September 2, 2011

"Working in the Coal Mine."

At Meadhouse this morning, we're talking about the song "Working In The Coal Mine," not because of the abysmal jobs situation these days, but because... well, because there was a little too much milk in my coffee. (This stream of consciousness has nothing to do with the suffering of unemployment and working in coal mines, so please forgive me.)

Meade decided to make me a double-shot, and I — helpful in my usual abstracted way — started playing "Double Shot of My Baby's Love" (by the Swingin' Medallions) — a song about a woman who "loved [her man] so hard" that he woke up with... "the worst hangover [he] ever had."

That got me talking about the frat rock cassette recording that I bought when my kids were very young. It had "Double Shot" along with stuff like "Hang On Sloopy" and "Louie Louie." It was one of a series of tapes that I bought to play in the car after I realized that rock and roll oldies were good children's music. (Well, not "Double Shot.") I first had this realization back in the 1980s when, for some reason — maybe a toddler said "ya ya" — I started singing "Sitting in Ya Ya Waiting for my La La." Baby talk!

"Who sang that?" I ask, playing it on YouTube. Meade says "Sam Cooke." No! It's Lee Dorsey! Do you know any other Lee Dorsey songs? There's only one other that you might remember. It's this. "Working in the Coal Mine." (Not to be confused with this Sam Cooke song, which is, frankly, much better... as a recording. I will not compare the degree of workplace suffering described in the 2 songs.)

But check out these 2 other recordings of "Working in the Coal Mine" — this and this. I can't picture any of those people actually working in a coal mine, but in a pinch, if I had to say, I'd pick The Judds.

Have you had enough coffee this morning? I have.

ADDED: "Get your ya-yas out." Remember when Barack Obama said it? Back in June 2008, when he was thanking his campaign workers for "submerging their egos." The "Ya-yas" remark comes at 10:45. But start here:



Based on that part — before the "ya-yas," I think he didn't expect to win in Iowa. "If I'd lost Iowa, it would have been okay." But: "Because we won, we now have no choice." It seems as though he'd intended to make his mark, then reemerge in 2012 or 2016 as the frontrunner. But he won. It came too soon. Yet he had to plunge forward. It was all a crazy miscalculation. He just didn't expect to be that loved in Iowa.

And now, it's 2011, primary time once again, and our nation turns its lonely eyes to you, Iowa, ya ya ya.

75 comments:

kjbe said...

Yeah, sounds like it. Today was the first day all week I didn't get early to get to the gym. The extra hour is doing wonders.

Our kid car music was Riders in the Sky.

Henry said...

Althouse, I have found your whole morning here:

Dublin Coffman Marching Band 2009 - Morning Mood / Working in a Coal Mine

Curious George said...

Whoa, slow down Professor.

Hang on Sloopy: Official Rock Song of Ohio. Why it's played constantly by The Ohio State Marching Band.

The Best Damn Band in the Land!

Chip S. said...

The actual lyric seems to be "Sittin' here, la-la, waitin' for my Yaya...."

Don't know Lee Dorsey's heritage, but "Yaya" is a phonetic spelling of a Greek word for "grandma."

This morning's news had me seeing clouds in my coffee, and I take it black.

traditionalguy said...

The Swinging Medallions performed at our Frat every spring out in the back parking lot.

Alcohol was the only drug in use back then. But it worked every time.

In fact champagne remains the best aphrodisiac known to man.

Coal mining tops the Obama EPA Czars' hit list today, so let's have a drink, dance and enjoy the memories while we can.

Meade said...

No more coffee for you!

james conrad said...

LOL, yes i have and, I advise Althouse to STEP AWAY from the coffee pot!

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Working in "A" coal mine. Not THE coal mine.

"Yaya" is a phonetic spelling of a Greek word for "grandma."


'Mmm Hmmm Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya Da Da (?)
Gitchi Gitchi Ya Ya

Here

Mocca chocolata Ya Ya"

Some how I don't think Lady Marmalade was talking about her grandmother.

Nope definitely not enough coffee yet.

Ann Althouse said...

"Hang on Sloopy: Official Rock Song of Ohio...."

I know. I have carefully inspected all the displays in the "Hang on Sloopy" room at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

Ann Althouse said...

Ever hear about the time when New Jersey was considering making "Born to Run" its state song? Then they realized "suicide machine" wasn't a good phrase to have echoing in the rotunda or wherever they sing the state song in Trenton. For a state song, you want phrases like "champion of the right."

Ann Althouse said...

Get your yayas out.

David Sedaris did the grandma riff on that long ago.

Curious George said...

"Ann Althouse said...
"Hang on Sloopy: Official Rock Song of Ohio...."

I know. I have carefully inspected all the displays in the "Hang on Sloopy" room at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio."

You must drink a lot of coffee.

madAsHell said...

K-Tel records much??

MadisonMan said...

Curious George, are the members of the Ohio State Marching band cheaters like the football players are?

Ann Althouse said...

And I previously blogged the whole yayas/grandma thing here after Obama said "get your ya yas out."

Curious George said...

" Ann Althouse said...
Ever hear about the time when New Jersey was considering making "Born to Run" its state song? "

Ohio is the only state with an Official Rock Song.

ndspinelli said...

I have a friend who is like Google and Rain Man when it comes to old rock songs. He has NEVER been stumped. He's also equally good in baseball trivia. He's also an alcoholic, but he can still give answers when he's on a bender.

Carol_Herman said...

Substitute Coolwhip, and there won't be too much cream in your coffee! And your coffee won't get cold, either.

Of course I don't take the Coolwhip out of the freezer. The container is in the fridge.

As to working in the coal mine, I guess if you teach, and you go back to work ... And, it seems like the work is a great big trudge to start. While it's the kids (to which things are new), who are all enthusiastic.

And, then? Work grabs hold. You forget the vacation. And, you chisel at the chores, ahead?

gerry said...

"champion of the right."

I know you mean the moral right or ethical right at the least, but would hard-core Progs tolerate hearing "champion of the right" in their state song?

I've probably had enough coffee, but I may swig down a little more. My mug is imprinted "Don't let the bastards wear you down" and the handle is broken off. It keeps me going.

edutcher said...

Good Lord, woman, you're starting to write like The Blonde.

When she was going for her BSN, she'd usually write her papers after having done a shift, a couple of classes, and maybe a clinical or two - adding up to better than 24 hours without sleep.

I would then have to translate said paper into intelligible English without changing the academic import.

You just do it with masses of lactose.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

The great thing about being married to someone who shares your time line (age) is that you can share those great cultural memories of your youth. Music, movies, books, names of famous people. All the nutty and fun stuff that makes you who you are.

Talk about Sam Cooke or The Kingsmen (for example)to someone 25 years younger than you and get a blank look. You don't have to explain the obscure references or your lame jokes to each other. You get it.

virgil xenophon said...

LOL! OT, BUT THE WV that popped up is "mulgeoes"

I can't decide whether that's referring to mulatto ala Obama or Juggaloes ala the followers of The Insane Clown Posse--come to think of it the "Insane Clown" part of it applies to both the objects of the Juggaloes ardor AND the mulatto in the WH..

Chip S. said...

College football season is here, so a frat-rock thread isn't complete until someone links to the legendary Rice University Marching Owl Band's rendition of "Louie Louie."

Triangle Man said...

"On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
Grand old badger state!
We, thy loyal sons and daughters,
Hail thee, good and great.
On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
Champion of the right,
"Forward", our motto
God will give thee might!"

ndspinelli said...

What time in the morning does Carol "Ditzy" Herman open the vodka bottle?

gerry said...

What are the genuine words of "Louie Louie"?

MadisonMan said...

Substitute Coolwhip, and there won't be too much cream in your coffee! And your coffee won't get cold, either.

That is just gross.

The only creamer for coffee is half and half. There are places in town that I won't go to for coffee because they only have coffeemate. In Wisconsin! Dairy State!

I go to conferences once a year for work, and I always ask for half and half in my coffee at the conference halls. Some places don't have it! (Boggle) How can you serve coffee and not provide a dairy product?

Curious George said...

"MadisonMan said...
Curious George, are the members of the Ohio State Marching band cheaters like the football players are?"

Really dude? Does "Shoe Box" ring any bells for you?

I'm also pretty sure OSU's band was never suspended for behavior.

Now, back to the The Greatest Band in the Land.

ex-madtown girl said...

Not all of us DBQ! Heck, my own kids (toddlers) have listened to Sam Cooke's Greatest Hits many a time! ;)

Alan Smithee said...

"Timothy" by the Bouys (now more or less Dakota) and written by Rupert Holmes is a fun mining song.

pm317 said...

Working in the Coal Mine

this fits right in --

Obama camp in 'panic'
Obama halts controversial EPA regulation

Dust Bunny Queen said...

What are the genuine words of "Louie Louie"?

I never understood the controversy. The words, while mumbled, are not that hard to make out.

It was a mundane story about a sailor wanting to get back to his girlfriend.


Louie Louie, oh no
Me gotta go
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
Louie Louie, oh baby
Me gotta go

Fine little girl waits for me
Catch a ship across the sea
Sail that ship about, all alone
Never know if I make it home

Anonymous said...

"Ever hear about the time when New Jersey was considering making "Born to Run" its state song?"

Speaking as a native New Jersyite (Maplewood), I would have preferred Badlands.

ndspinelli said...

Chip S, thanks for the Louie, Louie link. The college band I grew up watching was the Yale band. My old man would take me to see a couple games a year. Tailgating was a trip. There would be butlers and chaueffers serving food. It was foo foo food, not real tailgating fare. My old man was sharp. He would bring a big batch of sausage and peppers, and the smell of it cooking was like the call of the wild for these old rich guys. He would invite them over and they ate like little kids. Then they would offer my old man some single malt scotch[his favorite].

I'm doing a Carol"Ditzy"Herman here..sorry. My point was the Yale band was irreverent and chaotic, the anti big college band. One Saturday was a tribute to birth control[this was the 60's] they had the horn section play the sperm and the drum section the egg..the horns chasing until they inserted into the drums. They played "Love is a Many Splendored Thing..off key of course.

Chip S. said...

That's the de jure version. Most people only know the de facto version, which consists mostly of "yayayaya" and assorted claims about the manner and frequency of sex acts.

At least that's how it goes down at our barista parties.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

@ ex-madtown girl

Evidence that you raised your kids right!!

Sam Cooke. What a loss.

As long as we are talking about working in a coal mine. How about a chain gang.

MadisonMan said...

Does "Shoe Box" ring any bells for you?

That was -- what -- 10 years ago?

Has tOSU found a new coach yet?

Chip S. said...

@ndspinelli, At least a while ago Netflix was streaming the movie "Harvard Beats Yale, 29-29." If you haven't seen it, you must.

Anonymous said...

The New Jersey - Born To Run idea was horrible. "Suicide machine" isn't even the worst part, how about "it's a death trap, it's a suicide rap, we've gotta get out while we're young...."

That a goodly number of people thought it would make a good state song is frightening.

I tried to vary music in the car when my kids were young - with high quality from different genres. When my older daughter was in 5th grade, her teacher would play snippets of music and ask the kids if they knew the singer. My kid was the only one who could pick out Ella Fitzgerald, because "Everything I've Got" is one of their favorites.

Curious George said...

"MadisonMan said...
Does "Shoe Box" ring any bells for you?

That was -- what -- 10 years ago?

Has tOSU found a new coach yet?"

Something like that. Band suspension was three years ago.

What's your point? Both programs fucked up, paid a price, and made changes.

OSU's new coach is Luke Fickell. Still considered "interim" but I'll bet he is made permanent. Like Bielema, young, hard working. Just smarter. Was voted the #1 assistant coach in Division 1.

edutcher said...

Dust Bunny Queen said...

The great thing about being married to someone who shares your time line (age) is that you can share those great cultural memories of your youth. Music, movies, books, names of famous people. All the nutty and fun stuff that makes you who you are.

Talk about Sam Cooke or The Kingsmen (for example)to someone 25 years younger than you and get a blank look. You don't have to explain the obscure references or your lame jokes to each other. You get it.


This is The Blonde's take on things, but you don't even have to have someone 25 years younger. Anyone born after 1955 (or '60) might just as well have been born on a different planet if you're part of the original cohort of the Baby Boomers ('46 - '53).

The cultural framework is really that different.

Unknown said...

I like the double shot gizmo. Do you get good crema with it?

I would love to pull a Starbucks- quality doppio at home.

Anonymous said...

re: Hang On Sloopy. Back in the day ( mid 90's ?)we were playing a gig at a beach bar and this little guy walks up and announces himself as Rick Derringer and says he wants to lead the band for a couple of songs. We looked at each other, shrugged "sure", he got on stage, plugged in and led the band through a GREAT version of Hang on Sloopy and Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo. Too much fun.

ndspinelli said...

Chip S, I did indeed watch the doc. I love Tommy Lee Jones and it was interesting to see him in this context. The glaring absence was the great, Calvin Hill, who graduated from the Divinity School that year. I wondered why he wasn't interviewed.

That game was @ Harvard. We went to the game the previous year @ Yale Bowl. Games were not televised so we listened to that hearbreaking loss on a radio station from New Haven.

Sprezzatura said...

Althouse is wee-wee-ed up today.

J said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
J said...

"working in a coal mine"--like much older rock/country/blues music there is a labor theme. Attorneys "work" or at least ...talk in offices, courtrooms, or classrooms.

others dig coal.

Meade said...

"others dig coal"

Hold it!
Still others
dig a pony.
While some
dog a boney
or
bog a doney
And, finally, some even
rode a lorry.

But all I want is you.

wv: commir. Yes, I know it's the middle of a work day. So? Your classes don't start until next week and today's a rain day form me.

Meade said...

"form me"

ha ha ha

Curious George said...

"wv: commir. Yes, I know it's the middle of a work day. So? Your classes don't start until next week and today's a rain day form me."

Heh good luck!

NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...

Ann Althouse said...

Get your yayas out.


That comes from the Rolling Stones misinterpretation of an old Blind Boy Fuller song called "Get your yas-yas out!"

Yas-Yas being 1930's bluesman double speak for Ass.

wv: dragons - Wait! That's it?! WTF?!

Ann Althouse said...

"Working in "A" coal mine. Not THE coal mine."

That's what I would think from listening, but I think, based on all the labels, etc., that the title has "the."

Insufficiently Sensitive said...

Lee Dorsey! Yes!!

That's practically classical music by comparison with todays dreck.

Ann Althouse said...

"I know you mean the moral right or ethical right at the least, but would hard-core Progs tolerate hearing "champion of the right" in their state song?"

I have lots of video of them tolerating it. For example: here.

Chip S. said...

ndspinelli--Yeah, Tommy Lee seemed like he'd heavily sedated himself before his interview. Absolutely the least interesting guy in the movie.

One last H-Y thing. Did you know about this fantastic prank?

Insufficiently Sensitive said...

Hmmm... I like that Greek grandma idea.

Κάθομαι εδώ, περιμένω για την Γιαγιά μου.

Who says this aint a classy blog?

Ann Althouse said...

Meade: "So? Your classes don't start until next week and today's a rain day form me."

Form you? How were you formed?

Triangle Man said...

Something like that. Band suspension was three years ago.

The UW band was suspended by UW. Maybe OSU is just covering up their band's behavior.

Ann Althouse said...

"Talk about Sam Cooke or The Kingsmen (for example)to someone 25 years younger than you and get a blank look. You don't have to explain the obscure references or your lame jokes to each other. You get it."

Actually, a lot of younger people get those references. I know my kids do.

Rick Lee said...

If you like that kind of music, I recommend this boxed set... http://amzn.com/B00000AFWZ

Sprezzatura said...

"...to someone 25 years younger than you and get a blank look"

But, they may know about the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. Who I've seen. And, who a blogger less "golden" than Althouse relied on in a sorta parallel way.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

This is The Blonde's take on things, but you don't even have to have someone 25 years younger. Anyone born after 1955 (or '60) might just as well have been born on a different planet if you're part of the original cohort of the Baby Boomers ('46 - '53).

And she is right. My first husband was born in 1943 and raised in southern Ohio (almost in Kentucky) while, although I traveled a lot in my youth (wanderlust parents), I'm basically a California girl (b. 1950). Those 7 years in age gap as well as geographic differences really were huge.

Two completely different worlds in culture, movies seen, music heard, ways of raising children, dealing with life in general...practically everything.

I still think "part" of a successful marriage/relationship is the commonality of life experiences that you share. Of course it shouldn't be like you married your clone and you can learn from each other.....but it shouldn't be like you married someone from another planet.

Sorry, way OT from the thread.

Curious George said...

"Triangle Man said...
Something like that. Band suspension was three years ago.

The UW band was suspended by UW. Maybe OSU is just covering up their band's behavior"

Yes, after a similar incident two years prior and the firing of the assistant director.

I could also talk about the multiple issues of behavior, including alcohol, violence, and sexual violence of players on the football and basketball team.

By the way, the athletic department knew about the Shoe Box goings on, and did nothing. This was all under Alvarez, who not only didn't step down, but is the AD.

Give it a rest.

ndspinelli said...

ChipS, I did not know about this prank..thank you, thank you. After my old man died my interest waned. I did watch The Game a couple years ago on Versus and saw the Yale coach blow the game on an incredibly asinine fake punt. Carol "Ditzy" Herman will explain fake punt to those who don't understand it.

Trooper York said...

She was black as the night
Louie was whiter than white
Danger, danger when you taste brown sugar
Louie fell in love overnight


Nothing bad, it was good
Louie had the best girl he could
When he took her home
To meet his mama and papa
Louie knew just where he stood


Louie Louie Louie, Louie
Louie Louie Lou-I
Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie you're gonna cry

There he stood in the night
Knowing what's wrong from what's right
He took her home to meet his mama and papa
Man, he had a terrible fright


Louie nearly caused a scene
Wishin' it was a dream
Ain't no diff'rence if you're black or white
Brothers, you know what I mean


Louie Louie Louie, Louie
Louie Louie Lou-I
Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie you're gonna cry

Louie Louie Louie, Louie
Louie Louie Lou-I
Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie you're gonna cry


Louie Louie Louie, Louie
Louie Louie Louie Louie Lou-I
Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie you're gonna cry

(Crack Emcee, 1962)

tree hugging sister said...

Oy. There is no way I could watch 13+ minutes.

Ann Althouse said...

@tree hugger The Meade-sing is at 3:13.

That's one of many times Meade sang "On Wisconsin" in the rotunda. I have better ones I should dig out, with more protesters around. But they were always supportive of the state song.

brian said...

The Beatles covered the YaYa in their first recording with Tony Sheridan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZcfxLtOKmY

Christy said...

I have a charming picture of my grandpa, aged 13, with his lunch pail (seriously, a pail) and some pals on the way to work at the coal mine.

While not an official fight song, Rocky Top is one of 5 official Tennessee songs. And I bet it is sung to by more fans when played by the marching band come Saturday than any fight song in the country. At least the first 20 times it's played.

Ipso Fatso said...

Here is the original version of Double Shot by the guy who wrote it Dick Holler:
Here.

He also wrote Snoopy Versus the Red Baron and Abraham, Martin & John!!!!

Ipso Fatso said...

I saw Lee Dorsey's last public performance in the mid 80s in New Orleans. May he rest in peace.

Here is his best:

Get Out My Life Woman.

Gary Rosen said...

Other Lee Dorsey songs (finally at the very end someone mentioned "Get Out of My Life Woman"!):

Ride Your Pony

Do-Re-Mi

I saw Dorsey perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1980. I remember he did "Ride Your Pony" because he pantomimed the line "Now get your pistol ... and shoot ... shoot ... shoot"

jr565 said...

Sam Cooke. What a loss.

As long as we are talking about working in a coal mine. How about a chain gang.


I totally love the third verse in that song (that starts "My my my my my my my my work is so hard" ) Where Cooke goes with the melody that goes up and down like a wave is just beautiful. And shows pretty clearly why he's considered one of the best singers in rock/pop/soul. Modern singers who try to enunciate every word (think of what's her face singing the star spangled banner) should listen to how you are supposed to do that kind of stuff well. You're left with the impression that the majority of the singers who are considered good modern singers who follow in the r&b tradition simply don't know how to do it right. What the hell happened?

Ipso Fatso said...

Lee Dorsey used to bill himself as "The Best Body & Fender Man in New Orleans!!" which is what he did between gigs.

Here is the best version of Sam Cooke's Chain Gang-Live. If that don't get you movin' nothing will.

For the hell of it, and keeping a New Orleans theme, here is a great song by John Fred, before he hit it big with His Playboy Band. This was recorded in 1959 using Fats Domino's band, Shirley. Enjoy, for those of you scouring the bottom of this thread!

Anonymous said...

I'm shocked and disappointed that you'd present a video wherein the candidate was obviously a racist, given that he was presenting his talk to a mostly white audience. Isn't that one of the discriminators of being racist? Like Tea Party gatherings comprising mostly white folks?