Angry Robot

folkin' out

My dad used to sing a lot of folk songs until he hacked his hand up with a circular saw. This put a cramp on his guitar playin’ ability. He can still do it, but the nerve endings are dull, so he makes mistakes and gets angry.

My homies and I have been getting into that music thing lately. Thus I’ve been playing guitar again. I was over at my parents’ house tonight; one thing led to another and the guitar came out. Soon after, old songs came tumbling out of our throats – rusty, but still good.

There’s many a man that I’ve known in my day
Who lived just to labor his whole life away.
Like a fiend for his dope or a drunkard his wine,
A man will have lust for the lure of the mine.

For it’s dark as a dungeon and it’s damp as the dew,
Where the dangers are double, and the pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines:
It’s dark as a dungeon way down in the mines.

Hot damn it felt good to sing that song again.

4 comments on "folkin' out"

  1. Largematt says:

    Yeah D those old Merle Travis songs get in your blood and never leave.

  2. D says:

    Yo Matt!

    I was thinking of you when I posted this. It’s such a great song. Any recommendations for simple songs a bum like me could learn quick-n-easy-like?

  3. Matty Large says:

    D, check out the murder ballads, Omie Wise, Pretty Polly, Willow Garden. Carter Family songs are always easy and fun to learn, Worried Man Blues, and many, many others. My particular favorites are the Stanley Brothers so you may want to check out their songbook. Last but not least of course, check out Doc Watson’s recordings, specifically those done by Smithsonian-Folkways entitled old-time music at Clarence Ashley’s. That two disc set is a must have and a treasure trove of old songs. I would love to jam on some old tunes with you when I am in Toronto.

  4. D says:

    I’d love to, Matt. However, I warn you that my science isn’t that tight at the moment. But hey, I’ve got a whole posse of good ol’ boys who may want to get in.

    Thanks for the recommends – I’ll check that stuff out. And hey, when will you be back in TO?

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