Gilliangirl Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 You know how you just get a craving to do this song or that song? Maybe it's been floating around in your head for a few days? Well, I somehow got Luckenbach Texas in my head and so I was playing it last night. But the second line: Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women I am NOT singing that So, here's my replacement: Is guitars that tune good and h-o-rse ridin' I just know I'll be chastised for messing with Waylon's lyrics
Versatile Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 I agree with changing demeaning and borderline misogynist lyrics As a male I find it embarassing often to sing that type of thing Let's face it...a lot of these songwriters were half crazy anyway.... V
McDuff Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 You're performance, you're words. The beautiful thing about a song is that once it is created it is no longer a static being, it adapts constantly to the new world it is placed in. Besides even the original artists don't use the exact lyrics every time.
onewilyfool Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 I always change lyrics....for a different treason than GG...I actually FORGET the lyrics...and have to make them up....lol...or sing them out of order....lol
onewilyfool Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 "Firm feeling women" may be referring to women with aspirations or strong feelings about working in corporate America at some firm.....I'm not entirely sure of the intent here???!!!
Morkolo Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 "Firm feeling women" may be referring to women with aspirations or strong feelings about working in corporate America at some firm.....I'm not entirely sure of the intent here???!!! Nah, I think the first impression is the right one as in a firm body. Lyrics never have bothered me, but I'm not the one singing them either.
Rambler Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 or "guitar tuned and a strong man that's willin'." Or, just skip the intro.
MissouriPicker Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 Change the words to fit what you want to say. Covers are quite often a bit different from the original......BTW, glad to see you back in the forum.
The G Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 You know how you just get a craving to do this song or that song? Maybe it's been floating around in your head for a few days? Well, I somehow got Luckenbach Texas in my head and so I was playing it last night. But the second line: Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women I am NOT singing that So, here's my replacement: Is guitars that tune good and h-o-rse ridin' I just know I'll be chastised for messing with Waylon's lyrics Sing it like you own it ! Introduce the song as "Your Interpretation"
wootpow Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Sing it as you like . I am a man but always felt uncomfortable with that line also so my interpretive version has been "Is guitars that tune good and my lovin woman" .Hey what ever you are comfortable with..... I must make it clear I only "try" to sing at home or house parties.
E-minor7 Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 There is a fine line. Of course the classic is changing he to she or the other way around : Why he had to go I don't know – He wouldn't say, , , a girl singing Yesterday. All fine. But you can't cut yourself in and do anything you like. Sparrow singing in the dead of night, , , or more complex modifications. It's just not right – I'd even call it bad style (don't be a leech on major poets). Still I've done small alterations. Once recorded a version of Sound of Silence, couldn't sing the word cancer and changed it to silence comes and silence goes. . . Believe if I confessed this to Simon over a beer one late night, he'd say OK - might be wrong. Then there is the universal traditionals : Freight Train, House of The Risin' Sun, even We Shall Over Come or Give P. A Chance. To me they are more open and invite some dose of contribution. It's like in the nature of the tunes (or what they've become). And what about : I don't believe in Zimmerman I don't believe in Kennedy I don't believe in kings I don't believe in Yoga I don't believe in Mantra I don't believe in Adolf Some of you might remember. Put in your own stuff okay - I don't believe in Durmoch I don't believe in slavery I don't believe in crap-talk I don't believe in overpaid dentists I don't believe in fake-Gibsons What have you. . . .
fortyearspickn Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 There are thousands of songs with lyrics that make me uncomfortable - I'd change radio stations before listening to them and certainly not buy, let alone sing them. So, I 1000% support the idea of being selective in what you sing. So, I guess if lyrics like this cause some folks discomfort - then "Outlaw Country" may not be for them anymore than Rap is for me. But, Karen - once you open the door - where will it lead ? "Well Tuned Sitars and Soft Furry Kittens" ? Having been to Luckenback (est.1849), I sort of think that the point the song writer wanted to make was the point he did - with those words. So, for me, if I don't like a portion of a song - I'd consider artistic compromise by leaving that piece or refrain out rather than changing it. But suppose you can't? If "Dragon" is too scary for your three year old - do you change it to Puff, The Magic Poodle?
GT Hurley Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 I guess if your wrong so am I. I change the "Endangered Species" lyrics to : "I made it through my cowboy years, with a spent dream, and a big stack of bills." I think it fits me. And it works better than "I made it through my rock and roll years, with a spent dream, and a few dollar bills." Change it. Make it yours, it's your performance.
G McBride Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Usually horse ridin women are firm feeling women so you have not changed them just reworded the song.
TommyK Posted November 14, 2011 Posted November 14, 2011 Not sure this is really a song for women to sing, without totally retooling it. I mean, it's about a man, figuring out that he's about to lose the love of his life for what? Money? To keep up with the Jones's? (George maybe?) I mean he's really 'getting' it. Women usually 'get it' long before us guys do, so it means more for a man to sing it. Not sure that 'firm feelin women' is such a bad line, per se. It's a guy thing. But if you must, maybe if you say something about men.... but, 'Horsies for ridin' works. I did change one line: "Baby let's sell your diamond ring..." to "Baby let's sell our diamond rings..." I mean, no sense selling just HER stuff to finance a weekend at Luckenbach, Tx. I sang this one for a Valentines Day jam, along with some other 'Love' songs. I started with the guy that didn't quite get it: 'Put Another Log on the Fire' BTW, Going to Luckebach, Tx is on my bucket list.
E-minor7 Posted November 14, 2011 Posted November 14, 2011 When I played my friends bar on Oct. the 9th to celebrate Lennons birthday, we did the song Oh Yoko from the Imagine album. Now I don't wanna sing love songs to another mans wife, so I changed it to Oh Baby, which gave the lyric a universal ring and worked fine. All in all I guess it depends on the situation. By the way GG – a little story for you : Yesterday this friend told me that GillianWelch'n'Dave'n'band had visited the bar some weeks ago. By sheer luck and coincidence a little party left the place just as the musicians arrived and therefor a free table was available. They must have had a great groove (he puts on sublime music) for they asked if it was possible to stay after closing time at 2. Following the rules, my buddy had to say no.
stein Posted November 14, 2011 Posted November 14, 2011 I think changing lyrics is fine, as long as you GET the song. In blues, where covers of other peoples songs are the norm, lyrics are changed all the time. In fact, sometimes it is kinda like showing off. By showing off, I mean sometimes it shows that you understand the song and the lyrics. So, kinda saying that if you understand the song (as it was intended by the writer) and are changing the lyrics to support that, it is even better than word for word sometimes. BUT..if you are changing the lyrics because you don't LIKE the song or want to change the meaning, bad karma.
drathbun Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women Anything is an improvement. Besides, anyone who writes lyrics that have grammar like "tune good" and apostrophised words like "feelin'" can't be too anal about them.
struma6 Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 I change them frequently. I play Someday Soon and have to re-phrase a lot of it. I promise you, Waylon changed many a writers song and made it his own. Change away, songs are dynamic and suitable to change!
retrorod Posted November 15, 2011 Posted November 15, 2011 I don,t see anything wrong with changing a few lyrics to fit the gender/preference of the singer. Carry on cowgirl...
Wayne Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 You know how you just get a craving to do this song or that song? Maybe it's been floating around in your head for a few days? Well, I somehow got Luckenbach Texas in my head and so I was playing it last night. But the second line: Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women Could you change it to Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' men? Um, yeah, probably not a good idea for a whole lot of reasons. I know I'm not changing em to that.
stein Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 Could you change it to Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' men? Um, yeah, probably not a good idea for a whole lot of reasons. I know I'm not changing em to that. Me neither. But I suppose it might go across well in a gay bar. Some might find it too hard a gig.
Daryl M Posted November 16, 2011 Posted November 16, 2011 I think changing a lyric to make it relevant to the singer is fine. I think that's been done a lot. But if you start trying to change lyrics to country songs to make them 'politically correct', then you've got a real job! Can you imagine Waylon and Johnny Cash singing, "There Isn't a Good Correctional Facility". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH22W4W3zIo
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