1. |
Rhumba Numba
04:28
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There's cobra in the grass and she's dancing very fast
To keep her skirt up
It doesn't do much good cuz she drank more than she should
And it's nearly sun up
The people all around are shoutin very loud
And it's a stampede
But she can't get excited cuz last night she confided
A heedless ... need
So she dances in the moonlight and those who saw the sight
Were astounded
As the cobra began to lift and his head began to shift
She seemed so grounded
And she didn't hesitate to wake the mighty snake
From his slumber
As they began to weave what the witnesses believed
To be the rhumba
As they began to weave what the witnesses perceived
To be the ... rhumba
...
Some insights into the writing of this song:
I started noodling with a chord progression over a rhumba rhythm. I wrote down what I found, polished it and almost left it at that.
But then I threw some lyrics at it. That first line literally was like splashing paint on a canvas. With that danceable engine I followed each image to the next.
To put a little color on it:
"There's a cobra in the grass and she's dancin very fast to keep her skirt up." Where did that come from? Cobra? Maybe India. She's dancin... Where are we? "...she drank more than she should"... Is this a party? Are we talking traditional India or a music festival? The people start shouting and there's a stampede. I committed to that word. But she's different. She confided to our narrator that she has a... a what? A "heedless need". So we've set up the story for a climax, something she and the snake are going to do together.
As the electric viola comes in it gives the song a slightly discordant weave. The snake is bringing something to this ... conversation.
tags
tags: humorous jazz blues India-party snake-dance rhumba
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2. |
What the Right Hand Do
04:28
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Now I've been playin guitar for a long long time
Picked it up when Dylan was in his prime
But I didn't get much better til I learned to shape chord tensions
The mangled way my fingers moved I can't even mention
Thanks to my new teacher I've been movin right along
Can work my way through fancy jazz, not just simple songs
But when my teacher asked me why I play the guitar
It stopped me... and I realized how I've come this far
There's two things happenin when the sound is tight
Some of it's in the left hand, some of it's in the right
Put em together and you got a pretty awesome brew
But before we go there, what does each hand do?
The left hand shapes and the left hand shifts
The left hand braces and the left hand grips
It walks and it runs and it slides and it slips
And when I channel Elvis it goes right to my hips
The left hand slips and the left hand slides
It wiggles and it jiggles and it glosses and it glides
You see the left hand shapes the way we listen and rock
Be it Woody or Django or BB or Bach
Q: Stevie, what about the right hand? What's it do?
A: The right hand? You askin about the right hand?
Q: Mhmmm
You get to...
Strike it and strum it finger it and thumb it
Drive it and drum it 'n pick it while you hum it
Feather it and flick it punctuate and pick it
Catch it and kick it syncopate and trick it
You can...
Touch it and tickle it walk it and wiggle it
goose it and giggle it juice it and jiggle it
Strum it and stroke it punch it and poke it
Chop it and choke it punish and provoke it
Catch it and scratch it ratchet up and snatch it
Attach it and patch it 'n make it scream like batshit
You see the right hand answers what the left hand creates
And the left hand fits into the right hand's pace
When you put them together on a fine guitar
You got yourself a one-person orchestra
The left hand moves around the right hand makes the sound
The left hand does the walkin the right hand does the talkin
The left hand does the melody the right hand does the felony
The left hand tries to manage the right hand does the damage
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3. |
You're Dangerous
04:26
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Sittin on your stoop lookin pretty as a peach
Can’t say I blame me I’m a fool for your bleach
Wastin all my time wishin you were mine
And I finally get you home and I learn that it’s a crime
Chorus 1
You’re da-ayn-gerous You don’t see what you’re doin
You’re da-ayn-gerous You got me really stewin
You got me believing in your story kinda fast
You’re day – yay –yanger -ous
Feelin mighty fine cuz I finally know your mine
Workin through the petty stuff that comes from time to time
Then I learn that you been cheatin but it hasn’t been on me
You haven’t even mentioned us to your family
Chorus 2
You’re da-ayn-gerous You don’t know what you’re doin
You’re da-ayn-gerous You got me comin and goin
You’re sayin yah-de yah-de but it’s just a lot a sass
You’re day – yay –yanger -ous
Tryin to guess your reasons when there’s stuff you never tell
All your petty secrets make me feel like I’m in hell
You ‘spect me to read your mind and you trash me when I can’t
I ask you what you’re feelin and you just go on a rant
Chorus 3
You’re da-ayn-gerous You don’t hear what you’re sayin
You’re da-ayn-gerous You got me really prayin
Your talkin to your shrink and you're stuck inside your past
You’re day – yay –yanger -ous
Wastin all my efforts my money down the drain
Keepin you in chiffon it’s drivin me insane
You want what’s yours you want what’s mine
OK I want for you what’s best
But you’re spendin all my savings and you’re squanderin the rest
Chorus 4
You’re da-ayn-gerous You don’t know what your feelin
You’re da-ayn-gerous You got me really reelin
You’re workin on your figure and you’re on a liquid fast
You’re day – yay –yanger -ous
You expect me to believe you when you stay away for days
You come home and tell me you were visiting aunt Louise
We both know she died last year you're messin with my brain
Who in their right mind would suck up all this lousy pain
Chorus 5
You’re da-ayn-gerous You must know what you’re doin
You’re da-ayn-gerous You’re givin me a screwin
We keep this up one of us ‘ll wind up on their ass
You’re day – yay –yanger --
You’re day – yay –yanger --
You’re day – yay –yanger .... who you callin ... “us”
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4. |
Slovenian Bark
03:57
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When you keep your cow in the barn
Don’t forget to milk her in the morn
And when you feed your horses hay and oats
Don’t forget to also feed the goats
I can’t teach you everything I know
Don’t waste my time you so-and-so
Stop asking questions you’re so slow
You’ve just got to learn it on the go
When you go back there and cut the hay
Don’t waste your time there all day
And when you put the stones in the brook
Don’t forget you have to help me cook
I can’t teach you everything I know
Don’t waste my time you so-and-so
Stop asking questions you’re so slow
You’ve just got to learn it on the go
When you cook a meal in the pot
Don’t forget to serve it nice and hot
And when you sweep the scraps from the floor
Don’t forget to throw them out the door
I can’t teach you everything I know
You’ve just got to learn it on the go
Don’t waste these people’s time you crow
It’s way past time we get on with the show
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5. |
Fast Friend Shuffle
03:30
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Fast Friend Shuffle
I was walkin with my sweety on a moonlit summer evening
When we came upon a cozy little inn
We spied a friend inside there with a girl he used to hide there
They were busy with their hands and drinkin gin
I never thought I’d see him spendin his per diem
On the one he used to sneer at with a grin
It just goes to show ya, we never really know ya
Til your everlovin ship comes in
Now I know my friend’s a rover, he’s never been too slow there
He used to leave me high and dry
We’d be engaged in conversation about the state of the nation
When he’d lose me with his wandering eye
I couldn’t help but thinkin he’d be another Lincoln
If he only kept his pants on til the night
But he always kept me waiting on account of all his dating
And he never got to show his other side
Now there’s no use berating a friend that you’ve had faith in
For being the way he has to be
I only wish I’d known the lad before his bleepin gonads
Kept him from my company
I told my girl Susan about the friend that I kept losin
She remarked how glad she was that I am me
A thought began to sink in, if you can’t be a Lincoln
A Clinton is a possibility, oh yea
A Clinton is a possibility
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6. |
Get Used to It
04:19
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She said-
I never been too generous - get used to it
She ate the popcorn, she ate the cheese
The guacamole and took away my peas
She never been too generous - get used to it
Asked her for a nickel asked her for a dime
Looked at her new Rolex, said "you're outa time"
She never been too generous - get used to it
Went to the bank, took out a hundred dollar bill
Passed a homeless man said, "go take your pills"
That's right... get used to it
Sister called her, husband lost his job
Asked her for a loan, said, "Leave the lazy slob"
You got it... get used to it
Da-da-da dah-dah, Doo -doo-doo doo doo
Dap-da-da-dop-dah Doo--
Took over Daddy's business, sent the jobs overseas
Fired all the locals, gave herself a raise
Yea - get used to it
Then the doctor called, said 'fraid the news is bad
You only got another month, his voice was really sad
She said, "that's OK Doc, you did the best you could
You went the extra mile, that's more than I would"
She said-
I never was too generous, got used to it
I never was too generous, got used to it
Got some wrongs to right, a lot before I quit
I never was too generous, got used to it
She never was too generous, Got used to it
She never was too generous - got used to it
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7. |
Poka-dotted Digits
01:53
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You're such a fine fine lady and I love you so much
I can't help feeling your soft and fine touch
Here's the thing I can't get my head around though
You wake me every night with your sharp big toe
Your sharp big toe, your sharp big toe
I can't seem to get around your sharp big toe
It wiggles and it jiggles
And it wakes me from the deep
Did you ever wonder why it is I can't sleep
Oh your sharp big toe
Your sharp big toe
I ask you to cut it
And you actually say no
I ask you to cut it and you show me all your nails
Pokadotted digits that spell
Stevy and Gaile
Oh woe is me Woe is me
I can't seem to figure
How I'll end this misery
You won't clip your nails for an S and a G
It ain't your big knee and it ain't your elbow
You wake me every night with your sharp big toe
You nudge me in the mornin
You nudge me in the night
You spear me like a surgeon
And it isn't alright
No it isn't alright It isn't alright
How'd you like it if I took a big bite
I'd chomp you on the left And I'd chomp you on the right
You'd never even know cuz it isn't alright
So here's the thing I very much want you to know
Stop attacking me with your sharp big toe
Stop attacking me with your sharp big toe
released August 11, 2017
all rights reserved
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8. |
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You can't lean too heavily on a teenage boy
You can't lean too heavily on a teenage boy
You can't lean too heavily on a teenage boy
No sir, no, you can't
He gets up in the morning at a quarter to two
The sun is shining brightly there's a lot of work to do
Take out the garbage, get your homework done
Don't forget to walk the dog before you go and have fun
Chorus
Goes to bed between midnight and a quarter to four
Don't know what he's doin behind his closed door
Talkin to his friends and he's on his PC
Playin World of Warcraft, it's virtual reality
Chorus
Lacin up his sneakers to play the big game
At least that's my fantasy, he claims to pull up lame
Seems he'd rather exercise his fingers and his toes
Then get his heart pumpin with his basketball bros
Chorus
My friends tell me brother you're a softy at heart
Gotta get the boy movin, gotta be smart
Gotta tell it like it is, make him do the right thing
But he already knows me and I'll feel like a ding-a-ling
Instrumental
So my advice to myself is to make a fresh start
Give the boy his rope so he can learn to be smart
I can't just do it over, there's a price to be paid
I know my son real well and I trust he'll find his own way.
Chorus
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9. |
Short Short Long
03:27
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Short short long
Short short long
Short short long
That’s how that rhythm goes
That’s how that rhythm goes
Short short long
Short short long
Short short long
That’s how that rhythm goes
That’s how that rhythm goes
Long long ago
Long before you're born
People heard that crazy sound
Be it fast or be it slow
Be it fast or be it slow
Short short long
Short short long
Short short long
That’s how that rhythm goes
That’s how that rhythm goes
Short short long
Short short long
Short short long
That’s how that rhythm goes
That’s how that rhythm goes
Long long ago
Long before this song
People danced that crazy dance
Took it fast or took it slow
Took it fast or took it slow
Short short long
Short short long
Short short long
That’s how that rhythm goes
That’s how that rhythm goes
Short short long
Short short long
Short short long
That’s how that rhythm goes
That’s how that rhythm goes
When your grandpa heard that tune
Long before you’re born
He took grandma by the hand
Swung her fast and swung her slow
Swung her fast and swung her slow
Swung her fast and ... swung.. her
Slow -ow ow-ow
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10. |
Stephen Scholle Hartsdale, New York
Picked up guitar in 1967. Began writing songs in 09 after a breakup. TY to Fred Gillen, Burr Johnson, Peter Calo and the Ashokan music community for supporting my passion. I write from the chord voicings and I write from the voice inside. Some songs channel moments. Sometimes words just sound good. I like to let the song speak and I like to work with others on that. If you'd like, get in touch. ... more
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