Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs.
I’m pretty sure that the name of todays singer is not familiar to most, although regular readers will have seen and heard a song by Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong earlier in the year. You can find it here.
If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.
Without further ado let’s get straight to Dido singing “Do You Have a Little Time” off the album Life for Rent, produced in September 2003.
There are three videos to choose from. The first is the original recording with only a picture of the album cover to entertain you:
The second gives you some lovely still photographs along with the song, and a bonus, absolutely free, of Spanish subtitles:
and lastly we have a live performance at The Brixton Academy in 2015. Now, this one is quite different from the original recording, almost like another song entirely. I like it. I hope you do too!
If you’re feeling low and lost today, Probably doing to much again, Spend all your hours just rushing around, Do you have a little time for me.
Slow down my love you’re confusing me, If you’re feeling stressed just try calling, Spend your time waiting for anyone to see, Do you have a little time for me.
If you should stop for a while, You will find me standing by, Over here, at the side of your life, I’d like to hold you still, Remind you of all you’ve missed, If you have a little time, if you have a little time that is.
Why do you still run when you could walk with me, Life will pass you by when you move this quickly, What can you see when you’re spinning around, Do you have a little time for me.
If you should stop for a while, You will find me standing by, Over here, at the side of your life, I’d like to hold you still, Remind you of all you’ve missed, If you have a little time, if you have a little time that is.
If you let me listen I’ll make you feel clear, Spend your time waiting for anyone to see.
If you should stop for a while, You will find me standing by, Over here, at the side of your life, I’d like to hold you still, Remind you of all you’ve missed, If you have a little time, if you have a little time that is.
I happened across this from two years ago and thought it was appropriate to reblog during this very strange lockdown time. May you all have ‘NICE THUNKS’
Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week we’re asked to go with Promise, Vow, or Oath and I’ve chosen to link to the word Promise.
If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.
In the lyrics, the singer (who refers to himself as “the poor boy”) tells of his journey from Norfolk, Virginia, to the “Promised Land”, Los Angeles, California, mentioning various cities in Southern states that he passes through on his journey. It has subsequently been performed by numerous other artists, including the Grateful Dead which should please Jim!!!
However, I reckon that the best cover of this song was provided by Johnnie Allan
He was Born in Rayne, Louisiana, and grew up in a musical family. At age six he obtained his first guitar and by age thirteen he was playing with Walter Mouton and the Scott Playboys, a traditional Cajun music band. About two years later he switched to Lawrence Walker and the Wandering Aces, another traditional Cajun band.
Throughout the 1960s he pursued his music career while developing a distinguished career in education and would often use the school PA system to advertise his latest records!
He combined his love and expertise in music and education as the author of two books on Cajun culture.
Just look at this album cover. What a fantastic head of hair!
I’m including two versions of the song. The original recording and a later supposedly live performance where they were miming!
I left my home in Norfolk Virginia
California on my mind
I straddled that Greyhound
And rode into Raleigh
And on across Caroline
We had motor trouble that turn into a struggle
Halfway across Alabam’
And that hound broke down and left us all stranded
In downtown Birmingham
Right away I brought me a through train ticket
Ridin’ across Mississippi clean
And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
Just to help me get to Houston Town
There are people there who care a little about me
And they won’t let the poor boy down
Sure as you’re born brought me a silk suit
Put luggage in my hand
And I woke up high over Alburquerque
On a jet to the promised land
Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
Flying over to the golden state
Ah when the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
He would set us at the terminal gate
Swing low chariot come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
Cut your engines and cool your wings
And let me make it to the telephone
Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia
Tidewater four ten o nine
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
And the poor boy is on the line
Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
Flying over to the golden state
Ah when the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
He would set us at the terminal gate
Swing low chariot come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
Cut your engines and cool your wings
And let me make it to the telephone
Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia
Tidewater four ten o nine
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
And the poor boy is on the line
"If only half of the history that has happened in Nottingham had happened in some other place, that place would be famous; but because it did happen here no one knows".