My thanks to the late New Yorker writer , Joseph Mitchell , who introduced this real life character to me , and the readers of the New Yorker long ago and in the compilation of his writings , "Up In The Old Hotel" Its's a long song but stick with it . Jostein Gulbrandson added some very tasty lead guitar work to the song .
lyrics
Hide the ketchup bottles,
I see Joe Gould coming in to eat .
Dressed in ragged hand me downs ,
And shoes that overwhelm his bird like feet.
He will chew your ear off,
Finagling to get some of your food.
I hope to hell , he's not hung over .
In one of his foul testy moods.
He'll rant and rave dress you down .
Complain about this heartless town.
His dear old New York town .
Discarded cigarrete butts,
Bulging in hos pockets like loose change .
Some praise him as eccentric ,
Others proffer that he is deranged .
He plans his day with care,
Who he's going to hit up for a loan.
He likes to do it face to face,
Having an aversion to the phone .
He charms them with his toothless grin.
Before they know it , they have let him in .
Please , don't knock upon his door.
He doesn't live there anymore.
He is on a distant shore .
With a suitcase filled with lore .
Carried to the end ,
His secrets he'll defend
From those who will not lend ,
A penny for his thoughts , to dream again .
Utterly gorgeous songs that combine traditional folk and bluegrass with the Jewish Sabbath liturgy to moving effect. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 24, 2023
A re-envisioning of Tony Rice's classic album "Church Street Blues" from Brooklyn progressive bluegrass quartet Punch Brothers. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 19, 2022
The second EP from Northern Irish singer-songwriter Bea Stewart runs from gentle folk to pillowy pop ballads, all perfectly executed. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 15, 2024