Roger Miller is the greatest. Among the deft and deceptively simple novelty songs is the odd serving of melancholy, and the rueful "Husbands and Wives" stutters a bit: "A woman and a man/A man and a woman/Some can and some can't/And some can." You could overlook the melancholy in the cornpone honky-tonker "Poor Little John," but that refrain: "Poor little John, poor little John/Your mama used to love you but your mama's gone/Whatcha gonna do, livin' all alone?/Your mama used to love you but your mama's gone." He's left to "live all his life on the mountain by hisself." And most surprising is his suicidal-ideation song, "One Dyin' and One a-Buryin'": "One dyin', six carryin' me/I want to be free." Do-wacka-do indeed!
Country music is full of plays on words. It's wry sophistication for a crowd that doesn't need a very high level of sophistication to their wryness. It's practically the Statler Brother's entire opus.
The 1960s certainly gave us a number of amazing songwriters and singers. In the midst of the British Invasion, Roger Miller made it fun to sing along and be silly ("My Uncle used to Love me... But she died"...." You can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd") - thanks, Ethan! Happy 4th!
Roger Miller sang "Dang Me" as part of a medley backed by a bunch of Muppet chickens when he was the guest on The Muppet Show. Definitely worth watching if you have a child.
And certain Country music has a deep connection to jazz. Listen to Willie Nelson singing with Ernest Tubb in the mid '60's. His phrasing, and the solos, are at a very high level indeed.
Every so often you post things from my childhood in Ann Arbor.
CKLW in Windsor Ontario was for all intent and purposes a Detroit station…. CKLW in the motor city “ wax their jingle known by millions in North America.
Of course those Roger Miller songs were a mainstay( lots of airplay. So after reading your pice here I went and watched “ England swings” on shindig Miller nod the the swingin 60s.
Also, "thinking about forgettin' about your worries" - a great tongue twister from the song Walkin' in the Sunshine. Your noticing this makes me want to re-listen to all of it!
I play music for seniors pretty often and every age of seniors all know and sing along to every word of King of the Road. Genius.
I was thinking of " Husbands and Wives " as well. I ended up with a two lp cutout way back and every song is worth a listen. What a truly unique talent.
He also won a late life Tony for " Huckleberry Finn "
Thanks for singling out a true symbol of our country's greatness on this day.
Dean Martin did right by "King of the Road" as well, if leaning more into the playful to Miller's little dose of weariness.
Also, it’s interesting the internet's lyric sites are split between "LIKE 14 dollars and 27 cents" versus "I LACK 14 dollars and 27 cents." Either works.
Roger Miller is the greatest. Among the deft and deceptively simple novelty songs is the odd serving of melancholy, and the rueful "Husbands and Wives" stutters a bit: "A woman and a man/A man and a woman/Some can and some can't/And some can." You could overlook the melancholy in the cornpone honky-tonker "Poor Little John," but that refrain: "Poor little John, poor little John/Your mama used to love you but your mama's gone/Whatcha gonna do, livin' all alone?/Your mama used to love you but your mama's gone." He's left to "live all his life on the mountain by hisself." And most surprising is his suicidal-ideation song, "One Dyin' and One a-Buryin'": "One dyin', six carryin' me/I want to be free." Do-wacka-do indeed!
thanks for valuable comment, Tom!
He also had the incomparable Danny Gatton in his band for a while.
Here's a bit of rockabilly shredding starting at 4' 20"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0naXxQ7myXM
gorgeous
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR0grs9joy0
Yes, that's a lovely album, as is Relentless with Joey DiFrancesco and, my favourite, the Redneck Jazz Explosion Live at the Cellar Door.
Anyhow, better not hijack Ethan's blog!
Ethan - I always enjoy your despatches - have you checked out A Bu? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGcdTG6IGzc
Country music is full of plays on words. It's wry sophistication for a crowd that doesn't need a very high level of sophistication to their wryness. It's practically the Statler Brother's entire opus.
Yeah! The Country TV show HEE HAW had a lot of wordplay even without music. And I LOVE the Statler Brothers.
Happy 4th, and thanks for another great post. And Wes and Jimmy Smith cut King of the Road:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M4F5AqTcws
The 1960s certainly gave us a number of amazing songwriters and singers. In the midst of the British Invasion, Roger Miller made it fun to sing along and be silly ("My Uncle used to Love me... But she died"...." You can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd") - thanks, Ethan! Happy 4th!
Happy 4th!
Roger Miller sang "Dang Me" as part of a medley backed by a bunch of Muppet chickens when he was the guest on The Muppet Show. Definitely worth watching if you have a child.
Never noticed that as a thing with him but of course, now that you mention it… nice catch!
you have quite a way with words yourself, Rob, so..enjoy!
“You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd” contains a neat bit of unexpected chromaticism just before the chorus.
right on
https://thebluemoment.com/2013/02/06/the-home-of-johnny-cash/
And certain Country music has a deep connection to jazz. Listen to Willie Nelson singing with Ernest Tubb in the mid '60's. His phrasing, and the solos, are at a very high level indeed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW9xi-ihE3s
There's a video of Wille Nelson and Kenny Rogers playing jazz together, I wrote about it here: https://iverson.substack.com/p/tt-244-songs-that-tell-a-story?utm_source=publication-search
Every so often you post things from my childhood in Ann Arbor.
CKLW in Windsor Ontario was for all intent and purposes a Detroit station…. CKLW in the motor city “ wax their jingle known by millions in North America.
Of course those Roger Miller songs were a mainstay( lots of airplay. So after reading your pice here I went and watched “ England swings” on shindig Miller nod the the swingin 60s.
…. Always look forward to the Hary wisdom
Love it
Thank you, love Roger Miller!
Also, "thinking about forgettin' about your worries" - a great tongue twister from the song Walkin' in the Sunshine. Your noticing this makes me want to re-listen to all of it!
I play music for seniors pretty often and every age of seniors all know and sing along to every word of King of the Road. Genius.
Just the best
I was thinking of " Husbands and Wives " as well. I ended up with a two lp cutout way back and every song is worth a listen. What a truly unique talent.
He also won a late life Tony for " Huckleberry Finn "
Thanks for singling out a true symbol of our country's greatness on this day.
Yes somehow Roger Miller is fully appropriate for the patriotic holiday
Exhibit A: There was a song on the radio in the 80's with the lyrics:
Apartment, Apartment. I never knew what apart meant, until I moved into this apartment.
It was such an uninspired throw-away song I can't find a trace of it on the Web.
YES! I've always been pleasantly baffled that a jazzy song like 'King of the Road' was considered country. Such great stuff.
Dean Martin did right by "King of the Road" as well, if leaning more into the playful to Miller's little dose of weariness.
Also, it’s interesting the internet's lyric sites are split between "LIKE 14 dollars and 27 cents" versus "I LACK 14 dollars and 27 cents." Either works.