Mosie McElroy - The COVID Blues

Moise McElroy

The repercussions of the COVID pandemic still reverberate, and will continue for the foreseeable future. With much controversy after the fact of mandates, resultant loss of freedoms, weighing how much personal freedom outweighs the health of the populace, the list goes on. 

There is no controversy on the sorrow and loss perpetuated by COVID. Argument continues concerning accuracy the actual death count attributable to COVID, but the glaring fact is that many, many people suffered physically, some to the point of death or debilitating lingering symptoms. The toll taken on those who survived is immeasurable. COVID has changed life and society. Moise McElroy echoes some of these in his haunting song 'The COVID Blues' .

Mr. McElroy is an anonymous side musician that plays in many bands and groups, and as a side musician for recordings of other artists. It was on a night when he was filling in for a musician that was
ill that he first performed the song. One of our associates happened to be there that night, and he told us that during his performance the room was silent. The bar noise stopped, all the chatter in  the tavern stopped, all attention was on the song and the lyrics. Afterwards, the silence continued as he stepped down from the stage and went to the bar for a drink. It wasn't until after he started to sip on his drink that the applause came long and loud. Our associate said he talked to Moise during the break, and offered up our studio to record him perform his song. At first he refused, but our associate is nothing if not persistent, and Moise relented.

The song is a haunting tale of how it was during the lock down, and how, after taking care of her  children that all died, the mother herself died. Not of COVID, but the resultant depression and despair that the loss of her children caused. The song is essentially of a mother dying of a broken heart. Moise has said nothing about any other songs he has written, and evidently prefers to melt back into his anonymity as a side musician as he has not returned any of our calls for any possible future projects. 

When the world went dark and time stood still 

Empty streets with a silent chill

 times of death and times of strife, 

Man, outside was void of life. 

 

Face in a mask with hope run dry 

Times were tough that ain't no lie, 

She wouldn't give in just flat refuse, 

but then she caught the Covid blues. 

 

World went dark with no more sight, 

Empty streets a silent night, 

Lots of dyin' oh can't ya see, 

The grimness of reality. 

 

Oh the COVID blues got her down 

Nursin' family members in 'nother town 

Turns out didn't matter anyway, 

The ol' Covid, still got it's way. 

 

 Sons and a daughter she seen die, 

Done her best to really try, 

To keep tryin' not to lose, 

Ain't no stoppin' the covid blues. 

 

 She laid down beside me I held her tight, 

She felt like she'd lost all her fight. 

She said felt like her soul was bruised, 

She was gettin' the Covid blues. 

 

Then late one night she started to shake, 

So, so hard I thought she was gonna break, 

She felt so cold then she turned blue, 

Give it up, blame the covid blues 

 

Oh the COVID blues got her down 

To see her family dead in 'nother town, 

Ain't no matter what ya'll say, 

The ol' Covid, still had it's way. 

 

 In the cold, cold dirt I laid her down, 

Covered her up with broken groun' 

Don't matter how much I cry, 

Ol' Covid blues, made her die. 

 

Not many at the grave with so many dead, 

Just me and one lone cousin said, 

"What done her in, I need to know, 

I tol' him, Covid blues, you know.

 

 Now my days are empty, life itself 

Feels all used up and stale on the shelf, 

I feel all right physically, 

but feels like somethin's comin' over me.

 

 Covid blues, covid blues, it took her, it’s true, it's true, 

If I'm bein' honest, Wish it would’ve taken me too, 

I'm doomed to feel all used, Now I got the goddam COVID blues

 

 

Delmar Gentry - No Damns Left To Give

 Mr. Gentry's life continues:

 

 I’m still out in Tucson, feelin’ right good. 

Been talkin’ to folks, doin’ what I should. 

Making a trip to Flagstaff in a few days, 

Really thinkin’ ‘bout all the ways to make Arizona home! 

 

But my office back in the city 

Drivin’ me nuts callin’ my phone. 

They say I’ve got troubles there, 

Won’t leave me alone. 

Aint’ answered them for days. 

 

I’m thinkin’ of stayin’ here longer than I thought, 

‘specially with all the calls and the troubles wrought, 

Been looking at properties, ranches and places to live, 

Might not go back, ain’t got no damns left to give. 

 

So I open my phone and start readin texts, 

Good lord, what the hell is it next? 

Case load is backlogged, clients want no one but me, 

To represent them in court no matter my fee, 

I come to the last one, and MY EX IS SUING ME FOR PALIMONY!

 

 I’m thinkin’ of stayin’ here so much longer than I thought, 

‘specially with all the calls and the troubles wrought, 

Been looking at properties, ranchs and places to live,

 Might not go back, ain’t got no damns left to give. 

 

 I thought when we split, mutually agreed, 

to go our own ways,without any greed. 

She kept her stuff, and I kept mine, 

 and its not like she didn't do fine, 

with all the stuff that I bought her. 

 

Delmar Gentry

Who put a bug in her ear, coachin' , usin' her fear, 

To line pockets with my cash. 

Prob'ly a rival of mine to try and bash,

 to coerce me generous. 

 

I’m thinkin’ of stayin’ here way longer than I thought, 

‘I can take care of all this shit long distance, I know a lot.

 Knew her for six years, know she wants money to live, 

But I shore ain’t got no damns left to give. 

 

 So I'll call my partners tell 'em I ain't gonna concede, 

Tell 'em how they can start it, how to proceed, 

What to file, papers and answers to write, 

How to bundle it all up so neat and just right, 

To handle the bullshit goin' down. It's sure as dang so plain to see, 

she's turned her heart 'gainst me, 

I don't want to be mean at all, 

but ain't no body gonna make a call 

on my bank account! 

 

 It's convinced me to stay longer than before,

 I'm a might upset, rankled, kind a sore, 

I ain't heart broken, my pocket ain't no sieve 

And I ain’t got no goddamns left to give.

 

 

Come On Into My Shop - From 'The Barber Of Paducah' by McGonigle

 Research and collaboration between Luigi Trasudante, famous Italian tenor, and composer Travis V. McGonigle continues on the opera 'The Barber Of Paducah'. As the composer continues to edit the never performed work first written in 1949, Mr. Transudante works with a local orchestra to record some highlights of the opera. The composer is in his 90's, and tires easily, so progress is slow. But he has a lot of determination to get the opera whipped into performing shape, as Mr. Trasudante has said if possible, he would like to stage the opera. 

Travis V. McGonigle

Here we have the opening scene of the opera, set in the barbershop of the immigrant Italian barber
Luigi, who has recently moved to Paducah. He welcomes his new customers and offers them a plethora of services, some traditional barbering, some pretty sketchy, and some downright illegal. Mr. McGonigle says it's his take on a 'patter' song used in Italian opera by Rossini and others, a form that put great demand on the singer in speed, diction, and lung capacity. Things which Mr. Trasudante has in abundance! 

We've tried to retain the accent of an Italian with the written lyrics, as some of the words don't rhyme without it. Mr. McGonigle was quite adamant about doing this, as he worked very hard to carry over the Italian character in the accent. Mr. McGonigle has stated that the opera is in many ways a parody of Italian opera that needs to shine through other facets of it.

My name’s Luigi, nice to meet you. First time in my place? 

What is, I can do to you? I take care of you face....and so much more! 

 

You wanna haircut, yes? I can cut you mop! 

Wanna bet horses, yes? I place it on top! 

How about some whisky? I got bottle over there! 

You wanna bath yes? It’s under the stair! 

Wanna shoe shine, eh? The chairs on a the wall, 

You wanna anything, Anything at all! 

Luigi can do it, and with a big smile! 

I’ll do so gladly, Laugh all a the while! 

 You wanna piece of ass, eh? Luigi fix it for you! 

She do anything, You want her to do! 

 

Come on into my shop, the best one in town, 

Offer you much more, than the one across town! 

Card a game, shoot a da crap, 

Play the ponies, take a da nap, 

Wash a you ass, take a big sheet, 

Cut a you nose hair, trim a you feet, 

Trim you toes, shave a the dimple, 

 Blow nose, pop a da pimple, 

Fold your hanky, get a corsage,

 Sell a da beer, get a massage,

 brush a you teeth, drink a the tea, 

clean you ears, take a big pee, 

listen to sport, tobacco to burn, 

talk politics, gossip to learn, 

trim ear hair, bottle to pass, 

trim fingernails, wipe a you ass, 

Trim a the beard, give you shave, 

In a my shop, don’t have to behave, 

Whatever you want, Luigi try, 

Kiss a you wife, tell her by by 

 

You come a my shop, I cut you mop, 

I shave a you face, your bet I’ll sure place, 

You want a whiskey, you feel a frisky, 

Wanna some ass, I make come to pass!

 Luigi! Luigi! Anything you want, you can get HERE! 

 

 My name’s Luigi, nice to meet a you. I never see you in my place. 

What is, I can do to you? I take care of a you face., and so much more! 

 

 You wanna you eyebrows trimmed, See? I can cut a you brows! 

Wanna bet the ponies, See? I can place it , you never lose! 

How about a some bourbon? I got bottle over there! 

You wanna ass hair trim See? Take off a underwear! 

Wanna blow job a eh? The rooms on that wall, 

You wanna anything, See? Anything at all! 

Luigi can do it, and with a big a smile! 

 

 Come on into my shop, The best a one in town, 

Offer you much more, Than the one across town!

 

 Card a game, shoot a da crap, Play the ponies, take a da nap, 

Wash you ass, take a big sheet, Cut a you nose hair, trim a you feet,

 Trim you toes, shave a the dimple, 

Blow nose, pop a da pimple, 

Fold your hanky, get a corsage, 

Sell a da beer, get a massage, 

brush a you teeth, drink a the tea, 

clean you ears, take a big pee, 

listen to sport, tobacco to burn,

 talk politics, gossip to learn, 

trim ear hair, bottle to pass,

 trim fingernails, wipe a you ass, 

Trim a the beard, give you shave, 

In a my shop, don’t have to behave, 

Whatever you want, Luigi try, 

Kiss a you wife, tell her by by 

 

You come a my shop, I cut you mop, 

I shave a you face, your bet I’ll sure place,

 You want a whiskey, you feel a frisky, 

Wanna some ass, I make come to pass! 

 

Luigi! Luigi! Anything you want, you can get HERE! 

 PULL UP A CHAIR! 

WASSA YOU NAME? 

COME ON INNA MY SHOP!

 

 

Toothless Mabel - The Slobber Blues

We're proud to have a remarkable woman such as Mabel Hicastle as one of our artists!  She's a strong song writing talent, as well as a great performer. She was a RN working in a hospital until she had a bout with cancer in her left leg. She came out the other side of the cancer very well, but the chemotherapy caused a side effect of gum disease that cost all of her teeth! Not the best thing to happen to a woman in her early 40's, but she's made the most of it with her 'store bought' teeth, and her resultant skills garnered from her tooth loss. She sings of her tooth loss without embarrassment  as well in her aptly named blues song. 

She is getting ready to go back to work after a hiatus to deal with cancer and recovery, so we don't know when she'll be back for more of her bluesy guitar playing and singing. By the way, she says in the song that she isn't as pretty as she used to be...well, she still looks mighty nice to us! 

When your teeth are gone, makes your life different. 

Some things you can do, some things you cain’t.

Some times it’s a problem, sometimes it’s not. 

But the man in my life,thinks it’s real hot cuz 

 

I play the slobber blues, Oh yeah, the slobber blues. 

Not on the piano or that old guitar, 

Playin’ on them won’t get you too far.

Mabel Highcastle 'Toothlesss Mabel'

 

Tell the truth I ain’t as pretty as I used to be. 

Thought store bought teeth might help that a mite. 

They look as bright as a new piano key, 

And it sure does help me to bite. But 

 

 Not playin’ the slobber blues, Oh lord, not the slobber blues! 

Ya don’t bite, ya don’t chew, 

Them’s ain’t the things to do! 

 

Well, I do look a mite better, to tell ya’ll the truth 

I’m more presentable as my ol’ man’s wife.

 Still won’t make much money at the fair’s kissin’ booth, 

My sweetie loves me any way, still the love of his life, and he’s 

 

 Mighty fond of the slobber blues, 

He’s in love with the slobber blues, 

Wants to hear it often, as a rule, 

And I play it for him cuz I ain’t no fool! 

 

 He treats me like a queen, toothless or not. 

He calls me good lookin’ tells me I’m hot. 

Still got a decent figure, with tasty sweet bits, 

He likes all of me, ‘specially my tits, so 

 

I’m Happy to play the slobber blues(on the skin flute) 

Love to play the slobber blues.(I can sure make it toot!) 

Put my teeth in a jar, Then play it hard and far! 

My baby loves the slobber blues!

 

 

Delmar Gentry - Arizona Nights

 Delmar Gentry continues his story about his life with this second installment, Arizona Nights. Delmar continues to work on his skills on the various instruments he plays, as well as writing songs. He promises to document his life in compelling, traditional country/western fashion.

I’m sittin’ in a bar down in Tucson.

It’s late and I’m by myself. 

It’s comin’ near closin’, the bartender’s dozin’, 

But I’m not nearly tired myself. 

 

Got in about 4 hours past, 

Flew non-stop from Chicago. 

I decided at last, to have a repast, 

And decide which way that I’ll go. 

 

I’m sippin’ and drinkin’ a beer. 

Delmar Gentry

Not gonna get drunk, no fear. 

I did it all once, and I felt like a dunce, 

‘Cuz it shore never helped me not once! 

 

 Liquor is just a diversion, 

It always relaxes my head,

 For the ideas are comin’, and inside are buzzin’ 

On why my love for her is dead. 

 

But it really ain’t that confusin’ 

We were from two separate worlds,

 Despite my degrees, my hearts in the breeze

 Of the great southwestern world.

 

I’m sittin’ and sippin’ a beer, 

Somethin’ she would never go near,

She always deny it, never would try it, 

She never cared for my career. 

 

She was a high class young lady, 

At least she liked to think so. 

She tried to be chic, to be so unique, 

And she put on such a fake show. 

 

But we couldn’t share each other’s space,

about the law and the west she didn’t care, 

It was diamonds and laces, and fancy high places, 

And other things I couldn’t bear. 

 

Sittin’ drinkin’ my beer, 

why did I think we could steer, 

Our lives together, and stay there forever, 

Now it sure seems like a dumb idear. 

 

 So I know it’s just as much me, 

As I’m complaining about her so,

I don’t give a flit, about society shit, 

So we decided to split up and go. 

 

She liked the money I made,

 And she really was quite the looker,

I’d be out of line, say sex wasn’t fine,

But if that’s all I want, I’d get a hooker! 

 

So it’s come to me sittin’ right here

 ’Sippin’ and nursin’ a beer. 

Bartender’s showin’, that I must be goin’ 

So I’ll get up and buy a six pack of beer.

 

 I walk out the bar in the darkness, 

I’m not drunk, not one little sport, 

As I look at the stars, there’s very few cars 

That I have to look through and sort. 

 

I’m headin’ out into the desert 

A place that I really love. 

As I take a drive, I know that I’ll strive 

To get over this failure of love. 

 

There’s nothing like Arizona night. 

To help your eyes see the light. 

The ability to be, when there’s so much to see, 

When the rest of the world sees night. 

 

There’s nothing like Arizona night. 

To help your eyes see the light…………. 

The ability to be, when there’s so much to see, 

When the rest of the world sees night……..

 

 

Milford Boil Sings - Skid Marks

 The resident paranoid nut-case of Big And Tall Records strikes again! This time, the object of his maniacal rants are aimed at those pesky remnants that sometimes gets left in our underwear...skidmarks! Granted, it can be annoying and embarrassing, but that's what laundry's for. 

In any event, he goes to dramatic lengths to express his revulsion. What new 'problem' will he come up with next? No way, we're not even going to speculate! 

Milford Boil

Laundry day, I dread it, because of my fetid, dirty tightey whiteys, 

It’s only on certain places, like there’s been speed races, 

going on there. I’ve tried to not do it. 

But I cannot eschew it. To my dread and fear!

 

 Skid marks lurking right there, grossing out my underwear!

 Tearing my heart out every time! Like a little tiny burnouts, 

no matter how it turns out, it’s…..always the same.

 

 My friends say, what do you care anyway, you’re the only one that sees. 

They say we all do it sometime, our undies are never sublime to see. 

 I know their words mean well, but I’m still in this place of hell when I load them into the washer! 

 

Skid marks, taunting me, never will let me be

 secure got yellow marks in the front, brown ones in the rear, 

I live in continual dread and fear, cuz they never wash out!

 

 Scrub ‘em, soak ‘em, bleach ‘em, everything short of burn ‘em, 

and the traces remain. Perfectly good unders, ruined! Ruined!RUINED!!AAAAAAAAAH! 

 

My therapist asked me, “What is the purpose of wearing underwear?” 

I could not answer, it’s one of those things I’ve always done. 

“Underwear acts as a barrier between our outer clothing and our bodily functions,to a certain extent,’ he said ‘Things do happen, and underwear is our first defense for the possible shame and embarrassment of our bodily functions being brought out in public. Such is human nature.' But why do we have skid marks? I asked him. 'Because we’re human,' he said. Then there’s no hope, no hope, NO HOPE! 

 

Skid marks, taunting me, never will let me be secure, 

got yellow marks in the front, brown ones in the rear,

I live in continual dread and fear, cuz they never wash out! 

 

 Friends suggest I go commando, and although the thought is intriguing, 

The skid marks would not go, they’d take residence in my expensive blue jeans instead!

 And they wouldn’t wash out there either! AND JEANS ARE EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TIGHTEY WHITEYS,AND THE TIGHTEY WHITEYS AREN’T CHEAP! CHEAP! CHEEEEEAP!

 

Skid marks, taunting me, never will let me be secure, got yellow marks in the front, brown ones in the rear, I live in continual dread and fear, cuz they never wash out! Scrub ‘em, soak ‘em, bleach ‘em, everything short of burn ‘em,and the traces remain. Perfectly good unders, ruined! Ruined!RUINED!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

 

 

Big Marv And The Hodads - Stanky Thang!

 Big Marv and The Hoodads are for the most part a dixieland jazz band out of New Orleans that play all kinds of events such as wedding receptions, family get-togethers, anything that involves people wanting to have a good time. Big Marv is the leader of the group, and is mostly known for his virtuoso ability playing ragtime, dixieland, and anything else that suits his fancy. He's a classically trained pianist, and at one time pursuing a career as a piano recitalist, but he fell back on his love of dixieland, and has been playing it with his band ever since.

This recording is a little different in that it spotlights Big Marv in a singing role, something he rarely does. He's got a voice that has been described as 'Broken glass mixed with steel balls rolling down a tin gutter'. We don't know about that, but his voice is unique! Here sings a son of his own devising, said he made it up as he went along one night after the band got through with a gig and were just 'playin' round' afterwards. Who is it he's singing about? Maybe no one. Just the result of a fertile imagination, sometimes 'fertile' as in the same way a cow pasture is fertile! word is that it was recorded way early in the morning, and Big Marv may have been 'in his cups', as they say...

Big Marv

Dang, you got a stanky thang!Don’t ya’ll ever wash!

Soap and water don’t cost much for ya’ll to scrub it! 

Dang, you ‘spect any body wanna get close to it? 

Don’t be so lazy, and break down and wash it! 

Stankey thang, no smelly feet can match it! Stankey thang, no armpit can top it! 

The stank ya got driftin’ off you is worse than I ever smelt!

 Don’t be so damned lazy and scrape off the crust 

from that funky, stankey ol’ Daisy! 

Stankey Thang, no stench can rise above it! 

Stankey thang, take a lot get the funk off of it! 

 

The stank you got is hard to describe, 

kinda like a mixture of old dirty socks, 

mixed with pickled egg farts and dirty jock strap! Woman, your stank ain’t good, 

like old dead horse cock stirred in with rotten cow livers and 30 day ol’ dog shit!

Stankey thang, makes my gut retch!

Stankey thang, be a terrible stench! 

Stankey Thang, Stankey Thang, Stankey Thang, 

 

Stankey thang  I remember when we were just kids,

you told me if I show you mine, you'd show me yours. 

Well, I showed mine alright, but when you pulled your 

drawers down, it was a terrible fright! 

 

Stankey Thang, no words can really describe it! 

Stankey thang, shit would even say that it stinks!