I spent the Independence Day weekend sick with a cold or flu or whatever. Blech!

At the Ukulele World Congress, GrumpyCoyote gave me the wonderful gift of music in the form of the music book "Rise Up Singing". He suggested I try "Hobo's Lullaby" which is a wonderful tune. But since I don't have a singing voice today, I thought I'd just noodle around with the melody a bit. This is the best way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. Try it yourself someday! Oh, and my dog was spazzing out because of I don't know what so she kept pacing on the deck. That's her bumping into stuff (she's blind, you know).

I'm playing my tenor cigar box uke from Bluegrass Ukuleles strung with Guadalupe fiber-core strings.

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What's this all about? Go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =Jhvg2c9kTic

and here:
http://www.ukuleleunderground. com/forum/showthread.php?t=154 97

..and that's it!


0:32

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This is my submission to a contest for the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Big Donkey Day Out 2009

Chords: C, G7, F
In a quiet little village about an hour from here
They hold a fiesta around this time each year
Tradition said that when it was fiesta day
To start it all by letting a town donkey bray
'ee 'awww!

One year though, this braying made the people laugh
Which was noticed by the mayor and his uptight staff




He said "No more donkeys when fiesta comes
Instead of braying donkeys we'll have lots of drums"

They put all the donkeys back into their pens
the townsfolk didn't think they'd hear from them again
When fiesta came the mayor summoned every drum
(Drumming)
The mayor was astonished that no one would come.

Imagine his surprize when right there and then
A donkey bucked his door and broke out of his pen
He trotted to the middle of the village square
and in his loudest voice, brayed right at the mayor.
'EEE 'AWW

The people started coming in from miles around
Fiesta time had started in the little town
Now in the village ever since that fateful day
Fiesta time won't start until the donkeys bray
Eee Aww!

Played on a 17" plastic Carnival ukulele

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This is my 11th song for Grumpycoyotetunes' "Bring the Song" Challenge.

If you're offended by one of the lyrics in this song, you obviously don't remember being in elementary school.

"Fourth Grade Love Affair"
A F#m
You hit me on the arm in the hallway

During class you pass a note that says Youre so gay.
D-D6
Youre the meanest girl I know in the 4th grade
A
I like you.
A-F#m
You dump the books Im holding after class

You tell on me if Im out without a hall pass
D-D6
If theres a way to make me mad, youll find a way.
A
I think youre cute.

E D




So you tripped me in the dirt during recess
E D A-F#m
I think we can call this relationship a great success.

You call me shorty only cause youre tall

Im always your first target when we play at dodgeball.
D-D6
When you see me, you just say Go away
A
I like you.
E D
Do you like me? You got to let me know
E D
Heres a note check the box yes or no. A
Please check Yes

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I took everything I know about Chopin's life and threw it out the window for this song. For some reason, today the thought "Chopin's father was an extrovert" came into my head. This song is the result.

Chopins Father (Op.64 No. 2)

When Freddy was born his proud father planned
To raise his young son with a firm steady hand
Ill teach him the saddle, the plow and the nail
Hell follow my footsteps and walk in my trail

Hell look to his father for strength and the way
To be proud of his work at the end of the day

But as his boy grew he knew something was wrong
Physically frail, Freddy preferred the song.
He sat at the keyboard and played all the time
To work and hard labor the poor boy was blind

Boy, please look to me for the strength and the way
To be proud of your work at the end of the day

And though he still loved him, he beat him sometimes
Stop dreaming of music your hands should look like mine-
Theyre cut and theyre dirty, and calloused and red
But theyve done a days work when I go to bed.

Please look to your father for strength and the way
and be proud of your work at the end of the day

The day Freddy left home, his father was ill
But still worked the field with the plow and the till.
The son went to Paris to find his own way
And as a musician his work was to play.

Why couldnt I show you the strength and the way
To be proud of your work at the end of the day?

The father was working when he heard the posthorn
The letter from Paris was tattered and torn
Dear Father, Im playing for kings this little waltz
I wrote it for you to show that I wasnt lost

I watched you work hard to find strength and the way
To be proud of your work at the end of the day.
(Hum a bit of Waltz Op.64/2 in C#m)

CHORDS:
Cm-G-G7-Cm (rinse, repeat)

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I vowed to do this in one take, and I did. I love GrumpyCoyoteTunes' songs, but I can't recreate his style. So this is my version of a Grumpy song.

Jack and Woody and Lou

C7, F7 and G7

I met old Jack Kerouac on the corner a block from here.
Took him to the Seelbach and we drank Falls City beer.
He said Im headed to Kansas City with Salinger in my trunk
Told that SOB that Holdens an annoying little punk.

He said After the war, we were beaten, not Beat.
We escaped that glorious hell on the road and under the street.
It took booze and pills to forget the war we fought
Saw the best minds of my generation lost in selfish thought.

I asked Woody Guthrie, why you looking so sore?
He said Im leaving this here country, I dont know it no more.
Used to be a man could make a half-honest wage
Without working in a factory that was run by the state.

Hey, Mr. Gehrig, how you been these days?
He said, Im back to kick those players butts cause of their cheatin ways
Now youve gotta shoot up if you want to even score
They mock me and my life by over-taking my records."

Jack and Woody and Lou
met in Kankakee
rented an apartment
and slowly faded away....

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Ukulele World Congress

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Ukulele World Congress

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Ukulele World Congress

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sponsored by Mainland Ukes

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Ukulele World Congress Open mic set

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ukulele world congress Saturday Night

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