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Little Black Bull

from Here Comes the Train by Mr. Ben

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about

This is the only traditional folk tune on the record. I learned it from a Pete Seeger record, 1955's "Birds Beasts Bugs & Little Fishes" and it took the most tries to get right.

I have a young friend in class whose favourite song is Little Black Bull, and whenever he's at a show I make sure I start with it. He really wanted this song on the new record, and so I took a stab at recording it the way I play it live, but it totally didn't fit the record. I tried again with a different approach: no dice. In an effort to come at it from a third angle, I researched The Edge's guitar sound on "Where the Streets Have No Name," and started a new version with that. I added toms, and an organ intro, and a tambourine, and bass-locked-with-bass-drum.... and then I just had U2 singing a kids' bovine folk song. So I scrapped that and started again.

This, then, is the *4th* iteration and it took a LOT of un-thinking. I was careful. And I think it works.

lyrics

The little black bull went down the meadow
Hoosin Jonny hoosin Jonny
The little black bull went down the meadow
Long time ago
Long time ago, Long time ago
The little black bull went down the meadow
Long time ago

First he paw and then he bellow
Hoosin Jonny hoosin Jonny
First he paw and then he bellow
Long time ago
Long time ago, Long time ago
First he paw and then he bellow
Long time ago

He whet his horn on a white oak sapling
Hoosin Jonny hoosin Jonny
He whet his horn on a white oak sapling
Long time ago
Long time ago, Long time ago
He whet his horn on a white oak sapling
Long time ago

He winked his eye at the little red heiffer
Hoosin Jonny hoosin Jonny
He winked his eye at the little red heiffer
Long time ago
Long time ago, Long time ago
He winked his eye at the little red heiffer
Long time ago

He ate the flowers in the farmer's garden
Hoosin Jonny hoosin Jonny
He ate the flowers in the farmer's garden
Long time ago
Long time ago, Long time ago
He ate the flowers in the farmer's garden
Long time ag

credits

from Here Comes the Train, released April 7, 2023

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about

Mr. Ben Hamilton, Ontario

Mr. Ben is a Hamilton-based kids musician and educator. His first album, the Bumblebee EP, was released in 2011 shortly after opening for Fred Penner.

Since then, he has released 5 full-length studio albums & an album of lullabies, and is poised to release a 6th record in the spring on 2023.

He plays regular monthly shows in Dundas as well as making the circuit of summer and fall festivals.
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