asleep then woke up to find everything changed (most notably the British are no longer in charge of the colonies in which he lives). But do you remember the whole bit about Henrik Hudson and his crew bowling in the mountains? They've become gnomes or something and all have long beards. I remember reading the actual "Rip Van Winkle" (rather than a kid's adaptation) as an adult and being like "What? I don't remember this!"
Who does what on "Henry (Hudson), How Ya Gonna Find a Way?"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The Golem
The Golem
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p) 2010, 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Ely Levin, Chris Johnson, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
OTTO
The Golem is a superhero made out of mud
It can follow simple commands
But be careful what you ask it to do
Join us as we lift our big feet and walk like the Golem!
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
OTTO
A long time ago
in Prague
Jews were being persecuted
A rabbi used mud from the river
to make a Golem
and brought it to life
to defend the people
The Golem fought for the Jews of Prague
but eventually got out of control
killing and destroying
The Holy Roman Emperor begged the rabbi to stop the Golem
and promised to end the persecuting of the Jews
The rabbi agreed.
He erased the first letter of the Hebrew word "emet" on the Golem's forehead
changing it from "truth" to "dead"
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
ULYSSES
If you had your own Golem, a big creature that was big and strong, what would you ask it to do?
ROSIE
Uh... save people.
ULYSSES
Save people?
HAZEL
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to make me a mansion and make me candy.
RHYS
If I had a Golem, I'd have it play me a guitar and... sing me a song and... play drums to me.
GRANT
If I had a Golem, I would tell it to give me attention.
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
ANNABELLE
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to save dogs.
GRANT
If I had a Golem, I would tell him to save people.
ROSIE
If I had a Golem, I would save bad guys.
HAZEL
Save bad guys?!
ROSIE
Yes!
GRANT
I wish the Golem was really real. Why are we really real?
ULYSSES
Why are we really real?
HAZEL
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to... uh... bonk my dad on the head!
It was reading Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay that first got me excited about the Golem. In that book, one of the characters smuggles himself out of Prague inside a Golem, a statue made of clay, just before World War II. This is one of many tales of the Golem, a creature some call the world's first superhero. Scholars have put him / it in the long line of possible ancestors to Superman and our modern-day comic book heroes that also includes American strongman John Henry, Hercules, Atlas, and many others. People also point to the similarities between the Golem and Frankenstein.
In this song, Otto gives us a short version of one of the variations of the "Golem of Prague" story, possibly the most famous Golem narrative, and some kids -- including my kids Hazel and Grant and Dean Jones' son, Rhys -- say what they would do if they had their own Golems to command.
Google "golem" and check out these books to find out more about the folklore and history related to this fascinating character:
Golem by David Wisniewski
cool, creepy picture book good for advanced kindergarteners or elementary-aged kids. For younger kids, try Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by John Ed. Mayer and Trina Schart Hyman. It's not about the Golem but it's another eerie Jewish tale with scary creatures. My son loved this book when he was two.
The Golem and the Wondrous Deeds of the Maharal of Prague
by Yudi Rosenberg, translated by Curt Leviant
a book for grown-ups that tells a detailed version of the Golem of Prague story and digs deep into the cultural and religious history of the character
The Golem by Isaac Bashevis Singer, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz
out of print, but available online-- looks awesome
Many many other fascinating books about the Golem are out there. Fantasy books, plays, a retelling by Elie Wiesel... Tell us what you find.
Note on the music: In addition to our family shows, the Deedle Deedle Dees do a lot of music for grown-ups. We play swing, blues, bluegrass, soul, R&B, old rock-n-roll and, most pertinent to this song, klezmer.
Klezmer, in brief, is Jewish jazz, traditional and spiritual music that has roots in Jewish culture and religion and is played in an improvisational style. Ari Dolegowski AKA Moby Dee has been largely responsible for introducing the band to this music and getting us gigs where we can play it. It's really fun -- everyone should play klezmer.
This song is my attempt to write a klezmer tune. I originally wrote it as an instrumental. We regularly perform klezmer at bar and bat mitzvahs, other synagogue functions, private parties and other events. Traditional tunes, some of them really really old, make up most of our repertoire but we added this original to the set after it just came to me one day. It's one of our favorite songs to play so I adapted it with lyrics for this album.
Who does what on "The Golem"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): banjo, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, spoken narration, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass, interview, vocals, stomping
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals, stomping
Rhys William Jones Ellis, Hazel Phipps-Miller, Grant Phipps-Miller, Annabelle (last name), Rose Lorenzo: commentary
words and music by Lloyd Miller (c)(p) 2010, 2011
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Ely Levin, Chris Johnson, and Lloyd Miller
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
OTTO
The Golem is a superhero made out of mud
It can follow simple commands
But be careful what you ask it to do
Join us as we lift our big feet and walk like the Golem!
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
OTTO
A long time ago
in Prague
Jews were being persecuted
A rabbi used mud from the river
to make a Golem
and brought it to life
to defend the people
The Golem fought for the Jews of Prague
but eventually got out of control
killing and destroying
The Holy Roman Emperor begged the rabbi to stop the Golem
and promised to end the persecuting of the Jews
The rabbi agreed.
He erased the first letter of the Hebrew word "emet" on the Golem's forehead
changing it from "truth" to "dead"
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
ULYSSES
If you had your own Golem, a big creature that was big and strong, what would you ask it to do?
ROSIE
Uh... save people.
ULYSSES
Save people?
HAZEL
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to make me a mansion and make me candy.
RHYS
If I had a Golem, I'd have it play me a guitar and... sing me a song and... play drums to me.
GRANT
If I had a Golem, I would tell it to give me attention.
DEES
Listen to the big feet go bum! bum!
That's the sound of the Golem when he comes
ANNABELLE
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to save dogs.
GRANT
If I had a Golem, I would tell him to save people.
ROSIE
If I had a Golem, I would save bad guys.
HAZEL
Save bad guys?!
ROSIE
Yes!
GRANT
I wish the Golem was really real. Why are we really real?
ULYSSES
Why are we really real?
HAZEL
If I had a Golem, I would ask it to... uh... bonk my dad on the head!
It was reading Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay that first got me excited about the Golem. In that book, one of the characters smuggles himself out of Prague inside a Golem, a statue made of clay, just before World War II. This is one of many tales of the Golem, a creature some call the world's first superhero. Scholars have put him / it in the long line of possible ancestors to Superman and our modern-day comic book heroes that also includes American strongman John Henry, Hercules, Atlas, and many others. People also point to the similarities between the Golem and Frankenstein.
In this song, Otto gives us a short version of one of the variations of the "Golem of Prague" story, possibly the most famous Golem narrative, and some kids -- including my kids Hazel and Grant and Dean Jones' son, Rhys -- say what they would do if they had their own Golems to command.
Google "golem" and check out these books to find out more about the folklore and history related to this fascinating character:
Golem by David Wisniewski
cool, creepy picture book good for advanced kindergarteners or elementary-aged kids. For younger kids, try Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by John Ed. Mayer and Trina Schart Hyman. It's not about the Golem but it's another eerie Jewish tale with scary creatures. My son loved this book when he was two.
The Golem and the Wondrous Deeds of the Maharal of Prague
by Yudi Rosenberg, translated by Curt Leviant
a book for grown-ups that tells a detailed version of the Golem of Prague story and digs deep into the cultural and religious history of the character
The Golem by Isaac Bashevis Singer, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz
out of print, but available online-- looks awesome
Many many other fascinating books about the Golem are out there. Fantasy books, plays, a retelling by Elie Wiesel... Tell us what you find.
Note on the music: In addition to our family shows, the Deedle Deedle Dees do a lot of music for grown-ups. We play swing, blues, bluegrass, soul, R&B, old rock-n-roll and, most pertinent to this song, klezmer.
Klezmer, in brief, is Jewish jazz, traditional and spiritual music that has roots in Jewish culture and religion and is played in an improvisational style. Ari Dolegowski AKA Moby Dee has been largely responsible for introducing the band to this music and getting us gigs where we can play it. It's really fun -- everyone should play klezmer.
This song is my attempt to write a klezmer tune. I originally wrote it as an instrumental. We regularly perform klezmer at bar and bat mitzvahs, other synagogue functions, private parties and other events. Traditional tunes, some of them really really old, make up most of our repertoire but we added this original to the set after it just came to me one day. It's one of our favorite songs to play so I adapted it with lyrics for this album.
Who does what on "The Golem"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): banjo, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, spoken narration, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass, interview, vocals, stomping
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals, stomping
Rhys William Jones Ellis, Hazel Phipps-Miller, Grant Phipps-Miller, Annabelle (last name), Rose Lorenzo: commentary
Whaleship Essex
Whaleship Essex
Words by Lloyd Miller
Music by Ely Levin and Lloyd Miller
(c)(p) 2011
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
BOOKER (pretending to be a PBS voice-over guy)
Once there was a ship
It was a real ship
It was a whaleship
DEES and DEAN (pretending to be dead sailors)
Whaleship Essex!
BOOKER
The ship met a whale
It was a real whale
It was a sperm whale
DEES and DEAN
Sperm whale in the Pacific!
ULYSSES
When that whale drove its head right into the ship
The Essex sank to the bottom
BOOKER
But before it did, survivors gathered what they could from the wreckage...
That's when the real adventure began
There were three boats
small boats
whale boats
DEES and DEAN
Escaped from the Essex!
BOOKER
Their Food and stuff
Weren't nearly enough
And they took to
the Open Pacific!
ULYSSES
One thousand miles west
Were islands that
some said
Were home to, yes,
cannibal civilization
A vote by surviving crew
Capt Pollard overruled
The boats set course for South America
Boat 1: Owen Chase and his sailors separated in a squall
Boat 2: In Pollard's boat all the food was gone before long
Boat 3: Hendricks and co were never seen again
But somebody came back to tell us bout the whole thing
No water no food for days what would you do?
Sailors baking in the sun, son, what would you do?
And how's the story end for the poor Essex crew?
Well go read a book by Philbrick cos I don't think I can tell you
And just like Moby Dick
What this whale did was sick
He picked up speed and rammed the Essex
When Melville heard this tale
Of a whaleship and a whale
He was sailing in the South Pacific
BOOKER
On a whaleship...
Not far from where the Essex sank...
Dean = Dean Jones, producer of our record, leader of Dog on Fleas
If you're a regular reader of this blog then you know I'm obsessed with whales, whaleships, Moby Dick, Herman Melville, and the nonfiction books of Nathaniel Philbrick. Rather than post yet again about these important topics, I'll just say, yet again, read these books:
In the Heart of the Sea - Nathaniel Philbrick (short, breathtaking account of the Essex. You'll read it in an afternoon. This afternoon!)
Revenge of the Whale - Nathaniel Philbrick (same story re-written for YA audience)
Moby Dick - Herman Melville
People always joke about Moby Dick and War and Peace and how they're so long and they say things like "I'd read Moby Dick before I'd do that" and... this makes me really mad. Read Moby Dick. It's not that long. Then read War and Peace. It's somewhat longer but not that long. Both books are well worth your time. Both are better than "Mad Men," better than "The Wire," better than any of the stuff people hear I haven't seen and say "YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW." Yeah yeah yeah. READ MOBY DICK!
Who does what on "Whaleship Essex"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): harpsichord, marching band bass drum, narration, dead sailor vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, scary piano
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): lead vocals, dead sailor vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, rhumba box, dead sailor vocals
Words by Lloyd Miller
Music by Ely Levin and Lloyd Miller
(c)(p) 2011
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
BOOKER (pretending to be a PBS voice-over guy)
Once there was a ship
It was a real ship
It was a whaleship
DEES and DEAN (pretending to be dead sailors)
Whaleship Essex!
BOOKER
The ship met a whale
It was a real whale
It was a sperm whale
DEES and DEAN
Sperm whale in the Pacific!
ULYSSES
When that whale drove its head right into the ship
The Essex sank to the bottom
BOOKER
But before it did, survivors gathered what they could from the wreckage...
That's when the real adventure began
There were three boats
small boats
whale boats
DEES and DEAN
Escaped from the Essex!
BOOKER
Their Food and stuff
Weren't nearly enough
And they took to
the Open Pacific!
ULYSSES
One thousand miles west
Were islands that
some said
Were home to, yes,
cannibal civilization
A vote by surviving crew
Capt Pollard overruled
The boats set course for South America
Boat 1: Owen Chase and his sailors separated in a squall
Boat 2: In Pollard's boat all the food was gone before long
Boat 3: Hendricks and co were never seen again
But somebody came back to tell us bout the whole thing
No water no food for days what would you do?
Sailors baking in the sun, son, what would you do?
And how's the story end for the poor Essex crew?
Well go read a book by Philbrick cos I don't think I can tell you
And just like Moby Dick
What this whale did was sick
He picked up speed and rammed the Essex
When Melville heard this tale
Of a whaleship and a whale
He was sailing in the South Pacific
BOOKER
On a whaleship...
Not far from where the Essex sank...
Dean = Dean Jones, producer of our record, leader of Dog on Fleas
If you're a regular reader of this blog then you know I'm obsessed with whales, whaleships, Moby Dick, Herman Melville, and the nonfiction books of Nathaniel Philbrick. Rather than post yet again about these important topics, I'll just say, yet again, read these books:
In the Heart of the Sea - Nathaniel Philbrick (short, breathtaking account of the Essex. You'll read it in an afternoon. This afternoon!)
Revenge of the Whale - Nathaniel Philbrick (same story re-written for YA audience)
Moby Dick - Herman Melville
People always joke about Moby Dick and War and Peace and how they're so long and they say things like "I'd read Moby Dick before I'd do that" and... this makes me really mad. Read Moby Dick. It's not that long. Then read War and Peace. It's somewhat longer but not that long. Both books are well worth your time. Both are better than "Mad Men," better than "The Wire," better than any of the stuff people hear I haven't seen and say "YOU HAVE TO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW." Yeah yeah yeah. READ MOBY DICK!
Who does what on "Whaleship Essex"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): harpsichord, marching band bass drum, narration, dead sailor vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, scary piano
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): lead vocals, dead sailor vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, rhumba box, dead sailor vocals
River of Blood
River of Blood
a song about the circulatory system
words and music by Lloyd Miller
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
(c) (p) 2008, 2010
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
The River of Blood keeps on flowin'
The River of Blood keeps on goin'
Oh, the River of Blood
it flows to your toes
It's the River of Blood
That doggone River of Blood
Oh, the River of Blood you can't put your bike in it
But the River of Blood -- lots of things to like in it
Amino acids and gases
blood cells and hormones
Veins bring blood back to the heart
And the arteries are how it goes
The River of Blood keeps on flowin'
The River of Blood keeps on goin'
Oh, ride the River of Blood
round the bend of your elbows
It's the River of Blood
That doggone River of Blood
Oh, the River of Blood the heart keeps pumping
that's why it flows
it pumps oxygenated blood to the body
deoxygenated blood to the lungs
2000 gallons a day
60,000 miles
The River of Blood could go around the world
two and a half times
I wrote this song with my daughter Hazel in Vermont one summer. I would push her in the swings every day and sing songs, often songs I made up on the spot. The one that really captured her imagination was "River of Blood." I think I started it just as a fake Johnny Cash / "Blood on the Saddle" / "Ghost Riders in the Sky" kind of song but then changed it into this info-heavy tune about the circulatory system. Hazel helped me come up with some of the best lines, the very best being: "You can't put your bike in it."
Who does what on "River of Blood"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals
a song about the circulatory system
words and music by Lloyd Miller
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
(c) (p) 2008, 2010
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
The River of Blood keeps on flowin'
The River of Blood keeps on goin'
Oh, the River of Blood
it flows to your toes
It's the River of Blood
That doggone River of Blood
Oh, the River of Blood you can't put your bike in it
But the River of Blood -- lots of things to like in it
Amino acids and gases
blood cells and hormones
Veins bring blood back to the heart
And the arteries are how it goes
The River of Blood keeps on flowin'
The River of Blood keeps on goin'
Oh, ride the River of Blood
round the bend of your elbows
It's the River of Blood
That doggone River of Blood
Oh, the River of Blood the heart keeps pumping
that's why it flows
it pumps oxygenated blood to the body
deoxygenated blood to the lungs
2000 gallons a day
60,000 miles
The River of Blood could go around the world
two and a half times
I wrote this song with my daughter Hazel in Vermont one summer. I would push her in the swings every day and sing songs, often songs I made up on the spot. The one that really captured her imagination was "River of Blood." I think I started it just as a fake Johnny Cash / "Blood on the Saddle" / "Ghost Riders in the Sky" kind of song but then changed it into this info-heavy tune about the circulatory system. Hazel helped me come up with some of the best lines, the very best being: "You can't put your bike in it."
Who does what on "River of Blood"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): organ, vocals
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): electric guitar, vocals
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums, vocals
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): electric bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, vocals
Mayor LaGuardia's Stomach
Mayor LaGuardia's Stomach
music by Chris Johnson
story by Esther Levine (grandma of Ari Dolegowski AKA Moby Dee)
interview by Lloyd Miller and Ari Dolegowski
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
ESTHER
You want to hear about me bouncing off the stomach of Mayor LaGuardia?
ULYSSES and MOBY
Yes! Yes!
ESTHER
I was looking for an apartment. And I don't know why I was looking for an apartment on Mott Street! I must have seen an advertisement. And I wasn't looking... I was looking this way. I wasn't looking where I was going. And I bounced off this man's stomach... he wasn't much taller than I am. He was short! But I thought I was seven feet tall.
ULYSSES and MOBY laugh.
ESTHER
And he was walking with a guard. And they never stopped me! I bounced right off his stomach. And I said, "Mayor LaGuardia!" And he walked on and I walked on.
ULYSSES
He didn't acknowledge you in any way?
ESTHER
I... we weren't having a conversation! I just bounced off his stomach. And he had a stomach.
musical interlude
ESTHER
I'm on TV?!
MOBY
Not live.
ESTHER
Is my hair combed? Okay, my right side of my profile is my better side. (to Ulysses) You're good.
Esther, Ari's grandma, is a big part of our life. Her apartment is near the school where my wife teaches second grade and where I teach lots of lessons and do songwriting projects so it's a convenient spot for acoustic rehearsals during the week. She loves our visits and treats them as her own private concerts. She always spreads out far too much food and asks whether we would like her to order us a pizza -- an offer we always turn down. I'm usually on my way to swim laps after our rehearsal and everyone else... well, they're just not in the mood for pizza, I guess. Someday we'll say yes.
The story she tells here is one of her classics, one she has retold many times in many different ways. We spent an afternoon with Esther talking about her varied adventures and got most of it recorded. Maybe we'll post the complete interview on this blog sometime.
Who does what on "Mayor LaGuardia's Stomach"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): baritone ukulele, melodica, piano, electric bass
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): interview
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): interview
Esther Levine: storytelling
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
music by Chris Johnson
story by Esther Levine (grandma of Ari Dolegowski AKA Moby Dee)
interview by Lloyd Miller and Ari Dolegowski
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
ESTHER
You want to hear about me bouncing off the stomach of Mayor LaGuardia?
ULYSSES and MOBY
Yes! Yes!
ESTHER
I was looking for an apartment. And I don't know why I was looking for an apartment on Mott Street! I must have seen an advertisement. And I wasn't looking... I was looking this way. I wasn't looking where I was going. And I bounced off this man's stomach... he wasn't much taller than I am. He was short! But I thought I was seven feet tall.
ULYSSES and MOBY laugh.
ESTHER
And he was walking with a guard. And they never stopped me! I bounced right off his stomach. And I said, "Mayor LaGuardia!" And he walked on and I walked on.
ULYSSES
He didn't acknowledge you in any way?
ESTHER
I... we weren't having a conversation! I just bounced off his stomach. And he had a stomach.
musical interlude
ESTHER
I'm on TV?!
MOBY
Not live.
ESTHER
Is my hair combed? Okay, my right side of my profile is my better side. (to Ulysses) You're good.
Esther, Ari's grandma, is a big part of our life. Her apartment is near the school where my wife teaches second grade and where I teach lots of lessons and do songwriting projects so it's a convenient spot for acoustic rehearsals during the week. She loves our visits and treats them as her own private concerts. She always spreads out far too much food and asks whether we would like her to order us a pizza -- an offer we always turn down. I'm usually on my way to swim laps after our rehearsal and everyone else... well, they're just not in the mood for pizza, I guess. Someday we'll say yes.
The story she tells here is one of her classics, one she has retold many times in many different ways. We spent an afternoon with Esther talking about her varied adventures and got most of it recorded. Maybe we'll post the complete interview on this blog sometime.
Who does what on "Mayor LaGuardia's Stomach"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): baritone ukulele, melodica, piano, electric bass
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): interview
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): interview
Esther Levine: storytelling
Dean Jones: recording, mixing
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth
words by Charlotte Banigan-White and Lloyd Miller
music by Lloyd Miller
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
(c) (p) 2008, 2011
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Sojourner Truth traveled up the mountain
the moon was right behind her
she looked down the mountain
at those who tried to stop her
The moon looked like a light
and shined on Sojourner Truth
Where she's going
you're invited too
An angry mob broke up the tent meeting
Sojourner's first thought was hiding
She fled to the top of a small rise of ground
It turned into a mountain when she turned around
And sang a song
Sojourner told 'em all
'Bout being born a slave
They heard her out and then they went away
She was good on her feet, I guess
Kind of like you, Moby Dee
I wrote this with the help of some kids in Western Massachusetts. Charlotte, credited at top, wrote most of the lyrics and I came with the chords, tune, etc. I worked with her and a bunch of other kids at First Churches of Northampton on a whole original musical show about the history of the church and the Northampton area called Journey On. The show was performed at the church at Christmas time in 2008. Lots of other adults (Cynthia and Chris!) collaborated on this show -- I'll get your names up here soon.
Who does what on "Sojourner Truth"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): piano
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin, electric guitar
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, trombone
words by Charlotte Banigan-White and Lloyd Miller
music by Lloyd Miller
arrangement by Ari Dolegowski, Chris Johnson, Ely Levin, and Lloyd Miller
(c) (p) 2008, 2011
appears on Strange Dees, Indeed by the Deedle Deedle Dees (release date: October 31, 2011)
Sojourner Truth traveled up the mountain
the moon was right behind her
she looked down the mountain
at those who tried to stop her
The moon looked like a light
and shined on Sojourner Truth
Where she's going
you're invited too
An angry mob broke up the tent meeting
Sojourner's first thought was hiding
She fled to the top of a small rise of ground
It turned into a mountain when she turned around
And sang a song
Sojourner told 'em all
'Bout being born a slave
They heard her out and then they went away
She was good on her feet, I guess
Kind of like you, Moby Dee
I wrote this with the help of some kids in Western Massachusetts. Charlotte, credited at top, wrote most of the lyrics and I came with the chords, tune, etc. I worked with her and a bunch of other kids at First Churches of Northampton on a whole original musical show about the history of the church and the Northampton area called Journey On. The show was performed at the church at Christmas time in 2008. Lots of other adults (Cynthia and Chris!) collaborated on this show -- I'll get your names up here soon.
Who does what on "Sojourner Truth"
Booker Dee (Chris Johnson): piano
Moby Dee (Ari Dolegowski): mandolin, electric guitar
Otto von Dee (Ely Levin): drums
Ulysses S. Dee (Lloyd Miller): upright bass, lead vocals
Dean Jones: recording, mixing, trombone
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