 Mermaid Avenue (1998) [ larger cover art ] |
Share this song
Tweet this song
Wikipedia search
Musicbrainz DB;){kind=link}
I lived in a place called okfuskee
And I had a little girl in a holler tree
I said, little girl, it's plain to see,
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
She said it's hard for me to see
How one little boy got so ugly
Yes, my little girly, that might be,
But there ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
[chorus:]
Way over yonder in the minor key
Way over yonder in the minor key
There ain't nobody that can sing like me
We walked down by the buckeye creek
To see he frog eat the goggle eye bee
To hear that west wind whistle to the east,
There ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
Oh my little girly will you let me see,
Where over yonder where the wind blows free
Nobody can see in our holler tree
And there ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
[chorus]
Her mama cut a switch from a cherry tree
And laid it on to she and me
It stung lots worse than a hive of bees
But there ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
Now I have walked a long long ways
And I still look back to my tanglewood days,
I've led lots of girlies since then to stray
Saying, ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
[chorus x 2]
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
And I had a little girl in a holler tree
I said, little girl, it's plain to see,
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
She said it's hard for me to see
How one little boy got so ugly
Yes, my little girly, that might be,
But there ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
[chorus:]
Way over yonder in the minor key
Way over yonder in the minor key
There ain't nobody that can sing like me
We walked down by the buckeye creek
To see he frog eat the goggle eye bee
To hear that west wind whistle to the east,
There ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
Oh my little girly will you let me see,
Where over yonder where the wind blows free
Nobody can see in our holler tree
And there ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
[chorus]
Her mama cut a switch from a cherry tree
And laid it on to she and me
It stung lots worse than a hive of bees
But there ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
Now I have walked a long long ways
And I still look back to my tanglewood days,
I've led lots of girlies since then to stray
Saying, ain't nobody that can sing like me
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
[chorus x 2]
Ain't nobody that can sing like me
| dig | Posted: May 01, 2013 - 17:54 Easy 9. Lyrics, delivery, harmony. Yes. |
| cShaggy | Posted: Feb 28, 2013 - 03:39 ..8!..also, dunno if it's been brought up, but the organ (synths?) smack of "Walk of Life" (to me at least)..not much else of it sounds Straits-ish, but that iota popped out.. |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell) | Posted: Sep 24, 2012 - 07:18 fredriley wrote: Erm, I've heard Billy in concert, singing and speaking, sitting a few metres away from him such that I could see the spots on his face. He's got an Essex accent, being a Barking boy, narmean? On this song he's singing with a cod American accent, which he probably figures is in keeping with the song, but IMO he'd be better off keeping his normal accent and letting the lyrics speak for themselves. I guess you're right; I had to go back and listen a few times... it's a bad enough American accent that plenty of his Essex comes thru. I've listened to this a thousand times and never heard the faux accent. But then again, maybe the material just brings it out of him. I'm sure I couldn't read Rob't Burns aloud without falling into that same trap. |
| midreaming | Posted: Aug 23, 2012 - 19:19 closing my eyes, see Woody sitting, leaning on the flat wheel of an old ford. it's an immigrant road. a dust bowl okie, singing to himself and the setting sun |
| linden (Santa Cruz, CA) | Posted: Jul 23, 2012 - 09:18 Happy belated 100th birthday to Woody Guthrie! |
| kingart (Brooklyn NY) | Posted: Jul 23, 2012 - 09:18 Repetitive. Repetitive. Repetitive. |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: May 21, 2012 - 02:44 Sloggydog wrote: Ummmm....this isn't serious is it? The accent is definitely Billy's normal accent. I think you are getting confused by what we would call the lyrics. Perhaps you would be happier if he sung "There is not one whom can sing like me"? Erm, I've heard Billy in concert, singing and speaking, sitting a few metres away from him such that I could see the spots on his face. He's got an Essex accent, being a Barking boy, narmean? On this song he's singing with a cod American accent, which he probably figures is in keeping with the song, but IMO he'd be better off keeping his normal accent and letting the lyrics speak for themselves. |
| oooresultooo (Miami, FL) | Posted: Apr 19, 2012 - 09:15 That is sooo true...there is nobody that can sing (as bad) as BILLY BRAGG! |
| Jazbo (Beautiful Valparaiso IN.) | Posted: Apr 19, 2012 - 09:14 Had to come in and help with the harmony.....8..Beautiful..... |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell) | Posted: Apr 05, 2012 - 05:51  Volume 3 of Mermaid Avenue out this month in celebration of Woody's 100th. Download only unless you buy the box set. |
| RKeaton | Posted: Mar 18, 2012 - 19:44 At first I felt weird saying that thinking about this song takes me back, but then again it has been 14 years which is a fair spell. I ate this record up back then. This track is a gem. |
| salzburg4321 (Salzburg, Austria) | Posted: Dec 14, 2011 - 10:15 Nathalie ruined it for me |
| MiracleDrug (Earth) | Posted: Dec 14, 2011 - 10:11 scrubbrush wrote: great lyrics and harmony but a little dull and repetitive. a little? |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Aug 10, 2011 - 07:08 CMax wrote: Was that Natalie Merchant singing in this song? She sings on a couple of tunes on this album. "Birds and Ships" is very nice. |
| nalle (Malmo, Sweden) | Posted: Aug 10, 2011 - 07:07 A great song from a great album. |
| sirdroseph (Yes) | Posted: Jun 08, 2011 - 07:04 CMax wrote: Was that Natalie Merchant singing in this song? Oh now, that is just totally uncalled for!  |
| CMax (Copenhagen) | Posted: Jun 08, 2011 - 07:02 I hear Natalie Merchant! Love it! |
| (former member) | Posted: May 07, 2011 - 16:36 phillips wrote: awesome album. when i first bought it, i listened to it for months. Interesting, because a friend gave me this and I have literally never opened it. Worried that it won't meet expectations. |
| lexica (Oaktown, 510) | Posted: May 07, 2011 - 16:32 Love this song. Snarkily amused at the way the line "ain't nobody that can sing like me" makes Bragg-haters go all twitchy and cranky. Billy Bragg is like Tom Waits — very few people are neutral about them. |
| Mojoboy | Posted: Mar 05, 2011 - 13:46 calypsus_1 wrote: Billy Bragg - Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (w/ Wilco & Natalie Merchant ):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqFmNUz7WhY
I totally agree with calypsus |
| Mojoboy | Posted: Mar 05, 2011 - 13:45 Yeeeeehaaaaaa!!!! I love it |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Mar 03, 2011 - 21:13 Billy Bragg - Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (w/ Wilco & Natalie Merchant ) |
| CMax | Posted: Feb 02, 2011 - 06:04 Was that Natalie Merchant singing in this song? |
| Mosay (England) | Posted: Oct 30, 2010 - 15:30 Billy Bragg & Wilco? I've never come across this pairing before but I like it! |
| Sloggydog (UK) | Posted: Jul 26, 2010 - 23:52 fredriley wrote: Well, it's debatable, but my view is that a song stands on its merits, and doesn't need to be sung in the accent of the original singer/songwriter. Putting on an accent you're not very good at reminds me of sad bearded folkies singing "Oi woz a-wassailng darn the lane" in faux yokel accents, or singing "Fog on the Tyne" in some abysmal imitation of Geordie. If you can do the accent fine, but IMO Billy doesn't do American accents. Billy is a great songwriter and good singer, but I'd prefer him to stick to his native Essex accent. He's also a dedicated political activist, and has been involved in some unsexy but very practical work, such as Jail Guitar Doors. I've a hell of a lot of respect for the guy and would happily share a pint or four with him. Ummmm....this isn't serious is it? The accent is definitely Billy's normal accent. I think you are getting confused by what we would call the lyrics. Perhaps you would be happier if he sung "There is not one whom can sing like me"? |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Jun 25, 2010 - 02:54 mandolin wrote: ...it's woody guthrie; would you really rather hear it hear it any other way?.. Well, it's debatable, but my view is that a song stands on its merits, and doesn't need to be sung in the accent of the original singer/songwriter. Putting on an accent you're not very good at reminds me of sad bearded folkies singing "Oi woz a-wassailng darn the lane" in faux yokel accents, or singing "Fog on the Tyne" in some abysmal imitation of Geordie. If you can do the accent fine, but IMO Billy doesn't do American accents. Billy is a great songwriter and good singer, but I'd prefer him to stick to his native Essex accent. He's also a dedicated political activist, and has been involved in some unsexy but very practical work, such as Jail Guitar Doors. I've a hell of a lot of respect for the guy and would happily share a pint or four with him. |
| WayUpNorth (Windswept Exile) | Posted: May 24, 2010 - 06:59 phillips wrote: awesome album. when i first bought it, i listened to it for months. Me, too. Love it still ...  |
| scrubbrush | Posted: Apr 22, 2010 - 13:44 great lyrics and harmony but a little dull and repetitive. |
| sirdroseph (Tokyo) | Posted: Apr 22, 2010 - 13:43 Just another terrific song off of an absolute classic album!!  |
| joshtime | Posted: Apr 22, 2010 - 13:40 YES! |
| cohifi (Denver) | Posted: Mar 21, 2010 - 23:32 Excellent! Deserves a re-post: cc_rider wrote: Just to drive the point home, this IS the original recording! You can rag on Billy, Nat and the gang all you want, but they rescued Woody Guthrie's work from extinction. These albums were made with the deepest respect for the man. And the full support of his family: they really feel Billy and Co. captured the way Woody would have performed the songs. Some of the songs are silly, written only for his children, or even just some random thoughts. So not all of them are insightful gems, I'll grant you that. And Billy Bragg's voice is, well, an acquired taste, to be kind. But if these fine folks had not done these albums, these little snippets of Mr. Guthrie's genius would have been lost entirely. c. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Feb 18, 2010 - 09:16 gopre49 wrote: I think woody guthrie sings this himself. Am I mistaken? Is there a guthrie version out there? Or a cover that sounds a lot like him? As far as I know, the music for the songs on this album was composed by Billy Bragg, from lyrics that Woody Guthrie had written - none were songs that Guthrie had performed or recorded. |
| pauleywalnuts (Springfield) | Posted: Feb 18, 2010 - 09:15 Great song. |
| gopre49 | Posted: Jan 09, 2010 - 22:21 I think woody guthrie sings this himself. Am I mistaken? Is there a guthrie version out there? Or a cover that sounds a lot like him? |
| On_The_Beach (Vancouver BC, Bud) | Posted: Dec 17, 2009 - 13:58 toterola wrote: Beautiful song, done with reverence for Woody and his family. "10" from me, hands down. I'm with you, Tot-man. Love this beautiful, melancholy song. |
| mandolin (...drifting...) | Posted: Dec 17, 2009 - 13:34 fredriley wrote: Hmm. I'm a big fan of our Billy as a modern troubadour, but mixing him with Wilco is a bit iffy, as is his faux American accent on this. Stick to the Essex accent, Barking Boy :o) ...it's woody guthrie; would you really rather hear it hear it any other way?.. |
| handsomened (North Vancouver, Canada's tropics) | Posted: Dec 17, 2009 - 13:34 Shesdifferent wrote: Makes my ears bleed... No no no . . . this is sooooo gooood for the ears. Really. |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet this is not my home) | Posted: Dec 17, 2009 - 13:32 Detlaps wrote:  I think this predates hootenannies.Makes my ears bleed... |
| dogpound (the island on which I belong) | Posted: Dec 17, 2009 - 13:29 phillips wrote: awesome album. when i first bought it, i listened to it for months. me too. was given to me by my now wife so it has fond memories. |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Sep 14, 2009 - 03:03 Hmm. I'm a big fan of our Billy as a modern troubadour, but mixing him with Wilco is a bit iffy, as is his faux American accent on this. Stick to the Essex accent, Barking Boy :o) |
| Detlaps (Littlerock, too close to Los Angeles) | Posted: Aug 13, 2009 - 15:11 I think this predates hootenannies. |
| johnnybongo | Posted: Jun 11, 2009 - 04:16 fabulous, wonderful, brilliant |
| toterola (Further) | Posted: Apr 08, 2009 - 21:21 Beautiful song, done with reverence for Woody and his family. "10" from me, hands down. |
| dyharenas (Paquete chileno mata American Dream) | Posted: Mar 08, 2009 - 09:05 Excelsior wrote: No more thorough way to destroy a graet Woody Guthrie song than to include Billy Bragg, Wilco, AND Natalie Merchant in the same track. Might as well set the original recording on fire and run it over with a truck. I truly enjoy it when the informed listeners here let you have it..pendejo! |
| ThePoose | Posted: Dec 03, 2008 - 13:44 Saw Wilco last night opening for Neil here in Ottawa, Capital of Canada. Great show all round. Wonder if Wilco will still be cranking it out at age 63. |
| walchenbach (Puget Sound) | Posted: Dec 03, 2008 - 13:41 good effort, but track would benefit by adding a little 'edge', either musically or vocally, taking it out of the mr. roger's category. |
| phillips (a beach near you) | Posted: Dec 03, 2008 - 13:41 awesome album. when i first bought it, i listened to it for months. |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Oct 01, 2008 - 11:51 Excelsior wrote: No more thorough way to destroy a graet Woody Guthrie song than to include Billy Bragg, Wilco, AND Natalie Merchant in the same track. Might as well set the original recording on fire and run it over with a truck. Just to drive the point home, this IS the original recording! You can rag on Billy, Nat and the gang all you want, but they rescued Woody Guthrie's work from extinction. These albums were made with the deepest respect for the man. And the full support of his family: they really feel Billy and Co. captured the way Woody would have performed the songs. Some of the songs are silly, written only for his children, or even just some random thoughts. So not all of them are insightful gems, I'll grant you that. And Billy Bragg's voice is, well, an acquired taste, to be kind. But if these fine folks had not done these albums, these little snippets of Mr. Guthrie's genius would have been lost entirely. c. |
| hippiechick (Weekendland) | Posted: Oct 01, 2008 - 11:43 Every time I hear this song, I always think of the childhood ditty "Froggy Went a 'courtin'" Woody Guthrie is a true American music maker. |
| Krispian (Vancouver, BC) | Posted: Oct 01, 2008 - 11:43 Billy Bragg + Natalie Merchant = the stuff of nightmares. |