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Book 4. “LIVE” Captain Creole, With Mighty Whitey Dedication
Book 4. “LIVE” Captain Creole, With Mighty Whitey Dedication…
I’ve loved Nicky ever since he showed up as an eager, inquisitive, freckle faced kid in an Anglican school uniform, some time in the early sixties. He had a great spirit and a great big heart even then. Nicky, aka Mighty Whitey, offered me the sincerest sort of complement through the years by doing many of my original songs, including La Biega Carousel/Tutsie, Lord Cherrigo Sad, Archipelago Man, and Captain Creole.
I will always miss his laughing eyes and his sense of adventure, but most of all, his camaraderie. We were comrades in a very select fraternity.
The dedication verse is now part of Captain Creole, and touches me with the kind of hopeful joy that Nicky embodied, each and every time I sing the song. My wish that it may have a similar effect on those of you that feel the way I do, about our friend “The Mighty Whitey” Nicky Russel.
CAPTAIN CREOLE
(Words And Music, Scott Fagan, ASCAP)
The word spread through The Virgins, the Old Creole was dead He died in the night of the full moon light, in a sword fight, in his bed, Some say he was crazy, he had a rum dream in his head But I will tell you, in his words, what Captain Creole said…
He said “Old Pirates never die dry your eyes we don’t ever die, Old Pirates never die, they just sail away”
The Dancing Senoritas, the Ghosts of Buried Gold, The German and The African,that battled in his soul,The Jolly Jolly Rodger, The Treasure Ships of Spain, Called out to him and bid him come… back to The Spanish Main
Because “Old Pirates never die, dry your eyes they don’t ever die, Old Pirates never die, they just sail away”
The word spread through The Virgins, Like the ringing of an old ships bell, The Preacher turned to Heaven, but most folks bet on Hell. The Old Creole was sinking, the Old Creole was gone, And we cried in the light of the full moon night, Whispering his song
He said “Old Pirates never die, dry your eyes they don’t ever die, Old Pirates never die, they just sail away”
RECITATION: THIS ONE IS DEDICATED NOT ONLY TO CAPTAIN CREOLE HIMSELF, THE LATE GREAT CALWIN MARTIN MOOLINAR, BUT TO OUR BEAUTIFUL FRIEND THE MIGHTY WHITEY, NICKY RUSSEL, WHO SANG THIS SONG SOO WELL AND CALLED IT HIS FAVORITE OF THEM ALL. GOOD WINDS, GOOD FRIENDS, AND GOD SPEED …FOREVER MORE”
Old Pirates never die, dry your eyes we don’t ever die, Old Pirates never die, they just sail awayyyyyy”
The recording is from the current “Scott Fagan and The MAAC Island Band” LIVE CD “Shake a Bum” found through the link below. www.thecollectedworksofscottfagan.com
Book. 4. Shake A Bum!
Book. 4. Shake A Bum!
Dear good people,
We are hard at work on the “Shake A Bum” video, it will be great fun for all when we are done. If you have a short (10-15 seconds) of you and or your friends “Shaking yu Bum Bum” that you would like to send along for possible inclusion, send it along double ASAP to information@lilfishrecords.com and we will try to get it in.
In the meantime here is the album cover (Front and back) along with the full 8 minutes and 36 second “Shake A Bum” single AND the whole deliriouso lyric. Enjoy as you remember what it was/is to go “trampin’ doun de road”
Happy New Year To You! Love, Scott
"Ah sae tu Come Come Come!...Everybody Shake A Bum"
Back Cover, Scott Fagan And The MAAC Island Band "Shake A Bum"
SHAKE A BUM Scott Fagan
BUM BUM BUM BUM
SHAKE A SHAKE A BUM
AH SAY TO COME COME COME COME \
DO DE SHAKE A BUM
BUM BUM BUM BUM
SHAKE A SHAKE A BUM
AH SAY TO COME COME COME
EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM
SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE
TIL YU BOTTY BREAK
HAVE YOUR FUN,
DO DE SHAKE A BUM BUM BUM
SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE
TIL YU BOTTY BREAK
COME COME COME
EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM
DON’T CARE WHAT KIND OF DANCE YOU DO THIS ONE’S FOR YOU YOU COULD DANCE HOW YOU WANT TO..WHEN YOU
DO DE SHAKE A BUM
WINE YU BOTTY FROM EAST TU WEST DO DE SHAKE A BUM YOU COULD JUS TRY TO DO YOUR BEST WHEN YOU
DO DE SHAKE A BUM
OHHH BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM
SHAKE A SHAKE A BUM, AH SAY TO COME COME COME EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM BUM BUM BUM
BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM
SHAKE A SHAKE A BUM AH SAY TO COME COME COME EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM
RECITATION
“NOW WE GON SLO IT DOWN JES A LIL BIT LIKE JERRY LEE AN DEM BOY DO DOWN IN MEMPHIS, DOWN IN MISISIPPI, GOT A LOTTA GOOD FOLKS DOIN A LOTTA GOOD BUM SHAKIN DOWN THERE DOWN IN HA’SBURG, DOWN IN PICYUNE, DOWN IN NAW’LINS
GOT A WHOLE LOTTA BUM SHAKING GOIN ON DOWN IS LOUIEVILLE DOWN IN THE SWEET CAROLINAS THEY KNOW HOW TA SHAKE THAT THING
\AN ALL THEM FARMERS DAUGHTWERS OUT IN THE MIDWEST THEY JES STAY RIGHT HOME RIGHT WHERE THEY IS AN SHAKE THAT BUM BUM
THEY SURE CAN SOCK IM IN THE ROCKIES, IN COLORADO THEY, THEY KNOW HOW DA GO GO GO
AND OH DON’T TALK ABOUT THEM PEOPLE OUT IN CALIFORNIA WHEN THE WHOLE PLACE GOES SHAKE
SHAKE SHAKE AN EVEY BUM BUM IN IT
WHAT ABOUT THEM GIRLS DOWN IN TEXAS AN ALL OVER THE WILD WILD WEST (YEEHAW)
\THEM COW GIRLS AN THEM COW BOYS THEY KNOW HOW TO SHAKE A BUM
HEY AND WAY UP NORTH HOW DO YA THINK THEY KEEP EACH OTHER WARM ALL THROUGH THE LONG COLD NIGHT
AND WHAT ABOUT THE BOSTON BEAUTIES AND THE NEW YORK CHICANITAS AND THE CITY OF BROTHERLY AND SISTERLY LOVE
OH TALK ABOUT WARM AND LOVE, WHAT ABOUT MIAMI AND HAVANAH, Y LA CHICAS DE HISPANIOLA Y PUERTO RICO, AN AY AY AY OH MY, THE GIRLS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS? THAT’S WHERE I LEARNED THIS WHOLE SHAKE A BUM THING TO BEGIN WITH, AND ON DOWN THE CARIBEE TO RIO IF YOU PLEASE
OH OH SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE AH AH…WAIT WAITT
WHAT ABOUT THE GIRLS IN JOBURG, AND DOWN IN ZANZIBAR AND TOKYO AND CHA CHA CHINA!
NO MPLACE IS TOO FAR,
WE’RE COMIN TO SEE YA
WE’RE COMIN TA SEE YA
LONDON DUBLIN BERLIN AND PAREE, WE’RE COMIN TO SEE WHAT WE CAN SEE
MOSCOW AND BERUIT WE’RE COMIN LOOKIN FOR THE TRUT
ALL AROUND, ALL AROUND, ALL AROUND THE WORLD, NORTH AND SOUTH AND EAST AND WEST, TO SEE WHO COULD SHAKE DEY BUM DE BEST!
AN DON’T THINK WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT THING IS FOR IT’S NOT FOR SITTING ON, IT’S FOR HUGGIN AND HOLDING AND TALKING TO AND SQUEEZIN AND LOVIN AND KISSIN AND SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE
TIL YOU BOTTY BREAK OHH HAVE YOUR FUN
EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM
INSTRUMENTAL FIGURE X 2
FIG 1 DO DE SHAKE A BUM FIG 2 EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM
BUM BUM BUM BUM
SHAKE A SHAKE A BUM
AH SAY TO COME COME COME COME DO DE SHAKE A BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM
SHAKE A SHAKE A BUM
AH SAY TO COME COME COME
EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM
DON’T CARE WHAT KIND OF DANCE YOU DO
THIS ONE’S FOR YOU,
YOU JUST DANCE HOW YOU WANT TO,
DO THE SHAKE A BUM
WINE YOU BOTTY FROM EAST TO WEST
DO DE SHAKE A BUM
YOU GONNA JUS TRY TO DO YOUR BEST
DO DE SHAKE A BUM
OOHHH, BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM
SHAKE A SHAKE A BUM
AH SAY TO COME COME COME
EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM BUM BUM BUM
BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM
SHAKE A SHAKE A BUM
AH SAY TO COME COME COME EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM
FORGET ABOUT LIFES MISERY
DO DE SHAKE A BUM
YOU JUST DANCE AND BE HAPPY
DO DE SHAKE A BUM
FORGET ABOUT LIFES SORROWS,
DO DE SHAKE A BUM
I SAY THAT WE’LL CRY TOMORROW,
DO DE SHAKE A BUM
OHHH BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM
SHAKE A SHAKE A BUM
AH SAY TO COME COME COME
EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM BUM BUM BUM
BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM
SHAKE A SHAKE A BUM
AH SAY TO COME COME COME
EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM
SHAKE A BUM, SHAKE A BUM
SHAKE A BIDDY BIDDY BEE-UM BUM,
A BIDDY BIDDY BIDDY BIDDY BUM BUM
A BIDDY BUM BIDDY BUM A BIDDY BIDDY BUM BUM
EVERYBODY SHAKE A BUM BUM BUM!…
(To Purchase The CD Please Visit The Link Below)
http://thecollectedworksofscottfagan.com/
Thank you!
Book 3. The Complete Little Christmas Operetta “A Christmas Present For Santa, The Story Of Sandy The Bluenosed Reindeer”
Book 3. The Complete Little Christmas Operetta “A Christmas Present For Santa, The Story Of Sandy The Bluenosed Reindeer”
I wrote this originally for my little girl Twinkle, and all the children in the warm weather places in the world. Because there were no female Christmas Hero’s and because we always felt a little left out of the Santa Story where Christmas comes in on a gentle breeze, but most importantly, because her story needed to be told and every word of it is true. I hope that the lives of you and your sweethearts will be filled with smiles and smooches now and always. Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Happy Chanukah, Love Filled Kwanza, and The Best New Year Ever. All my Love, Scott
Here is The Complete Script, Story and Lyrics, if you would like to read along.
A Christmas Present for Santa
The story of
“Sandy The BlueNosed Reindeer”A Musical in One or Two Acts
by
Scott Fagan
. All Rights Reserved.
Scott Fagan Music ASCAP
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
scottfagan@lilfishrecords.com
SANDY THE BLUENOSED REINDEER
RUNNING TIME:
29:11 Minutes (Approximately 40 Minutes with 10 minute Intermission)
Synopsis
A Warm and humorous musical story about a little female reindeer sent to the North pole as a Christmas present for Santa, one Christmas eve a time ago, by the Girls and Boys in the home for almost forgotten children some where in the tropical Islands…
Sandy has been sent to Santa to help him with his warm weather routes, but she will have an awful lot of shiverin’ and shakin’ to do and an awful lot of wondering where she fits in, before anyone discovers the purpose and true value of this extraordinary Christmas present for Santa.
In the end, Sandy leads for Santa when it’s time to go any where around the world that it doesn’t snow, and becomes the perennial favorite of (and there’s an awful lot of) places in the world where all the Christmas’s are hot!
ACT ONE………………………Christmas Eve, a time ago
ACT TWO……………………….As time passed
CAST OF CHARACTERS
THE NARRATOR (A colorful Tropical Island character, male or female)
SANDY THE BLUE NOSED REINDEER A young and very simpatico female Reindeer, with a Blue nose. She will progress in age from Baby to pre-teen.
SANTA CLAUS A right Jolly old Elf.
MIZ CLAUS A warm, maternal and practical Elf lady
THE CHORUS (As many as you like, they will double as…)
THE GIRLS AND BOYS (In the Home for almost forgotten Children)
SANTA’S ELVES (Lefty, Righty, Blackie and Whitey, Brownie, Yellow, Shorty and Longfellow
SANTA’S REINDEER (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen
SANDY THE BLUENOSED REINDEER
ACT 1.
SCENES
1. Opening scene The Narrator – Now you’ve asked me to…
2. The Home for almost forgotten children somewhere in the Tropical Islands
3. That ‘ol Pelican Pilot
4. When she woke up it was cold and dark
5. My name is Sandy and I’m Cold!
6. This looks like a job for Santa!
7. So Santa and his Reindeer got something that Christmas they didn’t really want
8. Sometimes somethings
ACT. 2.
SCENES
1. Now remember it was Christmas Eve
2. Everyone loves Toys Toys Toys
3. Once Santa had wrapped his wonderful warm arms around her
4. So Santa had to…
5. As time passed…(Island in the Rainbows)
6. Santa and his crew knew exactly what to do. (Sing a Happy song).
7. It was HOT!
8. The Narrator to finale
9. Curtain Call and…
10. Merry Christmas all over the World
SET LIST
Narrator’s backdrop
The Home for almost forgotten children
Sweet Green Islands in the Beautiful Blue sea.
The North Pole
Santas’s Workshop
Santa’s Sleigh
In the West Indie
SANDY THE BLUE NOSED REINDEER
The Songs:
1. THEME Sandy the Blue Nosed Reindeer
2. A Christmas Present for Santa
3. Sometimes Somethings
4. Lefty Righty
5. Toys toys toys
6. Island in the Rainbows
7. Sing a Happy Song
8. THEME (Reprise) Sandy The Bluenosed Reindeer
9. Merry Christmas All Over The World
AUTHORS NOTE:
I would place The Chorus on stage and utilize parents, teachers or other interested adults in The Chorus as desired. The “magical transformation” from chorus singer to costumed character (when doubling) may add to the fun if it occurs in view of the audience
My staging suggestion is simple, have fun and lots of it!
Merry Christmas!
SANDY THE BLUENOSED REINDEER
Act One
SONG # 1 SANDY THE BLUENOSED REINDEER
(Sung By Chorus, as stage is being set, and lights slowly come up)
CHORUS: And now they’ve made a place for her…
in Reindeer history too…
We’ve all heard of Rudolph, who’s nose was shiny bright
and how he guided Santa’s sleigh through the foggy night
But there’s a little Reindeer who’s nose is icy blue
and now they’ve made a place for her in Reindeer history too.
Sandy is the Reindeer who’s story’s never told
Cause who’d believe a Reindeer didn’t like the cold
Who believes in Reindeer who’s little noses freeze
Shivering and shaking and knocking at the knees.
Then one night it happened down in Port of Spain
the other Reindeer got so hot they started to complain
“Let me help you Santa” her voice was sure and strong
and that’s how Sandy found her way into a Christmas song
Sandy is the Reindeer who’s story’s never told
Cause who’d believe a Reindeer didn’t like the cold
Who believes in Reindeer who’s little noses freeze
Shivering and shaking and knocking at the knees.
Now Sandy leads for Santa, when it’s time to go
Any where around the world that it doesn’t snow
The Boys and Girls all love her y’know. there’s an awful lot
of places in the world where all the Christmas’s are hot
Sandy is the Reindeer who’s story’s never told
Cause who’d believe a Reindeer didn’t like the cold
Who’d believe a Reindeer who’s nose was icy blue
but now they’ve made a place for her in Reindeer history too…
.
Lights come up to reveal THE NARRATOR (Male or Female, characteristics are optional)
THE NARRATOR walks to the front of the stage and speaks directly to the audience.
NARRATOR: Now you’ve asked me to tell you the story of Sandy the Bluenosed Reindeer
and I will …But I’m thinking.. you could also call this story “A Christmas Present for Santa”
Cause she was sent to Santa one Christmas a time ago, by the Girls and Boys in the home for almost forgotten Children, Somewhere in the Tropical Islands.
HOME FOR ALMOST FORGOTTEN CHILDREN, SOME WHERE IN THE TROPICAL ISLANDS ( It’s Christmas Eve and a ragged but cheerful group of Girls and Boys are lovingly brushing and grooming a little Blue Nosed Reindeer, they decorate her with ribbons and bows as they sing.)
SONG #2 “A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR SANTA”
GIRLS AND BOYS: (Alternating lines)
All Because we’ve heard it’s better to give than to receive
Girls Because you never ask for much , except that we believe
All Because you’re such a good soul, and Jolly Jolly too
Girls Because we think that you love us as much as we love you
Boys Because you’re always giving and never never take
All except sometimes a little milk some cookies or some cake
Girls Because she’s so so special,
Boys because it’s Christmas eve
All Because a million times because, Merry Christmas Santa Claus
Girls Up in the sky with his flying Reindeer
Boys Going loop de loop like he doesn’t know fear
Girls Who is the man made of so much fun
Boys He’s willing to share his joy with everyone
UNISON:
Santa it’s you so we thought we would
Send you a present cause you’ve been so good
Kindly and gentle and dear old man, We know you’ll understand
COUNTERPOINT SECTION:
Boys Because we’ve heard it’s better. to give than to receive
Girls Who do we don’t see to say thank you to
Boys Because you never ask for much , except that we believe
Girls Who’s like a dream in a dream that comes true
Boys Because you’re such a good soul, and Jolly Jolly too
Girls Racing the sun to a million places
Boys Because we think that you love us as much as we love you
Girls In every one leaving smiling faces
Boys Because you’re always giving and never never take
Girls Driving a sleigh that no jet is faster
Boys except sometimes a little milk some cookies or some cake
Girls First to get through natural disaster
Boys Because she’s so so special, because it’s Christmas eve
Girls Braving the coldest and hottest weather
Boys Because a million times because, Merry Christmas Santa Claus
Girls Who tries to keep the whole thing together
UNISON:
We’ve sent a Reindeer who’s nose is blue
because we believe she’ll be a help to you
Kindly and gentle and dear old man
we know you’ll understand.
Because a Million times because…
Merry Christmas Santa Clause
NARRATOR: I can just see that old airmail Pelican flying along with his little bundle, wriggling and rolling over to her tummy, foots sticking out front and back, kicking and learning to fly. Foots up, foots down, foots up, foots down, just like you do when you’re learning to swing in the beginning. Foots up, foots down, foots up, can you see her? She’s doing fine… flying along nice and easy and the warm sun shining down on her such a rich chocolate-brown. Shining down on those coconut trees and those sweet green Islands in the beautiful blue sea, just the color of Sandy’s nose.
Like I said I don’t know exactly where they were coming from, but they were going along in the warm for quite some while, and that little Reindeer was kicking foots as strong and as smooth as could be maybe even giving that old Pelican Pilot a rest now and then. Foots up, foots down, foots up.
CHORUS: Sandy is the Reindeer who’s story’s never told cause who’d believe a Reindeer didn’t like the cold
who believes in Reindeer who’s little noses freeze, Shivering and shaking and knocking at the knees
NARRATOR: Y’know, It’s a big and a wide wide world that we live in, and after a time that little Reindeer curled up in her little bundle and took a nap. Just like you little critters do. Maybe she knew where she was going and dreamed a dream or maybe not. I don’t know, but I do know she didn’t know it was going to be cold where she was going, and I do know she didn’t know it would be dark, and that’s just what it was, when she woke up it was cold and dark and she was scared too! Now there’s those Northern lights up there and they light up the sky kind of like a cosmic rainbow so it wasn’t too dark but there’s no electric heaters in the snow
CHORUS: (Comes up under NARRATOR)
Sandy is the Reindeer who’s story’s never told
NARRATOR: (Continues)
and no radiators around the North Pole, so it was cold
Cause who’d believe a Reindeer
and she was shivering and shaking and knocking at the knees
Didn’t like the cold
and if her nose was Blue before,
Who believes in Reindeer
boy, you shoulda’ seen it now
Who’s little noses freeze
That’s just how the other Reindeer first saw her
Shivering and shaking
Standing in the snow, shivering and shaking and knocking like a clock
and knocking at the knees
Her nose was the color of a blueberry popsicle.
DASHER AND DANCER, DONNER AND BLITZEN:
Jumping Jet planes!!
NARRATOR: They said.
COMET AND CUPID AND PRANCER AND VIXEN:
Look at this one, we don’t believe it.
DASHER AND DANCER, DONNER AND BLITZEN, COMET AND CUPID AND PRANCER AND VIXEN:
This looks like a job for Santa!
CHORUS:
Who believes in Reindeer, who’s little noses freeze,
Shivering and shaking and knocking at the knees
NARRATOR: So BLITZEN zoomed over to Santa’s house and got him!
SANTA: Jumping jet planes!
NARRATOR: Said Santa.
MIZ CLAUS: Oh Santa!
NARRATOR: Said Miz CLAUS
SANTA: I don’t remember asking for a Bluenosed Reindeer
NARRATOR: Said Santa
SANTA: I’ve never even heard of a Bluenosed Reindeer
DASHER AND DANCER, DONNER AND BLITZEN, COMET AND CUPID AND PRANCER AND VIXEN:We’ve never heard of a Bluenosed Reindeer either
NARRATOR: Said the other Reindeer
SANTA: Who ever heard of a Bluenosed Reindeer?
DASHER AND DANCER, DONNER AND BLITZEN, COMET AND CUPID AND PRANCER AND VIXEN: We all know the Red nosed one
SANTA: But a Blue nosed one?
DASHER AND DANCER, DONNER AND BLITZEN, COMET AND CUPID AND PRANCER AND VIXEN: No!
MIZ CLAUS: Never!
SANTA, MIZ CLAUS AND THE REINDEER: None!
SANDY: (In a trembly little voice) My name is SANDY, an.. I’m Cold!
NARRATOR: Said the mizzable little critter
SANTA: Swooping satellites!
NARRATOR: Said Santa
SANTA: Who ever heard of a Reindeer that didn’t like the cold? I didn’t ask for a Reindeer that didn’t like the cold…
MIZ CLAUS: Santa , she’s cold
NARRATOR: Said Miz Claus
MIZ CLAUS: And her little nose is Blue, she’s shivering and shaking and knocking at the knees. What are we gonna’ do?
SANTA: Let’s take her in the house!
NARRATOR: Said Santa Claus
MIZ CLAUS: Poor little shivery shaking Bluenosed thing…
NARRATOR: Said Miz Claus.
CHORUS: (In background) Sandy is the Reindeer who’s story’s never told
DASHER AND DASHER AND PRANCER AND VIXEN: Did you see that?
CHORUS: Cause who’d believe a Reindeer
NARRATOR : Said DASHER AND DASHER AND PRANCER AND VIXEN
CHORUS: Didn’t like the cold
COMET AND CUPID AND DONNER AND BLITZEN: Santa didn’t ask for a Bluenosed Reindeer that doesn’t like the cold!
CHORUS: Who believes in Reindeer who’s little noses freeze
COMET AND CUPID AND DONNER AND BLITZEN: We wanted some rocket packs!
NARRATOR : Said COMET AND CUPID AND DONNER AND BLITZEN
CHORUS: Shivering and shaking
DASHER AND DASHER AND PRANCER AND VIXEN: Say, where’d she come from anyway.
CHORUS: and knocking at the knees
NARRATOR : So Santa and his Reindeer got something that Christmas they hadn’t asked for, maybe didn’t really want, and sure didn’t think they’d ever need. That’s how it is sometimes, we don’t get what we want but we do get what we need, and don’t even know it. It happens to me ,
I’ll bet it happens to you too… sometimes.
SONG #3 SOMETIMES SOMETHINGS (Sung by Narrator)
Sometimes something happens in a funny way
something we think shouldn’t happen anyway
Sometimes something happens that we didn’t plan
Something sometimes that we barely understand
Sometimes it won’t help something to try and guess
Somethings we know sometimes happen for the best.
Sometimes something hides the sun and clouds the sky
Something passing as we let sometime go by
Sometimes something disappoints us bringing pain
Rainbows wouldn’t happen if it didn’t rain
Sometimes something happens to us we forget
Something sometimes we don’t know the good part yet.
End Act One
Act Two
NARRATOR: Now remember it was Christmas Eve, and Santa and Miz Claus and all of Santa’s reindeer and helpers and all of Santa’s friends, had quite a bit to do…
SONG # 4 LEFTY RIGHTY BLACKIE AND WHITEY (Sung by Santa and his Elves)
SANTA: Lefty Righty Blackie and Whitey
ELVES: Working together with Santa Clause
SANTA: Brownie Yellow Shorty and Longfellow
ELVES: Working together well just because
SANTA: They want to show it can be done
SANTA AND ELVES: Working together’s lots of fun
ELVES: Lefty Righty Blackie and Whitey
SANTA: If little elves can do it so can we
ELVES: Brownie Yellow Shorty and Longfellow
SANTA AND ELVES: Everybody’s one big family
SONG # 5 TOYS TOYS TOYS (Sung by Santa’s Elves)
Toys toys toys toys – toys toys toys toys
Every one loves toys toys toys
Way up here in Santa’s shop, when we start we never stop
Cause every toy’s a thing of joy and every body wants a toy
Arche wants an aeroplane, Billy wants a ‘’lectric train
Carrie wants more Star Wars stuff, Children just can’t get enough
Toys toys toys toys, Every one loves toys toys toys
Drucie wants a doll that walks, Ellie wants a doll that talks
Frankie wants a baseball bat, Sister Gale a football hat
Holly wants a new doll house, Izzy wants a rubber mouse
Jamesy wants a teddy bear, Katie wants a game that’s fair!
Imagine a world without toys, An awf-’ly boring place
not much fun for girls and boys
But don’t be sad cause it’s ok There’s something we could do about it
everybody sing and shout it! Toys..
LITTLEST ELF: (Just learning his manners yells to the others) Hey! Shouting’s not polite
dont’cha know that?
SANTA: Hmm… Ok then every body sing! Toys toys toys toys, all we want is toys toys toys.
Way up here in Santa’s shop, when we start we never stop
Cause every toy’s a thing of joy and every body wants a toy
Lele wants a two wheel trike, Maggie wants a three wheel bike
Nattie wants and ice cream truck, Orvil wants an Easter duck
Poonah wants a boxing glove Queenie wants a fish to love Roscoe wants a jumping rope, Sarah wants a microscope
Tito wants a frog that sings, Uta wants a magic ring
Virgil wants an oogie board, Wanda wants a pirate sword
Xosa wants a kite that hums, Yone wants a kettle drum
Ziggy wants a cash machine, a racehorse and a Limousine
SANTA: (Looking perplexed) A cash machine? a racehorse? a Limousine?
ElVES : Toys toys toys toys – toys toys toys toys
Every one loves toys toys toys!
NARRATOR: Now once Santa had wrapped his wonderful warm arms around her,
Sandy wouldn’t let him put her down for anything. So Santa had to
check all his lists, get his Reindeer reined,
Pack up his sleigh, thank all his helpers,
give Miz Clause her see you later kiss and take off.. With a baby bluenosed Reindeer in his arms.
Then he had to, drive his sleigh, carry his bag
climb down chimneys, fill stockings, sort and set out presents,
eat his cookies, sip his cocoa and get back up chimneys with a baby bluenosed Reindeer in his arms. If you saw Santa that Christmas you know that one Christmas a time ago, he had a baby bluenosed Reindeer in his arm when he came to your house.
CHORUS: (In background) Sandy is the Reindeer who’s story’s never told
Cause who’d believe a Reindeer… didn’t like the cold
NARRATOR: As time passed. nobody knew what in the world Sandy was doing up at Santa’s workshop. She wanted to be wanted but what good could she really do? Shiverin’ and shakin’ and knocking little Elves off of shelves and all, wherd’d she fit in? It looked like every thing she did was wrong.
SONG # 6 ISLAND IN THE RAINBOWS (Sung by Sandy and Santa)
SANDY:
There’s a place that I know
that I sure wish I could go
Far away, it’s an Island in the Rainbows
Somewhere far across the sea
I can hear it calling me
But I can”t go it’s an Island in the Rainbow
Rainbow days… far away,
Green and Gold and Purple too
Rosy Red, Yellow and Blue
SANTA: How I wish that I knew it were true
SANDY AND SANTA: Maybe someday you and me
we could fly across the sea
see if there could be
an Island in the Rainbows
SANDY: Rainbow days… far away,
Green and Gold and Purple too
Rosy Red, Yellow and Blue
I wish I could show it to you
SANDY AND SANTA: Maybe someday you and me
we could fly across the sea
see if there could be
an Island in the Rainbows…
NARRATOR: She sure was feeling bad , but Santa and his crew knew exactly what to do!
SONG #7 SING A HAPPY SONG (Santa, Miz Claus all the Reindeer and Elves and Joined by Sandy at the end)
I’ve got a secret that I’ll share with you
because it’s something that we all can do
when I’ve got troubles and my world is blue
I just sing a happy song.
Sing a happy song, then things won’t seem so wrong
sing a happy song
Sing a happy song, the world will sing along sing
a happy song
Great grand father’s bedroom drapes were drawn,
we thought for sure the dear old boy was gone,
but just as Grandma sighed “Poor Grandpa’s died
he cried… Sing a happy song!
SANTA: All together now!
Sing a happy song, one I can sing along
sing a happy song
Sing a happy song,then things won’t seem so wrong
sing a happy song
( INSTRUMENTAL DANCE SECTION (Everyone))
SANTA: And a one and a two and a three.Everybody
Sing a happy song, then things won’t seem so wrong
sing a happy song
Sing a happy song, the world will sing along
sing a happy song…
NARRATOR: By the next year Sandy’d gotten too big to carry all the time just like you have, but she still went everywhere that Santa did, so naturally she jumped shiverin’ and shakin’ right into Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve and off they went, and the further south they went the less and less she shivered, and the more warm it became the less and less she shook, and by the time they got to Port of Spain, Trinidad, in the West Indies , it was hot!
DASHER, DANCER PRANCER AND VIXEN: SHEEEESHHH!
NARRATOR: Said DASHER, DANCER PRANCER AND VIXEN.
COMET, CUPID, DONNER AND BLITZEN: We’re worn out, we can’t go another step!
NARRATOR: Said COMET, CUPID, DONNER AND BLITZEN.
SANDY: (With Chorus) Let me help you Santa.
NARRATOR: (With Chorus) Her voice was sure and strong
SANTA: Jumping Jet planes!
NARRATOR: Said Santa
SANTA: Now I know where you belong!
NARRATOR WITH OS CHORUS:
Now Sandy leads for Santa when it’s time to go
any where around the world that it doesn’t snow
NARRATOR: (With CHORUS under) And the other Reindeer love her cause
there’s an awful lot of Reindeer that get tired when the goings gotten hot!
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) Sandy is the Reindeer whose story’s never told
NARRATOR: Y’know sometimes if we have a hard time when we’re little
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) Cause who’d believe a Reindeer didn’t like the cold
NARRATOR: It helps us to understand when others are having a hard time too, and then
maybe we can help them
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) Who believes in Reindeer
NARRATOR: That’s how Sandy is,
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) who’s little noses freeze.
NARRATOR: She knows how it feels to be cold and scared and lonely
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) shiverin’ and shakin’ and knocking at the knees
NARRATOR: and it makes her feel real good to help Santa bring happiness and joy
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) Sandy is the Reindeer
NARRATOR: to girls and boys all around the world
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) who’s story’s never told
NARRATOR: big girls and boys too!
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) Cause who’d believe a reindeer
NARRATOR: Santa doesn’t forget us just because we grow up you know.
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) didn’t like the cold
NARRATOR: So Sandy turned out to be
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) Who’d believe a Reindeer
NARRATOR: a wonderful Christmas present for Santa ,
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) who’s nose was icy Blue
NARRATOR: he didn’t know he wanted, NARRATOR:but he’s really glad he got
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) But now they’ve made a place for her
NARRATOR: Sandy the Bluenosed reindeer
CHORUS: (Under NARRATOR) In Reindeer….
NARRATOR: who’s happy when it’s hot!
CHORUS: (Up for big ending) history too…….
NARRATOR: I wonder how they knew Santa needed a Bluenosed Reindeer anyway…
SONG #8 REPRISE (repeat) THEME: SANDY THE BLUE NOSED REINDEER
We’ve all heard of Rudolph, who’s nose was shiny bright
and how he guided Santa’s sleigh through the foggy night
But there’s a little Reindeer who’s nose is icy blue
and now they’ve made a place for her in Reindeer history too.
Sandy is the Reindeer who’s story’s never told
Cause who’d believe a Reindeer didn’t like the cold
Who believes in Reindeer who’s little noses freeze
Shivering and shaking and knocking at the knees.
Then one night it happened down in Port of Spain
the other Reindeer got so hot they started to complain
“Let me help you Santa” her voice was sure and strong
and that’s how Sandy found her way into a Christmas song
Sandy is the Reindeer who’s story’s never told
Cause who’d believe a Reindeer didn’t like the cold
Who believes in Reindeer who’s little noses freeze
Shivering and shaking and knocking at the knees.
Now Sandy leads for Santa, when it’s time to go
Any where around the world that it doesn’t snow
The Boys and Girls all love her y’know. there’s an awful lot
of places in the world where all the Christmas’s are hot
Sandy is the Reindeer who’s story’s never told
Cause who’d believe a Reindeer didn’t like the cold
Who’d believe a Reindeer who’s nose was icy blue
but now they’ve made a place for her in Reindeer history too…
Curtain Calls
OPTIONAL
NARRATOR: (to audience) And now here’s a Christmas Present for you!
SONG # 9 ENTIRE CAST:
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL OVER THE WORLD
Merry Christmas all over the world
(Christmas time Christmas Time)
Yes it’s Christmas all over the world
North and South (night so different from the rest)
East and west (special night we love the best)
CHORUS: Ahh – ahhh – ahhh – ahhh – ahhh
SPOKEN: Gladelig Jul, Feliz Navidad, Joy-ah Noel
CHORUS: Ahh – ahhh – ahhh – ahhh – ahhh
SPOKEN:Sheng tang qui-lo, Bon Natale, Jeradvum Kristnovum
CHORUS: Merry Christmas all over the world
SPOKEN: In every corner of the Earth, Man celebrates a child’s birth
CHORUS: Christmas time, Christmas time
SPOKEN: and sings the heart of human kind, and shines the light of love divine
CHORUS: Yes it’s Christmas all over the world
SPOKEN: That the children who are the children who were and the children who will be
CHORUS: Christmas time, Christmas time
SPOKEN: Forever have in memory this magical miracle night so good that is peace and love and brother hood
CHORUS: Merry Christmas all over the world
Christmas time, Christmas time
Yes it’s Christmas all over the world
Every where the soft wind blows, every where that Jack Frost goes
CHORUS: Ahh – ahhh – ahhh – ahhh – ahhh
SPOKEN: Fraulacht Wil-nachten, Bly-gee Kirstdagen, Meli Kalekemaka
CHORUS: Ahh – ahhh – ahhh – ahhh – ahhh
SPOKEN: Hari Natal, Gaha Christnasto, Tanoshee Karitsumasi
CHORUS: Merry Christmas all over the world
SPOKEN: Faraha Malingi Karitmasi
CHORUS: Merry Christmas all over the world…
SPOKEN: Mara-id al-mi-lad, Alice Changa mi lad ha note sri..
SPOKEN: (All) Merry Christmas…We love you Santa!
The End
If you are interested, you will find individual MP3′s for the individual songs, at http://www.lilfishrecords.com
Book 3. Merry Christmas All Over The World.
Book 3. Merry Christmas All Over The World.
Christmas is a comin’ and this will be the last of the “Sandy The Bluenosed Reindeer” Postings for this year. We will be releasing the Brand New “LIVE” CD Scott Fagan And The MAAC Island Band “Shake A Bum” on New Years Eve. It’s a good one and it’s kept me very very busy these past number of weeks. I’ll be posting some mp3’s from the new album very soon.
I’d like to wish every one a most wonderful Christmas and the best New Year ever!
Here’s “Merry Christmas All Over The World” which expresses that sentiment in as many languages as I could find, including (among many others) Esperanto, Chinese, Hawaiian, Danish, Arabic and Hebrew.
God Bless us each and every one!
Book 3. “Sandy The Bluenosed Reindeer”
Book 3. “Sandy The Bluenosed Reindeer”
Dear Friends,
Many of you may not be familiar with “Sandy The Bluenosed Reindeer” the song, or the Operetta. Here is the song, and, over the next few weeks I will post the complete Operetta.
How well I remember being a little fellow “doun Nisky School” doing the annual Christmas Quadrille with the beautiful little Maeling Joseph. We were surrounded by, or rather, wrapped in the love and care of the rough-hewn but sainted Nisky community, and the larger less rough-hewn but no less sainted..(at least at Christmas time)..St. Thomas community. I loved our Christmas customs, cakes, tarts, people gathering, the singing, the foreday morning Fungi Bands, our local hand-made Angels, ornaments and paper chains and not least (especially when fully decked out) our beautiful local Christmas Trees that (yes, like people all over the world)…we had to go “tru de bush” to find, cut down and carry home.
However, I felt that the warm weather world and little girls were under represented in the larger picture, and I set out to change that as best I could (as you’ll see). I hope that you will enjoy “Sandy The Bluenosed Reindeer” and perhaps share her with your family and friends.
You can find the complete CD Here www.sandythebluenosedreindeer.com
and the song right here!
Sandy The Bluenosed Reindeer
We’ve all heard of Rudolph, whose nose was shiny bright
And how he guided Santa’s sleigh through the foggy night
But there’s a little Reindeer whose nose is icy blue
And now they’ve made a place for her in Reindeer history too.
Sandy is the Reindeer whose story’s never told
Cause who’d believe a Reindeer didn’t like the cold
Who believes in Reindeer whose little noses freeze
Shivering and shaking and knocking at the knees.
Then one night it happened down in Port of Spain
The other Reindeer got so hot they started to complain
“Let me help you Santa” her voice was sure and strong
And that’s how Sandy found her way into a Christmas song
Sandy is the Reindeer who’s story’s never told
Cause who’d believe a Reindeer didn’t like the cold
Who believes in Reindeer who’s little noses freeze
Shivering and shaking and knocking at the knees.
Now Sandy leads for Santa, when it’s time to go
Any where around the world that it doesn’t snow
The Boys and Girls all love her y’know. there’s an awful lot
Of places in the world where all the Christmas’s are hot
Sandy is the Reindeer whose story’s never told
Cause who’d believe a Reindeer didn’t like the cold
Who’d believe a Reindeer whose nose was icy blue
But now they’ve made a place for her
In Reindeer history too…
www.sandythebluenosedreindeer.com
Words and Music By Scott Fagan, Scott Fagan Music ASCAP
Book 4. Encore, Granfaddah Buckra An De Bo’ Hog!
Book 4. Encore, Granfaddah Buckra An De Bo’ Hog!
Next week, the Barnd new LIVE CD “Scott Fagan and The MAAC Island Band” Shake A Bum! will be coming out…in the meantime I’ve been asked to reprise the POSTING of Granfaddah Buckra An De Bo’ Hog. so.. Here it tis! The Buckra CD is available right now at www.thecollectedworksofscottfagan.com imagine finding Granfaddah Buckra an De Bo’ Hog laying under your tree on Christmas Morning. Good Lord! Double Good Lord!
Book 4. Encore, Granfaddah Buckra An De Bo’ Hog!
Well… now it happen so dat Granhaddah Buckra had de biggest, de schupides, de ugliest, de stinkis, de noisiest and de nastyiest Bo Hog anybody had evah seen..
de Buckra liked to call him King George, and he loved dat Bo Hog like a Bruddah.
One day de neighbor dem come sae…,
“Buckra, you know Black people is good people, an de don mine if yu wan tu live wid dem an roun dem an side a dem oh undah neet a dem oh on top a dem or all in de middle an in between a dem excepin’ when dat big stinkin ugly’ bo’ hog of yours own “dat yu likes tu call King George”, du knock doun he pig pen “dat yu likes tu call he Castle of King George” an wha yu set up right in de middle a de yad, dat yu likes tu call “de Kingdom of King George” when dat Bo’ hog come rootin up in every body business all ovah de yad, an throwin’ doun de cloths line wid all de chirren dem clean clothes on it, an rootin’ up an rollin up in all de woman dem clean panty, rootin up and rollng ovah doung in de dutty mud an stinkin’ up de place an oinkin up de place an squealin up de place like de las pig outta hell an wakin’ up all de people dem in de yad which of late has happen almos every single night a de week an twice on Sunday,
An Buckra, like we say, yu kno black people is good people an we don mine, but Buckra, Oh GOD Buckra,.we tink is time you should go live among yu own kine”..
“Me own kine?” sae de Buckra, “me own kine? Wha kina kine yu tink is me own kine?”
De boldest of de Neighbah dem sae “we have contemplated and conclude you should go live doun in Cha Cha tuun”,
“Cha Cha toun?: Say de Buckra, “Cha Cha Toun?”
“Yes sah Buckra we have decided that you should go live wid de res a dem Cha Cha doun in Cha Cha toun”
“Yu tink oy is a Cha cha? Yu tink oy is a Cha Cha? Yu loy, yu loy! Yu don kno I is a white man? I ain no Cha Cha, yu Muddah is a Cha Cha!”
No no! de uddah Neighbah say, no no not a Cha Cha, St. Thomas ain ga no Cha Cha no more, We doesn use that expression no more, she mean tu sae you should go live wid de res a dem doun Carenage..ers doun in Carenage..
“Carenage? Carenage? Who yu callin a Carenage? yu Muddah is aa Carenage!”
“No No Mistah Buckra, das de Frenchie dem way tu say French Toun,”
“French Toun? French Toun? Yu tink I should go live in French Toun?”
“Yes sah Mistah Buckra, Everybody in de yad say yu is a Balahoo.. Das why yu should go livewid de res a de balahoo dem doun in Cha Cha, ah mean French ah mean Carenage Toun!”
Anuddah neibah pipe in
“Yes man yu keeian see how it is? Guana should live wid Guana, Mongoose should live wid Mongoose, Guava don grow onna Cenep Tree and yu should be wid de res a de Frenchie, Doun in Frenchie Toun”
De Buckra hot now, he say “Guana? Guana? Who yu callin a Guana? Yu muddah is a Guana!”
“Not a Guana}, de neighbah sae, “not a Guana, yu is a Frenchie”.
“Oy? Oy? You schupid oh sumting? Yu damn forward AN schupiddy Oy ain no Frenchie, Oy Is a white man yu talking to… Any body cou see I is a white man,.. wha wrang wid yu, anybody cou see Buckra De Paehae is a white man!”
“Buckra”, (say de very darkest a de neighbah dem) “Buckra, If you is a white man I is a Frenchie, if yu is a white man, why we don hear yu Yankin, Buckra, why we don hear yu yankin?”
“Yankin? Yankin?” Sae de Buckra, “yu want tu hear me Yankin?”
“Ok den.
“AYHMM COME FRUM ALABAMA, WID A BANJO ON MAH KNEE, BUT NOW AH MMM JES A SAILOR IN THE U.S NAYVEE”
“Yu see wha ah tell yu? Yu see wha ah tell yu?” De neighbah sae, “he ain no white man, he ain no white man. He keeian yank! Bou he is a white man, a white man wha keeian Yank? Yu evah see a white man wha keeian yank? De Buckra ain no white man, he is nuttin’ but a mushay! Ah say Sen im doun French Town!”
“Oh yeah” say de Buckra, “Oh Yeah? Ok, den.. AH KIN SEE AHMM A GONNA HALF TA TALK REAL SERIOUS TU YAALLS SO YALL’S GONNA KNOW DAT YU IS TALKIN’ WID A BIG TIME AN IMPORTANT WHITE MAN WHEN YU IS DEALING WID DE BUCKRA…
NAH AHM A GONNA TELL YA SUNPIN, AH DON’T LIKE DE WAY SOMEFOLKS IS BEEN HARASSIN’ AN HOG TIEIN’ MY GOOD KING GEORGE THE PO’K SWINE WID YER CLOTHLINES EVERY NIGHT AN AHMM A GITTIN’ TIURD AH TELLIN YA SO,
BUT JUS SOS, DERES NO HARD FEELINS,AN DIS DON’T BECOME SOME KINA FUGE, AH RECKON AHMM A GONNA PACK UP MAH SADDLEBAGS AN TAKE MA HERD, AH MEAN MA BO’HOAWAWG, AN MOSEY ON DOUN WEST”.
“Yes Yes, Buckra” de neighbah dem say, “yes yes das de bes ting Buckra, mosey on doun west to Cha Cha toun”…
An Me Boy, das when de REAL trouble start!
Buckra and de Bo’ Hog went straight doun to French Town an walk right in to de famous Normandy Bah, it wa round 11 a clock in de mawnin so naturally de place wa almos full. Half a de man dem wa teachin’ high school and mos a de legislatue was doun dare tu get a good head start on de day. Plus a few Sailah Man…
Now de Buckra had done make up he mine dat he ain talking no mo Island talk, because he ain wan nobody to make no mo mistake bou de fac dat he is a white man through an through, from den on he Yankin straight,
Well… maybe a white man wid a lil someting else throw in in dare but all de same de Buckra say he Yankin’ straight.
“WAL MA GOOD FRENCHIE FELLOW” he say to de lil bahman “ LEMME HAVE DE BES RED SODA DAT YOU GOT IN DE PLACE AN PLUS AH WANTS TU RENT A LIL HOUSE FROM Y’ALL DOUN IN DIS HEAH FRENCH TOWN”
Dat time a man name Magras, sae “Hey, hey wait meson wait, Wha yu tink yu goin wid dat Bo hog?” Dis is de Narmandy Bah, only de bes a people cu come in in side a heah an we don deal wid no Bo Hag doun French Toun , We is fishah man doug here, RIDERS ON THE SEA! You in de wrang place me boy, yu bettah go Nart side whea yu cou join up wid de res a dem RIDERS ON A DONKEY, an fuddah mo you ain no Frenchie! You mubbee som kina doublebreed Daneman ana Putto Rician from Sain Croix!”
All dis time three or fo drunken Sailah done feed King George de Bo Hog mo dan a quart ana half a rum and coke, chase down wid bou five or six cold schafah beer me boy, and de Bo Hog feelin’ it now.
“OINK! OINK! SQUEEE! SQUEEE! OINK! OINK! SQUEEE! SQUEEE!” Say de Bo Hog.
Den he take off running roung and roung in de Normandy Bah, tunnin up and knockin doun table a chair, lef and right, all ovah de place, dis time he change he tune he bawling out “ SQUEEYAW! SQUEEYAW! OINK OINK! SQUEEYAW! SQUEEYAW!” De nex ting yu know de Bo Hog stop, an start tu swing and sway. He open he eye dem wide wide and den… he vomit up a Green an Yellow tidal wave of de wus stinkin frat full a ole drawers and panty yu evah see.
De sailah dem killing dey self wid de laugh, but de Frenchie dem don tink it’s so funny ah tall…
Well me boy, Buckra an de Bo Hog had tu haul dey “humpf” outta French Town, man dey two a dem run straight an all de way up Demarara Gut through mo jackspania and catchankee… dem boy ain stop til de reach de very top a Crown an some ways doun de uddah side. An dats how Buckra and de Bo Hag fus arrive in Nelteburg.
But befo yu know it dat Bo’ Hog King George wa makin trouble an terrorizing de poor people dem out dare, rooting up in de peppah patch and knockin doun de cloths line.. well until he disappeared one day.
Some people say King George de Bo’ Hog decided tu go St. John an is de Faddah and de Granfaddah of mos a de wus a de wile pig an even some a de wile donkey dem harassin de people dem up dare in St. John,
Som uddah people say dem Nart side French man finally get tu hol de Bo’ hog,, an had de biggis roas pig of all time, evah dat Bastille Day doun Hull bay,
But mos of all a taxi man say he know fo a fac dat dem boy from de Agricultural Station out Doriteea catch King George an dress him up like a touris an put him onna touris boat, an nobody didn’t notice de difference between he an de res a dem til’ dey reach back Florida me boy.
I don kno about dat, but de part I tell yu, is wha happen an das de trut, de whole trut, an nuttin but de trut… So help me Miss Gearty!
POST 73. Book 4. “The Buckra CD” And Book 4. “When Buckra De Paehae Went Tu Go Tu De States”
POST 73. Book 4. “The Buckra CD” And Book 4. “When Buckra De Paehae Went Tu Go Tu De States”
We have, or rather, while we are right in the middle of compleating our LIVE Scott Fagan And The MAAC Island Band CD “Shake A Bum” We have sent out a few Demos of the new “Buckra De Paehae” CD (Titled “Introducing The Virgin Islands Own “Buckra De Paehae”) while the Demos are out, we are finishing up the cover and will be releasing the CD as early in November as possible.
Three of the eight recordings are LIVE in concert preformances at The J. Antonio Jarvis Museum in Pollyburg, St. Thomas V.I. and capture some of the fun that the audience and I had in presenting and hearing the Buckra material for the very first time.
What a joy it is for me to hear the home folks laughing so heartily. Further, what a pleasure for me to know that some of our own Virgin Island charactors, with their wonderful and profoundly human silliness played out against our own colorful local settings, are not only recorded for posterity, but are alive and well and abroad in the world. I absolutely love that.
As a child I was bothered with why we in the Islands had only things imported and made by someone else somewhere else, why didn’t we make our own things?
At the very least our own music, our own records, our own books, poetry and liturature. Why weren’t our own cultural artists represented on the world stage? I determined to do all I could to change that. I wanted us on the map for things other than cheap rum and trinkets at free port prices.
I have been recording for forty seven years now and have fought to make my way as a “white” artist from a primarily black society. I’ve never pretemded to be a child of Africa, but I am most certainly a child of the criss cross crazy quilt of cultures everpresent in the Virgin Islands and the West Indies at large. I have sought to make my own unique contribution to the music and the liturature.
I wanted to lift us up, I wanted our local children and young people (and every one else for that matter), to know and see and believe that that we were as good and bright, as inventivly creative and worthy as any children of any people anywhere ever, because we are.
Hopefully, beyond the laughs and enjoyment inherent in hearing our own people and places referenced, the Buckra works will further stimulate the idea that indeed we DO have the good goods here in the Islands and can contribute and compete at a world class level.
PS I am not unaware of the irony inherent in the idea of “Buckra De Paehae” as an anbassador to the world. However, De Buckra is a universal reminder that every people every where have their own brand of, (as Brownie – Irving “Brownie” Brown of WSTA Radio ST. Thomas) says, “good good schupidness”!
I want to express and acknowledge that Buckra De Paehae is directly inspired by Ron Delugo’s beloved “Mango Jones,” Brownies “Uncle Walter” and Ms. Arona Peterson’s long running Daily News Column “Undah De Market” I thank each of these Virgin Islanders for their inspriation and I hope that Buckra De Paehae will in turn, encourage more and more Virgin Islanders of every age, to shoot for the sky in their own creative efforts.
Now, having said all of that, here is another Buckra recording that I hope you will enjoy. One titled:
“When Buckra De Paehae Went Tu Go Tu De States”
“Man one day I look around ana realize all me fren dem, every las one a alla dem boy, done gan to de states..an so I sae to me self, ah sae “Buckra you bettah go see wha goin on up in de states to see if yu want to join up wid dem up dae an become one a dem freshwater Yankee jus like de res a dem boy.”
Well me boy, de trouble start, when ah went down to de travel office to buy me plane ticket, De white woman sittin doun in dare sae “May I help yu?” Ah say yes Mum, ah wan to go to de states. De woman say, “where would you like to go?” Ah say, ah say, ah would likes to go to de states, de woman say fine, where do you want to go, Ah say wha wrang wid yu you keeyan undahstan English? Yu bettah don frig me up, Ah sae ah wants tu go tu the states S.T.A.T.S. de states, de states! Wha wrang wid yu? Is yu schupid o sumtin?
Wid dat de woman went in de back an come back out wid a big strang bighead jackass of a island man. He say..yu wan me bilge in yu ass fo yu? Wha yu come in here tu frigg up de people dem fa,.. yu bettah scat yu ass befo ah broke it up in splinters!
Wha? ah say wa? Yu kno who yu talking to like dat? Ah say I is a man wha come in here to pay Kole keash to go tu de states an yu going on like a jack ass wid me? Wha wrang wid yu, ah say ah wan to go tu de states, yu nevah heard a de place?
Jus den de woman squeaky lil voice pipe up from in de back, she sae “ask the Idiot where he wants to go to, you’ll see” So de Islan man say “Whey ‘tis yu wan tu go” Now de Buckra starting tu ge frigup, yu know ha ah mean?
How many times ah gat u tell dese schupiddy people whae it is ah wan tu go?
Ah say ah wan to go tu de states! De man come up close close and he say “look yu schupid buckra, Don’t you know that there is more than one state in de states?”
Ah say more dan one state? more dan one state? of course I kno dares more dan one state. wha wrang wid yu, yu tink I don kno about Englan and France? but I wan tu go see dem boy in de united state.
De woman in de back call out, “call the cops, Renwick, nobody can’t be that stupid”
Ah sae who de hell yu callin schupid.. is yu don’t know how to sell a plane ticket tu go to de states, Ahh yu cou kiss me royal red bate me boy, I gan frum here!
An wid dat ah leave ou de place, ana went straight ovah to de seaplane. De fus man wha ah see ovah dae ah sae, tell me something my good fellow, does ah yu know how to fin de states? De man sae of course, but dis plane goin Sain Croix, ah sae but if ah gon ge yu me good money tu go tu de states, yu can’t tun around de plane an go to de states?
De man sae, wha wrang wid yu, yu drunk o something?
Ah sae no man it too early fo dat, I only had bout tree or four..tu start off de day…de man sae “My dear fellow,.. yu bettah go down tu de airport and tell dem people whae yu wan tu go..ah tink dey gon know exactly wha to do fo yu.
So ah pick up me suitcase, ana wen doun de road lookin fo de airpoat, Boy when ah reach up tu de top a China Man Hill, ah cou see how de ting dem change up, almost alla China Man Hill,.. gan from China man Hill, Ah stop a fellow ana say “Hey meson, Wha happen to de whole a doun de road, wha happen tu de China Man dem? whey all dey people dem fum Nisky gane?,
An “OhGodee”, ah sae, look wha happen tu Sara Hill!
De whole a Sara Hill what was dare since de Island get belch up from de bottom of de deep blue sea, is gan, ah sae Tell me man, ah gotta know, wha goin on doun here?
De man sae, “No entiendo, meson I no speakiddy de englee”Ah SaeWha? I mubbe gan Poto Rico.
When ah did finally arrive at whea de Harry S. Truman airport suppose tu be, ah see all kina ting, but what I don see is de Harry S. Truman airport,
Ah see a kina fatty woman livin in a smally smally lil house right in de middle a de road, de woman stannin up wid she hand out side de door beggin money from de car dem, an every onea dem stopping to ge she some, Ladee me boy, Oy ain nevah see noting like dat an look a joke, I ain even reach close to de states yet
But de ting wha ah keean see is de terminal, de big ol hangah place whey de steelban dem used to be bawlin blood for we cu dance an wuk up wid dem Puerto Rican Gurl when de come fo Carnival! Ah hol ah man ana sae “Hey, wha goin an here meson, wha dey hidin’ de airport?” He sae “Allah Akbar? Abdoul Ab Salamm, Abdoul Ab Salamm..
De fatty woman sae, look ovah de hill man, look ovah de hill.
Lemme tell yu something, all I wan tu du is gemme plane ticket tu go tu de states tu see dem boy an fine out if I wantu join up wid de fresh watah yankee dem, but not only doan nobody know how tu sell a plane ticket tu de states, but now dey gan an change up de name and move de airport. Yu sure dis is dey way every body does get tu de states? Lard if is so had tu go, imagin how hard it mus be tu come back, wha yu tink?
Meson when ah finally reach dung, tu de place wha dey suppose tu be selling de ticket dem, ah sae “ah wan tu buy a plane ticket tu de states” de woman sae “Ok where are yu goin” Ah sae Oh lard don’t tell me dis is dat again, ah sae Ah wan tu go tu de states! Wha wrang wid alyu people, ah wan yu go tu de states!
Den de woman sae, ok which state. Now dis is one Islan woman wha mussa had good states side training because das de fus time any body ask me dat question, ana wan yu know I were ready wid me ansah, Ah sae ah wan tu go to de place wha name Miami, Atlanta, Florida, New Yawk, because das whea alla dem boy is.
She sae I’m sorry, that’s impossible, there is no such place. I sae Yu lie, Yu Lie, Yu big bum ting yu, ah catch yu now, yu lie, das whea alaldem boy gan, wha wrang wid allyu crazy people, Ah sae, gimme me plane ticket an don frig me up no mo o I’ll broke off me foot in yu Batey!!
When she hear dat De woman eye dem open wide wide and she say “of course Mr. Buckra De Paehae, just one moment please, wait here, I know exactly who can help you.
Ah sae now yu talking, dis is de way yu suppose tu treat a man who is all dress up an goin to de states.
Jus den two man hooks me up from behine, dey grab on tu de back a me pants an lif me up straight up in de air, me pants went up in me bum til ah had tu bawl out “Oh God Ah Dead, ah give up, ah give up! Den dey grab me han an me foot an thro me in de back like two hundred poun a wet sal fish.
All dis time all de touris dem laughing me boy, ana hear one a de chrerenn dem sae “Mommy whats the matter with that man?” De muddah sae “Nothin dear that’s just what too much rum and hot sun’ll do to ya, an thats exactly what’ll happen to your blasted Father if we don’t get ‘im back to Baltimore right away”
When De man dem thro me doun, de bigges one sae
“C’mon now Buckrat boy, let’s hear some more of your noisy big lip about what you’re gonna do wid yer foot, an who your gonna do it to”
Ah sae Oh God, Oh God ah give up, ah give up, ah change me moine sah, ah change me moine, I ain want tu go tu de states, ah change me moine, ah wan tu go home.
Walll… De man sae “It’s too late fer that Buckrat, ya crazy little weasel, you’re goin ta Guantanamo wid the rest a dem terrorists. Ah sae “Oh Godee Oh Godee!, Ah give up Sah Ah Give up Sah!
Man, ah had tu beg dem, an beg dem, an beg dem boy tu loose me, an when de finally lemme getaway, Lord me boy, ah ain stop til ah pass Demarara. Wen ah catch meself, ah sae “Buckra, It look like yu bettah tell one a dem boy in de states tu sen doun a ticket fo yu, if dey wan yu come up tu play fresh watah yankee wid dem. An when dey sen doun me ticket, das how de Buckra finally get tu go tu de states,.. but das a whole uddah story meson, believe me..das a whole uddah story,
Laa-dy, me bouy… whata trelele!”
Book 1.MORE The Blessed Virgins. and Book 4. LIVE Continued
Book 1.MORE The Blessed Virgins. and Book 4. LIVE Continued
The time between 1958 (when we returned to the Islands) and 1964 when I sailed away to “fame and fortune” in the music business was very eventful or full of “stuff” some of which I have already touched on in earlier entrys,(see 11 through 16) but much of which remains to be seen or said, writ and read.
We were young teenagers straddling multiple (many multiple) worlds, and because pool is undeniably the perfect allegory for life (in some quarkatronic parallel dimension), you will comprende when I say, it seems like one day everything is racked up tight n’ right and the next your worlds are rocketing away in the slam crack! echo-math of a resoundingly good breaksplosion.
Further with the poolagory,after rocketing apart, by God they hit the bumpers and come ricocheting back towards one another (or not) often colliding to make even more mayhem, and so and so on until finally all is calm and quiet again except that everything is where it wasn’t before and what wasn’t before now is, and on top of that there is a fair possibility that one or more balls (worlds) are gone and of course, no sooner do you adjust to that, when slam bang crackola mam, everything changes again.On second thought, Maybe war is a better allegory, but what would we call it? Warality, or perhaps reality?
Anyway, I am very relieved to have finally discovered or received, resisted, and finally accepted that change is the only real constant (now don’t think that I think that I’m making a statement of ultimate wisdom,e fact or universal truth ‘cause I know as well as the next psychedelic casuality that things ain’t always what they seem, and even ultimate truths are subject to their context or the shifting physics of sub atomic worlds and quantum dimensionality,( man it’s like one has to be a Zen master Psycho Scientist to step out of the door and hold your ever-changing own with the question of “what the heck’s goin’ on?’) anyway, I didn’t know this stuff then and so I often hoped, hoped with all my heart that nothing would ever change, that every thing would stay just the way it is this minute this hour this day forever…
Those were the times of course in which the world was as sweet and slow as golden honey (ah yes…against the blue blue of the countless shades of blue sea)
Rather than the times of violent chaotic change, or the happy/tragic occasion of a friends family (like the family of the The Girl With the Golden Skin) moving away from our “low cost housing community” to their own beautiful new home on a hill with the Million dollar views and the cool Island breeze…)
There were many golden days of the greatest camaraderie Cont…
PS Here’s a whimsical little piece on perhaps a Quantumized here after..
“Dead As Dust”. .
(Dust To Dust I’ve heard them say but..)
I’ve been told someday wemust
all wake up dead as dust
dead as dust.. what could that mean?
organic stuff with rocks between?
Have you ever looked at dust?
It’s alive!!! (except for rust)
A universe of universes there,
(between the bread crumbs and the doggie-hair)
and the mites (lil bugs big as elephants
with faces like mosquitos eating peppermints)
but if the dusts a little wet,
that doubles the universes that you’ll get
Great googamooga could it be
that that is what becomes of me?
We (I’ll) turn into the space between
the color blue and the color green
and fly in thirty different directions
all at once in thirty sections?
Oh I hope and pray there’ll be
some of me left of me
so I can dig this dance electric
from my dusty new prospectric
I wouldn’t miss the streets of gold
patrolled by strict prophets of old
declaiming ‘bout the days of Heaven
like nutty buckets outside a seven eleven.
I’d rather be singing with my dead dust band,
with my new name “dead as dust dude man”
everything that is, I’ll be..
part of it… all part of me
Great googa mooga I mean, really?
part of it… all part of me?
going up while going down
left and right and round and round
out in the country, while in town?
In silence AND rip-roaring sound?
Dead as dust might be exciting
(though the dyings not so inviting)
Although some folks go from here to there
rocking in their rocking chair,
Other people wake up dead
Intheir jammies in theirbed
I guess dead as dusts a kind of blender
that takes our mollycules and sends..er
friends them every wich-a-way
from Sapphire beach to Botney bay.
Me in the sea me in the air
me in all things everywhere
instead of like a dull vacation,
life’s (er..deaths) an exclamation!
Wow! wow! did you see that?
I’m a doggie AND a cat
I’m seeing through my ears AND eyes,
Hey!, Wot th heck? time really flies!
Dead as dust don’t sound so bad,
not the worst trip I’ve ever had
but for now if you don’t mind,
I think I’d rather stay behind…….
I think I’d rather live some more
and dance around the ballroom floor
but with every little mote alive
I give my word that I will strive
to live much more considerately
of every little dust ball that I see
Book 4. “LIVE” Continues
I have decided that I would like to have some Background singers on the “Shake A Bum” album, so I have found two good candidates ladyfairs, and we will do our first recording session this Thursday at 10 AM.
It happens that female background singers are just about my favorite musical instrument of all time, I simply love them, and everything about them..and perhaps most of all, their attitude. Yes yes I know, sounds mighty fishy but, they are an instrument with attitude, attitude that can, that must be able to shift and change at the drop of a hat or chord and change with absolute confidence. They are an instrument that is aware of it’s own iridescent beauty. A thing transformed, from the very first breath, the reality in and all around them changes to something extraordinary and grand.
Something extraordinary grande and wonderful like a full concert grand.
They are sublime..so, I may have let slip that I am fond of back ground chicks, having said all that I do hope the chicks can sing.
I’ve listened carefully, I think they can, but we shall see. You just never know until we are all singing together. Then it becomes like a game of give and take of musical tag a vocal dance of mutual inspiration and communication. I wish everyone could know the joy of creating a joyful groove and singing your heart out. When you are through you are often depleted in quite a physically and psychologically healthy way. If they can sing we will finish this album as quickly as possible and get out on the road to promote the heck out of it. It’s goint to be a great release literally and figuratively and I will be hoping to see folks I’ve been missing all over the world. For example, did you know that I have a serious coterie of fans in Prague Czechoslovakia? From as far back as South Atlantic Blues,along with a following in Asia? And Scandinavia? I can’t wait and the band is raring to go.. we shall see.
BOOK 1 The Blessed Virgins, and “LIVE” Continued…
BOOK 1 The Blessed Virgins, and “LIVE” Continued…
So it is a gray and raining morning in 1958 and I (known for convenience and contrivance in this piece as I, Me, He, The Boy, The White Boy, the Artist and other convenient phrases (mebbe even) Scott Fagan) am standing on the edge of a road with no name other than “De Road… Doun De Road” (which was and is) he main road from town (Charlotte Amalia or Charlotte Amalie, for odd linguistic reason (mostly charitable I suspect) both are (like CariBEEan and CaRIBBYan) considered to be correct) to all points west. Brewers Bay, Bordeaux, Flamingo Pond, Fortuna, Botney Bay, Santa Maria Bay, Pull Or Be Damned, and other romantic piratical places. I am wearing my New York City black leather Jacket while breathing deeply of and thus absorbing at a molecular level the reality of rainy season in the beautiful, but don’t doubt it, strange, Mambo Bongo Isles.
The observant observer might notice and remark that “this white boy wearing a leather jacket by the side of the road”appears to be neither here nor there” in truth of fact or fact of matter, the observant observer need not have been any more perceptive and insightful than a lizard, even the most casual, disinterested passerby, in fact, any living thing (including mule, cow, goat and braying jackass) seeing him would likely register immediately that “this boy is somewhere and something else” thereby triggering an automatic and immediate “note to self” the universal trans-species translation of which would be something like “I’d better keep an eye on this guy”
What they were less likely to notice was that the odd duck out in the rain was awash with intense impressions, which were self organizing into the foundation of an interesting combination or integration of cultural (and musical) rhythms and realities.
For example, the sights and smells of that grey and rainy morning in 1958 would be lifted whole cloth to become the song “Hidaway” in 1967, which he would be screeching and yowling (singing) in a big time music publishers office in Rockefeller Center one morning in 1968 and seized on immediately by his writing partner Joe (AKA Jose Silvio Martinez) Kookoolis to convince the professional staff that the song was an integral and representative part of an “Opera” ah..a “Rock Opera” that he and the neither here nor there boy, were just about finished writing and that “of course” this entire brand new and mighty fine score would be thrown in as part of our song catalog, for the publishing agreement that we were at that very moment, there to discuss and negotiate.
The smell of my leather jacket was always a thing of wonder to me and no less so that morning. It filled my head with a secret satisfaction, a confident security likely well-known to the well armored since time began.
In my head is music, specifically or essentially the liberation theology of rock and roll but shot through, tinted and tinged with related genre upon genre and sub genre upon sub genre and reshaped by the crisscrossing cultural realities that it would be tasked to represent.
In my eyes, the most fantastic green and blues filtered through and bordered or framed by low hanging silver clouds that make the sky no more than 300 feet high.
In my sniffer, a soggy sweet perfumed mix of rain, cow dung, salty sea and the fruit salad scent of wild tropical flora, and ah…in my heart the first deep stirrings of love for “The Girl with The Golden Skin” It’s a fine case of time and place all over the place. And a good example of how it is/was to be me then and now, or perhaps more accurately now and then, meaning sometimes…
In that moment however, the white boy is acutely aware that he is the “poorest” white boy that he has ever known or even ever seen, his sense of self is unfortunately now somewhat negatively impacted by shame related to this, and the knowledge that his pitifully alcoholic step father (yes the Mother dear has for reasons best know to God and those few of his angels who fully comprehend the effects of paternal suicide on a nine-year old daughter, rape at 16 as a first sexual experience, in an alley in Washington DC, the befogglement of early mid-stage alcoholism and the mind-boggling conflicting mis-information (coming from in side and outside the mind) related to so-called co-dependency, hooked up with Howard again) who as mentioned before, is an extremely public and universally disrespected drunkard and laughing-stock of the community.
What’s the community? Well as we all know (both here and there) they are many and varied.
he community of most immediate concern to the boy at that time, would have been the 8 to 10 older “native” boys (known as “Dem Boy) in his immediate section of the Island” The Dem Boy community in number and position is mirrored and repeated all across the land (the I land) “Dem Boy” are the seemingly magically omnipresent absolutely judgemental shapers of values, morality and behaviors for any younger boy subject to their pressures. “Dem Boy” are the gatekeepers of conditional acceptance (it would be interesting to know which society where in the world this “Dem Boy” social structure developed) or eternal dis-approval and damnation in young man land. Rather, “local young tough guy man landl” meaning the young man land of the economically disadvantaged, as opposed to young men of privilege land (color or cash) who are contemptuously dismissed by “Dem Boy” (in the short form) as “Auntie-men” or in the long form as “schupid auntie-man muddah skunts”
All of that to suggest and illustrate that the young “neither here nor there white boy” felt very strongly that he had much to prove and consequently was (by circumstance, environment and temperament) on his way to becoming “something else” or more specifically, an “other than ordinary recording artist”, whose interesting integration of cultures and music, would someday prove uniquely unusual and confusing to major labels, record bin organizers, and music writers, (most recently one self-aggrandizing and insulting “know it all know nothing” from Toronto, Canada).
So, the boy by the side of the road with no name, turned out to be a white artist from the predominately black West Indies whose integration of his own cultural and musical influences, continues to present it’s self in most interesting and amusing ways. entertaining even as in the “LIVE “currently in production” “Shake A Bum” album by Scott Fagan and The MAAC Island Band,
Yes indeed, It is interesting, to say the least, to see and understand so clearly how things express and work themselves out.
As further illustration of the potential for joy inherent in the great cultural combo platter of life described, here is a rough mix (pre back ground vocals) of the “neither here nor there boy by the side of the road’s” composition and current recording of his somewhat tantric and liberating mantra “Shake A Bum”
BOOK 4. LIVE Continued…
BOOK 4. LIVE Continued…
We have scheduled two nights for the recordings Wed Sept. 1 st and Sat. Sept. the 4th Wed is done and we are heading for Saturday.
Ok now, Sat is done, and we are heading for a second Wed. ((Sept the 8th) ok, that Wed is done and we are heading for a second Saturday (Sept 11th) and a six hour performance gig on Sunday and so forth and so on and so on…
When one is recording on one track (actually, one would be fine, but when one is more than one, the possibility for error is magnified greatly) as I was saying when one is more than one and they are all recording on one track, actually, five people playing quick-o ka- split-o at full speed ahead on one track, you probably all together generate a “note bloom” cascade or “up fall” of an easy hundred thousand clangs and bangs (or musical notes if you prefer)
If the Bass or Conga or Drum hit a “wrong clang bang or note” it may not be a problem, however if the lead guitar, or primo screechist hits a clango bango anywhere in the performance, you have to redo the whole blasted cacophonic all over again.
Not that I mind, I love to sing and as I never sing a thing the same way twice, it’s always new and fun for me. However, the boys in the band jave expressed a strong desire for me to do things the way we had rehersed them but …wella wella wella…you might as well try to squeeze a saltfish sandwich out of a turnip.
Not that I don’t want to make things easier for the MAAC men, it’s just that… wella wella wella, you might as well try to squeeze a chinchilla out of a mango seed
We have certainly gotten spoiled by “individual tracking”(in which each instrument is channeled and recorded separately on it’s own individual track, to be tweaked, vitamin fortified, polished and recombined with the others later, sorta like Grand Ma’s powdered taters or the KLIM milk that we endured as little ones in public school down in the Mambo Isles…
Friends, I could do a forty year rant on KLIM milk and the odd combination, the mis-measure of powder and water, Lord help us “Boiling hot water” that de chirums dem were led to believe was milk, and were forced to press our lips against every single time the blasted bell rang-a-lang LUNCHTIME!
The truth is, some of us, many of us, were every bit as big headed and bony as the kids used in fund raising appeals for the starving of the world, in fact more than a few of us were candidates for Feed The Children or UNICEF our selves and should have been first in line for a can of spam and some powdered eggs, but there are some things you would rather die than do, and high on that list would be taking a second slurp or sip of that toxic torture serum KLIM.
I think I can state as a most likely fact that not a single adult of free-will ever willingly drank a whole glass, cup or calabash of that stuff to “test the mix” before giving it to the “sweet little innocent, once open, once bright eyed, once trusting, children that we “once upon a time” were, down at Nisky School.
I know for a fact that some of the boys vowed to make it their life’s work to track down and wreak revenge on whoever was responsible for not only making this stuff, but further, convincing flubble headed grown-ups to make children (did I mention theretofore bright eyed, innocent and trusting?) drink it.
It’s a fact that the same flubble headed grown ups could have used just the threat of having to drink it, to uncover all the secrets of the children under their command, (which were secrets a plenty) and as an entirely effective non violent tool for behavior modification, rather than the in-effective combo of KLIM torture, head banging, and “stand ‘im out to out swelter sweat in the hot sun” technique invented by anonymous torture misters of the Battan death march, and perfected by first second and third grade teachers at Nisky.
Any way, as I may have noted earlier a certain Maryann was the sweet cool breeze in the popping swelter sweat of KLIM provoked childhood angst, and after four (or is it forty?) swacks (*attempts) at it, her remembrance song is EQ’d and done.
This means there are now only thirteen others to go. (lemme see forty times thirteen times a hundred thousand notes…)
You have probably thought all these years thought that the life of a singer like me was one unending sequence of passionate and perfumed smooches and the like, but now you see that in addition, we are obliged to be fluent in higher mathematics as well and well, Yo no habla mathematics high or low, perhaps because like most of the children at the old Nisky alma mater, I spent arithmetic time hiding in the bushes hoping to avoid KLIM time. Do I regret it? Not a chance in eleventeen!
More to the present, the record is going to be great fun for folks, full of upbeat live performances AND some pretty good crooney tunes as well.
Recording is supposed to be fun, not the grim, clock watching, knuckle gnawing exercise in anxiety that it too often is, or the stultifying mind warping technical spaghetti morass that “jargon junkies gone wild” would have us poor non-verbal (but occasionally verbose) bongo bangers believe it has to be.
There is great fun in playing music; there is great fun in listening to music, in other words, in sending, in receiving, music. That’s the joy, that’s the deal.
It seems like most if not all of the business around it, is one or another kind of strange parasitic attachment that diminishes the joy at either and both ends.
Which idea presents an Interesting opportunity for a biometric model to measure the potency of the juices siphoned away and to explore the alternatives available or inviting invention) That’s the kind of thinking that one notices reverberating in the noggin, when one has spent one’s school years hiding in the bushes among the land crabs, wild tamarind, acacia and catch and keep at KLIM time.
In any case, the new record is continuing apace, we have tweakage too do (additional percussion and EQ) and then mastering before sending it off for “pressing”.
This means that we have two new albums to release and promote, “The Virgin Islands Songs” along with it’s single “Surrender To The Sun” and Scott Fagan And The MAAC Island Band and it’s single “Shake A Bum” We are as busy as can be and with the new MAAC Variety Show now scheduled for every Friday evening, we will soon be even more so. I have to find a way to make more time for working on the Memwa? As I think it is important and perhaps more importantly, I thoroughly enjoy the writing of it.
Here are two recent poeticals:
“The Limpin Proletariat”
Scott Fagan
Ah the Limpin Proletariat, All lumped up and limping along
from mash up to knock down
to and fro
from pillaged to whippin’(whupped) post
from pooped to popped
and back again.
Pity the poor lucked out lumped up and limpin’ pope frazzled’ roll your own Mama’s a maniac cross eyed confused battered and bruised proletariat with no protecting angel. nor avenging, nope..not allowed., wild eyed cactus relish pie perhaps or rattle snake salad in good gritty sand… sans suds.
Nothing real and good for the likes of youse or ye, ya dadgum grumpy weepin, wailing, cussed and concussed, (at and out) poor confounded contused and abused, lied to bribed and poisoned double disadvantaged, toothache struck depressed, and diarriac limpin’ proletariat, yearning to be freed.
“I Dance Therefore I Am” (Vicstory) Scott Fagan
I Dance Therefore I Am, (Hey, whad I ever do to you?)
I suffer and sleep I dream and I remember, I hope and I awake, I Dance, Therefore I Am
I sweep my arms up to Heaven and sing Glory Halleluiah Jubilation without end!
I dance to be, to express me in unity with the oh so how many Millions or more that have danced before, that have wiggled and waltzed, romped and wagged their tails at one another making eyes making love, making… what you see.
This solitary is.
these sunken eyes
these shrunken hollows
this wayfared stranger
that has become of me.
like all things that die and have died,
all things that live and have lived
that love and have loved
that have breathed and wept that have called out in the cold uncaring night, crying SEE ME! SEE ME! SEE ME!
I dance therefore I am, I dance therefore I am,
I dance therefore I am!
Scott Fagan's Mem.wa? 