May 2021 Songbooks Added
I have uploaded new songbooks that include all the songs on the site. You can access them at https://ozbcoz.com/songbooks
There are over 200 new songs in the songbook (on top of the September 2020 book)
The Nashville songbook is a lot better than it was – I have now also fixed the page numbering and will update a new version in the next half hour or so
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In the song, “City of New Orleans,” please consider changing the words “old black men” to “old gray men.” To me, “old gray men” seems like a better word choice for these days and times.
Thank you for your consideration, Jim.
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Jim
Please don’t be afraid of accepting the song for what it was meant to be when it was written, if you start changing thier meaning you are disrespecting the author and their ideas and views. There is nothing wrong with the song.
Sorry – I don’t understand what you mean. Do you have a specific song in mind that you feel I have changed and disrespected the author.
I try hard to make the song the same as the author wrote it. Sometimes I get it wrong because I am not an expert musician. Sometimes I may simplify it a little if it is too difficult and sometimes I change the original key (normal practice for artists with songs) and sometimes I simply make mistakes. |If you find examples of mistakes or errors I would be delighted if you let me know so that I can correct the song – but I don’t make errors on purpose
Jim
I see nothing wrong with ‘old black men’. The word black is a compliment to them. I am white and proud of it. They are black, and also proud of themselves.
I agree with you, Jim. I think we are on dangerous ground changing words because some people are offended. The words and the music together are the creation of the artist, and should be respected as such. It is the same when films are made ‘based on’ a book. I know they have to. Leave out the descriptions in the book, but I would have thought there was a duty to the author to tell the same story. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, and Girl with a Pearl Earring are prime examples. Done change the ending just so people can go aaaaaaaah at the end. We have a member who doesn’t like Dead Flowers because of a needle and a spoon. We tell her to sing a yogurt and a spoon instead! The chap who doesn’t like Old grey men doesn’t have to sing it. There are plenty of other songs. He’s free to sing grey in his pub if he wants, but don’t make us all sing it.
Jim, keep on doing what you are doing, ( which is by the way an excellent job),.
As far as I am concerned ALL songs,poems, prose and other literature should always be kept in its original form. If folk object thats fine, let’s have the discussion, or alternatively not play or listen to the piece again. its all grist for the mill of artistic endeavour.! !
So you wouldn’t approve of any orchestral, jazz, seasonal etc etc variation on a song’s lyrics or music?