Pomes in a Pail: Music

• MP3 short clip, hi-fi play (broadband)
• MP3 short clip, lo-fi play (modem)

THE STORY BEHIND THIS SONG: One day composer Steph said to me, "Alex, I feel like whipping up a tune. Write me some lyrics, if you please!" (Actually I don't remember her saying please.) I replied, "Stephie, even God needs a seed to build a raindrop and make it rain. Give me a seed and I'll grow you a song." And as soon as I said that, I realized I'd stumbled on the seed for the lyrics to this song...which I gave to Karena, who always says please. -- Alex Jenny

My Daddy was a farmer for his whole life long
Justa’ frettin’ anda sweatin’ anda sowin’ them songs
From the early early spring till long past June
My Daddy’d be a’ growin’ anda tendin’ his tunes

CHORUS:
When a fella’d need a melody for something to wail
My Daddy’d come a’ runnin’ with a pome in a pail
Just give the man a reason and he’d grow you a rhyme
A’ rompin’ anda stompin’ in four-four time

Then he’d plant it in his noodle and he’d water it well
Till an itty bitty song would begin to swell
Daddy’d grab it by the tassel and he’d give it a pull
Pluckin’ songs from his garden by the bushel full

REPEAT CHORUS

When a tune is ripe for reapin’
You can start the willows weepin’
All the hogs’d get to squealin’
When they get that bluesy feelin’
And the cows’d be a’ moo’in
And the doves’d get to coo’in
The horse’d be a’ neighin’
The corn’d start a’ swayin’…

Have you got a fertile noodle, can you water it well?
Child, you can sprout a seedlin’ like a magic spell
Grab it by the tassel and give it a pull
You’ll be pluckin’ juicy tunes by the bushel full

Are you itchin’ for a melody for something to wail?
Hey, get your garden growin’, grab a pome in a pail
Start a’ flinging them notes up and down the line
You’ll be rompin’ anda stompin’ in four-four time.