Lyrics to "Pills of White Mercury"
Mark Van Sciver
I'm looking for the words to the second verse of "Pills of White Mercury" as
recorded by Old Blind Dogs on their Tall Tails CD. The liner notes have the
all the verses but the second, which I can't make out. The verse as I
can make it out, goes:
The mercury was ....
The limestone was ...
His tongue all in flame hung over his chin
But the hole in his bosom, his ....
Bad luck to the .....
Please email me at mv...@sprynet.com.
Thanks in advance,
Mark Van Sciver
Raleigh, NC
Dean Karres
My ears, which are notoriously poor for ferreting out lyrics, seem to
hear:
The mercury <beating>
The limestone was reeking
His tongue all inflamed hung over his chin
There were <holes in his boots> and his <teeth they were closing>
Bad luck to the girl that gave him the <blem>.
I am not a music scholar nor do I know specifics of syphilis but I
presume that
"beating" means coursing through the veins
"holes in his boots" implies his sorrowfull, fallen state of being
"teeth they were closing" may (?) indicate some advanced state of
syphilis that causes rigidity?
"blem" perhaps short for "blemish" implying the desease.
--
Dean Karres | http://www2.southwind.net/~karres
kar...@southwind.net |
Southwind Internet Access | Programmer / Systems Administrator
Wichita, KS | <Troll 2nd Class /w Clusters>
Atalanta Pendragonne
On Tue, 03 Jun 1997 02:25:07 GMT, MV...@sprynet.com (Mark Van Sciver)
wrote:
You can find the lyrics (and a sound sample of the song as performed
by Two O'Clock Courage) at http://www.fmp.com/courage/LYRICS/PILLS.HTM
Atalanta Pendragonne atal...@hotmail.com
"Wrap tight your cloak around me and I'll whisper close my dreams"
- Horslips, SWORD OF LIGHT
Mother of Serpents http://www.geocities.com/soho/2273
Atalanta's Bookshelf http://www.flash.net/~susan0
ifb...@ifbobds.demon.co.uk
Hello from...@sprynet.com (Mark Van Sciver) wrote:
>I'm looking for the words to the second verse of "Pills of White Mercury" as
>recorded by Old Blind Dogs on their Tall Tails CD. The liner notes have the
>all the verses but the second, which I can't make out. The verse as I
>can make it out, goes:
>
>The mercury was ....
>The limestone was ...
>His tongue all in flame hung over his chin
>But the hole in his bosom, his ....
>Bad luck to the .....
>
>Please email me at mv...@sprynet.com.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Mark Van Sciver
>Raleigh, NC
I picked up the words from a local ( Aberdeenshire, Scotland band )
The words I sing are :-
The mercury was beating, the limesone was reeking
His tongue all in flames hung over his chin
A hole in his bosom, his teeth were a closin`
Bad luck to the girlie fa gied him the glim
Jeri Corlew
On 3 Jun 1997 14:18:41 GMT, kar...@southwind.net (Dean Karres) wrote:
>
>My ears, which are notoriously poor for ferreting out lyrics, seem to
>hear:
>
>The mercury <beating>
>The limestone was reeking
>His tongue all inflamed hung over his chin
>There were <holes in his boots> and his <teeth they were closing>
>Bad luck to the girl that gave him the <blem>.
>
>
>I am not a music scholar nor do I know specifics of syphilis but I
>presume that
>
>"beating" means coursing through the veins
>"holes in his boots" implies his sorrowfull, fallen state of being
>"teeth they were closing" may (?) indicate some advanced state of
> syphilis that causes rigidity?
Or mercury poisoning? Don't have any reference material handy.
Syphilis mimics many diseases, this may have been a neurological
version, but sometimes the cures were worse than the diseases.
>"blem" perhaps short for "blemish" implying the desease.
>
>--
>Dean Karres | http://www2.southwind.net/~karres
> kar...@southwind.net |
>Southwind Internet Access | Programmer / Systems Administrator
>Wichita, KS | <Troll 2nd Class /w Clusters>
Jeri
Anti-Spam Alert:
Please change "nonet" to "inet" in my address when replying
Abby Sale
>>I'm looking for the words to the second verse of "Pills of White Mercury" as
>>recorded by Old Blind Dogs on their Tall Tails CD. The liner notes have the
>>
>
>You can find the lyrics (and a sound sample of the song as performed
>by Two O'Clock Courage) at http://www.fmp.com/courage/LYRICS/PILLS.HTM
>
I can't when I look there. Nor the artist in a search there. I'd be
interested to know where this song comes from - (aside from "Unfortunate
Rake") Any trad versions? Or just recently made up.
>
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---
I am Abby Sale - abby...@orlinter.com (That's in Orlando)
howard larman
To Abby and all others interested in this Subject:
I refer you to The Unfortunate Rake (A study of the evolution of a
ballad) Compiled and annotated by Kenneth S. Goldstein.Folkways #3805
You can only get this by special order.But I thought it was well worth
it.
Howard
Roz and Howard Larman
Kpfk Folkscene Los Angeles
PS. Thank You Abby for all the information you have posted to this
group. Howard
In <33974be1...@snews2.zippo.com> abby...@orlinter.com (Abby
Abby Sale
On 5 Jun 1997 22:37:05 GMT, howa...@ix.netcom.com(howard larman) wrote:
>I refer you to The Unfortunate Rake (A study of the evolution of a
>ballad) Compiled and annotated by Kenneth S. Goldstein.Folkways #3805
Actually, I've had this since it was 1st issued. But you are right, it's
a Great record and also a concept anyone interested in the nature of
"folk," "folk process" or "tradition" should consider buying.
It happens I just ordered a Smithsonian/Folkways tape direct from their
shopping-basket-style Website. All you have to do is print out the order
form, write a check and mail it in. :-). But on the other hand (the
complimentary one) it's a fine site for the purpose - full search on
20,000 (?) titles.
Thank you for the suggestion and the compliment, too.