Here are 3 versions of a song we use to sing on Halloween when I was a kid and thought I would share.
The Hearse Song v1:
The old grey hearse goes rolling by,
You don't know whether to laugh or cry;
For you know some day it'll get you too,
And the hearse's next load may consist of you.
They'll take you out and they'll lower you down,
While men with shovels stand all a-round;
They'll throw in dirt and they'll throw in rocks,
And they won't give a damn if they break the box.
The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out,
They crawl all over your chin and mouth,
They invite their friends and their friends' friends too,
And you look like hell when they're through with you.
The Hearse Song v2:
Do you ever think as a hearse goes by, that you may be the next to die?
They wrap you up in a big white sheet
From your head down to your feet.
They put you in a big black box,
And cover you up with dirt and rocks.
All goes well for about a week,
Then your coffin begins to leak.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
The worms play pinochle on your snout.
They eat your eyes, they eat your nose,
They eat the jelly between your toes.
A big green worm with rolling eyes,
Crawls in your stomach and out your eyes.
Your stomach turns a slimy green,
And pus pours out like whipping cream.
You spread it on a slice of bread,
And that's what you eat when you are dead.
The Hearse Song v3: This is the version I remember from when I was a kid.
Do you ever think as a hearse goes by, that you may be the next to die?
They wrap you up in a big white sheet,
And bury you six feet deep.
They put you in a big black box,
And cover you up with dirt and rocks.
All goes well for about a week,
Then your coffin begins to leak.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out,
The worms play pinochle on your snout.
They eat your eyes, they eat your nose,
They eat the jelly between your toes.
A big green worm with rolling eyes,
Crawls in your stomach and out your eyes.
Your stomach turns a slimy green,
And pus pours out like whipping cream.
You spread it on a slice of bread,
And that's what you eat when you are dead.
Showing posts with label Musis and Misc Stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musis and Misc Stuff. Show all posts
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Intervview with Jonathan Coulton
This interview is reprinted from an issue of the old Geek Gazette e-zine. I have tried to add notes and udates to any outdated information.
If you listen to geek podcast or read the Geek Gazette you’ve probably heard the name Jonathan Coulton once or twice. Mr. Coulton is a talented musician that embraces the concept of geek music in a way that is unlike any other performer that I have encountered. His music is funny and serious at the same time. With a sly wink and a nudge he can present you with the most ridiculous of notions in the most sincere way. Unlike other niche musicians Mr. Coulton’s music can make you laugh or make you think. Hailing from Colchester CT, he began his musical career as a drummer in his high school marching band, eventually switching to guitar. His love of music, which he studied in college, and performing has followed him throughout his life. His music covers topics as varied as the loyal fans who enjoy it. Whether he’s singing about a disgruntled computer programmer, Bigfoot or broken hearts his songs range from the truly geeky to the sincerely emotional. Even the most absurd subject is treated with what Mr. Coulton refers to as a sincere truth. He is a truly talented and imaginative performer who gives a part of himself to his fans with each song and only ask that they listen and enjoy. A true rarity in this selfish, American Idol society where most artists expect much more than they ever give to their fans.
Geek Gazette: From the bio on your website you obviously have a love for music and performing, but have you always had an inclination towards more humorous music?
Jonathan Coulton: Definitely. I loved Tom Lehrer as a kid, even though I didn’t get all the jokes. And when I first started writing the funny stuff came pretty naturally. Though I tend to oscillate between funny and sad – I think my first song ever was about a guy who wakes up on a cold rainy day and feels lonely. Not so funny actually. And my favorite songs are the ones that are balanced precariously on the edge between the two.
GG: Do you think your musical interest and abilities were natural or were you brought up in that kind of environment?
JC: Ah, nature vs. nurture. I’d have to say a little of both. My parents are both very musical people, and I was singing harmony with my family in the car as soon as I could speak. And I remember as a kid using two tape recorders to try and recreate the vocals for That Boy (Ringo’s Theme). Actually, it sounded terrible. I do think to be a musician you need to have some innate abilities, but it also definitely helps to have people around you making music.
GG: What artist or bands to you feel had the most impact on you musically?
JC: Answering this question always feels like pulling my pants down in front of an audience. Get ready for the free show everybody. I’ve always loved The Beatles and their offspring. Though I’m into the sensitive folky singer songwriter vibe as well. Watch this: Dan Fogelberg! Billy Joel! Simon and Garfunkel! And vocals really get me going, which is why I loved listening to old Whiffenpoofs records as a kid. These days I’m very strongly influenced by (read: derivative of) They Might Be Giants, Ben Folds and Fountains of Wayne.
GG: Your songs not only show your talent as a musician but your incredible imagination, where do you get the inspiration for your lyrics?
JC: I’m a geek at heart, so I have this background noise of geeky stuff, both popular culture and actual science. On the stove a pot is simmering and in it are Avagadro’s number, some Star Trek episodes, Bernoulli’s principle, and all the James Bond movies. I’m often writing about misunderstood characters - I like to use all this stuff to get a feeling of longing, or a bad breakup, or any kind of bottled up personality. Monsters who don’t get why everybody’s running away…
GG: Unlike Weird Al or Adam Sandler the humor and geekiness in many of your songs is very subdued, if you don’t listen to the lyrics you could miss it. A perfect example of this is Under the Pines, where you never actually state that it’s Bigfoot and Leonard Nimoy. Do you write your songs aiming for this subtlety or does it just come out that way?
JC: That one I definitely kept as subtle as I could. I try to be as sincere as possible, even when I’m writing about Bigfoot and Nimoy getting it on. There’s a danger in doing such goofy subject matter, because it’s easy to slide into the realm of “novelty songs” (some people would say that I’m there). Sometimes the more direct approach just sounds clunky and contrived to me, and in a song like that the word “Bigfoot” would stick out like a boiled egg in the middle of a wedding cake.
GG: As I am sure you know a large portion of your fan base is the “geek” community , do you consider yourself a geek?
JC: ? chr(89) + chr(101) + chr(115) + chr(46)
GG: Speaking of geeks a great many of us that listen to your music, and several of the podcast that have spotlighted your music are RPG players and comic book collectors Yet, I have never heard one of your songs that focuses on either of these topics, have you ever thought about doing one?
JC: I have, though I don’t actually have a lot of experience with comics and RPG. I know: I call myself a geek? I didn’t get into D&D because the learning and buying curve seemed like too much trouble, and I’m afraid to even get involved with something like WoW because I know that I would spend all my time on it. It also feels a little gimmicky to me – one of those subjects that can all too easily slip into the novelty zone. I wouldn’t want to write about those topics unless I could find some kind of sincere truth in there to address (not that there isn’t any sincerity in RPG and comics, just that it hasn’t revealed itself to me yet). Freakin muse – what are you gonna do?
GG: First of May, I Feel Fantastic and Skull Crusher Mountain are three of my personal favorites, which one of your songs is your personal favorite or which one do you love to play the most?
JC: My favorites to play live are the funny/sad ones. I love introducing “I Crush Everything” as a song about a giant squid who hates himself. The audience gets all ready for hilarity, and there are a couple of moments where they feel like they’re going to get it, but then it just gets sadder and sadder until everybody’s crying. It almost makes the audience uncomfortable, which I find thrilling. Of course Skullcrusher Mountain and First of May are both exciting to play because it’s really fun to watch the punchlines hit, especially with an uninitiated audience.
GG: While all of your songs are better than a lot of the music on the radio, you continue to put out mostly humorous, off beat songs, why? With songs like When You Go you obviously have the ability to write mainstream music, why stay off the radar?
JC: Somehow it’s easier for me to get at what I want to express by going through the offbeat subjects. I don’t know why that is. Maybe I’m afraid of writing about myself, and so I have to do it with a sneak attack. It’s also that I can’t often get any traction when I start with a premise like “this song will be about a boy who loves a girl.” I need a hook of an idea to hang the song on, and until I have that, I just can’t get excited enough to generate anything that I like.
GG: Some of the fan made videos for your songs are pretty good, did you encourage this or was this something the fans started?
JC: I think that I encouraged it – all my songs are released under a Creative Commons license that allows for any noncommercial re-use of the music, so the permission to do it is there explicitly. But I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people who have taken up the challenge. All these different styles and techniques, all these people spending hours and hours working on a video for one of my songs; it’s incredibly gratifying. And I love the idea that the creative process doesn’t stop when I finish a song – obviously the beholder of any piece of art becomes part of the creative process by interpreting what they see or hear, but this goes past that. It’s like we’re collaborating on something beyond the song.
GG: Your fans are a very loyal group and I’ve heard it commented that you are the geek equivalent to Jimmy Buffet. Do you see yourself this way?
JC: Jimmy Buffet. OK, I’ll take that. I get a lot of labels like “Balladeer” or “Troubadour” and I accept them gratefully. But I’m not going to come up with some shark fin dance that everybody has to do at my concerts. OK, maybe a zombie thing, but no shark fin stuff.
GG: Since Jimmy Buffet Fans are called Parrot Heads, what would you call Jonathan Coulton fans?
JC: JoCoists? Coultonistas? Half-pony, half-monkey monsters?
GG: The internet has become the bane of the music industry, yet you seem to have embraced it. Do you think you could have achieved the following you have with out it?
JC: Absolutely not. Something’s happened over the last year, and it had little to do with any of my activities in the real world. I’m well aware that what I do is pretty niche, and not that attractive to “mainstream radio” or “record labels” or “anyone with money.” The internet has allowed me to reach the pockets of people who would like my music. That’s an old story by now, but it’s no less true. Whatever success I’ve had so far would not have been possible without broadband and the mp3 format.
GG: Even if you never get a big time recording deal, do you see yourself continuing to play and produce music for the geek masses?
JC: I hope so – as long as I can stand it. At some point it may become necessary for me to get some kind of a job that makes money, when I have a midlife crisis and need to buy a sports car RIGHT AWAY. But for now I’m getting so much pleasure out of writing and playing and connecting with people, it’s hard to imagine giving it up. GG: What exactly is a Spizzsink and a Wiffenpoof?
JC: Spizzwink and Whiffenpoof. Both are a cappella singing groups at Yale where I went to college. A little dorky maybe, especially if you’ve never seen it before – you walk into a room and there’s a bunch of college guys dressed in tuxedos singing “Midnight Train to Georgia,” I can understand why you might be a little thrown. But when you’re in it, it’s such a thrill. It’s honestly one of the greatest musical experiences I’ve ever had, just singing harmony with a large group of people. And you get a lot of tail. I mean a LOT of tail. Just kidding.
If you aren’t already a fan of Jonathan Coulton’s music but you are interested in finding out more about this talented geek balladeer check out his website, www.jonathancoulton.com . From his site you can download songs, buy CD’s or get on the message forums and rub elbows with other half-pony half-monkey monsters. You can also subscribe to his Thing a Week podcast through itunes and download his latest geeky creations or subscribe to The Jonathan Coulton Project and download the fan made videos to his songs. ****Note: Since this article was originally published the Thing A Week Podcast has been discontinued. Although I do think you can still download some old episodes on itunes and ofcourse you can by Mr. Coulton’s music on itunes as well.****
If you listen to geek podcast or read the Geek Gazette you’ve probably heard the name Jonathan Coulton once or twice. Mr. Coulton is a talented musician that embraces the concept of geek music in a way that is unlike any other performer that I have encountered. His music is funny and serious at the same time. With a sly wink and a nudge he can present you with the most ridiculous of notions in the most sincere way. Unlike other niche musicians Mr. Coulton’s music can make you laugh or make you think. Hailing from Colchester CT, he began his musical career as a drummer in his high school marching band, eventually switching to guitar. His love of music, which he studied in college, and performing has followed him throughout his life. His music covers topics as varied as the loyal fans who enjoy it. Whether he’s singing about a disgruntled computer programmer, Bigfoot or broken hearts his songs range from the truly geeky to the sincerely emotional. Even the most absurd subject is treated with what Mr. Coulton refers to as a sincere truth. He is a truly talented and imaginative performer who gives a part of himself to his fans with each song and only ask that they listen and enjoy. A true rarity in this selfish, American Idol society where most artists expect much more than they ever give to their fans.
Geek Gazette: From the bio on your website you obviously have a love for music and performing, but have you always had an inclination towards more humorous music?
Jonathan Coulton: Definitely. I loved Tom Lehrer as a kid, even though I didn’t get all the jokes. And when I first started writing the funny stuff came pretty naturally. Though I tend to oscillate between funny and sad – I think my first song ever was about a guy who wakes up on a cold rainy day and feels lonely. Not so funny actually. And my favorite songs are the ones that are balanced precariously on the edge between the two.
GG: Do you think your musical interest and abilities were natural or were you brought up in that kind of environment?
JC: Ah, nature vs. nurture. I’d have to say a little of both. My parents are both very musical people, and I was singing harmony with my family in the car as soon as I could speak. And I remember as a kid using two tape recorders to try and recreate the vocals for That Boy (Ringo’s Theme). Actually, it sounded terrible. I do think to be a musician you need to have some innate abilities, but it also definitely helps to have people around you making music.
GG: What artist or bands to you feel had the most impact on you musically?
JC: Answering this question always feels like pulling my pants down in front of an audience. Get ready for the free show everybody. I’ve always loved The Beatles and their offspring. Though I’m into the sensitive folky singer songwriter vibe as well. Watch this: Dan Fogelberg! Billy Joel! Simon and Garfunkel! And vocals really get me going, which is why I loved listening to old Whiffenpoofs records as a kid. These days I’m very strongly influenced by (read: derivative of) They Might Be Giants, Ben Folds and Fountains of Wayne.
GG: Your songs not only show your talent as a musician but your incredible imagination, where do you get the inspiration for your lyrics?
JC: I’m a geek at heart, so I have this background noise of geeky stuff, both popular culture and actual science. On the stove a pot is simmering and in it are Avagadro’s number, some Star Trek episodes, Bernoulli’s principle, and all the James Bond movies. I’m often writing about misunderstood characters - I like to use all this stuff to get a feeling of longing, or a bad breakup, or any kind of bottled up personality. Monsters who don’t get why everybody’s running away…
GG: Unlike Weird Al or Adam Sandler the humor and geekiness in many of your songs is very subdued, if you don’t listen to the lyrics you could miss it. A perfect example of this is Under the Pines, where you never actually state that it’s Bigfoot and Leonard Nimoy. Do you write your songs aiming for this subtlety or does it just come out that way?
JC: That one I definitely kept as subtle as I could. I try to be as sincere as possible, even when I’m writing about Bigfoot and Nimoy getting it on. There’s a danger in doing such goofy subject matter, because it’s easy to slide into the realm of “novelty songs” (some people would say that I’m there). Sometimes the more direct approach just sounds clunky and contrived to me, and in a song like that the word “Bigfoot” would stick out like a boiled egg in the middle of a wedding cake.
GG: As I am sure you know a large portion of your fan base is the “geek” community , do you consider yourself a geek?
JC: ? chr(89) + chr(101) + chr(115) + chr(46)
GG: Speaking of geeks a great many of us that listen to your music, and several of the podcast that have spotlighted your music are RPG players and comic book collectors Yet, I have never heard one of your songs that focuses on either of these topics, have you ever thought about doing one?
JC: I have, though I don’t actually have a lot of experience with comics and RPG. I know: I call myself a geek? I didn’t get into D&D because the learning and buying curve seemed like too much trouble, and I’m afraid to even get involved with something like WoW because I know that I would spend all my time on it. It also feels a little gimmicky to me – one of those subjects that can all too easily slip into the novelty zone. I wouldn’t want to write about those topics unless I could find some kind of sincere truth in there to address (not that there isn’t any sincerity in RPG and comics, just that it hasn’t revealed itself to me yet). Freakin muse – what are you gonna do?
GG: First of May, I Feel Fantastic and Skull Crusher Mountain are three of my personal favorites, which one of your songs is your personal favorite or which one do you love to play the most?
JC: My favorites to play live are the funny/sad ones. I love introducing “I Crush Everything” as a song about a giant squid who hates himself. The audience gets all ready for hilarity, and there are a couple of moments where they feel like they’re going to get it, but then it just gets sadder and sadder until everybody’s crying. It almost makes the audience uncomfortable, which I find thrilling. Of course Skullcrusher Mountain and First of May are both exciting to play because it’s really fun to watch the punchlines hit, especially with an uninitiated audience.
GG: While all of your songs are better than a lot of the music on the radio, you continue to put out mostly humorous, off beat songs, why? With songs like When You Go you obviously have the ability to write mainstream music, why stay off the radar?
JC: Somehow it’s easier for me to get at what I want to express by going through the offbeat subjects. I don’t know why that is. Maybe I’m afraid of writing about myself, and so I have to do it with a sneak attack. It’s also that I can’t often get any traction when I start with a premise like “this song will be about a boy who loves a girl.” I need a hook of an idea to hang the song on, and until I have that, I just can’t get excited enough to generate anything that I like.
GG: Some of the fan made videos for your songs are pretty good, did you encourage this or was this something the fans started?
JC: I think that I encouraged it – all my songs are released under a Creative Commons license that allows for any noncommercial re-use of the music, so the permission to do it is there explicitly. But I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people who have taken up the challenge. All these different styles and techniques, all these people spending hours and hours working on a video for one of my songs; it’s incredibly gratifying. And I love the idea that the creative process doesn’t stop when I finish a song – obviously the beholder of any piece of art becomes part of the creative process by interpreting what they see or hear, but this goes past that. It’s like we’re collaborating on something beyond the song.
GG: Your fans are a very loyal group and I’ve heard it commented that you are the geek equivalent to Jimmy Buffet. Do you see yourself this way?
JC: Jimmy Buffet. OK, I’ll take that. I get a lot of labels like “Balladeer” or “Troubadour” and I accept them gratefully. But I’m not going to come up with some shark fin dance that everybody has to do at my concerts. OK, maybe a zombie thing, but no shark fin stuff.
GG: Since Jimmy Buffet Fans are called Parrot Heads, what would you call Jonathan Coulton fans?
JC: JoCoists? Coultonistas? Half-pony, half-monkey monsters?
GG: The internet has become the bane of the music industry, yet you seem to have embraced it. Do you think you could have achieved the following you have with out it?
JC: Absolutely not. Something’s happened over the last year, and it had little to do with any of my activities in the real world. I’m well aware that what I do is pretty niche, and not that attractive to “mainstream radio” or “record labels” or “anyone with money.” The internet has allowed me to reach the pockets of people who would like my music. That’s an old story by now, but it’s no less true. Whatever success I’ve had so far would not have been possible without broadband and the mp3 format.
GG: Even if you never get a big time recording deal, do you see yourself continuing to play and produce music for the geek masses?
JC: I hope so – as long as I can stand it. At some point it may become necessary for me to get some kind of a job that makes money, when I have a midlife crisis and need to buy a sports car RIGHT AWAY. But for now I’m getting so much pleasure out of writing and playing and connecting with people, it’s hard to imagine giving it up. GG: What exactly is a Spizzsink and a Wiffenpoof?
JC: Spizzwink and Whiffenpoof. Both are a cappella singing groups at Yale where I went to college. A little dorky maybe, especially if you’ve never seen it before – you walk into a room and there’s a bunch of college guys dressed in tuxedos singing “Midnight Train to Georgia,” I can understand why you might be a little thrown. But when you’re in it, it’s such a thrill. It’s honestly one of the greatest musical experiences I’ve ever had, just singing harmony with a large group of people. And you get a lot of tail. I mean a LOT of tail. Just kidding.
If you aren’t already a fan of Jonathan Coulton’s music but you are interested in finding out more about this talented geek balladeer check out his website, www.jonathancoulton.com . From his site you can download songs, buy CD’s or get on the message forums and rub elbows with other half-pony half-monkey monsters. You can also subscribe to his Thing a Week podcast through itunes and download his latest geeky creations or subscribe to The Jonathan Coulton Project and download the fan made videos to his songs. ****Note: Since this article was originally published the Thing A Week Podcast has been discontinued. Although I do think you can still download some old episodes on itunes and ofcourse you can by Mr. Coulton’s music on itunes as well.****
Monday, October 27, 2008
Kinda busy lately
For regular readers of the Gazette I must apologize for not posting a great deal of material lately. It has been a busy few weeks and there really wasn't much time. As a matter of fact I'm doing this post in between classes so that I can get it done. Going back to college, working full time and taking care of the family is a daunting task, as many of you know.
So while the past few weeks may be a bit thin on content, I hope to rectify that soon. I have some new reviews (although some of the products I'll be reviewing are not that new), a few ideas I would like to share on horror gaming (it is October after all), some music reviews, the annual Geek Gazette Christmas list, some comic book reviews and a couple of short stories. Keep in mind the stories are first drafts so don't expect brilliance, but I wanted to churn them out and get them up before Halloween.
So while the past few weeks may be a bit thin on content, I hope to rectify that soon. I have some new reviews (although some of the products I'll be reviewing are not that new), a few ideas I would like to share on horror gaming (it is October after all), some music reviews, the annual Geek Gazette Christmas list, some comic book reviews and a couple of short stories. Keep in mind the stories are first drafts so don't expect brilliance, but I wanted to churn them out and get them up before Halloween.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Top 10 Halloween Songs
Keeping with this months theme, here is my top 10 list of songs to listen on Halloween.
- Hey There Little Red Riding Hood
- Thriller
- re: Your Brains
- Ghostbusters
- Red Right Hand
- Werewolves of London
- Bad Moon
- Wicked Old Witch
- Creepy Doll
- Living Dead Girl
Friday, September 19, 2008
Avast! It's talk like a pirate day....Arrrr!
It is that time of year again, International Talk Like a Pirate Day. So get out with your mateys, grab some grog and drink up me hearties... yo ho! (But do so responsibly... I was going to make a booty comment here, but thought better of it.)
Talk Like a Pirate
Another Pirate Link
and another link
and another
and another
Some songs to sing while you enjoy your grog.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle, and loot,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot,
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort, we pilfer, we filch, and sack,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle, and even high-jack,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char, inflame and ignite,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We're rascals, scoundrels, villans, and knaves,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We're devils and black sheep, really bad eggs,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We're beggars and blighters, ne'er-do-well cads,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Dead Man's Chest
Verse 1. Fifteen men on a dead man's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
The mate was fixed by the bosun's pike
The bosun brained with a marlinspike
And cookey's throat was marked belike
It had been gripped by fingers ten;
And there they lay, all good dead men
Like break o'day in a boozing ken
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
Verse 2. Fifteen men of the whole ship's list
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Dead and be damned and the rest gone whist!
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
The skipper lay with his nob in gore
Where the scullion's axe his cheek had shore
And the scullion he was stabbed times four
And there they lay, and the soggy skies
Dripped down in up-staring eyes
In murk sunset and foul sunrise
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
Verse 3. Fifteen men of 'em stiff and stark
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Ten of the crew had the murder mark!
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Twas a cutlass swipe or an ounce of lead
Or a yawing hole in a battered head
And the scuppers' glut with a rotting red
And there they lay, aye, damn my eyes
Looking up at paradise
All souls bound just contrawise
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
Verse 4. Fifteen men of 'em good and true
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Ev'ry man jack could ha' sailed with Old Pew,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
There was chest on chest of Spanish gold
With a ton of plate in the middle hold
And the cabins riot of stuff untold,
And they lay there that took the plum
With sightless glare and their lips struck dumb
While we shared all by the rule of thumb,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Verse 5. More was seen through a sternlight screen...
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Chartings undoubt where a woman had been
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
'Twas a flimsy shift on a bunker cot
With a dirk slit sheer through the bosom spot
And the lace stiff dry in a purplish blot
Oh was she wench or some shudderin' maid
That dared the knife and took the blade
By God! she had stuff for a plucky jade
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
Verse 6. Fifteen men on a dead man's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-you-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to hell,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-you-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to hell,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
and one more for good measure
Hoist the Colours Lyrics- Hans Zimmer
The king and his men,
Stole the Queen from her bed,
And bound her in her Bones,
The seas be ours,
And by the powers,
Where we will, we'll roam.
Yo Ho, haul together,
Hoist the colours high,
Heave Ho, Theives and Beggars,
Never Shall We Die!
Some men have died,
And some are alive,
And others sail on the sea,
With the keys to the cage...
And the Devil to pay,
We lay to Fiddler's Green!
The Bell has been raised,
From it's watery grave...
Do you hear it's sepulchral tone?
We are a call to all,
Pay heed the squall,
And turn your sail toward home!
Yo Ho haul, together,
Hoist the colours high
Heave Ho, Theives and Beggars,
Never Shall We Die!
In celebration of TLAPD here are some Pirate gaming sites.The king and his men,
Stole the Queen from her bed,
And bound her in her Bones,
The seas be ours,
And by the powers,
Where we will, we'll roam.
Yo Ho, haul together,
Hoist the colours high,
Heave Ho, Theives and Beggars,
Never Shall We Die!
Some men have died,
And some are alive,
And others sail on the sea,
With the keys to the cage...
And the Devil to pay,
We lay to Fiddler's Green!
The Bell has been raised,
From it's watery grave...
Do you hear it's sepulchral tone?
We are a call to all,
Pay heed the squall,
And turn your sail toward home!
Yo Ho haul, together,
Hoist the colours high
Heave Ho, Theives and Beggars,
Never Shall We Die!
7th Sea RPG
Pirates of the Burning Sea Online Game
Pirates of the Caribbean Online
RPGNow Talk Like a Pirate Sale!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Image of the Month
This month's pic is from the Fantasy Clip Inks Spellcasters Set 1.
Get a copy for your game at RPGNow.
This month's image courtesy of William McAusland and the gang over at Outland Arts.
Get a copy for your game at RPGNow.
This month's image courtesy of William McAusland and the gang over at Outland Arts.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Geek Music
I am a geek, thus the name of the blog. As such I tend to like music about and/or made by geeks and nerds. So I have compiled a list of my top 10 favorite geeky songs. These are some of my favs and they are about a wide range of topics, from gaming to sci fi. My official "Geek Gazette Music to Listen To While Driving to Gen Con" soundtrack contains songs by each of these artist and makes that hour and a half drive much easier to make. Of course I won't be needed it this year (grumble... grumble) but that is a different story.
If you have never heard of some of these artist click on the links and check them out. You may find your next favorite song or artist.
If you know of anymore geeky artists that I have neglected to mention let me know and I will check them out.
If you have never heard of some of these artist click on the links and check them out. You may find your next favorite song or artist.
- In the Garage by Weezer
- Nerdcore Rising by MC Frontalot
- White and Nerdy by Weird Al
- D&D by Stephen Lynch
- The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton
- Nerd Alert! by The Aquabats
- Particle Man by They Might Be Giants
- Dugdig by YT Cracker
- Pork and Beans by Weezer
- Fette's Vette by MC Chris
If you know of anymore geeky artists that I have neglected to mention let me know and I will check them out.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Technology Burnout
I am a geek and as such I am drawn to technology. I can't help myself. It doesn't matter if I need or have a use for the latest gizmo, I just naturally want it. At least that is how I was until recently.
I have found that I am getting more and more annoyed with the way technology has taken over our lives. I still like all the blinking lights, touch screens and stylish designs, but I am better able to control my desire to own these techno toys than before. Since I can watch the few shows that I enjoy on the internet, I don't even turn on my TV anymore and even canceled my Satellite subscription. I no longer care that my cell phone does not have all the features that are available, and I don't care that my computer is two years old. I don't read gaming mags, PC mags or visit tech sites like I did just 6 months ago. I'm getting tired of technology.
I still keep my computer in good shape. I still pick up my PSP or DS to play games on occassion, but I no longer care if I get the newest console. I may be getting old and just deciding that there are many other things in life far more important, or I may just have realized that keeping up with tech is nigh impossible.
I still keep my computers running in tip top shape, but I have no desire to replace it. I spend less and less time surfing the net and find that I enjoy reading a good book far more than I did just a few years ago. I'm worried about the environment, the economy and I resent the fact that I can't go anywhere in the world without being on camera. I prefer road maps to GPs and I feel sorry for our kids. They will never know what life was like when a home computer was something none of us had. We did our homework with pencil and paper, and we could write in cursive an art form that is apparenlty being lost on the kids of today. The only people we knew were the ones in our neighborhood, not people from half a world away that we met on Myspace.
Technology has done wonders to enable us to become more efficient, communicate globally, and in some ways become smarter. Still I can't shake the feeling that we are loosing a bit of ourselves in the process. Sacrificing some of what makes us human.
I have found that I am getting more and more annoyed with the way technology has taken over our lives. I still like all the blinking lights, touch screens and stylish designs, but I am better able to control my desire to own these techno toys than before. Since I can watch the few shows that I enjoy on the internet, I don't even turn on my TV anymore and even canceled my Satellite subscription. I no longer care that my cell phone does not have all the features that are available, and I don't care that my computer is two years old. I don't read gaming mags, PC mags or visit tech sites like I did just 6 months ago. I'm getting tired of technology.
I still keep my computer in good shape. I still pick up my PSP or DS to play games on occassion, but I no longer care if I get the newest console. I may be getting old and just deciding that there are many other things in life far more important, or I may just have realized that keeping up with tech is nigh impossible.
I still keep my computers running in tip top shape, but I have no desire to replace it. I spend less and less time surfing the net and find that I enjoy reading a good book far more than I did just a few years ago. I'm worried about the environment, the economy and I resent the fact that I can't go anywhere in the world without being on camera. I prefer road maps to GPs and I feel sorry for our kids. They will never know what life was like when a home computer was something none of us had. We did our homework with pencil and paper, and we could write in cursive an art form that is apparenlty being lost on the kids of today. The only people we knew were the ones in our neighborhood, not people from half a world away that we met on Myspace.
Technology has done wonders to enable us to become more efficient, communicate globally, and in some ways become smarter. Still I can't shake the feeling that we are loosing a bit of ourselves in the process. Sacrificing some of what makes us human.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Weezer: The Red Album
I am a Weezer fan. I have enjoyed every album, for the most part, that the band has ever put out and the Red Album is no different.
When I first saw the video for Pork and Beans on youtube, which is over flowing with youtube celebrities, I immediately began searching itunes for the album to download. It's been a few years since they've had a new album and it has been worth the wait.
The Red Album is possibly one of the most interesting and different Weezer albums to date, yet very reminiscent of their older albums. It starts off with some upbeat pop songs, like you would expect from this band, and evolves into some edgier, more melodic and more mature songs as the tracks progress. Halfway through I got a very real sense that the songs were part of a story, there is a definite rock opera feel.
I've only managed to listen to it in its entirity twice so far, but that sense of a story was definitely there and during the second listen I could actually visualize it. I don't know if this is what the band intended but if not it was a very fortunate mistake. Individually there are a couple of tracks that are not my favorites, and if I heard them on the radio I might take the time to change the channel, but in the context of the rest of the album they fit perfectly.
Over all this is another creative and fun group of songs put out by one of my favorite bands. It may not be for everyone, but I think Weezer fans will be able to appreciate their latest release. If you want some music that is insightful, occassionally deep, and definitely fun, then check it out.
Pork and Beans Youtube video
When I first saw the video for Pork and Beans on youtube, which is over flowing with youtube celebrities, I immediately began searching itunes for the album to download. It's been a few years since they've had a new album and it has been worth the wait.
The Red Album is possibly one of the most interesting and different Weezer albums to date, yet very reminiscent of their older albums. It starts off with some upbeat pop songs, like you would expect from this band, and evolves into some edgier, more melodic and more mature songs as the tracks progress. Halfway through I got a very real sense that the songs were part of a story, there is a definite rock opera feel.
I've only managed to listen to it in its entirity twice so far, but that sense of a story was definitely there and during the second listen I could actually visualize it. I don't know if this is what the band intended but if not it was a very fortunate mistake. Individually there are a couple of tracks that are not my favorites, and if I heard them on the radio I might take the time to change the channel, but in the context of the rest of the album they fit perfectly.
Over all this is another creative and fun group of songs put out by one of my favorite bands. It may not be for everyone, but I think Weezer fans will be able to appreciate their latest release. If you want some music that is insightful, occassionally deep, and definitely fun, then check it out.
Pork and Beans Youtube video
Good Geeks Wear Black
Black t-shirts are a staple of geek culture. You can almost always pick the geeks out of a crowd by the color of their shirt (go to any convention) and the logo/design on the front (almost always relating to gaming, comic books or computers). Here are a few of the multiple reasons for the Geeks Must Wear Black rule.
1. Black tends to be slimming and since geeks tend to survive on Cheetos, Pringles, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Jolt Cola and Mountain Dew (I prefer Mello Yello) we need all the help we can get.
2. Comic book characters look better on black backgrounds, mostly.
3. Black is what cool people wear and there is no one cooler than a geek. Or at least if you are wearing black no one will think your a geek, until they see Spiderman on the front of your shirt.
4. It makes us harder to see at night. So it is kind of like casting an invisibility spell.
5. Geeks are not known for their fashion sense and black goes with anything. So you are never mismatched, unless you are a complete moron, and it is easy to accessorize.
6. It shows off our pasty white skin that we earned from hours of sitting in front of computer screens, dark movie theaters, killing orc in our basement and generally avoiding the terrible UV rays emitted by the sun.
7. Black is the symbol of counter culture. Rockers wear black, beatniks wear black, goths wear black, it helps us show our individuality...by dressing the same. It give us a sense of unity, as Geeks tend to be solitary creatures, who only venture out to replenish supplies, and go to conventions.
8. The coolest superheroes & villains wear/wore black : Batman, Spiderman, Venom, Superman, Punisher, and Ghost Rider are just a few examples.
9. Black is also popular as an indicator of power.
10. Black absorbs all light in the color spectrum. Take that red!
11. Black is seen as mysterious and there is nothing more mysterious than a geek.
12. Chuck Norris wore black, plus has a black belt, and everyone knows he kicks butt.
So there you have it, just a few of the reasons why real geeks wear black.
1. Black tends to be slimming and since geeks tend to survive on Cheetos, Pringles, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Jolt Cola and Mountain Dew (I prefer Mello Yello) we need all the help we can get.
2. Comic book characters look better on black backgrounds, mostly.
3. Black is what cool people wear and there is no one cooler than a geek. Or at least if you are wearing black no one will think your a geek, until they see Spiderman on the front of your shirt.
4. It makes us harder to see at night. So it is kind of like casting an invisibility spell.
5. Geeks are not known for their fashion sense and black goes with anything. So you are never mismatched, unless you are a complete moron, and it is easy to accessorize.
6. It shows off our pasty white skin that we earned from hours of sitting in front of computer screens, dark movie theaters, killing orc in our basement and generally avoiding the terrible UV rays emitted by the sun.
7. Black is the symbol of counter culture. Rockers wear black, beatniks wear black, goths wear black, it helps us show our individuality...by dressing the same. It give us a sense of unity, as Geeks tend to be solitary creatures, who only venture out to replenish supplies, and go to conventions.
8. The coolest superheroes & villains wear/wore black : Batman, Spiderman, Venom, Superman, Punisher, and Ghost Rider are just a few examples.
9. Black is also popular as an indicator of power.
10. Black absorbs all light in the color spectrum. Take that red!
11. Black is seen as mysterious and there is nothing more mysterious than a geek.
12. Chuck Norris wore black, plus has a black belt, and everyone knows he kicks butt.
So there you have it, just a few of the reasons why real geeks wear black.
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