Topic: Frank Hutchison lyrics

[Lynda]

Hi John,
Dad sang a lot of old songs. Some of the artists he liked were Frank Krumit, Jimmie Rodgers (the father), A. P. Carter, Hank Snow, Wilf Carter, Harry McClintock, Bradley Kincaid, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, and Vern Dalhart. When I was doing a family book of the songs dad sang, I realized there were probably many more. One of the only songs of Stuart Hamblen's that he sang was Sailor's Farewell.  The recording of dad singing it was played at his gravesite when dad passed away. My dad was a sailor and the song was befitting. In doing all of the research for the music, that one song never came up anywhere. When dad and I recorded 11 songs back in 1976, we both wished he could have remembered more of the lyrics to all of the rest of the songs he used to treat us to. I am so grateful that we did the ones we did. When I play that cassette, it's almost like he's just down the hall.
Lynda

[Rivers]

Sincere thanks for posting Lynda, brings your dad's greatly respected work and spirit to life for the rest of us who only know him through his records and others' various writings.

[Forum2002]

Thank you all for your work with Frank Hutchinson's lyrics.
I just wanted to see if some songs were ready for good use ...... 17 lyrics! Impressive.
A true Christmas gift. 1.000 thanks

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Frank Hutchison's "The Last Scene of the Titanic" was recorded at a session in St. Louis on April 29, 1927.  It's a very exciting cut, played out of Spanish with a slide and lots of cool rhythmic effects and a loose narration, an area in which Frank Hutchison particularly excelled.  His insertion of dance calls into the narration is a great touch.  The song was discussed near the beginning of this thread, but was never exactly finished off, in terms of the transcription, and I've been especially interested in different versions of "The Titanic", so I thought I'd revive it and see if we can settle on a version.  I think I've got it pretty close, but I generally get something wrong, so I'd appreciate any help.

   Titanic, the greatest ship ever was known, makin' its first sails across the sea
   Everybody was loaded up and wavin' their glad hands good-bye
   Captain Smith said, "How's your machinery?"  "All right"
   "How's your compass?"  "Settin' dead on New York."
   Keep a-truckin' on down
   Let 'er go!  Right on down the pike

   Blowed his old whistle, went right on down

   Everybody was fiddlin', dancin', havin' a big time on the lower deck
   Now you're right, but don't get wrong
   You get that girl and promenade on
   "Good mornin', babe, hello now, go on here."
   
   Captain Smith says, "We'll make a world's record out of this ship,
   Gonna make it to New York about two days-and-a-half or three days ahead of time."
   "How's the machinery now?"  "All right."
   "How's the compass?"  "All right."
   Keep her truckin' on down
   Let 'er go!  Right on down the pike

   Blowed his old whistle and went right on down

   Everybody was still havin' a big time
   Now you're right, but don't get wrong
   Get that girl with the red dress on
   Good mornin', babe, hello now

   Captain Smith's got a message it's foggy on the sea
   Couldn't see how to travel, all boats are tied up
   Doesn't know why there's an iceberg, from the North Pole,
   The biggest that ever was known, about a mile squares
   Impossible for any ships to run

   Captain Smith said, "Don't mind the fog on the sea.
   We've got the strongest dynamite headlight ever was known.
   Otherwise, the ship is unsinkable, plow through all icebergs."
   "Now, how's your machinery?"  "All right."
   "How's your compass?"  "Still on New York."
   Keep her truckin' on down
   Let 'er go!  Right on down the pike

   Blowed his old whistle and went right on down the pike

   Everybody's still havin' a big time
   Now you're right, but don't get wrong
   Get that girl and go right on
   "Good mornin', babe, hello now."

   The last scene you hear of the Titanic before it hit the iceberg
   Twenty miles it passed the lighthouse, just to hear the music on the lower deck

All best,
Johnm

[Lyle Lofgren]

Johnm: your transcription of "Last Scene of the Titanic" is accurate, at least to my old ears.

Lyle

[Johnm]

Thanks for checking it, Lyle.
All best,
Johnm