Job Discussion Forums

sojourner · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 1:35 pm Post subject:

Joe-Joe,

"They're coming To Take Me Away" ? God,you're going back a long way! That was briefly one of the "Top 50" in about 1965 or 1966.Just shows you how old I am ! I think that it was composed and sung (or rather chanted,I vaguely recall) by some character who called himself "Napoleon the 23rd" .Can you remember the words ? I recall that on the flip-side of the record,the 'song' was sung/chanted back to front - the sound of laughter being reversed is really weird !

Anyway,a more appropriate song would be "Hit the Road,Jack".Can anyone recall who sang it,and what the words are ? I vaguely recall something like:

" Hit the Road,Jack,never come back,no more,no more ,no more no more". It reminds me of the theme of a recent thread on this Forum regarding whether one ever intends to return home - or to be permanently "on the road".

Just a few seconds ago,as I was typing the above, another song began to arise from the depths of my sub-consciousness: the "Good-bye Song" (or whatever it's called) from the operetta,"The White House Inn".The song appears to be about a guy, who has just lost his girl friend to someone else,and then decides that he is going to escape the memories of his past failures and life's disappointments by taking on a completely new life-style;by joining the French Foreign Legion ! Late 19th and early 20th Century literature and drama is full of romantic tales of people escaping either from negative socio-economic situations,or who simply didn't really "fit into" mainstream society - such characters usually "went to the colonies" or joined the Legion.Nowadays,the European empires no longer exist.Also,militarism has all but lost its glamour.

So,in a way teaching ESL in out-of-way places all around the world could be seen as analogous to the old days of "running off to join the Legion" or "shipping out to the colonies" - especially in light of the various postings to Dave's on matters relating to making a long-term career commitment to o'seas ESL teaching,to whether it's really worthwhile to return home - to the recent rather sad comment on this Forum by someone, that once a person has been working o'seas for a number of years, that he/she would it would find it virtually impossible to fit back into mainstream society;and at the same time, the "folks back home" would not be able to identify with one's experiences in foreign lands. But one shouldn't only not dwelve too much on the past;one shouldn't also feel guilty about leaving his/her's homeland.Yet,it is also important that one should not see going o'seas as a form of escape - rather,it should be seen in a more positive light,of moving towards something,eg: personal development,helping others,etc.

"Hit the road,Jack . . . . "

Happy travelling ,

Peter

sojourner · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2003 6:23 pm Post subject:

Another song could be "The Happy Wanderer".

Peter

Steiner · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 573 Location: Hunan China

20 Fingers "Mr. Personality."

The repeated lyric is "They call you Mr. Personality because you're so ugly."

Just joking there, folks. No one has ever called me Mr. Personality. Sad

khmerhit · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 4:45 pm Post subject:

Ray charles' version

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no
more.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no
more.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.

Woo! Woman, oh woman, don't treat me so mean,
You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen.
I guess if you said so
I'd have to pack my things and go. (That's right)

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no
more.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.

Now baby, listen baby, don't-a treat me this-a way
For I'll be back on my feet some day.

Don't care if you do 'cause it's understood
you ain't got no money you just ain't no good.

Well, I guess if you say so
I'd have to pack my things and go. (That's right)

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no
more.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.

(Repeat and fade)
Don't you come back no more.

Percy mayfield's version as sung by John Mellencamp

Ah, ah, ah, ah, hey hey hey, yeah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, hey hey hey, yeah
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more
Hit that road Jack and don't you come back no more
I said baby baby don't treat me so mean
Your the meanest old woman that I ever seen
I guess if you say so I'm gonna have to pack my things and go
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no
more
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, yea
Ah, ah, ah, ah, hu-huh, hey hey hey
Ah, ah, ah, ah, uh-huh, hey hey hey
I said baby baby don't treat me this way
I'll get back on my feet someday
I don't care if you do, your just no good
You ain't had no good loving and ....
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, yeah, yeah
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more
Ah, ah, ah, ah, hey hey hey
Ah, ah, ah, ah, hey hey hey
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more
Hit that road Jack and don't you come back no more, yeah

My personal song would be Dream Weaver by... i forget

johnslat · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 5:15 pm Post subject: All aboard

Dear khmerhit,
Sing along with me:

Dream Weaver
Gary Wright

I've just closed my eyes again
Climbed aboard the dream weaver train
Driver take away my worries of today
And leave tomorrow behind

(chorus)
Ooh dream weaver
I believe you can get me through the night
Ooh dream weaver
I believe we can reach the morning light
Fly me high through the starry skies
Maybe to an astral plane
Cross the highways of fantasy
Help me to forget today's pain

(chorus again)

Though the dawn may be coming soon
There still may be some time
Fly me away to the bright side of the moon
And meet me on the other side

Regards,
John

guty · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 365 Location: on holiday

I dont like Mondays (although in the gulf that should be Saturdays)

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I'm leaving on a jet plane(well it will be in 3 months time)

bud · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 13

I Was Made For Dancin' (Leif Garrett, 1978)

dreadnought · Joined: 10 Oct 2003 Posts: 82 Location: Sofia, Bulgaria

'Outdoor Type' by the Lemonheads.

Always had a roof above me
Always paid the rent
but I've never set foot inside a tent
Can't build a fire to save my life
I lied about being the outdoor type

i've never slept out underneath the stars,
the closest that i came to that was one time my car
broke down for an hour in the suburbs at night
i lied about being the outdoor type.

Too scared to let you know you knew what you were looking for
I lied until I fit the bill god bless the great indoors
I lied about being the outdoor type
I've never owned a sleeping bag let alone a mountain bike

i can't go away with you on a rock climbing weekend
what if somethings on tv and its never shown again
its just as well i'm not invited i'm afraid of heights
i lied about being the outdoor type

Never learned to swim can't grow a beard or even fight
I lied about being the outdoor type

some waygug-in · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 339

How about this one?

Whitey on the Moon
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Whitey's on the moon)
I can't pay no doctor bill.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Ten years from now I'll be payin' still.
(while Whitey's on the moon)
The man jus' upped my rent las' night.
('cause Whitey's on the moon)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
I wonder why he's uppi' me?
('cause Whitey's on the moon?)
I wuz already payin' 'im fifty a week.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Taxes takin' my whole damn check,
Junkies makin' me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin' up,
An' as if all that shit wuzn't enough:
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face an' arm began to swell.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Was all that money I made las' year
(for Whitey on the moon?)
How come there ain't no money here?
(Hmm! Whitey's on the moon)
Y'know I jus' 'bout had my fill
(of Whitey on the moon)
I think I'll sen' these doctor bills,
Airmail special
(to Whitey on the moon)