Saturday, December 23, 2006

Olden Times and Ancient Rhymes

Well, I think I've learned something about myself over the last 24 hours -- namely, that I should stay the hell away from John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" this year. It came on the radio while we were driving into Leesburg to pick out a coffin and make funeral arrangements for Chase, and I blubbered like a baby:
And so this is Christmas (war is over)
And what have we done (if you want it)
Another year over (war is over)
A new one just begun (if you want it)
And so happy Christmas (war is over)
We hope you have fun (if you want it)
The near and the dear ones (war is over)
The old and the young (now)
As some of you know, I've been working with Glue Birl on a little Secret Xmas Project of our own:



Does that Birl have some pipes on her, or what?

(Yes, examine her closely -- there she is, festooned with pipes covering ever inch of her body: tobacco, plumbing (PVC and copper), organ, |||||...)

At any rate, I hope you enjoy the tune, and the spirit in which it's offered.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

(Glue Birl! Next year: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." Whaddya say? We'll dig up a choir somewhere!)

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey! Whattya tryin' to say? There ain't no PVC anywhere on me!

I ain't nothin' but the real thing.

:)

Jeddie, you're great. And I hope things are going ok -- as good as can be expected -- with all of you over there.

Just one thing though. You think you're gonna get away with just doing just one song in 2007? Hey! Let's go for it! Let's do, like, um, 10! We'll sell Cd's and give the money to charity or something.

Let's do it. We've got nothing but time. Lucky us.

...I imagine Jeddie's head exploding...

Merry Christmas, Ningo Family.

xxoo

Anonymous said...

I forgot to say. There's been interest (via email to me) about how you did what you did. I think people would appreciate a post about it when you're feeling up to it.

I gave them my version...

I just went in and sang...La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

But, that just didn't seem to satisfy them. They wanna know how *you* did what you did.

fyi.

bg

Anonymous said...

Randy Bachman has a show on CBC called Vinyl Tap, where he plays whatever he feels like.

On this year's holiday show he played the Polyphonic Spree version of Happy Xmas - had me weeping even before I came down and read your most moving previous post.

Anonymous said...

Awesome.

And, Neddie, is that a digital bassoon I'm hearing? Nice touch (sez the former bassoonist).

Beth said...

Neddie,

Just wanted to stop in and say thank you for the beautiful music you and Blue Girl made together.

So Happy Christmas to your near and dear ones and you too, let's hope it is a good one.

Maybe next year the war will be over!! Can I join the choir?

Michael Bains said...

My first wife usually started playing Christmas music in July, and was a major Peanuts fan to boot, so I'm intimately familiar with the original.

This is a sublime rendition, Neddy. You and BG (GB? lol) have a fantastic dynamic goin' on, and I hope you do share more creations in the (near)future.

Thank you muchly and my sympathy for the loss of your Father-in-Law.

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Neddie. :)

PS, you and BG better start work now, because I'm expecting an entire album to be ready by next November.

Will Divide said...

I shall have to return home before I can listen to the obvious gloriousness involved.

In the meantime, Ho-ho-ho, y'all.

Boldly Serving Up Wheat Grass said...

Well done Neddie & Blue Girl! That tune's been a favorite of mine for ages.

My sincere condolences, btw, on your family's loss. You mentioned your father-in-law earlier this year in a comment on my blog, so I knew he wasn't well.

Alzheimer's has taken a heavy toll on my family as well. I remain confident that scientists will overcome this and many other major diseases within our lifetimes (so long as we empower them to do so, that is).

-PH

Milo said...

You're right, Ms. Blue does have quite the voice. Very Ella. I hope your holidays went well, such as they were, and for what it's worth you have my deepest sympathies regarding your loss.

Stay strong.

Milo

Anonymous said...

Blue Girl does, indeed, have an excellent voice.

I would hack through a Woodstock Nation's worth of War-On-Xmas-obsessed fundies with a blunt machete to be in that choir. Alternatively, I could make a side trip the next time I'm visiting my girlfriend in North Carolina.

Milo said...

Oh my god... I just looked over at your sidebar and noticed your headlines form the steps of the Noble Eightfold Path. I am seriously impressed.

I'm not the best practicing Buddhist in the world, but I do try with all of my heart.

Neddie said...

Spc. Freeman: We all can but try.

And thank you for your service to our country.

And thanks to everybody else. Happy Belated Xmas to all of you.

Kevin Wolf said...

I'm still playing "ketchup" with blogs all over. Finally had a quiet moment to listen. Excellent. BG really can sing! Must have been the sympathetic accompaniment.

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