Chairman Of The Board & Clarence Carter - Patches (with lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post is Part IV of a four part series on positive, non-religious African American songs about fathers. This post showcases the 1970 song "Patches" as sung by Chairman Of The Board and by Clarence Carter. Information about the singing group Chairman Of The Board and the vocalist Clarence Carter is also included in this post.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/luther-vandross-dance-with-my-father.html
for Part I of this post. Part I showcases "Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-winstons-color-him-father-with.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases the song "Color Him Father" by the Winstons.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-chi-lites-let-me-be-man-my-daddy.html for Part III of this series. Part III showcases the song "Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was" by The Chi-Lites.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes

Thanks to General Johnson for composing this song. Thanks to Chairman Of The Board and Clarence Carter for recording this song. Thanks also to the producer of these videos file, the transcribers of this song, and the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE GROUP CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chairmen_of_the_Board
"Chairmen of the Board is a Detroit, Michigan-based soul music group active mostly in the 1970s, that is still touring today....

General Johnson (1943 - 2010)[1] had a hit as the lead singer of The Showmen in the early 1960s, with the New Orleans rock and roll anthem "It Will Stand" and Carolina Beach classic "39-21-40 Shape".

When Holland/Dozier/Holland left Motown in 1967 to establish their own Invictus/Hot Wax group of record labels, they teamed Johnson up with Eddie Custis, Danny Woods and Canadian born Harrison Kennedy as the new company's flagship act, under the appropriate name "Chairmen of the Board". Custis left the group after their second album.

Although they all had a turn at lead vocals, it was Johnson's quirky hiccup-laden style and his songwriting that became increasingly showcased, with the group selling a million plus copies of their single, "Give Me Just a Little More Time". The disc was released in December 1969, reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, with one million sales confirmed in May 1970, when the group were presented with a gold record by the R.I.A.A.[2] Chairmen of the Board also charted with "(You've Got Me) Dangling on a String", "Everything's Tuesday", "Pay to the Piper", "Finders Keepers" and (in the UK) "Working on a Building of Love" and "Elmo James". They also recorded the original version of "Patches", a 1970 hit for Clarence Carter, whose recording received a Grammy Award in 1971."...

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE
Chairmen Of The Board ~ Patches ~ LIVE 2008



pinkfloyd426 Published in August 2010

LYRICS: PATCHES
(General Johnson)

I was born and raised down in Alabama
On a farm way back up in the woods
I was so ragged that folks used to call me Patches
Papa used to tease me about it
'Cause deep down inside he was hurt
'Cause he'd done all he could

My papa was a great old man
I can see him with a shovel in his hands, see
Education he never had
He did wonders when the times got bad
The little money from the crops he raised
Barely paid the bills we made
For, life had kick him down to the ground
When he tried to get up
Life would kick him back down

One day Papa called me to his dyin' bed
Put his hands on my shoulders
And in his tears he said

He said, Patches
I'm dependin' on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, it's all left up to you

Two days later Papa passed away, and
I became a man that day
So I told Mama I was gonna quit school, but
She said that was Daddy's strictest rule
So ev'ry mornin' 'fore I went to school
I fed the chickens and I chopped wood too
Sometimes I felt that I couldn't go on
I wanted to leave, just run away from home
But I would remember what my daddy said
With tears in his eyes on his dyin' bed

He said, Patches
I'm dependin' on you, son
I tried to do my best
It's up to you to do the rest

Then one day a strong rain came
And washed all the crops away
And at the age of 13 I thought
I was carryin' the weight of the
Whole world on my shoulders
And you know, Mama knew
What I was goin' through, 'cause

Ev'ry day I had to work the fields
'Cause that's the only way we got our meals
You see, I was the oldest of the family
And ev'rybody else depended on me
Ev'ry night I heard my Mama pray
Lord, give him the strength to face another day

So years have passed and all the kids are grown
The angels took Mama to a brand new home
Lord knows, people, I shedded tears
But my daddy's voice kept me through the years

Sing
Patches, I'm dependin' on you, son
To pull the family through
My son, it's all left up to you

Oh, I can still hear Papa's voice sayin'
Patches, I'm dependin' on you, son
I've tried to do my best
It's up to you to do the rest

I can still hear Papa, what he said
Patches...

Source: http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/clarence_carter/patches.html

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INFORMATION ABOUT CLARENCE CARTER
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Carter
"Clarence George Carter (born January 14, 1936) is an American blues and soul singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. His most successful records included "Slip Away", "Back Door Santa" (both 1968), "Patches" (1970), and "Strokin'" (1985)...

Carter's biggest hit came in 1970 with his version of "Patches", first recorded by Chairmen of the Board, which was a UK number 2 hit[7] and a US number 4. The record sold over one million copies, and received a gold disc awarded by the R.I.A.A. in September 1970, just two months after its release,[8] and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1971"...

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: Clarence Carter - Patches (High Quality)



Cadillac472500, Uploaded Nov 26, 2010

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The Chi-Lites - Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was (with lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post is Part III of a four part series on positive, non-religious African American songs about fathers. This post showcases the song "Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was" by The Chi-Lites.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/luther-vandross-dance-with-my-father.html
for Part I of this post. Part I showcases "Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-winstons-color-him-father-with.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases the song "Color Him Father" by the Winstons.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/chariman-of-board-clarence-carter.html for Part IV of this series. Part IV showcases the song "Patches" as sung by Chairman Of The Board and as sung by Clarence Carter.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes

Thanks to Eugene Record and Barbara Acklin for composing this song. Thanks to The Chi-Lites for performing this song. Thanks also to the producer of this video, the transcribers of this song, and the publisher of this videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHI-LITES
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chi-Lites
"The Chi-Lites (/ˈʃaɪlaɪts/ SHY-lyts) are a Chicago-based smooth soul vocal quartet from the early 1970s, one of the few from the period not to come from Memphis or Philadelphia. They were led by Eugene Record, and scored eleven Top Ten R&B hits from 1969 to 1974.

The group formed in the late 1950s when the Chanteurs (Record, Robert Squirrel Lester, and Clarence Johnson) teamed up with Marshall Thompson and Creadel "Red" Jones of the Desideros to form the Hi-lites. Wishing to add a tribute to their home town of Chicago, they changed their name to "Marshall and the Chi-Lites" in 1964. Johnson left later that year, and their name was subsequently shortened to The Chi-Lites.

Record was the group's primary songwriter, though he frequently collaborated with others, such as Barbara Acklin.

Their major hits came in 1971 and 1972, "Have You Seen Her" and "Oh Girl", the latter a #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 on 27 May 1972...

The group was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 2000 and Record made an appearance with the group on stage to perform and accept the award....

The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005, and were honored with an induction into the R&B Music Hall of Fame on August 17, 2013 at the Waetejen Auditorium in Cleveland."...

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: The Chi-Lites - Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was



Adagiosoulb4flesh, Uploaded May 18, 2008

LYRICS: LET ME BE THE MAN MY DADDY WAS
(Eugene Record and Barbara Acklin)

He's worth more
Than every star in the sky
With that look of forgiveness
That's always in his eyes

He works so hard
But gentle as a lamb
He gave up so much
To make me just what I am and, oh

Oh, let me be
The man my daddy was
Oh, let me be
The man my daddy was

When I was young
Sometimes foolishly I played
But he reached out and, oh
Showed me the way

Now he's only human
And bound to make mistakes
But it was all right
By the moment I would awake and, oh

Oh, let me be
The man my daddy was
Oh, let me be
The man my daddy was

Sometimes I hope
I don't live to see the day
When he reaches down
And take them both away

And look at my children
Sometimes foolishly they play
Let me live long enough
Let me show them the way

My clothes were sometimes untidy
And that bed was never made
But mom and dad would scold me good
Never doubted I've made the grade

But now that I'm a man
I ask the Lord up above
Please let me raise my children right
And be the man my daddy was and, oh

Oh, let me be
The man my daddy was
Oh, let me be
The man my daddy was

He was a good man
He was a poor man
Oh, let me be

Source: http://www.metrolyrics.com/let-me-be-the-man-my-daddy-was-lyrics-the-chilites.html

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The Winstons - Color Him Father (with lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post is Part II of a four part series on positive, non-religious African American songs about fathers. This post showcases the 1969 song "Color Him Father" by the Winstons.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/luther-vandross-dance-with-my-father.html
for Part I of this post. Part I showcases "Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-chi-lites-let-me-be-man-my-daddy.html for Part III of this series. Part III showcases the song "Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was" by The Chi-Lites.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/chariman-of-board-clarence-carter.html for Part IV of this series. Part IV showcases the song "Patches" as sung by Chairman Of The Board and as sung by Clarence Carter.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes

Thanks to the composer/s of this song. Thanks to The Winstons for performing this song. Thanks also to the producer of this video, the transcribers of this song, and the publisher of this videos on YouTube.

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: The Winstons - Color Him Father



L Williams, May 30, 2012
A video I made in honor of my grandfather who will be truly miss.


LYRICS:

There's a man at my house he's so big and strong
He goes to work each day, stays all day long
He comes home each night looking tired and beat
He sits down at the dinner table and has a bite to eat
Never a frown always a smile
When he says to me how's my child
I've been studying hard all day in school
Tryin' to understand the golden rule

Think I'll color this man father
I think I'll color him love
Said I'm gonna color him father
I think I'll color the man love, yes I will

He says education is the thing if you wanna compete
Because without it son, life ain't very sweet
I love this man I don't know why
Except I'll need his strength till the day that I die
My mother loves him and I can tell
By the way she looks at him when he holds my little sister Nell
I heard her say just the other day
That if it hadn't been for him she wouldn't have found her way
My real old man he got killed in the war
And she knows she and seven kids couldn't of got very far
She said she thought that she could never love again
And then there he stood with that big wide grin
He married my mother and he took us in
And now we belong to the man with that big wide grin

Think I'll color this man father
I think I'll color him love
Said I'm gonna color him father

Source:

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Luther Vandross - "Dance With My Father" (with lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post is Part I of a four part series on positive, non-religious African American songs about fathers. This post showcases the video and lyrics to the 2003 "Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross. Information about this song is also included in this post.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-winstons-color-him-father-with.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases the song "Color Him Father" by the Winstons.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-chi-lites-let-me-be-man-my-daddy.html for Part III of this series. Part III showcases the song "Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was" by The Chi-Lites.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/06/chariman-of-board-clarence-carter.html for Part IV of this series. Part IV showcases the song "Patches" as sung by Chairman Of The Board and as sung by Clarence Carter.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes

Thanks to Luther Vandross & Richard Marx for composing this song. Thanks to Luther Vandross for performing this song. Thanks also to the producer of this video, the transcribers of this song, and the publisher of this videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SONG
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_with_My_Father_(song)
"Dance with My Father" is the title track to singer-songwriter Luther Vandross' thirteenth studio album. With Richard Marx, Vandross wrote the song based on his personal experience. Its heart touching lyrics recall childhood memories with Vandross' father, who used to dance with his mother.

Despite the lack of promotion due in part to Vandross' hospitalization, "Dance with My Father" became one of the most requested songs at the time. During the 2003 Grammy Awards, "Dance with My Father" earned Vandross the Song of the Year and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance accolades."

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father



LutherVandrossVEVO, Published November 27, 2012
(2003)

LYRICS: DANCE WITH MY FATHER
(Luther Vandross & Richard Marx)

Back when I was a child, before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high and dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around ‘til I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure I was loved
If I could get another chance, another walk, another dance with him
I’d play a song that would never, ever end
How I’d love, love, love
To dance with my father again

When I and my mother would disagree
To get my way, I would run from her to him
He’d make me laugh just to comfort me
Then finally make me do just what my mama said
Later that night when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he would be gone from me
If I could steal one final glance, one final step, one final dance with him
I’d play a song that would never, ever end
'Cause I’d love, love, love
To dance with my father again

Sometimes I’d listen outside her door
And I’d hear how my mother cried for him
I pray for her even more than me
I pray for her even more than me
I know I’m praying for much too much
But could you send back the only man she loved
I know you don’t do it usually
But dear Lord she’s dying
To dance with my father again
Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever dream

Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/luthervandross/dancewithmyfather.html Lyrics posted by Levigamer

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1950s Bunny Hop Dance & 2000s Hip-Hop/Club Music Bunny Hop Dances

This post presents information about & videos of the 1950s American novelty dance called "the Bunny Hop". This post also presents information about and videos of the Hip-Hop "Bunny Hop" line dances that are performed to the 2002 Da Entourage record as well as information about and videos of dances that are performed to DJ Lilman's 2012 club music "Bunny Hop" record.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All content remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos, and thanks to the publishers of those videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE 1950s BUNNY HOP
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunny_hop_(dance)
"The bunny hop is a novelty dance that was created at Balboa High School in San Francisco in 1952.[1] It is a social mixer dance, sometimes also referred to as a "party" or "dance party" dance.

The dance has been generally done to Ray Anthony's big band recording of the song.[1] It was a vocal hit in 1952, and instrumentally re-recorded c. 1958...

Ray Anthony's single release of the "Bunny Hop" featured another novelty dance classic, the "Hokey Pokey" on the B side...

The dance is a variation on a conga line. Participants dance in a line, holding on to the hips of the person in front of them. They tap the floor two times with their right foot, then with their left foot, then they hop forwards, backwards, and finally three hops forward to finish the sequence, which continues throughout the tune. The first person in the line leads the group around the floor.

The Finnish dance style called jenkka has essentially the same steps. Originating from the 19th century, jenkka is actually the same dance style as the German slow tempo polka called schottische or rheinländer. It is characterised by three quick steps and a hop and is danced to music in 2/4 time. Finnjenkka, also known as letkajennkka and letkis, is one of the many variations of jenkka. Typical to it is that all the people dancing form a line and hold on to the one in front by the waist."

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VIDEOS OF 1950s BUNNY HOP
Example #1: The Bunny Hop from The Ray Anthony Show (1953)



Ray Anthony, Published on Feb 3, 2014

Ray Anthony & his orchestra perform the 1950s dance sensation known as "The Bunny Hop" on this 1953 episode of The Ray Anthony Show

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Example #2: The Lawrence Welk Show: Dance To The Bunny Hop!



Chris Pikal, Published on Jan 5, 2014

Featuring Alice Lon and The Lennon Sisters! (1957)

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Example #3: Bunny Hop



redmoose3d, Uploaded on May 1, 2008

My little sister had a "Bunny Party" for her 3rd birthday, and we all danced the Bunny Hop.

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INFORMATION ABOUT DA ENTOURAGE'S "BUNNY HOP" RECORD
From http://www.reesefuller.com/articles/still-doing-the-bunny-hop/
"It’s been a year and a half since Da Entourage hit it big with Bunny Hop. Its latest CD, Entourage 2, was re-released on Universal Records as part of a reported $5 million deal, and it’s kept the Lafayette rap group hopping...

On the heels of the regional success of its first compact disc, Entourage 1, (Inside Acadiana: Hopping to the Top, Jan. 30, 2002), the group recently signed with Universal Records, home to the Cash Money and No Limit Record labels and acts like Master P, Juvenile, 504 Boyz and Nelly. Universal recently re-released Entourage 2, which also contains “Bunny Hop,” the successful single from the group’s first CD. The disc comes in two flavors – a clean version and one with explicit lyrics...

A lot has changed for Da Entourage since their “Bunny Hop” debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles Chart in January 2002, including signing a deal with Universal on Mardi Gras day in New Orleans....

Da Entourage knew it had a catchy song on its hands with “Bunny Hop,” but they realized that they needed a hook to get the song to the broadest audience possible. It’s one thing to get a radio station to play a song, but it’s another to have people crowd the dance floor when they hear the first few notes of the song.

Da Entourage devised a simple dance, appropriately called the Bunny Hop, to go along with their number. They taught it to whoever would give them the time of day. When they went to locally owned record stores to stock copies of their CD, they taught the steps to managers and customers in the stores
[Music store owner Todd] Ortego is also a disc jockey on the weekends, catering to social functions like weddings, family reunions and company parties. He says he still gets requests for “Bunny Hop,” nearly two years after its initial release. Ortego readily admits that “I’m in this small – apparently exclusive – club of people who have never done a line dance,” but he says the dance must be what keeps the requests for the song coming."

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VIDEOS OF DA ENTOURAGE "BUNNY HOP" LINE DANCES
Editor: There are a number of ways to do "Bunny Hop" line dances to the 2002 record by Da Entourage. This post showcases a few of those ways.

Example #1: Tuskegee Bunny Hopping (Line Dance 1)



Ian Evans, Uploaded on Oct 27, 2006

Tuskegee [University] Students Line Dancing on the Patio the Bunny Hop
-snip-
A number of commenters wrote that this was the "old school" ["old skool"] way of doing the "Bunny Hop". It didn't seem as though those commenters knew about the "Bunny Hop" that was done as a conga-line dance. It also appeared that other commenters who added comments after 2012 were referring to Dj Lilman's record [found below in this post] as the "new school" way of dancing the "Bunny Hop".

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Example #2: Bunny Hop Line dance



cojacque, Uploaded on Aug 15, 2009

Reception shananigans cont'd

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Example #3: Bunny Hop Line Dance


howtolinedance, Uploaded on Jul 7, 2011

...This is a very simple warm up line dance workout called The Bunny Hop Line Dance. Have fun doing it. When it speeds up, you can get a serious workout on.

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Example #4: The Bunny Hop Line Dance - INSTRUCTIONS



Steph's Line Dancing, Published on May 1, 2012

....There are quite a few versions out there but This is the EASIEST version i know

Song: Bunny Hop - Da Entourage
-snip-
In response to a comment that that's not how to do this dance, the video uploader wrote:
"there are at LEAST 7-8 different versions of this dance.... this is just one of them..."

-snip-
Here are two other comments from the video's discussion thread:
Kiki Williams, 2012
..."This song is by Da Enrouage... I've never seen anyone Bunny Hop like this before.. it seems too easy. I learned how to Bunny Hop in New Orleans and we always danced to this version of the song...."

**
Mark Hebert, 2013
"this song play at almost all the clubs and receptions down here in the New Orleans area and i see many versions of the dance...."

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INFORMATION ABOUT DJ LILMAN'S "BUNNY HOP" RECORD
DJ Lilman's "Bunny Hop" Brick City club music record was recorded in 2012. Here's information about this type of club music
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick_City_club
"Brick City Club Music (or Jersey club[1]) is a version of Baltimore club music from Newark, New Jersey popularized by DJ Tameil (Formerly Anthrax), DJ Tim Dolla, Mike V, DJ Black Mic (Brick Bandits Crew) ; in the early/mid 1990s to the 2000s.[2] It was then abandoned by DJ Tameil after many new producers began making music "without his permission," as Tameil has said numerous times, thus "ruining the genre."... DJ Lilman now is the most known DJ making Brick City Club hits. His music videos on Youtube has received more than 100,000 views...

Though presently it is not as popular as Baltimore club, Brick City club is still popular amongst the Essex, Hudson, Somerset, Middlesex, and Union county areas of New Jersey."...
-snip-
Here's information about "Baltimore Club music"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_club
"Baltimore club, also called "Bmore Club", "Bmore House" or simply "Bmore" is a breakbeat genre. A blend of hip hop and chopped, staccato house music, it was created in Baltimore, Maryland, United States in the late 1980s by 2 Live Crew's Luther Campbell, Frank Ski, Big Tony (or Miss Tony), Scottie B. and DJ Spen.[1]

Baltimore club is based on an 8/4 beat structure, and includes tempos around 130 beats per minute.[2][3] It combines repetitive, looped vocal snippets similar to trap, ghetto house and ghettotech. These samples are often culled from television shows such as Sanford and Son and SpongeBob SquarePants,[3] though can also be simple repeated calls and chants. The instrumental tracks include heavy breakbeats and call and response stanzas similar to those found in the go-go music of Washington, D.C"....

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VIDEOS OF DJ LILMAN'S "BUNNY HOP"
These videos are presented in chronological order with the oldest dated videos given first.

Example #1: DJ LILMAN FT KSHIZ - BUNNY HOP (MUSIC VIDEO)

.

wiztvpartyvideos . Published on Jun 16, 2012

BRAND NEW DANCE NEW JERSEY CLUB MUSIC DJ LILMAN FT KSHIZ - BUNNY HOP FILMED AT EDITED BY WIZTV
-snip-
The "I Love Jersey City" t-shirt wore by one of the dancers refers to a city in Northern New Jersey. Some of these dancers are "sportin a sag" [wearing sagging pants that show their boxer shorts.] That's a style from the 1980s that is still worn by some young males today although it seems to me that it's less prevalent than it was back then.

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Example #2: Bunny Hop ( Dj Lilman Feat K-Shiz ) [ Terrence ]


TerryTEEVEE, Published on Jun 24, 2012

Might Be Alil late on This Video But I Do Whatever I Want ^__^

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Example #3 [WARNING: A small amount of cursing is heard and a sexually explicit tag name is shown near the end of this video.]

Example #3: Team Groovy x Chinky - Bunny Hop / Team Gotti Anthem / Bonus (Jersey Club Music)



Jersey Club Music by Unicorn, Published on Apr 30, 2013

Team Groovy x Chinky - Bunny Hop / Team Gotti Anthem / Bonus (Jersey Club Music)
-snip-
This video featured three different dances. The "Bunny Hop" dance is performed to the "Bunny Hop" by DJ Lilman Featuring K-Shiz

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The Christmas Song "Behold That Star" & Its African American Composer Thomas W. Talley

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases the Christmas song "Behold That Star" and its African American composer Thomas Washington Talley.

The content of this post is presented for historical, religious, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THOMAS W. TALLEY & BEHOLD THAT STAR
From
http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1683
Thomas Washington Talley (1870-1952)

..."The majority of Talley’s teaching career, from 1903 to 1942, was spent at Fisk, where he taught chemistry, biology, and science, and was chair of the Chemistry Department for twenty-five years. Having earned a doctorate from Walden University in Nashville in 1896, he also spent two postgraduate summers, 1914 and 1916, at Harvard. In 1931 he finished a degree from the University of Chicago.

Although Talley’s profession was teaching and chemistry research, he made significant contributions to the study of American music, specifically black folk music. Music was a constant throughout Talley’s life. He joined the Fisk music program in 1888 and sang bass and toured with the New Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1890. He was a member of a quartet, active in the Mozart Society at Fisk, and conducted the Fisk choir for several seasons. Talley also participated in music activities at the Fisk Union Church.

Around the age of fifty, at the end of World War I, Talley began collecting rural black traditional songs. He sought texts from the Middle Tennessee countryside and elsewhere through an active network of friends, family, students, and colleagues, and recalled songs from memory or from his travels. In 1922 Macmillan published these folksongs as Negro Folk Rhymes (Wise and Otherwise) containing 349 secular folksongs (some with music notations), an essay by Talley, and an introduction by Walter Clyde Curry, literature professor at Vanderbilt University. This successful publication was the first serious collection of folksongs from Tennessee, the first compilation of black secular folksong, and the first to be assembled by a black scholar.

In addition, Talley accumulated stories from African American rural communities and compiled a manuscript of folk narratives. The unpublished work was entitled “Negro Traditions,” a version of which was later published in 1993. Talley also wrote an original composition, “Behold That Star,” which has since entered the Christmas music repertoire.

Talley retired from Fisk around 1942. He worked for the War Department during World War II. Talley moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1943 but eventually returned to Nashville, where he spent his last years writing about the sciences."

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From http://folio.furman.edu/projects/anthems/pdf/Behold_That_Star.pdf "Behold That Star An Original Jubilee Carol by Thomas Washington Talley, Date: First Half of 20th Century"
... "[Thomas Washington] Talley was a gifted musician. He sang bass and toured with the New Fisk Jubilee Singers. He was director of Fisk's Mozart Society and for a time conducted the Fisk Choir. Seeking a Christmas spiritual for the Jubilee Singers to perform and finding none that was suitable, he composed "Behold That Star." At what date is not known.

Marian Anderson (1897–1993) performed Talley's spiritual in a 1916 arrangement made for solo voice and piano by Harry T. Burleigh (1866–1949). In this version for chorus and solo voices I have kept Burleigh's original accompaniment, and have arranged a choral refrain, alternating with verses set in a call-and-response pattern between soloists and choir."

[written by Albert Blackwell, February 2, 2012]

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From http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=152562 posted by Mary in Kentucky, Date: 10 Dec 01 - 04:05 PM
"Talley, Thomas W. Negro Folk Rhymes. A New expanded edition, with Music. Edited...by Charles K. Wolfe. Music transcriptions by Bill Ferreira. Knoxville: Univ. of Tennessee Press, 1991. Rev. ed. of Negro folk rhymes, wise and otherwise, published 1922 by the Macmillan Company.* Contains music (ISBN 0-87049-673-5)...

The following are quotes mentioning "Behold That Star" from the introduction [of that book]:

...Florence Hudson Botsford invited Talley to contribute a song to her collection, Folk Songs of Many Peoples, and he sent her an original composition called 'Behold That Star'." (pp. xviii-xix)...

During the [second world] war, Talley did classified work for the War Department; he returned to Nashville during this time and began working on a book-length manuscript entitled "A Concept of the Magnetic Atom." During his latter years, he seemed to view this as his life's work and he produced several drafts of it. It had little to do with folklore. He continued to compose music and completed a mass which was never published. His song "Behold That Star" entered the Christmas music repertoire and was widely reprinted in anthologies. In the early 1970s, the piece was performed on a national broadcast by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, with Leontyne Price singing. By this time the song had become so pervasive that Talley's name had been detatched from it, and Bernstein announced that he regretted that he did not know who had composed the song." (pp. xx-xxi).

The above information was gathered by Masato Sakurai.
-snip-
* The original 1922 edition of Thomas W. Talley's Negro Folk Rhymes Wise & Otherwise is available online at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27195/27195-h/27195-h.htm
Warning: What is now known as "the n word" is fully spelled out in this book.

**Folk Songs of Many Peoples, Volume 1 by Florence Hudson Botsford was published by Womans Press , Harvard University in 1921. It is available online as a Google book http://books.google.com/books/about/Folk_Songs_of_Many_Peoples.html?id=0aQQAAAAYAAJ

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LYRICS OF "BEHOLD THAT STAR"
(Thomas W. Talley)

Refrain:
Behold that star!
Behold that star up yonder,
Behold that star!
It is the star of Bethlehem.

1. There was no room found in the inn.
It is the star of Bethlehem.
For Him who was born free from sin.
It is the star of Bethlehem. Refrain

2. The wise men travelled from the East. [1]
It is the star of Bethlehem.
To worship Him, the Prince of Peace.
It is the star of Bethlehem. Refrain

3. A song broke forth upon the night.
It is the star of Bethlehem.
From angel hosts all robed in white.
It is the star of Bethlehem. Refrain

Source:
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/behold_that_star.htm
1. Or: The wise men came on from the east.

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THREE EXAMPLES OF "BEHOLD THAT STAR"
These examples are posted in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest dated exampls given first.]

Example #1: Behold That Star" (1963)- The Patterson Singers


JayEm86, Uploaded on Nov 29, 2008
-snip-
The Patterson Singers' rendition of Thomas W. Talley's "Behold That Star" is what I call a "gospelized song", that is, a song that is arranged and sung in a manner of African American Gospel song. There are many different types of African American Gospel music, but the tempo is usually increased in a "gospelized" song.

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Example #2: Morehouse/Spelman Choirs - Behold The Star



mikep793, Uploaded on Dec 13, 2010

Christmas Concert
-snip-
"Behold That Star" is often categorized as a Spiritual. However, "Behold That Star" differs considerably from African American Spirituals in that it has a known composer and its lyrics are usually fixed. I describe "Behold That Star" as a Christmas song which was composed in the manner of African American Spirituals.

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Example #3: Behold That Star



Bel Canto Singers Bahamas, Published on Dec 19, 2012

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Thanks to Thomas Washington Talley for his life worth, including composing the Christmas song "Behold That Star". Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks to the vocalists & musicians who are showcased in this post & thanks to the publishers of those examples on YouTube.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Thanksgiving Songs For Young Children (videos & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases two Thanksgiving songs & one Thanksgiving chant for young children. The featured compositions are "A Bunch Of Fat Turkeys", "The Turkey Ran Away", and "A Turkey Named Bert".

The content of this post is presented for entertainment and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owner.

EDITOR'S COMMENT
By posting these songs on this blog that focuses on music and dance from African Americans and from other Black cultures around the world, I'm not stating or implying that these songs were composed by Black people.

I'm showcasing these songs because I like them because they are easy to learn and fun for children, teens, and/or adults to sing, regardless of their race or ethnicity.

I also like these Thanksgiving songs & chant because they contain no stereotypical references to Indians wearing feathers. Hopefully, no adults will make children performing these compositions dress up that way.

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FEATURED SONGS
(These songs are presented in no particular order.)

Example #1: Kindergarten Turkey Songs

.

The Baldwin School, Published on Nov 27, 2012

At the 2012 Thanksgiving Assembly, Baldwin's Kindergarteners sang "A Bunch Of Fat Turkeys." With the help of the Baldwin 13 Year Club and alumnae, the Kindergarteners sang the song twice more.
-snip-
LYRICS: A BUNCH OF FAT TURKEYS
(composer ?)

A bunch of fat turkeys are we
We slept all night in a tree
When the cook came around
We couldn’t be found
So that’s why we’re here you see
-snip-
Source: My transcription from the video.

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Example #2: The Turkey Ran Away song



heathermp1 Uploaded on Nov 17, 2011

This is Hannah singing a song from pre-school, The Turkey Ran Away before Thanksgiving Day...
-snip-
LYRICS: THE TURKEY RAN AWAY
(composer ?)

The turkey ran away
Before Thanksgiving day
He said "They will make a roast of me
If I should stay."

The pumpkin rolled away
Before Thanksgiving day
She said "They will make a pie of me
If I should stay."

The cranberry rolled away
Before Thanksgiving day
He said "They will make a sauce of me
If I should stay."
-snip-
I've also read versions of this song that include a verse for "potato" [She said they'll make mash potatoes of me], and a verse for cabbage [He said they'll make slaw *out of me if I should stay.]
*cole slaw.

One of the earliest school songs that I remember is "A Turkey Ran Away" [in the 1950s in Atlantic City, New Jersey]. The tune used for that song is basically the same as the tune that's used in the above video, but after the words "He said" the tune & the words are different. Unfortunately, I can't find any video of that version, but here's the words that I remember:

A turkey ran away
Before thanksgiving day
He said “Gooble google gooble gooble gooble gooble gooble
I don’t like Thanksgiving day
He said “Gooble google gooble gooble gooble gooble gooble
I am going to run away-a-a*

*The word "away" is elongated.

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Example #3: The Turkey Ran Away



saritschube, Uploaded on Dec 1, 2008

Thanksgiving Extravaganza part 3
-snip-
The tune for this rendition of "The Turkey Ran Away" is the same tune as "The Farmer In The Dell".

The word are slightly different than those given above:
1. The turkey ran away...They said they'd make a roast of me...
2. The corn ran away...They said they'd make bread of me...
3. The cranberry ran away...They said they'd make sauce of me...
4. The pumpkin ran away...They said they'd make pie of me...

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Example #4: a turkey named Bert



CHIRIZZ1982, Uploaded on Nov 24, 2011
-snip-
LYRICS: A TURKEY NAMED BERT
(composer ?)

A turkey named Bert thought he'd make up a dance,
And he'd dance for the King and Queen.
If he did a good job, and they liked it a lot,
They wouldn't eat him, cuz that'd be MEAN!
Sli-i-ide, close….sli-i-ide close
Flap your wings and touch your toes
Sli-i-ide, close….sli-i-ide, close
Shake your tail and wiggle your nose!
- retrieved from http://portfolios.music.ufl.edu/djohnson/ATurkeyNamedBert.html [school of music lesson plan]

Read my comment posted below about the song "A Turkey Named Bert".

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Example #5: A Turkey Named Burt



Rick Vandenhole, Published on Nov 21, 2012

Mrs. Johnson's first grade class - Orchard Heights Elementary School 2012

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Thanks to all the composers of these songs. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos, and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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