Paul S Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 I stumbled across a Robin Trower song I hadn't heard before and would like to flag it up for my blues band. 20th century Blues. Nice powerful, no frills kind of thing, just up our alley. The lyrics are buried quite deep in the mix and I am struggling to pick them out so just now I thought I'd get a little help from one of the websites that publish lyrics. There are quite a few of them. It seems that Noel Coward wrote a tune called 20th Century Blues and every single one of the lyric websites has copied these lyrics when you search for the Robin Trower one. Every one. WTF? 🤪 Anyone happen to know the actually lyrics? 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StickyDBRmf Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 The chorus starts off with: "Oh, it's so sad to be mistaken for a Coward..." 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 20th Century Blues Robin Trower Why is it that civilized humanity Can make the world so wrong? In this hurly-burly of insanity Our dreams cannot last long. We've reached a deadline, A press headline, Every sorrow. Blues value is news value Tomorrow. Blues Twentieth century blues Are getting me down. Blues Escape those weary Twentieth century blues. Why, If there's a God in the sky, Why shouldn't He grin High Above this dreary Twentieth century din? In this strange illusion, Chaos and confusion, People seem to lose their way. What is there to strive for, Love or keep alive for, Say, 'Hey, hey!' Call it a day? Blues Nothing to win or to lose,… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 27, 2020 Author Share Posted December 27, 2020 Yup. That's the Noel Coward one again! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Oops. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocketflup Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 I tried a diff lyric site to that which Bertbass did and found 20th Century Blues Robin Trower Why is it that civilized humanity Can make the world so wrong? In this hurly-burly of insanity Our dreams cannot last long. We've reached a deadline, A press headline, Every sorrow. Blues value is news value Tomorrow. Blues Twentieth century blues Are getting me down. Blues Escape those weary Twentieth century blues. Why, If there's a God in the sky, Why shouldn't He grin High Above this dreary Twentieth century din? In this strange illusion, Chaos and confusion, People seem to lose their way. What is there to strive for, Love or keep alive for, Say, 'Hey, hey!' Call it a day? Blues Nothing to win or to lose,… ;) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 27, 2020 Author Share Posted December 27, 2020 Same again, the Noel Coward one. This is why I had the minor rant. The Robin Trower penned tune with the same name is nothing like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Why not just do the NC version, no-one will ever know....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 4 minutes ago, Paul S said: ...The Robin Trower penned tune with the same name is nothing like this With lyrics as indistinct as this, one is justified in making up whatever on top, or even 'La La La'. I gave the video a listen, and could vaguely make out '... got those twentieth century blues...' a couple of times. The rest may be Shakespearian, but I doubt it. Make up your own version; he won't sue you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Just now, Dad3353 said: Make up your own version; he won't sue you. Agreed. Better still, go the whole hog, take some random lyrics from Jimi Hendrix and fit them in any old how. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 27, 2020 Author Share Posted December 27, 2020 Yup, might well do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Lyric sites just copy off each other, perpetuating mistakes. Sometimes they copy across obvious errors (e.g. in War Pigs you'll probably find 'treating people just like chess pieces' instead of 'voltages'). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 I bet there are a couple of likely lads in the DoI to rewrite that for you. @Bridgehouse @Frank Blank @skankdelvar for* instance? *Well three actually. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 13 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: Lyric sites just copy off each other, perpetuating mistakes. Sometimes they copy across obvious errors (e.g. in War Pigs you'll probably find 'treating people just like chess pieces' instead of 'voltages'). It's actually "Treating people just like pawns in chess"... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 11 minutes ago, RhysP said: It's actually "Treating people just like pawns in chess"... Indeed, even worse than I thought! If you listen to Dio (wot is a proper singist) sing it 'voltages' is very obvious, although it's clear enough when sung by Ozzy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 3 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: Indeed, even worse than I thought! If you listen to Dio (wot is a proper singist) sing it 'voltages' is very obvious, although it's clear enough when sung by Ozzy. I like the albums Dio did with Sabbath but I can't stand him singing the Ozzy era stuff, just doesn't work for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 45 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said: I bet there are a couple of likely lads in the DoI to rewrite that for you. @Bridgehouse @Frank Blank @skankdelvar for* instance? *Well three actually. I very much doubt the OP would want my version of the lyrics... 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el borracho Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 I get this - it's pretty close - but don't hold me to it! The live versions vary a little bit but don't stray far from it. Trying hard to find, find the answer to your call Got to lose my mind, but I'm no wiser from the fall Ain't got nothing to choose, Got those 20th Century blues Don't want day to come, don't want to face reality Trying to find someone and maybe keep my sanity Ain't got nothing to choose, Got those 20th Century blues I'm not made of stone so don't be stepping in my way Cut me to the bone cos you don't hear a word I say Ain't got nothing to choose, Got those 20th Century blues 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 22 minutes ago, RhysP said: I like the albums Dio did with Sabbath but I can't stand him singing the Ozzy era stuff, just doesn't work for me. I prefer Ozzy singing his songs, but I first saw Sabbath on the Mob Rules tour at Hammy Odeon, and have never had a problem with Dio's renditions. The crowd were chanting 'Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy' before the start, within a song he had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 27, 2020 Author Share Posted December 27, 2020 5 minutes ago, el borracho said: I get this - it's pretty close - but don't hold me to it! The live versions vary a little bit but don't stray far from it. Trying hard to find, find the answer to your call Got to lose my mind, but I'm no wiser from the fall Ain't got nothing to choose, Got those 20th Century blues Don't want day to come, don't want to face reality Trying to find someone and maybe keep my sanity Ain't got nothing to choose, Got those 20th Century blues I'm not made of stone so don't be stepping in my way Cut me to the bone cos you don't hear a word I say Ain't got nothing to choose, Got those 20th Century blues Sounds good to me! Thanks you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Well, it’s pretty obvious to me from one listen through: Tying half a fire, fire the handle of your ball, But Toulouse is mine, he’s a wazzock from Nepal. And I’m numb from chews, got those twelfth century shoes. Don’t want Dave to call, don’t want his bristle down a tube, Trying to find some hum, and maybe crackers and some Brie And I’m numb from booze, got that health centre flooze. I’m not made of bone, so don’t be prepping in that hay, Cut me garden gnome, cos you don’t fear a wooden sleigh. Aint got nothing to chew, got those 20th century brews. 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 12 minutes ago, el borracho said: I get this - it's pretty close - but don't hold me to it! The live versions vary a little bit but don't stray far from it. Trying hard to find, find the answer to your call Got to lose my mind, but I'm no wiser from the fall Ain't got nothing to choose, Got those 20th Century blues Don't want day to come, don't want to face reality Trying to find someone and maybe keep my sanity Ain't got nothing to choose, Got those 20th Century blues I'm not made of stone so don't be stepping in my way Cut me to the bone cos you don't hear a word I say Ain't got nothing to choose, Got those 20th Century blues I'm almost the same. I have' 'About to lose my mind ....' and Ain't got nothing to lose, got those 20th C Blues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 14 minutes ago, Bridgehouse said: I very much doubt the OP would want my version of the lyrics... Even if it was a choice between yours and Frank's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 1 minute ago, SpondonBassed said: Even if it was a choice between yours and Frank's? Well, at least mine had no toilet references... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Blank Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Just now, SpondonBassed said: Even if it was a choice between yours and Frank's? Well Bridgey is the official DOI Lyricist *salutes* 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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