Lyric changes

[Paul H]

I wonder if any of my fellow Gord fans have experienced his changes of lyrics when he performs live? The one that comes to mind for me is when he changed not only the lyrics but also the title to "On the High Seas". It was a live performance (I am getting to old to remember and have seen Gord so many places, I have to admit I cannot recall the exact date or location)shortly after the Dream Street Rose release and Gord told everyone on stage that he did not like the title of "On the High Seas"! He felt it did not work within the words of the entire song. He then performed the song changing on the high seas to "On the TV". I have to admit listening now to this tune, that I do agree with Gord. It seems like he is singing about a very professional lady (taking trains, sipping drinks etc.) in the rest of the song. Why is she suddenly out to sea? The other change I have experienced more than once is when Gord changes "Alberta Bound" in the line "if you have the money you can get yourself a honey etc." I have heard Gord change it to a much more controversial "if you are a looker you can get yourself a hooker"! Has anyone else ever heard these or other changes? I just thought I would throw this out there for some others to comment on.

[charlene]

I still hear "On the T.V." in my head when he sings "On the High Seas"..
I like "TV" better..

can't say I recall him singing the "looker/hooker" lyrics tho..

[RJ]

As I recently noted elsewhere on this board he now sings the IYCRMM line, "the feelings that you lack," as..
"the feelings, that WE lack.."..
and earlier in the song, "just like a paperback novel, the kind the drugstores sell," now:
"the kind ANY DRUGSTORE SELLS.."

A few years back during 14 Karot Gold
he started changing, "set'm loose and let'm roll," to:
"SHAKE'm loose.."..

In My Fashion spoken part:
"Do I look like the kind 'a guy," became:
"NOW do I look TO YOU, like the kind OF A guy.."
and at the end of that phrase, "is it any diff'rent now than it was then," became:
"CUZ IT AINT NO diff'rent now than it was BACK then!".. etc..

Cotton Jenny, "no such thing as bad times," has become:
"no such TIME as bad times.."

Beautiful..
"when you hold me tight," is now sung:
"and in the darkest night.."
and from the same song:
"telling you with all my might, you're beautiful tonight," now:
"THAT'CHOR beautiful.."

EMR's "she's a rollin down," became:
"SHE'LL BE rollin down.."
(I know I'm really quibbling now; sorry)..

Old Dan's Records' "We're all here we've all got dates," became:
"IT'S A SATURDAY NIGHT AND we've all got dates.."

Restless..
"we will be returning to the things that we love best," became:
"the things that we DO best.."
(or is it just "the things.. we do best.."..?
can't quite remember)..

(you guys are starting to figure out about now I'm bored out of my frickin mind here in this dumb lifeless cubicle today etc.)..?


Anyway, onward..

and I'm a little sketchy on this one so correct me if I'm wrong. Blackberry Wine: "I'd never cheat her or mistreat her," now:
"BEAT her or mistreat her.."..?
(maybe I'm just imagining that one; not sure)..

Sea of Tranquility's "I'll show you the sea," is now:
"WE'LL show you.."
(I know I'm such a geek aren't I?)..

and I believe in Waiting For You, he's changed, "Many long days, many long years," to:
"Many long days, many LOST years.."

That's all I can think of..
I'm atta here..

Truly yours,
- just another victim..
of his minstrelsy.

etc..

[ July 11, 2007, 15:51: Message edited by: RJ ]

[RM]

That's an impressive list.

Aren't cubicles the greatest ?!

[RJ]

Ron?..
just kill me now.
;-(

(Hey wait!..
'just 15 more years till retirement!..
whoopee..)..
:-\

I hope anyway..

[ July 11, 2007, 15:57: Message edited by: RJ ]

I'm ten years and counting, and I hope so anyway, too! This is much more fun than preparing for a trial! :D

[The Rez]

Howdy All,

"On the TV" was the original working phrase.
I agree - it works much better.

Politics is politics is record companies.
Live is Live is Gord.

Here's One: Hangdong Hotel Room

Recorded Line: "Rubbin* the wrong girl right"
Live Line: "Lovin' the wrong girl right"

Gotta admit - I prefer *rubbin'*

Rez

[RM]

RJ,

I hated 'em too.

Back on topic...I'm a bit confused by the "On the TV" and "On the High Seas" versions. I saw him in concert before the release of "Dream Street Rose". He sang the song as "TV", and I really liked it. Now, if this was a 'test run' of the song or not, I'm not sure. It may have already been recorded as "High Seas". When DSR came out, I checked the song listings, saw "High Seas", and knew I had a hearing problem.

[New 12 String Mike]

Another vote for "Rubbin'"!

[charlene]

3rd vote for 'rubbin'...
lol

[B45-12]

And let's not forget:

"...The Ghosts of Gay Porn.."

What's that all about?

//0-0\\

[Dream Street Rose]

Maybe Gordon does this to see if we are really paying attention.

[charlene]

Originally posted by Dream Street Rose:
Maybe Gordon does this to see if we are really paying attention.

LOL!
and then he keeps our attention with an electrical rain storm of biblical proportions!

[Dream Street Rose]

Hi Char,

I guess a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do. :D

[formerlylavender]

I vote for "rubbin'" too. The first time I really heard those lyrics I was surprised (pleasantly) and relistened to the song a few times to make sure what I was hearing was correct.

[RJ]

re: Maybe Gord does this to see if we are really paying attention..

I don't know, but reviewing this morning each lyrical change that was noted, I realize that each and every one definitely provides more BITE to the phrase he's goin after etc..
The guy's a world-class poet, and his songbook will live on for a hundred years at least..
and (as Steve Earle once declared) "I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table with my cowboy boots on and say that!")
;-O

etc..

[ July 12, 2007, 09:17: Message edited by: RJ ]

Gord's got such a dry sense of humor, I'm sure he not only changes the lyrics to see if we're paying attention but maybe just to have a little fun, too!

[Dream Street Rose]

Right on Sheryl.

[jj]

interesting list, RJ (i just realized you and RM are 2 different folks!)

one vote here for 'high seas', i prefer the imagery/metaphor

that said, and even though he's a wonderful poet, it's the composition of melody, chord progressions and the musical arrangements/choices that i still focus on when listening to most any GL tune and so many of the lyrics i've still yet to focus on or absorb or have an opinion on...some of the tunes could be about pretty much nothin at all (which i'm sure some are ) and it wouldn't detract me from the composition in the least...so yeah, any subtle changes don't affect me at all, the lyrics are just ambience to me which many of my colleagues find a bit bizarre coming from me...ok, the caffiene here is wearing off, cheers for now

[ July 12, 2007, 20:24: Message edited by: jj ]

You put into words what I've been trying to express about his music for so long. Thanks, JJ!

[Tim]

What a neat topic for us die hards, eh?
For what it's worth, here are my comments on a few of the tunes being bantied about here:

On the High Seas: The first time I heard "On the TV" was during the Soundstage recording from 1979 or 1980. I assumed Gord simply changed it for the occassion of him being recorded for that television special. After that Soundstage special came out on PBS I saw him at Saratoga, NY in 1980 and it was back to "On the High Seas"
Personally, I have to agree with JJ above. The phrase "On the High Seas" seems to fit more with Gord's imagery and tendency to relate to nature and, in my opinion, is more poetic.

One more variation of "Hangdog Hotel Room" not yet discussed was the recording on the "Gords Gold Vol II" album. There it was "TREATING the Wrong Girl Right"

On the song "Triangle" I'll never forget the 1990 show at the Concord Pavilion in California. In the first verse, instead of "There's still time for one last glass of ale" he sang: "There's still time for one last piece of tail." That, of course, got a rise out of some of the crowd. I thought maybe he had changed it due to the fact that he was not drinking any more. However, shows in later years saw the return of "one last glass of ale."

Big Blue. In 1998 he was doing this tune and frequently substituted "Creature" for "Monster"
"He was the greatest "CREATURE" that the world ever knew"

Cherokee Bend. One time, and one time only, in Saratoga, NY in 1983, he substituted "Idaho" for "Kentucky" in all references. However, on future performances of this song, it was back to "Kentucky."

I'm sure I'll think of more. I don't have a cubicle. I just have insomia...it's almost 4 AM right now. LOL

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Wreck Of The E.F.- He used to say "That'BIG' ship and true was a bone to be chewed", but in the remake he says "That 'BIG' ship and true".

Shadows- "Let me reach out, love and touch you", he changes it to "Would you reach out, love and touch me" (in the GG2 version)

"'AS' the morning stars grow dim" to "'WHEN' the morning stars grow dim"

(I'm surprised no one mentioned Shadows)

I'm Not Supposed To Care- In the original, there's one part toward the end of the song where he repeats the opening phrase, but in the rerecording he leaves it out. (Don't know if this counts as a lyric change)

[jj]

wow, you guys are really great live lyric listeners - wonder if they're planned changes or rather he just adlibs or just forgets (if so, he could contest on a new lame reality show, lol)

when i listen live i'm usually off on a trip thinking of when i first heard the LP it's from or the first time i heard it live and what was happening in my life at that time and the bumps along the way, kinda like sleepwalking, i suppose

great contributions here, really

cool stuff, sheryl

[RJ]

Hey that's right..
you jogged another one loose..

Not Supposed To Care:
"I will show you the light and when you call..
I'm gonna come to you," became:
"and when ya call, I'm gonna COMFORT you.."..

Cool!..

[RJ]

CRT..
"with many a fortune won and lost," became..
"with many a fortune LOST AND WON.."..

eheheheh...
Good one Gordo..