Irish Accents: Forty Shades of Green

Rosanne Cash: Forty Shades of Green

[purchase (Johnny Cash original)]

The song "Forty Shades of Green" is not native to Ireland. Arkansas-born Johnny Cash, of English and Scot descent, wrote it in the United States, after returning from a 1959 visit to the Emerald Isle. In his travelogue, Cash recalls the sights of Ireland and the lyrical town names he encountered -- among them Dingle, Donaghadee, Skibbereen and Tipperary. That Cash is a visitor, rather than a native, is underscored as he recalls, "The breeze is sweet as Shalimar." Shalimar has nothing to do with Ireland -- it's an Asian-influenced perfume favored by Cash's then-wife Vivian.

Cash recorded "Forty Shades" in 1961. Though it was never released as a single in the United States, it achieved great popularity in Ireland, where it was adopted as a kind of local anthem. It also is the last song Cash and his daughter, Rosanne, recorded together, for the PBS documentary The Appalachians. (Watch the moving clip here.) In the film, Rosanne recalls an Irish native insisting her father's song must be "a fine old Irish folk song."

Rosanne takes her turn with her father's song on a recording from the BBC TV series Transatlantic Sessions, accompanied by Jerry Douglas on dobro and Scottish fiddler Aly Bain.

Cool Kidsongs: Just a Few More Edition

Here are four songs that fit our theme. Other than that, the only thing they have in common is that I couldn’t choose between them for my last post this week.

Zak Morgan: When Bullfrogs Croak

[purchase]

One key element of great kid’s music is a sense of humor. Zak Morgan delivers that here. Don’t miss the kicker in the last verse.

Jerry Garcia and David Grisman: Jenny Jenkins

[purchase]

Our theme this week is called Cool Kidsongs, but it could just as easily have been Not For Kids Only. When Jerry Garcia and David Grisman chose to make an album of music for kids and the adults who would have to listen with them, that is the title they used.

Jerry Garcia was, of course, the leader of the Grateful Dead. He had known David Grisman from San Francisco, before either musician made a name for themselves. The two had even recorded together in the one-shot bluegrass project, Old and in the Way. Grisman and Garcia had continued to get together and jam whenever their schedules allowed. Most of these jam sessions were committed to tape, and many have been released since Garcia’s death.

Here, their take on the traditional Jenny Jenkins shows the easy comraderie of old friends. The comfortable feeling and low key approach fairly represent the quality of the album as a whole.

Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer: Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed?

[purchase]

One of the dangers of making kid’s music is overdoing the sweetness, and producing something cloying. Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, both together and individually, avoid that trap. Their music shows that it is possible to be sweet without overdoing it.

Dan Zanes (with Rosanne Cash): Fooba Wooba John

[purchase]

Dan Zanes used to be in a band called the Del-Fuegos. When they broke up, Zanes’ career took a surprising turn: he became a kid’s music artist. All of his albums that I am aware of include guests who you wouldn’t expect to be doing kid’s music at all. Rosanne Cash’s guest spot here is a fine example. In recent years, many “adult” artists have taken a turn at producing kid’s music albums. Dan Zanes may well have provided the inspiration to do so.

Adjective Noun: Pink Bedroom

John Hiatt: Pink Bedroom

[purchase]

Rosanne Cash: Pink Bedroom

[purchase]

The girl in this song wants for nothing. She got her tight jeans, short shorts, import records, Seventeen magazines, and stuffed animals... everything a girl could want. In spite of this, our heroine is bored and frustrated. Her parents shower her with gifts and possessions all while withholding their attention and affections. She takes her valium and spends time with all of her stupid boyfriends. Of course... teenaged boredom combined with a lack of parental intervention can often lead to sexual promiscuity. She lets his fingers talk her into it.

Now, with her innocence lost, she goes downtown to take the grown up test and finds she has something crawling beneath her porcelain skin. The teen game has turned serious. She finally has her parents' attention. She got it all in her pink bedroom.

Here is the original version of the song by John Hiatt from 1980's Two Bit Monsters and Rosanne Cash's remake from 1985's Rhythm and Romance.

The Music Biz: I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me

Rosanne Cash: I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me

[purchase]

At the 1983 Grammy Awards, Rosanne Cash was nominated for "Best Female Country and Western Vocal Performance" for the song "Ain't No Money." She lost... to Juice Newton. Rosanne had also been nominated the year before in the same category for her smash hit, "Seven Year Ache." That year she lost to Dolly Parton and "9 to 5."

Needless to say, Rosanne took the two losses pretty hard. At both award ceremonies she had gotten all dressed up with make-up, new shoes and a new dress. After her second loss in 1983, all she could think of was, "New shoes... new dress... I don't know why they don't want me." That pondering led to this song.

So while the song itself doesn't seem to have much to do with "the biz" on the surface, it was inspired by one of the industry's most high profile events. Ironically, the song, "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me"... a song inspired by two previous Grammy snubs... finally netted Rosanne her first and only Grammy Award in 1986.

A young Vince Gill provides backing vocals on this track.