Topic: The Titanic

[Rivers]

Tomorrow being the centennial, and much as it goes against the grain to quote from this particular source, this article is well worth reading.

I doubt we'll ever turn up a country blues song about the Titanic with a narrative based on the failure of sensible government regulation. That's about as likely as, oh, finding such an article on the WSJ 

Read it quick before Rupert gets wind of it.

[Mr.OMuck]

Interesting article, and while it shifts corporate responsibility to another culprit (government) as one would assume it would ,the article does raise a very valid point about regulation maintenance and oversight.

My all time favorite Titanic song:

http://research.culturalequity.org/get-audio-detailed-recording.do?recordingId=9985

[Stuart]

But wait! There's more!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/science/a-new-look-at-natures-role-in-the-titanics-sinking.html?_r=1&ref=science

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/science/beating-the-odds-to-survive-the-titanics-sinking.html?ref=science

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/science/seeking-guidelines-to-protect-fragile-titanic-from-visitors.html?ref=science

[Batson]

I came across this uncommon version by Bobby Buford from Virginia, set to a Salty Dog type tune:
http://dla.acaweb.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/Ferrum43&CISOPTR=3179&CISOBOX=1&REC=6

[Mr.OMuck]

[Pan]

Thanks for these (and for the great idea) Mr. O'Muck!

Let's see if we can come up with some more:









Any more to be found?

Cheers

Pan

Edited to add: a legal friction between YouTube and the german copyright organization GEMA actually prevents me from seeing some of the videos I posted here. If the content is not what it's supposed to be, or if it is duplicated, let me know, and I'll edit accordingly.

[Mr.OMuck]

This is great. When i heard that the movie Titanic was coming out in 97 I approached Randal Grass of Schanachie with the idea of putting every single Titanic song on a compilation. They weren't interested so this is a bit of wish fulfillment come true. Sure fire seller it woulda' been too if ya ask me. Thanks for the good additions Pan.

[Bunker Hill]

Maybe in light of this anniversary there will be a spate of 'new' Titanic songs. Chris Smith's 1996 Titanic feature ends on this:

In 1985, the New Orleans singer and pianist Cousin Joe recorded his last album (Great Southern Records GS 11011, 'Relaxin' In New Orleans'). On it, no doubt in response to Bob Ballard's location of the wreck, he included what will probably be the last black song about the Titanic, 'What A Tragedy'. Fittingly, as the last of the line, it sums up the Shine and Traveling Man songs in a rewrite that - even in its title - has all the wit, irony, and multiple meanings of its predecessors. The Traveling Man takes his last bow:

Oh what a tragedy, when the Titanic ship went down (x2),
I used strategy during the tragedy, that's why I wasn't nowhere around.

Yeah, the women and the children, they was havin' fun (x2),
But when the ship started sinkin' that's when the trouble begun.

It was an awful thing, when that ship hit that big iceberg (x2),
Well I wasn't worried, I was the best swimmer in the world.

Now a rich man asked me to save his life,
He would give me half his wealth;
I said, 'I'm very sorry, mister,
But I've really got to save myself'

When I jumped in the water,
Everybody said, 'Look at that fool ;'
But when that Titanic ship hit the bottom,
I was in Harlem shootin' pool.

Oh what a tragedy, when the Titanic ship went down (x2),
I used strategy during the tragedy; that's why I was nowhere around.

Unfortunately I don't have the technology to convert LPs to mp3s.

[jharris]

I'm playing a bunch of Titanic songs on this week's show including the Cousin Joe number. Here's a link to listen to the song:

http://sundayblues.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Cousin-Joe-What-A-Tragedy.mp3

[uncle bud]

I thought this had been transcribed somewhere on the weenie site (here being a likely place), but apparently not. Hi Henry Brown and Charley Jordan recorded "Titanic Blues" on March 14, 1932, as a guitar duet out of E position. It's a great tune, and as JohnM mentioned earlier, one of the bluesier takes on the sinking of the Titanic. Sure beats C?line Dion. Not certain about the "bump" line in verse 2, other ears appreciated.

Titanic Blues - Hi Henry Brown

Early one mornin', just about four o'clock
It was early one mornin', just about four o'clock
When that old Titanic began to reel and rock

Smith took his glasses and walked out to the front
Captain Smith took his glass and he walked out to the front
And he spied the iceberg a-comin', gon' Lord, have to bump

Some was drinkin', some was playin' cards
And it's some was drinkin', some was playin' cards
Some was in their corner prayin' to their God

Little children cryin', "Mama, mama, what shall we do?"
Little children cryin', "Mama, mama, what shall we do?"
Captain Smith said, "Children, I'll take care of you"

'tanic sinkin' in the deep blue sea
Titanic sinkin' in the deep blue sea
And the band all playin' "Nearer My God To Thee"

[Johnm]

I think "bump" is definitely correct, uncle bud.  The only difference I thought might have been that the parenthetic line might be describing Capt. Smith's thought process as "gon', Lord, have to bump."  Hi Henry wasn't too up on his nautical lingo, talking about going to the "front", was he?
All best,
Johnm

[uncle bud]

Thanks, John, I agree, it's "gon', Lord".

Like Hi Henry, when it comes to nautical terms, I couldn't find my aft with a map.

[dj]

Like Hi Henry, when it comes to nautical terms, I couldn't find my aft with a map.

There's a really simple solution to your problem, uncle bud.  As soon as you get on the boat, face the front and tie a bottle of aged fortified Portuguese red wine to the rail on your left.  Then tie a bag of coffee to the rail on your right.  Now you'll always know which side is Port and which is...  ah...  Starbucks.       

[banjochris]

There's a really simple solution to your problem, uncle bud.  As soon as you get on the boat, face the front and tie a bottle of aged fortified Portuguese red wine to the rail on your left.  Then tie a bag of coffee to the rail on your right.  Now you'll always know which side is Port and which is...  ah...  Starbucks.       

 

[Lyle Lofgren]

Then hit a golf ball towards the front of the ship, and yell "fore." And tie an immature newt to the back -- it's an eft, so you might have to slightly mispronounce it.  It's important to distinguish fore from aft, because an aft iceberg is not nearly as dangerous to the ship.

As to Starbuck, be sure not to confuse him with Stubb, at least when writing an analysis of "Moby Dick" for a term paper in English Literature.

Lyle