Somewhat OT : Chicago, Monkey Woman, etc.
Mike Schilling
Until recently, I knew this only as an obscure line in an obscure Steely Dan
song. [1] Then it appeared as the punch line of a fairly involved pun in a
Cordwainer Smith parody written by John Sladek. [2] It seems unlikely that
Sladek would go to that much trouble for a Steely Dan reference,
particularly when both book and album date from the same year (1973), so
they're presumably both referring to some earlier and more famous work. But
what is it?
1. "Your Gold Teeth", on _Countdown to Ecstasy_.
2. "One Damned Thing After Another", in _The Steam-Driven Boy_. Note that
this collection also contains Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Bradbury, Dick, Poe,
Welles, and Gernsback parodies, which are all brilliant, and a Ballard
parody I don't have any context for.
Konrad Gaertner
>
> "There ain't nothing in Chicago for a monkey woman to do."
>
> Until recently, I knew this only as an obscure line in an obscure Steely Dan
> song. [1] Then it appeared as the punch line of a fairly involved pun in a
> Cordwainer Smith parody written by John Sladek. [2] It seems unlikely that
> Sladek would go to that much trouble for a Steely Dan reference,
> particularly when both book and album date from the same year (1973), so
> they're presumably both referring to some earlier and more famous work. But
> what is it?
Trying Google, I'm getting cites for Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's
"Going to Chicago" and a poem by Hughes. Can't find any dates,
though.
ObMe: I grew up in a suburb of Chicago, now live in a suburb of
Dallas (where Brown was from) and a college I attended is hosting the
page about the poem.
--
Konrad Gaertner - - - - - - - - - - - - - - email: gae...@aol.com
http://kgbooklog.livejournal.com/
"I don't mind hidden depths but I insist that there be a surface."
-- James Nicoll
Peter Trei
In <1 minute:
"Going to Chicago Blues", Count Basie & Jimmy Rushing, 1958
Peter Trei
Mike Schilling
"Peter Trei" <treif...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:bmscg.20$e31...@petpeeve.ziplink.net...
Thanks. Now what in God's name does it mean?
Anne M
"Mike Schilling" <mscotts...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ABtcg.76024$F_3....@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...
"Also according to Sweet, Mr. B. & Mr. F. quoted Count Basie and Joe
Williams' version of "Going To Chicago Blues" in the "monkey woman" line.
According to the abovementioned Bluesman Harry, "monkey man" can mean an
outside lover--backdoor man, or candy man--cf. the Stones' "Monkey Man" on
"Let It Bleed." This line also makes me think of Portnoy's Complaint, since
the ambivalent Portnoy called his girlfriend "Monkey." "
-- at http://cordmeyer.spymac.com/countdo.htm
This is my first post here. I didn't foresee it being like this, but I
suppose I had to stop lurking one day.
Hello!
Anne M
Ted Nolan <tednolan>
She has a "monkey on her back", ie a heroin addict.
Ted
Will in New Haven
I think it's rather simple, and unnattractive I guess. He's leaving her
and going to Chicago. He calls her a monkey woman, just like two guys
on a bus refer to a friend by using "that N-word." She's Black. She
might have a monkey on her back, but I don't think so. She might be a
small wizened Black woman. However, the unpleasant truth is that
Gatemout Brown did not anticipate political correctness and called a
Black woman a monkey while he was also kicking her to the curb.
Will in New Haven
--
"All music is blues or it's zipadeedoodah" Townes Van Zandt
Randy Money
[...]
> 2. "One Damned Thing After Another", in _The Steam-Driven Boy_. Note that
> this collection also contains Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Bradbury, Dick, Poe,
> Welles, and Gernsback parodies, which are all brilliant, and a Ballard
> parody I don't have any context for.
>
>
Was the Asimov supposed to be written by "Iclik Asmove" or some such? If
so, that one had me laughing out loud when I read it in _The Best of
John Sladek_. As I recall, all the stories in that one were pretty funny.
Randy M.
Mike Schilling
"Randy Money" <rbm...@spamblock.syr.edu> wrote in message
news:447326E...@spamblock.syr.edu...
> Mike Schilling wrote:
>
> [...]
>
>> 2. "One Damned Thing After Another", in _The Steam-Driven Boy_. Note
>> that this collection also contains Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Bradbury,
>> Dick, Poe, Welles, and Gernsback parodies, which are all brilliant, and a
>> Ballard parody I don't have any context for.
>
> Was the Asimov supposed to be written by "Iclik Asmove" or some such? If
> so, that one had me laughing out loud when I read it in _The Best of John
> Sladek_.
That's the one.
> As I recall, all the stories in that one were pretty funny.
I only discovered Sladek recently, and am amazed he's not better known.
When he's on, his stuff as funny as anything Sheckley or Douglas Adams ever
wrote.
Westprog
"Anne M" <amar...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:Wmucg.50649$9c6.3674@dukeread11...
...
> "Also according to Sweet, Mr. B. & Mr. F. quoted Count Basie and Joe
> Williams' version of "Going To Chicago Blues" in the "monkey woman" line.
> According to the abovementioned Bluesman Harry, "monkey man" can mean an
> outside lover--backdoor man, or candy man--cf. the Stones' "Monkey Man" on
> "Let It Bleed." This line also makes me think of Portnoy's Complaint,
since
> the ambivalent Portnoy called his girlfriend "Monkey." "
> -- at http://cordmeyer.spymac.com/countdo.htm
> This is my first post here. I didn't foresee it being like this, but I
> suppose I had to stop lurking one day.
Good first post. You may have set everybody's expectations unreasonably
high.
J/
Middlebrow
news:1148391229.9...@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> However, the unpleasant truth is that
> Gatemout Brown did not anticipate political correctness and called a
> Black woman a monkey while he was also kicking her to the curb.
Hey, that's how Clarence rolled (ooooold school).
More to the point, has there ever been a better name for a bluesman? Big
Bill Broonzy and Pinetop Perkins come close in my book (points for
alliteration), but "Gatemouth" just has that special, swampy feel.
Even more to the point, does it make anyone else jarringly discomfited when
authors think they have come up with the super coolest names ever and just
haven't come close? For the life of me I can't think of one blessed example
(thank you, selective memory). I'm guessing fantasy novels (of which I have
read precious few lately) would provide a bounty of examples.
William December Starr
"Middlebrow" <u...@nothanks.pal> said:
> Even more to the point, does it make anyone else jarringly
> discomfited when authors think they have come up with the super
> coolest names ever and just haven't come close? For the life of
> me I can't think of one blessed example (thank you, selective
> memory). I'm guessing fantasy novels (of which I have read
> precious few lately) would provide a bounty of examples.
All I know is that the super coolest name possible in this universe
is Evander Holyfuck.
--
William December Starr <wds...@panix.com>
William George Ferguson
>"Will in New Haven" <bill....@taylorandfrancis.com> wrote in message
>news:1148391229.9...@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>> However, the unpleasant truth is that
>> Gatemout Brown did not anticipate political correctness and called a
>> Black woman a monkey while he was also kicking her to the curb.
>
>Hey, that's how Clarence rolled (ooooold school).
>
>More to the point, has there ever been a better name for a bluesman?
Blind Melon Chitlin
--
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
(Bene Gesserit)
Mike Schilling
"William George Ferguson" <wmgf...@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:a549725pk7gppbrf8...@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 23 May 2006 22:34:38 -0500, "Middlebrow" <u...@nothanks.pal> wrote:
>
>>"Will in New Haven" <bill....@taylorandfrancis.com> wrote in message
>>news:1148391229.9...@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>>> However, the unpleasant truth is that
>>> Gatemout Brown did not anticipate political correctness and called a
>>> Black woman a monkey while he was also kicking her to the curb.
>>
>>Hey, that's how Clarence rolled (ooooold school).
>>
>>More to the point, has there ever been a better name for a bluesman?
>
> Blind Melon Chitlin
Tobias Funke.