song request

[Lee Gold XP]

I've been thinking of trying to popularize a sticker or color for "I
DIDN'T VOTE" people.
"Mr. Yuck Green" if that's what what they feel about the candidates.

Anything that would mark them on Election Week
and (ideally) for Inauguration Week.

I might also ask filkers to write an "I Didn't Vote" or "They Didn't
Vote" song.

Reminder: July 7th is the deadline for Xenofilkia #180 (the Worldcon
issue, marking the 0th year).

--Lee

[Arthur T.]

Post by Lee Gold XP
I might also ask filkers to write an "I Didn't Vote" or "They Didn't
Vote" song.

I can't find it readily, but didn't Gary McGath write something
along those lines to the tune of Leslie Fish's Danegeld? As I
recall, it was along the lines of don't vote Republican; don't vote
Democratic; and don't vote third-party.

[Arthur T.]

Post by Arthur T.

Post by Lee Gold XP
I might also ask filkers to write an "I Didn't Vote" or "They Didn't
Vote" song.

I can't find it readily, but didn't Gary McGath write something
along those lines to the tune of Leslie Fish's Danegeld? As I
recall, it was along the lines of don't vote Republican; don't vote
Democratic; and don't vote third-party.

The reason I couldn't find it was that it wasn't Gary's. It was
by Mark Horning, back in November of 2010. I apologize to Gary and
Mark.

Message-ID:
<e8a74162-2c68-4018-be7c-***@j18g2000yqd.googlegroups.com>

[Gary McGath]

Post by Arthur T.

Post by Arthur T.

Post by Lee Gold XP
I might also ask filkers to write an "I Didn't Vote" or "They Didn't
Vote" song.

I can't find it readily, but didn't Gary McGath write something
along those lines to the tune of Leslie Fish's Danegeld? As I
recall, it was along the lines of don't vote Republican; don't vote
Democratic; and don't vote third-party.

The reason I couldn't find it was that it wasn't Gary's. It was
by Mark Horning, back in November of 2010. I apologize to Gary and
Mark.

Oh, good. I was thinking I _could_ have written something like that, but
it had fallen out of my mind.

Going through my files, I found this and my tune for it. I can't recall
if I ever published it.

Shut Up and Obey
Words and Music: Gary McGath, Copyright 1999

In old Massachusetts, they had a sure test.
If you weren't a Puritan, you weren't the best.
If you didn't do what they said you should do,
You weren't a good citizen, and you were through.
Your words they'd dismiss with the easiest scorn;
They couldn't trust folks who stayed home Sunday morn.
It saved them much effort and thinking and pain;
For if you stayed home, you'd no right to complain.

Chorus:
You've nothing to say,
So just go away.
Your words are all worthless;
Shut up and obey.

When we fought the Commies out in Vietnam,
If you dodged the draft, then you weren't worth a damn.
There was no excuse then to raise up your voice;
To love it or leave it was your only choice.
If you wrote an essay, a book, or a song,
But stayed out of combat, you had to be wrong.
It saved lots of effort for those who were sane;
For if you stayed home, you'd no right to complain.

Chorus

In Modern America, here's how you tell
If what someone says should be sent back to hell.
Don't bother to read it, don't check if it's true;
To judge someone's statements, here's all you need do.
Just check if he went out to vote in the fall;
If not, what he says can't be trusted at all.
It saves you much effort and work in the brain;
For if he stays home, he's no right to complain.

Chorus

[Lee Gold XP]

Post by Gary McGath

Post by Lee Gold XP
I might also ask filkers to write an "I Didn't Vote" or "They Didn't
Vote" song.

     I can't find it readily, but didn't Gary McGath write something
along those lines to the tune of Leslie Fish's Danegeld?  As I
recall, it was along the lines of don't vote Republican; don't vote
Democratic; and don't vote third-party.

      The reason I couldn't find it was that it wasn't Gary's.  It was
by Mark Horning, back in November of 2010.  I apologize to Gary and
Mark.

Oh, good. I was thinking I _could_ have written something like that, but
it had fallen out of my mind.
Going through my files, I found this and my tune for it. I can't recall
if I ever published it.
Shut Up and Obey
Words and Music: Gary McGath, Copyright 1999
In old Massachusetts, they had a sure test.
If you weren't a Puritan, you weren't the best.
If you didn't do what they said you should do,
You weren't a good citizen, and you were through.
Your words they'd dismiss with the easiest scorn;
They couldn't trust folks who stayed home Sunday morn.
It saved them much effort and thinking and pain;
For if you stayed home, you'd no right to complain.
    You've nothing to say,
    So just go away.
    Your words are all worthless;
    Shut up and obey.
When we fought the Commies out in Vietnam,
If you dodged the draft, then you weren't worth a damn.
There was no excuse then to raise up your voice;
To love it or leave it was your only choice.
If you wrote an essay, a book, or a song,
But stayed out of combat, you had to be wrong.
It saved lots of effort for those who were sane;
For if you stayed home, you'd no right to complain.
Chorus
In Modern America, here's how you tell
If what someone says should be sent back to hell.
Don't bother to read it, don't check if it's true;
To judge someone's statements, here's all you need do.
Just check if he went out to vote in the fall;
If not, what he says can't be trusted at all.
It saves you much effort and work in the brain;
For if he stays home, he's no right to complain.
Chorus

Is the tune for it on your website?
If so, I haven't found it.

--Lee

[Gary McGath]

Post by Lee Gold XP
Is the tune for it on your website?
If so, I haven't found it.

Sent by email.

[Mark Mandel]

I found myself mentally putting Gary McGath's "Shut Up and Obey" ttto "Sweet Betsy from Pike", doubling the verse tune (8 lines instead of 4) and the chorus time (4 instead of 2), fiddling [not that way!] with the meter of the chorus. It worked fairly well.

Mark A. Mandel
The Filker With No Nickname

[Lee Gold XP]

Post by Mark Mandel
I found myself mentally putting Gary McGath's "Shut Up and Obey" ttto "Sweet Betsy from Pike", doubling the verse tune (8 lines instead of 4) and the chorus time (4 instead of 2), fiddling [not that way!] with the meter of the chorus. It worked fairly well.
Mark A. Mandel
The Filker With No Nickname

Gary sent me the sheet music he wrote for it.

--Lee

[Gary McGath]

Post by Mark Mandel
I found myself mentally putting Gary McGath's "Shut Up and Obey" ttto "Sweet Betsy from Pike", doubling the verse tune (8 lines instead of 4) and the chorus time (4 instead of 2), fiddling [not that way!] with the meter of the chorus. It worked fairly well.

The majority of songs in current Western culture use a fairly small
number of distinct meters. The verses of "Shut Up and Obey" use
anapestic tetrameter, i.e., four feet each of which consists of a
short-short-long pattern. It uses an iambic foot (short-long) for the
first foot of each line. This is a common variant, also used in "Sweet
Betsy from Pike" and many other songs.

The chorus of "Shut Up and Obey" is metrically irregular.

"The Star-Spangled Banner" (as well as "To Anacreon in Heaven") fits the
pattern, with an extra syllable added at the end of some of the lines.
Wikipedia points out "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and "How They Brought
the Good News from Ghent to Aix" as other examples.

[Mark Mandel]

I just noticed that v.2, l.1 of Gary's song,
When we fought the Commies out in Vietnam
is a syllable shorter than the first lines of the other verses. So Gary, how would you feel about changing it to
When we fought the Commies out there in Vietnam

?

Mark

[Mark Mandel]

D'ohhh! Gary's line must use the three-syllable pronunciation, "vee-et-nam", rather than the two-syllable one I was thinking of, "v^yet-nam".

Mark

Post by Mark Mandel
I just noticed that v.2, l.1 of Gary's song,
When we fought the Commies out in Vietnam
is a syllable shorter than the first lines of the other verses. So Gary, how would you feel about changing it to
When we fought the Commies out there in Vietnam
?
Mark

[Mark Mandel]

D'ohhh! Gary's line must use the three-syllable pronunciation, "vee-et-nam", rather than the two-syllable one I was thinking of, "vʸet-nam".

Mark

Post by Mark Mandel
I just noticed that v.2, l.1 of Gary's song,
When we fought the Commies out in Vietnam
is a syllable shorter than the first lines of the other verses. So Gary, how would you feel about changing it to
When we fought the Commies out there in Vietnam
?
Mark

[Lee Gold XP]

Post by Arthur T.

Post by Arthur T.

Post by Lee Gold XP
I might also ask filkers to write an "I Didn't Vote" or "They Didn't
Vote" song.

I can't find it readily, but didn't Gary McGath write something
along those lines to the tune of Leslie Fish's Danegeld? As I
recall, it was along the lines of don't vote Republican; don't vote
Democratic; and don't vote third-party.

The reason I couldn't find it was that it wasn't Gary's. It was
by Mark Horning, back in November of 2010. I apologize to Gary and
Mark.

I thinnk you're referring to Mark Horning's "Lesser Evils,"
published in Xenofilkia #103.

--Lee

[Arthur T.]

Post by Lee Gold XP

Post by Arthur T.

Post by Arthur T.

Post by Lee Gold XP
I might also ask filkers to write an "I Didn't Vote" or "They Didn't
Vote" song.

I can't find it readily, but didn't Gary McGath write something
along those lines to the tune of Leslie Fish's Danegeld? As I
recall, it was along the lines of don't vote Republican; don't vote
Democratic; and don't vote third-party.

The reason I couldn't find it was that it wasn't Gary's. It was
by Mark Horning, back in November of 2010. I apologize to Gary and
Mark.

I thinnk you're referring to Mark Horning's "Lesser Evils,"
published in Xenofilkia #103.

Yep, that's the one. On RMF, he didn't title it.

[Mike Van Pelt]

Post by Lee Gold XP
I've been thinking of trying to popularize a sticker or color for "I
DIDN'T VOTE" people.
"Mr. Yuck Green" if that's what what they feel about the candidates.

I always vote... Even if it's to write in Cthulhu as the lesser evil.

(Not yet, actually... but the way things are going, one of these
days... The Stars Will Be Right...)

[Gary McGath]

Post by Lee Gold XP
I've been thinking of trying to popularize a sticker or color for "I
DIDN'T VOTE" people.
"Mr. Yuck Green" if that's what what they feel about the candidates.

One of the minor parties has already taken green.

Germany at one point had a "traffic light coalition": the reds, the
yellows, and the greens. I'm not sure who the yellows are.

[Arthur T.]

Post by Lee Gold XP
I might also ask filkers to write an "I Didn't Vote" or "They Didn't
Vote" song.

I'm not sure this really matches that, but it's what came to
mind:

Title: Billy Boy Votes
ttto: Billy Boy

How did you vote, Billy Boy, Billy Boy
How did you vote, charming Billy
I voted one to win
So the others won't get in
It's so sad that there's no one there to vote *for*

Did you study for the polls, Billy Boy, Billy Boy
Did you study for the polls, charming Billy
I just pulled one party's lever
Though I know that isn't clever
It's so sad that there's no one there to vote *for*

You do not know, Billy Boy, Billy Boy
You do not know all the issues
Learning them takes too much thought
Although ignorance is fraught
It's so sad that there's no one there to vote *for*

Why did you vote, Billy Boy, Billy Boy
Why did you vote, charming Billy
It's my duty many say
Not to vote is declasse
It's so sad that there's no one there to vote *for*

Why not stay at home, Billy Boy, Billy Boy
Why not stay at home, charming Billy
People say if I don't go
Then the country will not grow
It's so sad that there's no one there to vote *for*


My lyrics copyright 2018 by Arthur Tansky. License granted for
non-commercial archiving and performance as long as:
1. copyright notice is maintained, and
2. no money changes hands.

[Lee Gold XP]

Post by Arthur T.
Title: Billy Boy Votes
ttto: Billy Boy
How did you vote, Billy Boy, Billy Boy
How did you vote, charming Billy
I voted one to win
So the others won't get in
It's so sad that there's no one there to vote*for*

Thanks.

--Lee

[Leslie]

Post by Lee Gold XP
I've been thinking of trying to popularize a sticker or color for "I
DIDN'T VOTE" people.

*Snort* You know what I'd say: "A plague on both their houses. Vote Libertarian!"

To quote Bob Dylan, "I got no reason to be there, but at least it would be some kind of change."

--Leslie <;)))><

[Tim Merrigan]

Post by Leslie

Post by Lee Gold XP
I've been thinking of trying to popularize a sticker or color for "I
DIDN'T VOTE" people.

*Snort* You know what I'd say: "A plague on both their houses. Vote Libertarian!"
To quote Bob Dylan, "I got no reason to be there, but at least it would be some kind of change."
--Leslie <;)))><

Given a choice between devil take the hindmost capitalism a.k.a.
Libertarianism, and help your fellow man Socialism, it's a no brainer.

[Gary McGath]

(nothing worth quoting)

I think Tim Merrigan should be treated as a troll trying to disrupt
r.m.f. I've already given up on him r.a.s.f.f.

[Lee Gold XP]

Post by Gary McGath

(nothing worth quoting)

I think Tim Merrigan should be treated as a troll trying to disrupt
r.m.f. I've already given up on him r.a.s.f.f.

He's an old friend of ours.

--Lee

[Gary McGath]

Post by Lee Gold XP

Post by Gary McGath

(nothing worth quoting)

I think Tim Merrigan should be treated as a troll trying to disrupt
r.m.f. I've already given up on him r.a.s.f.f.

He's an old friend of ours.

Then perhaps I should follow the old rule of replying in rhyme and
scansion. "Lullaby for a Benevolent Despot" is too obvious, and I think
I posted it here not too long ago. "When Your Dream Dies" is a more
indirect response. It's actually based on Vinge's _Deepness in the Sky_
but is applicable to anyone who dreams of "helping" people through
authoritarian force.

When Your Dream Dies
Music and Lyrics: Gary McGath, Copyright 1999

I dreamed a great dream for humanity,
Where justice was lasting and worlds were free.
The price would be high and the battle hard,
And some would not gather the reward.
But now I have looked on the enemy;
I’ve seen what she was, what she came to be.
There’s nowhere to hide from what I now see—
What do you do when your dream dies?

I thought I could turn evil means for right,
To wield as a sword in a noble fight.
For five hundred light years, three thousand years,
I held to the dream despite my fears.
Now who dares to tell me the price is too high,
And how dare he tell me I’ve dreamed a lie.
How dare he be right! Now let me die—
What do you do when your dream dies?

The choice was to kill or to lose it all,
But she too had fought, and was now a thrall.
They made her a tool, shaped to serve their aim—
And what’s worse, I would have done the same.
The goal which I fought for cannot be so.
Now I must protect my most deadly foe.
But can I buy justice with slavery? No.
What do you do when your dream dies?

[Arthur T.]

Post by Lee Gold XP
I might also ask filkers to write an "I Didn't Vote" or "They Didn't
Vote" song.

This is, perhaps, closer to that than my previous filk. I'm not
sanguine that it really matches the original tune, and I found myself
running out of rhymes.

Title: Fugue for Voters
ttto: Fugue for Tinhorns by Frank Loesser

You've got to vote today
You mustn't stay away
If you don't vote I don't care what you say
No vote denotes you're stupid and so I'll note
We are all in the same boat, so vote. Go vote!

I do not know the guys
I think it is unwise
To vote for the one who can best advertise
So I'll abstain. To vote blind is just insane
I don't care if you complain. Campaign's inane.

You can vote just one race
I'm sure you'll find the space
To research just one or you're a disgrace
Vote one, not none, though I know the work's not fun
Consider the way they run, vote one, then done.

If you don't vote, I'll sneer
It's only twice a year
If you can't be bothered, I won't shed a tear
It's not a lot to ask of you, so you ought
To vote. It just takes some thought. Take shot, not nought.

You want the voting's fate
To match my party's slate?
If I vote while ignorant, I'll be irate
Let me be free to vote or not as I see
Please tell me that you'll agree to let me be

Why can't you compromise
Perhaps it's ill-advised
To make you vote for someone you despise
But there must be one who is your cup of tea
And so if you do agree, vote he or she

Don't vote for one; vote all
Or else it's all your fault
If wrong ones win and horrid things befall
It's just a must. You must get past your disgust
And just as I have discussed, adjust your trust

Now on this voting trip
That I think I should skip
The only way to choose is by coin flip
Enhanced by chance, somebody would now advance
That won't help the vote's expanse. I glance askance

There must be middle ground
Ideas are all around
The concept of voting is quite profound

Go and vote
Chance votes bloat
Just one, note

[All]
This is democracy


My lyrics copyright 2018 by Arthur Tansky. License granted for
non-commercial archiving and performance as long as:
1. copyright notice is maintained, and
2. no money changes hands.

[Mark Mandel]

(Applause.) Nicely put, Arthur.

Post by Arthur T.

Post by Lee Gold XP
I might also ask filkers to write an "I Didn't Vote" or "They Didn't
Vote" song.

This is, perhaps, closer to that than my previous filk. I'm not
sanguine that it really matches the original tune, and I found myself
running out of rhymes.
Title: Fugue for Voters
ttto: Fugue for Tinhorns by Frank Loesser

...

[David Samuel Barr]

[snip]
I might also ask filkers to write an "I Didn't Vote"
or "They Didn't Vote" song.

Unfortunately I have no time to
write it myself these days, but
my immediate thought was that one
could be done using Martin Mull's
classic "They Never Met" as its
basis.