Speaking of Shel Silverstien

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 16 Mar 2003 4:26 pm

I mentioned a novelty tune of his recently and went on to find that he wrote a LOT of songs that major artists recorded.

The ones I recognized are:

Boa Constrictor J Cash

Boy Named Sue "

Cover of the Rolling Stone,. Dr Hook

Drinking and Druggin. ( Bobby Bare?)

Gotta get rid of this band Bobby Bare

Pour me another Tequila Shiela B Bare

Quaaludes again. Hank Jr

Queen of the Silver Dollar. ( Dave and Sugar?)

Some of the other ones like "Somebody ate the baby" didn't ever really make it that big. Go figure.

Here's the site.http://www.banned-width.com/shel/misc/lyrics.html

B 1930 D 1999

They just don't make 'em like that any more.

EJL

Dave Long · Post by **Dave Long** » 16 Mar 2003 9:30 pm

I think "Queen Of The Silver Dollor" was on Emmylou Harris' first album, its great. He also wrote children's stories & poems..I think he also drew cartoons..very talented guy

nick allen · Post by **nick allen** » 17 Mar 2003 1:03 am

As well as his humorous songs, he also wrote some very moving songs, e.g. "A Couple More Years", "Whistlers And Jugglers" (both recorded by Waylon), a lot of songs on Bobby Bare albums, and the "Old Dogs" album(s) (Waylon, Bare, Reed, Tillis) which were a mix of very funny and very sad...
Nick

Shaan Shirazi · Post by **Shaan Shirazi** » 17 Mar 2003 7:10 am

He also co-wrote "You're Time's Coming" which Faron Young recorded. I think Kris Kirstofferson was the other writer on that one.

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The Pickin' Paniolo

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 17 Mar 2003 10:07 am

Don't forget "Since my masochistic baby left me,I got nothin' to belt but my pants" I heard him sing it on the Johnny Carson show many years ago. How come nobody covered that one? -MJ-

Tom Olson · Post by **Tom Olson** » 17 Mar 2003 1:58 pm

Probably 'cause the title's too long

Robbie Bossert · Post by **Robbie Bossert** » 17 Mar 2003 4:24 pm

Let's not forget "Freaker's Ball". A true classic.

Robbie Bossert

P.S.- Shel wrote some wonderful children's books as well. Most notably "The Giving Tree". The kids and I love that one.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 17 Mar 2003 5:38 pm

And a terrific epic poem in "Playboy", called "the Devil and Billy Markham."

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 17 Mar 2003 7:36 pm

My kids love the giving tree, every time I read it I get a tear in my eye.

I always remember Shel when they used to publish his stuff in Playboy in the late seventies.

He was a talented guy

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Regards, Craig

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 18 Mar 2003 12:11 pm

I think the best version (and probably the first) of "Queen of the Silver Dollar" was by Buck Owen's ex-bassman, the great Doyle Holly. I heard that version before any of the others. Shel was also a regular contributor to Playboy Magazine for many years although I never would read such trash, I just looked at the pictures.

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Roger Miller · Post by **Roger Miller** » 18 Mar 2003 4:33 pm

One of the best from Shel was Bathroom tissue paper letter. Bobby Bare made that and Appaloosa Rider two of my very favorites.

Gary Harris · Post by **Gary Harris** » 26 Mar 2003 4:34 pm

When "Boy Named Sue" was recorded by J. Cash, Don Helms was given a new Caddy by Shel Silverstien. Don was responsible for Cash recording this song but I've forgotten the business conection. The whole story was in the paper at the time.

Eddie Lange · Post by **Eddie Lange** » 28 Mar 2003 7:43 am

I believe the entire Everybody Loves a Nut album that John had was written by Shel. My personal favorite, "Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the greatest singing star of all.......Waylon"

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 28 Mar 2003 8:41 am

I remember Shel Silverstein more as a cartoonist than a songwriter. His cartoons in the Army Times during the Korean War were equalled only by Art Buchwald in WWII.

However, his humor was somewhat bizarre. An example: ....a private with a minature human head growing out of his neck was being examined by an Army Doctor and the caption was:..."At first I thought it was a wart"!

www.genejones.com