Songs about Somerville?

[ron_newman]

Winter Hill Reborn started this and then Wicked Local Somerville picked it up, so let's bring it here, too.

What songs do you know that mention Somerville or any particular places in Somerville? Here are three we've found so far:

Somerville, by David Misch, 1973 (lyrics)

Wintertime in Somerville, by Local Radio

Somerville, by the Pernice Brothers

(the last time we had this discussion, over three years ago)

Comments

[georgy.livejournal.com]

Somewhat related: Once, in Davis station, I heard a busker playing a song that contained the lyric, "Here on Winter Hill." It was so pretty, but I was an idiot and didn't ask who he was (or tip him, for that matter). Anyone know what I'm referring to?

[tamalinn.livejournal.com]

Meet Me in the Twilight (http://www.jenniferkimball.com/index.php?page=songs&display=12&category=Veering_From_The_Wave) by Jennifer Kimball has a mention of Someday Cafe. It's from 1998.

Someday Cafe

[anu3bis.livejournal.com]

http://www.amazon.com/Titanic-Jim-Infantino/dp/B000002010

[swingchickie.livejournal.com]

"boston cab" by mike barrett... awesome (and often raunchy) irish singer who plays all over the area. it's a parody of "country roads" by john denver:

i tell the drive i'm going to mission hill,
he takes me to the airport, then through somerville...

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Once at a Spurs show back in January 2002, they sang an improvised song about Somerville to the tune of "O Tannenbaum"...

"Somerville, Oh Somerville
The people there are pissah.
Somerville, Oh Somerville
Listen to me, Mistah.
There's Teale Square, there's Ball Square
There's Davis Square, there's lotsa squares...
Somerville, Oh Somerville...
The people there are pissah."

Even though the gig was at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, it got a huge cheer from the crowd.

[georgy.livejournal.com]

The Rosebuds' song "Back to Boston" has the line "Somerville is where I'm goin'."

[ron_newman]

Named after the diner?

[georgy.livejournal.com]

...No.

A little google magic...

[koloratur.livejournal.com]

Could this be it?

[ron_newman]

This one?

[georgy.livejournal.com]

Yes!

Thanks!

[ron_newman]

Listen here (song #7)

I used to see these folks on various subway platforms. Their website says they played at Sally O'Brien's last night (damn)

[findingthegirl.livejournal.com]

Don White mentions Somerville in his song, "I'm from Lynn, what can I say?"
http://www.myspace.com/donxwhite

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Also, Tom Bianchi (http://www.myspace.com/tombianchi) has a song called "Street Signs in Boston Suck" that was (he says) based on driving around trying to find someone's house in Somerville...

Re: Someday Cafe

[hissilliness.livejournal.com]

You beat me to it.

[mrf-arch.livejournal.com]

WROR made Somerville the centerpiece of one of their Townie Tunes:

http://www.last.fm/music/Tom+Doyle/WROR+Tom%27s+Townie+Tunes/Somerville+Song

(No free .mp3, but maybe somebody with better google-Fu tham me can find one.)

[ron_newman]

I am baffled by the page that you linked to. How do I play the song?

[siderea]

Years ago at a party in NH, I heard a clever parody of Stan Roger's "Northwest Passage", about the yearning to "Take the Old Red line" to "Harvard Station", and thence to Davis (maybe there was a bus transfer in there) to eat at a specific chinese restaurant. Googling has failed me; I haven't recovered it. I do recall it seemed to imply the Red Line ending at Harvard, dating the piece.

[ron_newman]

This one? Far East Kitchen

[siderea]

That's it! (How did you do that?)

[ron_newman]

It's a song I recall hearing at Folk Song Society of Greater Boston singing parties that I used to go to. I think the people who introduced me to it are Bob Leigh and Mabel Liang, who aren't on LJ (as far as I know) but are active in filking. Do you happen to know them?

I have no idea if the restaurant ever actually existed.

[siderea]

Maybe? I know a lot of people, not all by name. :)

[ifotismeni]

does anyone remember that song about that tree near davis called belinda? (the one that got cut down) it was very..... folksy

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Deborah Henson-Conant.

I hate that song.

She also sang a song with one line that goes "We are the dogs of Somerville." Mostly I think she would insert appropriate locale depending on where she was performing, but since she's from (or lives/lived in for a long while) Somerville maybe that one stayed in even when performed elsewhere?

[ron_newman]

Yes, here's a page about the tree and the song.

It caused a bit of a fuss here on DSLJ in November 2008: one, two, three, four

[rikchik.livejournal.com]

"A Wicked Hardcore Christmas" by Big D and the Kids Table includes:

Shopping drunk down in Harvard Square
Maybe Davis Square
Who cares

[ron_newman]

Thanks! Found the lyrics and the music video -- but I have no idea where this indoor skating rink is. (Do you?)

[fefie.livejournal.com]

The mp3 is here:
http://www.myspace.com/mmjmccamc