Max "Bunny" Sparber documents the process of writing a one-man show about performer Tiny Tim, including posting his rough scratch demo recordings of original songs, his early drafts of the script, and his research for the project.
A free full-length album of original music by America's favorite drunken sailor puppet, available for download here. Songs include "Pour Me Another Box of Wine," "One Million Frogtown Whores," and "Why Are Women So Afraid of Seamen?"
A VERY ROUGH DEMO of a Peter O'Tooles song that came to me all at once, like.
PADDY O'SHAY" LYRICS
Paddy O'Shay had a pain And so he headed to Trafalgar A short walk to see the doc For an issue that was vulgar And at first he saw the nurse And he showed her where it pained him When she saw she called John Law And they came and then arraigned him Paddy O'Shay Paddy O'shay Three cheers for Paddy O'Shay Paddy O'Shay Paddy O'shay O put that thing away
Paddy O'Shay felt dismay He was bereft of a lover But there were some in old London Who for six pounds would uncover So what he did he grabbed some quid And then went to a sloop of war When she chanced to open his pants She said I ain't what you're looking for Paddy O'Shay Paddy O'shay Three cheers for Paddy O'Shay Paddy O'Shay Paddy O'shay O put that thing away
Paddy O'Shay is glad today He'll kis the girls like georgy peorgy Because tonight he has an invite To Brixton for an orgy He arrives at quarter past five As the invitation stated And by and by opens his fly And the room is evacuated Paddy O'Shay Paddy O'shay Three cheers for Paddy O'Shay Paddy O'Shay Paddy O'shay O put that thing away
A SONG for the Peter O'Tooles about a famous river in Northern Ireland, although it is possible that the lyrics are meant to actually be about something less pastoral.
"THE GREAT BUSH RIVER" LYRICS:
It's calling me; it's calling me From the Antrim Hills to Portballantrie I see it in dreams as westward it flows And I promise to follow wherever it goes I begged to the Gods and the Gods did deliver And I'll spend my life swimming in the Great Bush River
There's hardly a day that I do without Dreaming of salmon and feisty brown trout All afternoon their scent does persist Its the odor of fish I cannot resist I begged to the Gods and the Gods did deliver And I'll spend my life swimming in the Great Bush River
It's the water they use in Antrim County To make the world famous Bushmill whiskey I'm satisfied after only a dunk as It doesn't take much Bush to get me drunk I begged to the Gods and the Gods did deliver And I'll spend my life swimming in the Great Bush River
I'll go there, I tell you, and I'll go there right quick With me hands they a-clutching me long blackthorn stick There's hardly a man who needs him a push To spend all his life swimming in Bush I begged to the Gods and the Gods did deliver And I'll spend my life swimming in the Great Bush River
BUSHMILLS AND JAMESON are sort of the big two in Irish Whiskey, and, because they were both owned by Pernod Ricard up until a few years ago, and because the company chose to focus its efforts on Jameson, Bushmills has sort of suffered: You'll generally find both in almost every bar that stocks Irish whiskey, but I suspect Jameson outsells Bushmills by a considerable margin. Jameson has managed to brand themselves as the Irish whiskey, in the same way that Guiness has managed to brand itself as the Irish beer, but that's really just a product of marketing. Bushmills is, in fact, a far older drink: The distillery was licensed in 1608 by King James I, but the whiskey itself may date back 400 years earlier. Jameson, in the meanwhile, was established in 1780, which is old, but not 800 years old.
The drinks are similar in flavor, although the shorthand in understanding the difference is that Bushmills is smoother but a bit less complex than Jameson, but that's not saying a lot, because Jameson is already a terrifically smooth drink, and isn't terrifically complex. I have always tasted a bit of spice in Jameson and a bit of chocolate in Bushmills, which becomes especially pronounced as you buy some of their more expensive brands, but the truth is, when you're buying the least expensive version, both share similar color and flavor, which can be described as honeyish, sweet, and slightly fruity. Jameson has a longer and more complicated finish than Bushmills, but Bushmills has a less pungent nose. Bushmills is apparently aged in bourbon and sherry caskets, and I'd say the sherry quality comes through more. It's a very light, easily drunk whiskey, and I'm sort of surprised it's not more popular.
Perhaps that really is an issue of marketing. Bushmills was bought out by Diageo a few years ago, and they increased production of the whiskey. It takes a few years for whiskey to go from grain to bottle; we can probably expect Bushmills to start waging their own campaign for market dominance when they're ready to roll out their increased stock. It's sort of the perfect drink for people who are afraid of brown liquors, and there are many of them. Bushmills is sweet enough and smooth enough not to offend inexperienced palates. Additionally, cheaply made liquors have a tendency to inspire appalling hangovers, for whatever reason; better liquors tend to provide a much more tolerable morning after; this is true of both Jameson and Bushmills. I mean, it will beat you up a bit, but no more than you deserve, you goddamn drunk, you. So there's a real chance that, given a push, Bushmills might be able to carve off a chunk of Jameson's market. And why it? It's a hell of a well-made drink.
A SONG for the Peter O'Tooles about the unintended and disappointing effect of too much whiskey on an amorous evening.
"I'LL BE FINE" LYRICS:
I'll be fine once this button's open I'll be fine once these pants are down O at least that's what I'm hoping It is always what I've found Whack dil fie diddle fi me sweetheart Whack dil fie diddle fie de yay I'll be fine once this button's open I'll be fine once these pants are down
I'll be fine; remove yer apparel I'll be fine when you off yer kit I drunk whiskey by the barrel It ain't done me in a bit Whack dil fie diddle fi me sweetheart Whack dil fie diddle fie de yay I'll be fine; remove yer apparel I'll be fine when you off yer kit
I'll be fine, pull back the sheets, dear I'll be fine once once I reach the bed Maybe I shouldn't drink that stout beer It has gone right to me head Whack dil fie diddle fi me sweetheart Whack dil fie diddle fie de yay I'll be fine, pull back the sheets, dear I'll be fine once once I reach the bed
I'll be fine after a kiss, dear I'll be fine once we make a start Oh there ain't nothing amiss, dear But for a lethargical part Whack dil fie diddle fi me sweetheart Whack dil fie diddle fie de yay I'll be fine after a kiss, dear I'll be fine once we make a start
I'll be fine once I've had some sleep, love I'll be fine o I swear it's so Our ardor o it will keep love In the morning it will grow Whack dil fie diddle fi me sweetheart Whack dil fie diddle fie de yay I'll be fine once I've had some sleep, love I'll be fine o I swear it's so
Max "Bunny" Sparber establishes, at age 41, that he is an Irish-American, and sets out to explore what this means.
Bunny Sparber spends a year at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis's contemporary art museum; an experiment in new forms of arts criticism.
Max "Bunny" Sparber documents the process of writing a one-man show about performer Tiny Tim, including posting his rough scratch demo recordings of original songs, his early drafts of the script, and his research for the project.
A free full-length album of original music by America's favorite drunken sailor puppet, available for download here. Songs include "Pour Me Another Box of Wine," "One Million Frogtown Whores," and "Why Are Women So Afraid of Seamen?"
