tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post8923909316519405809..comments2024-03-07T09:25:09.142-08:00Comments on Long-Forgotten: When the Spooks Have a Midnight JamboreeHBG2http://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-78786928892787344732023-07-17T00:28:29.249-07:002023-07-17T00:28:29.249-07:00Which version of "The Headless Horseman"...Which version of "The Headless Horseman" did you print those lyrics from? There are major differences between the song in this post and the one Bing Crosby actually sings in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. Perhaps the lyrics were changed for a certain record of the song?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-20162031905674755132020-05-15T10:41:22.089-07:002020-05-15T10:41:22.089-07:00I'd say no. She looks like a stereotypical Vic...I'd say no. She looks like a stereotypical Victorian-era spinster, not someone from the 15th century, and Lucretia Borgia was never referred to as "Aunt Lucretia," as far as I know.HBG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-36738388599441562672020-05-15T05:15:01.333-07:002020-05-15T05:15:01.333-07:00I don't know if perhaps you've covered thi...I don't know if perhaps you've covered this in another blog I haven't yet read, but how long has Lucretia been part of the mansion? Could she be a throwback to when the mansion was going to be populated by historical figures? Could she be 'Aunt' Lucretia Borgia? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16232449204922767228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-79435801561319715822017-08-15T08:24:51.041-07:002017-08-15T08:24:51.041-07:00Hi HBG2--
This is Karl S. again.
Don't know ...Hi HBG2--<br /><br />This is Karl S. again.<br /><br />Don't know if you're interested, but--in searching for an epigram for a story I'm writing--I found an early account of the Hand of Glory in <i>The Ingoldsby Legends</i>. I've known about the poem--which is vaguely parodic in nature as well--for a long time, but in reading it again I found a number of parallels with Gilbert's "When the Night Wind Howls" that might have inspired G&S. The first verse--which starts off with "on the lone bleak moor,/ At the midnight hour,/ Beneath the Gallows Tree..."--is probably the most pertinent, but the whole poem seems (to me) quite close to GGG.<br /><br /><i>The Ingoldsby Legends</i> was published 1840-1847, so it could well have been an inspiration for <i>Ruddigore</i>; G&S scholars will of course know more than I. <br /><br />What's more, several sources cite "A Lay of St. Dunstan," also from <i>Ingoldsby</i>, as an inspiration for "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," in <i>Fantasia</i>. I'm unable to substantiate those sources, though "A Lay..." is probably referring to the same legend as Goethe's poem with with "Sorcerer's Apprentice" label. But it may well be that Walt and his animators were at least familiar with the collection (and the other poems in it, including "The Hand of Glory"); if so, then it could be an even more direct inspiration than I first thought.<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />Karl Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-63155534762209547902017-04-04T19:56:27.098-07:002017-04-04T19:56:27.098-07:00What I love about GGG is that it mirrors the subje...What I love about GGG is that it mirrors the subject of the opening monologue in such a way that the ride is completely summarized by the two. At the beginning, discussion of threatening and vague hauntings, which sets the tone for the first half. At the end, song about lighthearted and silly supernatural gatherings, which is what we see in the latter half of the ride. Very clever.DBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12770023978697698553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-3652748650448745402015-07-17T07:46:57.940-07:002015-07-17T07:46:57.940-07:00The "Swinging at the Séance" specificall...The "Swinging at the Séance" specifically may also have been an inspiration for the Madame Leota dynamic: a medium in trance wakes up various musical instruments that start to play:<br /><br />With the medium in trance,<br />How that horn began to dance.<br /><br />When the trumpet blasted out,<br />All the spooks began to shout.<br /><br />These lyrics could be describing the Séance room, really.Achille Talonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11636339293230261724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-39830112485803989532013-09-13T08:40:13.030-07:002013-09-13T08:40:13.030-07:00You make a very good case. I think you're rig...You make a very good case. I think you're right.HBG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-58546354273847709052013-09-13T01:23:24.929-07:002013-09-13T01:23:24.929-07:00I think there's a bit more structure and thoug...I think there's a bit more structure and thought to the GGG lyrics than you credit- it's true of course that they're written in such a way that the song can be looped indefinitely and only heard for bits and pieces and still be understood. But there's still some minor structural stuff in the loop itself and the song does have a feeling of rising progressively.<br /><br />The first verse is strictly introductory- introducing first the concept of strange sounds and frightening noises and then the ghosts' penchant for socializing and partying. The second verse is then a response to that, telling the listener not to try and hide or something like that, as the spooks will just drag you into their fun anyways (notably the lyric begins in a different way than the other three verses). The third and fourth verses then describe the party progressively getting bigger and wilder (the moon climbs high as the night moves on) as more spooks gather round and join in the festivities.<br /><br />I mean, it's not Sondheim or anything, but there was thought put into how these verses are structured and played out within the loop- if you don't believe me, just look at the music. There's an instrumental break between the first and last two verses, which is where the lyrics shift from just introducing the party to describing it growing, and then the last two verses are each modulated up a step- the music literally builds as the party grows (there's even orchestration stuff that accentuates this).<br /><br /><br />I agree with you that this isn't some great masterpiece of lyric writing and composing, but as a song that is meant to simultaneously build and progress *and* work as a continuous loop, I think they did a pretty good job of it.T. Hartwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602995118108914316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-90903848448431799892013-06-29T13:31:15.965-07:002013-06-29T13:31:15.965-07:00Another fun post! My banjo instructor actually tab...Another fun post! My banjo instructor actually tabbed out the notes of GGG for me to play. It sounds quite fun, though I must admit, I am a quite mediocre banjo player. <br /><br />http://vimeo.com/67522273Figment713https://www.blogger.com/profile/16000510266589974829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-59819067796725119142013-06-03T15:56:52.233-07:002013-06-03T15:56:52.233-07:00Having listened to the song a few times through, I...Having listened to the song a few times through, I agree with your lyrics as presented. May I offer a conjectured interpretation?<br /><br />"When the old oak beam<br />Feels a corpse..." <br /><br />The "oak beam" is the subject; its action is "feeling." This seems to be referencing a tree branch (or perhaps a piece of lumber) from which a person had been hanged and, consequently, had become corps-ified. The oak feels the corpse, which leads the oak to an action...<br /><br />"...you seem<br />To feel a wet stream<br />With a sinister gleam"<br /><br />An emotional feeling generally elicits an emotional, and often physical, response. Perhaps this evil oak tree, delighted in its role to help that human shuffle off his mortal coil, exudes sap, which is felt by the observer--the "you" in the song--both physically as a wet sensation, and emotionally as a sinister sensation. Another possibility is that the "wet stream" is *ewwwww* goo of corruption, dripping from the deceased. But, given that the stream is produced "with a sinister gleam," it's more likely a fluid rightfully assigned to the tree.<br /><br />Antrhopomorphized much?<br /><br />- FanOfWalt<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-23461026445667077622012-10-03T10:56:55.385-07:002012-10-03T10:56:55.385-07:00Great post, and great collection of songs, I alway...Great post, and great collection of songs, I always wondered why the medieval minstrels of the "Phantom 5" played 1930's jazz music, I always though it just had something to do with being in New Orleans Square, but now I know better<br /><br />Great blog too, I've been obsessively reading your archives of old posts for about a week now <br />Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07863321629317910486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-82659283924113010152012-01-06T15:14:05.707-08:002012-01-06T15:14:05.707-08:00Old posts are read... and enjoyed.
JGOld posts are read... and enjoyed.<br /><br />JGJGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456196709930408585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-60372584703345762772011-10-11T07:46:56.035-07:002011-10-11T07:46:56.035-07:00I get notices when they appear, so I always see th...I get notices when they appear, so <i>I</i> always see them anyway. And the blog always seems to be getting new readers, so old posts (and I suppose comments) are being read. That is an <i>excellent</i> find! I'm going to edit it into the post.HBG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-77780465370193208882011-10-11T07:20:27.790-07:002011-10-11T07:20:27.790-07:00I don't know if anyone will see comments on su...I don't know if anyone will see comments on such on old post, but I wanted to mention the granddaddy of all these comic songs, "When the Night Wind Howls," from Gilbert and Sullivan's <i>Ruddigore.</i> It follows the same pattern of, "When X happens, then ghosts do Y."<br /><br />Lyrics can be found <a href="http://www.poetry-archive.com/g/when_the_night_wind_howls.html" rel="nofollow">here.</a>Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06169920944565828337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-67649250806559443882011-05-24T00:12:16.251-07:002011-05-24T00:12:16.251-07:00Great! Now, can you figure out what he's sayi...Great! Now, can you figure out what he's saying in the second line of the fourth verse?HBG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-16435555304343279882011-05-23T21:36:54.077-07:002011-05-23T21:36:54.077-07:00I can explain the flesh-pink tights! Music- hall p...I can explain the flesh-pink tights! Music- hall performers and circus artistes wore them - think trapeze girls, girls riding standing on a horse's back, tumblers, any sort of old-timey showgirl getup. Much more saucy in the days when skirts reached the floor, of course. So "flesh-pink tights" is a verbal shorthand for a showgirl costume and dance-like antics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-12964564227423946462011-03-16T06:21:18.887-07:002011-03-16T06:21:18.887-07:00@caitlinmcfly: Shouldn't a limerick be AABBA, ...@caitlinmcfly: Shouldn't a limerick be AABBA, not AABBB?Ильяhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09928574118492690315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-43644320026833398472010-10-22T13:46:21.408-07:002010-10-22T13:46:21.408-07:00You're welcome you're welcome you're w...You're welcome you're welcome you're welcome you're welcomeHBG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-78313493121435352652010-10-22T12:06:39.841-07:002010-10-22T12:06:39.841-07:00I love you I love you I love you I love you I love...I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-78026785472988019732010-09-30T09:45:28.886-07:002010-09-30T09:45:28.886-07:00There's a great 1930's-era British novelty...There's a great 1930's-era British novelty song about Anne Bolyn, "With 'Er 'Ead Tucked Underneath 'Er Arm," that should definitely have been included here, since both Ken Anderson and Marc Davis had ideas for incorporating poor Anne into the Mansion. Perhaps this comic song gave one or both of them an impetus to do so? At any rate, it's a solid delight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soeBL3Vuts8&feature=relatedHBG2https://www.blogger.com/profile/05073387557562504315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-82682802639381614692010-08-27T12:42:44.967-07:002010-08-27T12:42:44.967-07:00Wow, I didn't realize the structure of "G...Wow, I didn't realize the structure of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" lyrics was a limerick. You'd think I'd know this after studying the attraction for eight years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-2664758839307406632010-08-14T09:02:09.874-07:002010-08-14T09:02:09.874-07:00Thanks for this post! I've been making a colle...Thanks for this post! I've been making a collection of spooky 20's/30's/40's songs and didn't even know about the Satchmo one!Cory Grosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12141983255020503557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444762441887107389.post-41831340696217024932010-08-13T17:39:08.299-07:002010-08-13T17:39:08.299-07:00Thurl also did a cover of "The Headless Horse...Thurl also did a cover of "The Headless Horseman" -<br />http://www.allthingsthurl.com/mp3/headless.mp3Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com