“SO LONG”…”You Said What…?”

Today’s Listening Pleasure: THE DEAD KENNEDYS: “Rawhide” 

   Needless to say at 70 years old I am still a sucker for the old black/white 30 minute television westerns I grew up with, some got even better when the programs grew to one hour in “living color”. “Gunsmoke” was a true favorite of mine. In hindsight I would have to question the integrity of the characters as represented in each episode. First, the star is U.S. Marshall Dillon who regularly patrols the wooden walkways of Dodge City looking for miscreants, criminals, and those on the “most wanted” posters found in his office. Usually, the Marshal is drinking beer in the saloon with his trusted companion “The Doc” and also found at a table is “Miss Kitty” the owner/operator of the saloon and brothel upstairs. In today’s world, let’s just say the constant public drinking of the “Doc” and Marshall would be frowned upon, and to be hanging with “Miss Kitty” a “lady of the evening” at their side, enough said.

   In more than one episode the “guest” character when leaving the saloon table with some sage advice will say, “So long, Marshall” which got me thinking. What the hell does “So Long” mean…and why would someone in 1870 Kansas territory use that phrase?(Kansas Statehood January 1869)…Hmmmm…

   So here it goes, the etymology of the phrase as best I understand it. “So long” used as an interjection is a parting salutation mostly of unknown origin. Legend has it that it was a slurring of words, that is a “mispronunciation” of Scandinavian phrase “adjo sa ledge” literally  “bye so long” used by sailors, dock workers and prostitutes. The phrase turned up about the same time in 1860 America, Great Britain, and Canada. However, its first use in print was in the last poem in WALT WHITMAN’S “Leaves of Grass” (1860). It was commonly used in subsequent years by laborers and middle class in port cities of the Northeast America, and considered a bit vulgar by the upper class. Picked up in early into the “roaring twenties” by the literary and artists it was then “hip” to use in common vernacular as a proper salutation of departure…”so long for now”

to be continued…

PS: The Arizona Historical Society and The Wild West History Association, documented that Matt Dillon’s TV character was shot at least 56 times, knocked unconscious 29 times, stabbed three times, and poisoned once.

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

Halfway to Saint Patrick’s Day:

   It’s almost that time of year again. With only 182 days and nights left until it is officially “St. Patrick’s Day”,  so I say, “Let the preparations begin”. This fabled day has truly become a part of Americana. But I ask why do we reserve the festivities for only one day a year? Other “holidays” have elite status, or are giving a “Monday” designation to extend a weekend and are big deals in retail circles, but not St. Pat’s. It’s wasn’t even Labor Day when the stores were already starting to sell Halloween decorations, while at the same time stocking up on their Thanksgiving supplies. Did I see Christmas lights going up? Many times merchants rush the holidays for the quick buck to be made. So I humbly ask, “What about adding St. Paddy’s Day to that list”?  The wearing of the green, sell some funny hats, a little green (in color) beer, and big discounts on corned beef and cabbage. Unfortunately, the corned beef and cabbage is not truly an Irish custom, but blatantly American.

    I hereby request that St. Pat’s should be celebrated year ‘round on the 17th of each month. Many stories are told about the man we fondly call Saint Patrick, some stories which are true, others just legend. One of the most often told is how as a young man, later to be the Patron Saint of Ireland,  he banishes the snakes from Ireland. Well, not to truly disappoint you but there were no snakes in Ireland, then or now. The origin of this story is most likely a reference to Patrick’s (his taken Christian name) attempts to drive Pagan Druids from Ireland, their symbol being a serpent. Bannavem Taberniae, his given name, was born about 385 A.D. and after being kidnapped at age sixteen and escaping his captors became a Christian missionary, probably the most successful in history. March 17, the day of his death, is celebrated both in and outside of Ireland, as both a liturgical and non-liturgical holiday. In the dioceses of Ireland it is both a solemnity and a holy day of obligation. The Isle of Ireland is associated mostly with the color green. This is due in part from the abundance of three leafed shamrocks which cover the landscape. These plants were used by the Catholic ministers in their teaching the concept of the Holy Trinity to the people, hence the symbol of Irish Christianity. The St. Patrick’s Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick’s Day was publicly celebrated in this country, in Boston. 

    Today, people celebrate “the day” with parades, wearing of the green, and drinking beer. One reason St. Patrick’s Day might have become so popular is that it takes place just a few days before the first day of spring, another reason to celebrate after a long cold winter. Corned beef and cabbage with green beer is an American thing. Beef was and is a rarity in Ireland. However, beef is not a rarity in America so every, without exception, Irish tavern or inn in the United States has it on its menu. As my grandmother was fond to say “If you are lucky enough to be Irish, well, then you are Lucky enough”. Happy Half-way to Saint Patrick’s Day. 

to be continued…

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

Today’s Listening Pleasure:Anything and Everything by THE POGUES

ROCK’S IN MY HEAD: The Melting Pot of Music (aka Chapter 2)

THE MELTING POT OF MUSIC, a historical approach using ELVIS as our guide.

THE MELTING POT OF MUSIC

Undeniably, ELVIS PRESLEY served as a catalyst in the evolution of a genre that is known as “rock and roll”. Most musicologists are well aware of Elvis’ significance to what is termed “popular music”. Born in Tupelo, Mississippi (1935) ELVIS’s family moved to Memphis, Tennessee when he was 13 and this is where his musical journey began.

Studying Presley’s original recordings in today’s context one would find his contributions extremely difficult to label or categorize as these said recordings find an  ELVIS who sampled and mixed genres from a huge musical palette including gospel, hillbilly, and virtually anything and everything available to his ears. But How?

American culture has been categorized as the GREAT MELTING POT while others consider it to be THE GREAT MOSAIC. Which ever term  your fancy …let’s dissect what happened.

Pre Columbian (as in Pre-Christopher Columbus) America was populated by Native Americans the first true immigrant grouping. It is said that a few tribes left what is today Russia and they traveled across a narrow frozen area near The Bering Strait, arriving in what is now Alaska.

Over time these tribes multiplied and settled throughout the North and South American continents. Naively, we state that CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS discovered America, yet AMERICA was already here and  in fact inhabited.

Many factors, mostly economic and religious, encouraged the European exploration and settlement of this “New” land, The Spanish and French, followed in 1607 by the British.

Also, in 1619 the first 20 Africans were brought to America, against their will.

This nucleus of folks (black, white, red and brown) from diverse cultures,   religions,   and languages   would be the first mix thrown into what later is defined as AMERICANA. This being simplistically stated by me  but mostly accurate.

Over time The United States of America had specific waves of immigration. From the pre-colonial times through the War for Independence most emigrants were British, except the 700,000 slaves.

After the success of The War for Independence a lull occurred in new arrivals as THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA was conducting that GREAT EXPERIMENT known as democracy and most Europenans were unsure our budding democracy could work.

For the next 230 PLUS YEARS The  different WAVES of  immigrants were primarily English, Scots, Dutch, Germans, Irish, Asians, Slavs, Jews and Italians   with Eastern Europeans , Asians, and Hispanics  joining most recently

While these waves and the groups that arrived are significant in determining the “ingredients” of the MELTING POT of American culture…. one would be mistaken if THE GREAT INTERNAL MIGRATION (1900-1970) was not investigated…. because that migration from south to north and east to west was certainly the straw that stirred the “spices so to speak” of MELTING POT.

After the Civil War there were great rifts in our nation. An agrarian culture primarily in the southern states most which were still physically, economically and emotional scarred by the outcome of their succession from the Union was primarily a rural, dirt poor area with few pockets of wealth. The North was a budding industrial area filling with immigrants who saw this growing economy as a way to escape Europe and capture the American Dream. Unfortunately, it was not so easy.

WWI and WWII brought defense jobs to factory towns and major hubs. Only to be interrupted between the two by THE GREAT DEPRESSION. Okies left the Dust Bowls and headed to California. 70% of Blacks moved from the south to the major hubs while a “white flight” took place to the suburbs.

America had changed with each wave as each group brought those cultural graces which they considered sacred to their individuality while  also sampling the same from other group,… a taste testing so to speak.

Soon one facet of one’s society becomes accepted by others ….that is it becomes almost indistinguishable from its source. That facet becomes accepted as a norm.  Another wave, another culture, another blend another generation, and so on and so forth.

Add to that the internal migration and welcome to AMERICAN CULTURE which ELVIS PRESLEY freely sampled, …that mixed genre developed from a huge musical palette including gospel, hillbilly, and virtually everything available to his ears.

See you next time. Chapter 3: AMERICAN MUSIC 1900- 1940  Comments? Jazzbus@gmail.com