 sj |
||
|
||
Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion unveiled
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion unveiled |
Share Thread
|
||||||
|
Subject: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: Charley Noble Date: 23 Apr 03 - 07:58 AM Well, this has more to do with who actually edited one of the first bawdy songbooks, entitled Book of Bawdy Songs-1962 by Count Palmiro Vicarion, than any particular song. "Gargoyle" deserves credit for unmasking the good Count as the noted children's poet Christopher Logue. I was working from an early manuscript of the songbook borrowed from family friends, and all of us innocently assumed that the late family patriarch, Dennis Puleston, who loved to sing such ditties was the Count in question; it seems clear now that Dennis was provided the manuscript for review. Anyway, I thought you'd all enjoy reading Logue's/the Count's introduction to his songbook: Christopher Logue, Bawdy Ballads Manuscript, 1956 INTRODUCTION Among my earliest memories is that of the house burning down. It was owned by my grandfather, Sforza Vicarion, to whose care I had been entrusted by my unhappy parents. Grandfather, like all male children in our family, had been educated in England; in that country he had acquired the nickname "Puffer," a certain skill in throwing darts, and a developed taste for obscene and witty ditties. As we stood on the lawn watching the home of our ancestors blaze, he could not keep the pride out of his voice as, clapping the trembling housekeeper on the back, he boomed, "Lord, girl, was there ever a finer show! Look at those flames! Remember this, my Jade, and tell it to your children; you saw Vicarionola burn!" Then abruptly, as if lighted by a stray spark, Puffer struck his forehead and dashed into the flames. The housekeeper wept. The servants clustered around, warning me to keep a stiff upper lip. We grew silent. Suddenly, looking more like a cinder than a Duke, Puffer emerged from the flames bearing three large folios bound in leather, with brass hinges and toggle fastenings…asmoulder but intact. His eyes streamed, his tweeds were smoking, but he staggered toward me saying, "Here, my little bedwetter, I have saved them, the Songbooks…for you!" With that he fell lifeless at my feet, the burning soles of his shoes giving off a powerful stink. That night I was taken by the servants to Kimberley, the home of a neighbor, and retired to my chamber, Puffer's books clutched to me. I studied my heritage and by morning I had committed "The Great Farting Contest" to memory. Elated, no longer a child, dawn found me a literary man. I vowed Puffer would not have died in vain. My parents were surprised at my docility, when, after the funeral, they proposed I begin schooling in England. They little knew my plan of scholarship: Puffer had compiled but three volumes; I was persuaded greater wealth would be the reward of a more diligent scholar. And how right I was. Hadn't he overlooked: Don't look at me that way, barman, I ain't gonna shit on the floor! He had, indeed, and many others. He was not a man to track down those who "know them all by heart" or even those who have "bits of songs." No, he was a dilettante; I came to see that. But even with greatest effort the scholar is always encountering the person who knows but two lines (often glorious) and just a snatch of the melody. He will usually direct you to someone else who knows perhaps the same two lines or just one more… Ah, it is not easy. And while great songs exist which I have not compiled here, it is simply that I have been unable to track down the complete version – of, to take an example, "The Ballad of Piss-Pot Pete." And then there was that girl from Miss Brice's School – all golden she was and with a voice like a morning lark's – but for the life of me I can remember no more of her song than its lilting refrain: Oh, how did Edith ever get so shitty round the titty? You either write them down then and there or they are gone. It is quite like the limerick except that you may be left with no more than a bit of a tune. Luckily, I was found physically fit for my country's wars (and it was with some apprehension I limped into enlistment headquarters, looking askance to conceal my missing eye) for without those enriching experiences my collection would be paltry indeed. Oh, it is in war the bawdy ballad thrives; up to the waist in urine or blood or even rain, men begin to sing, and richly. I must say I have never well understood why it is those who order and control such fine wars are so prudish about the cultural harvest that is reaped from a really sopping trench or freezing billet. But no matter. I have prudently, I believe, never allowed such reflections to distract me from my scholarly dedication. I felt I owed that to Puffer. Thanks to a courageous and cultivated publisher, the same who saw the Limerick for the treasure it is, I can here present the cream of my years of research. I have included the music and have simply named familiar tunes appropriate to other ballads. For the rest, many tunes exist, but the common 4/4 ballad rhythm will usually do. And besides, I have come to feel that the dirty song tune is almost instinctive. Even the song itself; rarely is a ballad sung the same way twice, nor, I strongly feel, should it be. If a person has something to add, let him. And if someone tells you your version of "Don't Piss on the Fire, Grandma, Father is Warming his Balls" is incorrect, be sure it is the same pedant who will suggest your joke would be funnier if it ended another way. Kick him, I say. Count Palmiro Vicarion, 1956, Alma Atta Cheerily, Charley Noble, who doesn't exist either |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull Date: 24 Apr 03 - 07:51 AM refesh |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: Charley Noble Date: 24 Apr 03 - 09:28 PM Thanks for the refresh, John. Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: GUEST,Bob Coltman Date: 03 Jan 07 - 12:49 PM Hi Charley, Happened to unearth this while cruising the DT. Are there any unique or unusual songs in the Vicarion collection? If so, I encourage you to copy them out here. Thanks! Bob |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: Charley Noble Date: 03 Jan 07 - 01:17 PM Bob- As you well might imagine the songs are all unique and unusual! I've transcribed a few and posted them to Mudcat but there are 67 songs in the manuscript. I may present them in a "perma thread" if I'm not distracted from several other music projects. How is your project with regard to Fletcher and Margaret Collins coming along? My mother, who still walks this earth, remembers them fondly. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: GUEST Date: 06 Jan 07 - 11:34 PM Charlie, I am curious about the TWO extra songs in your manuscript. You say there are 67 songs. The book that I have only has 65 songs (list below). What additional songs are present? COUNT PALMIRO VICARIOUS BOOK OF BAWDY BALLADS MCMLXII THE OLYMPIA PRESS 7, rue Saint'Severin, Paris 5 CONTENTS I The Wheel II The Great Plenipotentiary III The Whole World Over IV The Portions of the Female V The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom VI The Hedgehog Song VII A Clean Story VIII Poor Little Angelina IX The Old Apple Tree X In Mobile XI The Bastard King of England XII Walking in a Meadow Green XIII Sergeant Boon XIV Eskimo Nell XV Aubade for the Shit house XVI The Happy Family XVII The Youngest Child XVIII The Good Ship Venus XIX The Tree of Life XX The Puritan Mathyas XXI The Ball of Kerrimuir XXII The Maiden's Lament XXIII The Ram of Derbyshire XXIV Monte Carlo XXV The Virgin Sturgeon XXVI Blinded by Shit XXVII My Love is for a Bold Marine XXVIII Sonia Snell XXIX Little lim XXX My lenny Wren Bride XXXI The Choric Song of the Masturbators XXXII Three Old Whores from Winnipeg XXXIII Tale One XXXIV Tale Two XXXV Tale Three XXXVI She Went for a Ride in a Morgan XXXVII Down by the Barrack Gate XXXVIII Poor Blind Nell XXXIX The Street of a Thousand Arseholes XXXX I Don't Want to loin the Army XXXXI Little Sally XXXXII The Farmer's Dog XXXXIII I Dreamed My Love XXXXIV The Cowpuncher's Whore XXXXV Arseholes are Cheap Today XXXXVI Ollie, Ollie, Ollie XXXXVII The Rajah of Astrakan XXXXV III Nightfuck XXXXIX The Harlot of Jerusalem L Diamond Lily LI The Keyhole in the Door LII The Travelin' Man LIII Please Don't Burn Our Shit ho use Down LIV Tim the Tinker LV The Great Farting Contest LVI No Balls at All LVII All the Nice Girls LVIII There Was a Priest LIX Dead Eye Dick Again LX Salome LXI The Bricklayers' Union LXII Abdul Abulbul Emir LXIII The One Eyed Riley LXIV Lulu LXV Father's Grave |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: Charley Noble Date: 07 Jan 07 - 09:35 PM My notes on the cover folder are mistaken. The index of songs is identical to your list, including the roman numerials. However, I note that many of the "J's" in your titles above have been magically transformed into "L's". Examples: XXIX Little lim XXX My lenny Wren Bride XXXX I Don't Want to loin the Army Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: GUEST Date: 08 Jan 07 - 09:15 AM Gee, I don't think I'd want to loin the Army either. Though my sister might. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: Charley Noble Date: 08 Jan 07 - 09:27 AM LOL "It's a bit hard for a man, but me sister she can!" Charley |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 09 Jan 07 - 09:14 AM The Count was unvailed? What's the matter, couldn't he ski? Dave Oesterreich |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: Charley Noble Date: 09 Jan 07 - 09:44 AM Dave- Your point may be answered by carefully re-reading the first post to this thread. I still enjoy doing that! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: Count Palmiro Vicarion Unvailed From: GUEST,Bob Coltman Date: 09 Jan 07 - 10:58 AM Hi Charley, Umm, yes, I was way too unspecific. These are the songs I don't recognize from other collections (though sometimes titling can fool me; I've tried to indicate where that might be the case, to narrow it down as far as possible): The Great Plenipotentiary Sergeant Boon Monte Carlo (unless it's The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo) My Love Is For a Bold Marine Sonia Snell Little Jim Down By the Barrack Gate Little Sally The Farmer's Dog (unless it's The Dogs' Party or Rex the Piddling Pup) I Dreamed My Love (unless it's I Dreamt My Love Lay in Her Bed) Ollie, Ollie, Ollie Nightfuck The Travelin' Man Tom the Tinker (unless it's The Tinker of long thin kidney-cracker etc. fame) Deadeye Dick Again The Bricklayers' Union I'd be interested to see any of these if time allows you to post them. (I assume all are songs, that being my chief interest as versus jokes, tales, etc.) Have you added any of them already? If so, I'd like to look them up. Thanks for bringing Count Vicarion to light! About Fletcher Collins, I wish I had met him while he lived. Margaret Collins was kind enough to come to the phone, to have a brief conversation, and had her son contact me re his memories of Paul Clayton. A great linkup, too briefly explored. Mrs. Collins said a book about Fletcher and the Collins family and their educational and artistic achievements is underway, and that will be something to see when it appears. Best wishes, Bob |
| Share Thread: |