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Post by Russell Letson on Oct 24, 2020 22:20:14 GMT -5
Generally I don't mind having some random tune go through my head, but they can be not only invasive but strange. Yesterday, for my sins, it was "Shrimp Boats Are A-Comin'." Not only the melody but a big chunk of the words. I probably have not heard this song since it was a radio hit sometime in the 1950s (Wikipedia says it was a hit for Jo Stafford in 1951, but I'm sure it stayed on mainstream radio for years, because it's Stafford's voice I hear in my head.)
Shrimp boats are a-comin', there's dancin' tonight, Shrimp boats are a-comin', there's dancin' tonight. Why don't you hurry, hurry, hurry home. Why don't you hurry, hurry, hurry home. Because the shrimp boats are a-comin', there's dancin' to night.
I swear I didn't look those lyrics up--they crawled out of some mental filing cabinet and wouldn't leave. (Actually it's "is a-comin'," the second line ends with "their sails are in sight," and I'd forgotten the bridge altogether.)
Most days it's something nice, like "Lazy Bones" or "Wonderful, Wonderful" or "Dancers in Love." Or funny, like "Love Potion Number Nine." I'm going to have to have a word with the boys in the basement.
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,906
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Earworm
Oct 25, 2020 11:20:40 GMT -5
Post by Dub on Oct 25, 2020 11:20:40 GMT -5
Generally I don't mind having some random tune go through my head, but they can be not only invasive but strange. Yesterday, for my sins, it was "Shrimp Boats Are A-Comin'." Not only the melody but a big chunk of the words. I probably have not heard this song since it was a radio hit sometime in the 1950s (Wikipedia says it was a hit for Jo Stafford in 1951, but I'm sure it stayed on mainstream radio for years, because it's Stafford's voice I hear in my head.) Shrimp boats are a-comin', there's dancin' tonight, Shrimp boats are a-comin', there's dancin' tonight. Why don't you hurry, hurry, hurry home. Why don't you hurry, hurry, hurry home. Because the shrimp boats are a-comin', there's dancin' to night. I swear I didn't look those lyrics up--they crawled out of some mental filing cabinet and wouldn't leave. (Actually it's " is a-comin'," the second line ends with "their sails are in sight," and I'd forgotten the bridge altogether.) Most days it's something nice, like "Lazy Bones" or "Wonderful, Wonderful" or "Dancers in Love." Or funny, like "Love Potion Number Nine." I'm going to have to have a word with the boys in the basement. That happens to me too and the songs are often late 1940s through 1954 or so. Also without looking it up, I remember the first line as “Shrimp boats are a-comin’, their sails are in sight,” followed by your second line. I used to walk around singing that in my head when it was popular on the radio.
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Post by drlj on Oct 25, 2020 11:26:59 GMT -5
Thankfully, I have never heard of that song.
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Post by Russell Letson on Oct 25, 2020 11:34:45 GMT -5
There is likely a neurological window during which all kinds of auditory data is put into permanent storage--probably part of the language-acquisition process, which peaks around age 10 and declines sharply by 18. So music gets in there along with speech data. One wonders what kind of earworms will emerge for people whose 0-18 musical environment is dominated by death metal or rap. (This is a version of a friend's observations about shifting playlists for his nursing-home gigs. He was already including Pink Floyd tunes several years ago.)
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Earworm
Oct 25, 2020 11:35:02 GMT -5
Post by John B on Oct 25, 2020 11:35:02 GMT -5
For me, it's this one:
This was a real nice clambake, We're mighty glad we came. The vittles we et Were good, you bet, The company was the same.
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Post by Cornflake on Oct 25, 2020 12:54:12 GMT -5
That's a benign earworm. As an act of mercy I will not name some of the dreck songs that lodge themselves in what's left of my mind.
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,906
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Earworm
Oct 25, 2020 12:58:24 GMT -5
Post by Dub on Oct 25, 2020 12:58:24 GMT -5
There is likely a neurological window during which all kinds of auditory data is put into permanent storage--probably part of the language-acquisition process, which peaks around age 10 and declines sharply by 18. So music gets in there along with speech data. One wonders what kind of earworms will emerge for people whose 0-18 musical environment is dominated by death metal or rap. (This is a version of a friend's observations about shifting playlists for his nursing-home gigs. He was already including Pink Floyd tunes several years ago.) That makes a lot of sense. It turns out I know lyrics to a large number of songs I never learned, at least not on purpose, and they’re mostly from my youth. The aggravating thing is that they’re all connected somehow. For example, someone will say “Here we go.” and immediately I’ll have Johnny Todd’s Pink Cadillac as an ear worm. Depending on company, I might feel compelled to sing a few lines. This happens to me with hundreds of songs. Someone will use a phrase that puts me right into a song in which that phrase is featured or at least related and there I am with a new ear worm. On Edit: This reminds me, someone here used the word motorvating or motorvate in a post not long ago. That reminded me that the Johnny Todd (Sammy Masters) song, Pink Cadillac is the only other place I’ve heard that word used.
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Earworm
Oct 25, 2020 13:05:12 GMT -5
Post by Russell Letson on Oct 25, 2020 13:05:12 GMT -5
Something, something, something, Jack, Just looka that pink Cadillac, Cadillac, Cadillac.
That's all that's left of that one. (Though I think there might be a tenor sax solo in there somewhere.)
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Earworm
Oct 25, 2020 13:08:57 GMT -5
Post by Russell Letson on Oct 25, 2020 13:08:57 GMT -5
Like a slow-responding Magic 8-Ball, the refrain came floating to the answer window of my mind. (Not to be confused with the windmills thereof.)
Hey, looka there Jack, Getta loada that pink Cadillac, Cadillac, Cadillac.
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,906
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Earworm
Oct 25, 2020 13:37:11 GMT -5
Post by Dub on Oct 25, 2020 13:37:11 GMT -5
Something, something, something, Jack, Just looka that pink Cadillac, Cadillac, Cadillac. That's all that's left of that one. (Though I think there might be a tenor sax solo in there somewhere.) No, the solo (and backup) is some very hot guitar by Jimmy Bryant ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Bryant) who is an interesting guy in his own right. Johnny Todd, the usual vocal credit, is a made up name. The song was recorded by Sammy Masters (née, Samuel T. Lawmaster) on the 4-Star label. It didn’t do well and 4-Star sold the master to Modern Records who added drums and re-released it using the made-up name, Johnny Todd.
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Earworm
Oct 25, 2020 13:41:04 GMT -5
via mobile
John B likes this
Post by coachdoc on Oct 25, 2020 13:41:04 GMT -5
Maybelline. M over the hill.
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Earworm
Oct 25, 2020 14:06:42 GMT -5
Post by drlj on Oct 25, 2020 14:06:42 GMT -5
There once was a shrimp from Nantucket.....
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Post by coachdoc on Oct 25, 2020 14:57:31 GMT -5
There once was a shrimp from Nantucket..... Who a fisherman... put in a bucket. Heh. Caught you anticipating.
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