Hola, Sneakers! Welcome to Episode 519 of Sneaky Dragon, the podcast least likely to…
…end that sentence!
This week: proper names; wild accusations; neither rum nor raisin; respectful remembering; effective yelling; disrespectful pizza jokes; four-legged landlords; war journals; yes to tight lips; streaking Iron Man; sports flop; lightbulb moment; square entertainment; chopping block; bad feeds; bath time; Tile Tales; foul taste; a moment of stillness; recommended: Time; drunken calving; indestructible bon vivant; Yorkshire croissant; milk disease; cow gallery; doorception: practical heists; elaborate criminals; bad elements; no purpose; the value of death; declining ability; goodbye; gratitude; cast adrift; hard to accept; family secrets; Top 5 Songs Using Real People’s Names; Question of the Week – Sneakers respond; jury’s out; shit for shit remake; tea bag; clearly Canadian; no room at the Dedrick inn; mummy issues; exploding dinnerware; good spoilers; honest ditherings; down the drain; comfort and joy; word praise; below the knee jerk; and, finally, mystery tease.
Top 5 Songs Using Real People’s Names (Part 1)!
- Garland Jeffreys – “Lon Chaney” – Garland Jeffreys, 1973 – 2:05:37
- Dana Gillespie – “Andy Warhol”, Peephole in My Brain: The Progressive Pop Sounds of 1971, 2020 – 2:13:04
- Prefab Sprout – “Faron Young” – Steve McQueen, 1985 – 2:17:51
- Blossom Dearie – “Dusty Springfield” – That’s the Way I Want to Be, 1970 – 2:33:25
- John Grant – “Sigourney Weaver”” – Queen of Denmark, 2010 – 2:32:29
Question of the Week: As you have gotten older, have you found a new purpose in life?
Sub-question of the Week: If someone were to write a song about a famous person, about whom would you like that song to be?
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What a wonderful episode this was! From the first mention you made, Ian, of rum raisin ice cream, I was laughing. I mean whoever thinks of rum raisin ice cream any more? It seemed so funny and random! Do they still even make rum raisin ice cream anymore? I can’t imagine I’ve ever had it and it truly sounds horrible.
So I chuckled along quite a bit longer … until the earnest conversation about finding purpose in different “seasons” of life. David, thank you for sharing what you are going through right now with your two lovely daughters moved out of the house. I could really relate to what you were saying. I have felt much the same way. There’s no perfect answer, and I know you weren’t really looking for one, but I found for myself that just leaning into that melancholy (rainy days and “Peanuts” comics can be helpful for this, as I believe you know!) and not trying to distract from it was cathartic. My children were gone, starting on their own lives. (In my son’s case he moved to South Korea right out of college and lived in several parts of Asia the next 11 years. ) And, of course, this is what I had raised them to do: fly high and be independent. But it’s a kind of grief to realize THAT part of life is finished. Like you, David, my times with my two children were the best of my life.
I’m almost 10 years older than you two gentlemen and have only a year ago had a new realization: not only are my children moved from the house, they are now settled and matured to the point where I can pass from this earth and they will be okay. Maybe not happy about it, but okay. Sounds morbid but it’s really quite freeing! I can keep on moving forward, enjoying my current life without worrying about them. I still love when we get together; they are delightful people.
As to question 1: as I have written here before, I went to school for massage therapy when I was 53, so started a whole different career than I’d ever imagined. I’m ten years in now… and completely thankful for this path, a thing I would not have felt able to do any earlier time.
Question 2: no answer here yet… still thinking! But I loved all the songs with peoples’ names this week! Once again I marvel, David, at your extraordinary repertoire and knowledge of music. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you both, Ian and David , for another great show! I have so much appreciation…
A joy-filled week to all!
My sole purpose in life has always been to create and design. I’ve been lucky knowing this is what I’m skilled at with a lifetime of experience, 31 years professionally. I can still draw where other designers cannot which means if technology takes a huge shit one day I can still manage to move forward. I have a saying at work when anyone thanks me for doing a good job for them, “It’s why God put me on this Earth.” And I really believe that, in fact I also believe He took the best parts of me gave them to my son who is studying to become an art teacher. Some think I should pursue teaching but I’m not sure I have the patience for it, I’m more of a work horse unto my own.
If there was anything that resembled a new purpose for me at this stage in my life, it would be sharing what I know about the industry with the younger generation. I have a few colleagues I’ve met in the last 31 years who have answered their calling to teach and they’ve reached out to me to speak to their students. One friend who teaches design at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico has had me speak via Zoom to his class a few times with wonderful results. I’ve had a few of the students reach out to me to critique their work or just ask me questions, so that’s about as close to teaching as I’m willing get…my son can handle it from there.
I’d REALLY love a song about The Marx Brothers. For some reasons unknown to me, I seem to gravitate towards my interest in them this time of year, do you guys have that kind of thing happen to you? Do you have seasonal interests that seem to rent out space in your mind every year at the same time? Maybe it’s because they used to show more Marx Brothers films around the holidays or something but I seem to be into them this time of the year. Aside from a song about them I really enjoy some of the clips of them on YouTube set to popular music, there’s even one devoted to Zeppo. Fuck, YouTube has it all.
When I first heard you say you had a song titled “Steve McQueen”, I thought you’d be playing the Sheryl Crow one but I know you better than that Dave. I do like that song but I’m pleased you always bring something better and less obvious to the table….er, turntable.
Keep the hits coming’ and have a “purposeful” week.
Back in April of this year I wrote the following on the page for episode 64 of Sneaky Dragon Listening Party but I don’t remember you reading it on the following podcast, I think it fell through the cracks or I didn’t get it in on time. I don’t mean to step on toes here but I really think you could make an impact with the knowledge you have of music. You’re so passionate about what you know and it shows.
I wrote:
I have to say that if you ever found yourself looking for a job as a music researcher or archivist, I think you could make a pretty good go of it. You can’t be lifting giant garage doors forever you know. My Uncle was a music librarian for The Roosevelt University in Chicago for many years, he knows more about classical music than anyone I know. There’s a syndicated program out of New York I listen to in Dallas on their classical station called “Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin”. McGlaughlin discusses classical music themes and stories every night the same way you do on Listening Party with modern music. In fact, Bill McGlaughlin actually offered my Uncle a job on his show years ago as a researcher but my Uncle declined since he was near retirement and it would mean moving to New York. Still, my Uncle boasts this because he knows he’s that good. I bet you could do something like this with all the experience and talent you have with music. Remember what the Joker said in “The Dark Knight”, “If you’re good at something, never do it for free!” I just had to put that bug in your ear Dave.
My recent new purpose in life is to get my senior mom her to all her appointments. This fall, she had a fall and her doctor told her not to drive until the results of all her tests and scans are in. So I’m her chauffeur until she’s cleared to get behind the wheel again. Luckily as a freelancer, my hours are flexible. I feel for those people in the sandwich generation who have to take care of their children and aging parents. Since I don’t have kids, it’s more like I’m in the open-faced sandwich generation.
I’d like a song about the BC impressionist artist Emily Carr who worked in relative obscurity and poverty most of her life. Her art only gained wider recognition when she was in her late fifties. But better late than after you’re gone like Vincent Van Gogh.
“Misty Misty Day” (to the tune of “Starry Starry Night”)
Misty misty day
Paint your pictures green and gold
Totem poles and trees of old
With bands of light that reach into the sky.
Does your spirit care
That your heartfelt work appears
On tote bags, cards and calendars?
An art school in Vancouver bears your name.
Would you want to know
Paintings made by Emily
They now require a high admission fee
To view inside a gallery?
I would tell you, but I do not know how
They sell for millions now.
Great episode this week gents. Don’t worry Dave. The girls may be moving out but the entire SneakyDragon community are relying on you and Ian to keep the podcast party going until we all grow up (which is unlikely to be any time soon.)
As I’ve gotten older I’ve tried not to care so much about the things that seemed important to me in the past, like trying to impress people whose opinions were actually of no use to my life. I’ve also tried focus more on making the most of my time doing things I love and hanging out with my family.
I have also learnt to say no more, which is an important skill for someone who was always too focused on being liked. You realise at some point that you can’t keep everyone else happy all the time.
I’d like to hear a song about Sean Connery, sung in his accent and pronouncing the letter ‘S’ as ‘ESH’ in the classic Connery style.
Hi Ian and Dave and the rest of the Sneaky Dragon entourage! I just want to say how much I enjoyed listening to this week’s Top 5. Each song was great and I also enjoyed the order in which they were played. I know that sounds silly, but I thought the track arrangement would have made for a great EP. A few years ago, I became interested in Lon Chaney, Sr. and started purchasing biographies and copies of his movies. I had not heard Garland Jefferys’s song about Chaney until now–thank you for sharing.
I’m struggling to answer this week’s questions. I’d love a song about Lon Chaney, but there are a couple of them. Oooh, I like Mary Tyler Moore, but she is mentioned in the Weezer song. What about Meriwether Lewis? Even Andy Kaufman has a song written about him. So, I am just going to have to jump on the bandwagon and go along with the suggestion about a song for Dave, or perhaps a song about Dave and Ian.
What I once thought my purpose was when I was a child is much different now that I am an adult. I truly believe the best purposes I can have in life is to help people, bring them joy, share information, and sometimes entertain with semi-historical stories. I know it sound hokey, but there is nothing wrong with wanting to make the world a better place by being kind and helpful.
I must admit that I got quite a giggle out of Grinder’s Switch being mentioned—the place, not the bands. When friends come down to the farm for a visit, sometimes I’ll take them to Grinder’s Switch Winery and then to visit the world famous Grinder’s Switch. One of these days, I plan to take a Saturday off from work and attend a live broadcast of the Grinder’s Switch Hour (https://grindersswitchhour.com/) which is a live musical performance held in downtown Centerville, it’s free to attend, and it’s broadcast on the Centerville Radio Station.
Sarah Cannon, whose stage name was Minnie Pearl, was from Hickman County. When she performed on the Grand Ole Opry she told everyone she was from Grinder’s Switch, which was just a couple of miles outside of Centerville. Fun fact: her niece is a retired librarian. Anyway, that is WHY Grinder’s Switch is a well-known locale, but that doesn’t tell you HOW the little spot got its name.
Gather around boys and girls, Ms Crystal has a story to tell and I’ll tell it to you how the old timers told me. So, pop a can of soda and grab some candy and chips because this will be quite a tale to tell. A long time ago, Robert and Priscilla Grinder opened up a Stand along the Natchez Trace. The Trace was a very dangerous federal road known for bandits, highway robberies, and other sordid crimes.
Now a stand was kind of like an inn, but not nearly as nice as the Holiday Inn or a fancy hotel. In fact, Motel 6 is like staying at Buckingham Palace when compared to the conditions of these establishments. Stands were rough spots where travelers could get a hot meal, water their horses, and have a roof over their heads for the night. Usually the first guest to arrive got the bed. The next “guest” got the same bed, and the next the same bed, too until the bed was full… then and all the other “guests” to arrive would sleep on the floor… in the same room as the guests in the bed. Stands were notorious for bedfellows and bedbugs. Some stands had a blacksmith shop or a carpentry shop for wagon repairs, but Robert Grinder’s Stand was a newer establishment and did not have these amenities. However, Robert had a reputation for his temper and for selling moonshine to the local Native Americans as his stand was located a few feet from the border of Chickasaw Indian land. To legally operate a Stand on the Natchez Trace, you had to be Native American, or part Native, and be issued a permit by the United States Government. There were as many “illegal” stands as there were official ones, and it is said that Robert Grinder told the government that his wife was part Indian even though she was of German descent.
One fine day in early October 1809, Robert Grinder is away from the stand for the day, leaving Priscilla, her small children, and her servant to go about their daily activities. That afternoon, an elegant and wealthy-looking man stops at the Stand and inquires about a room. Priscilla tells the gentleman that she is uncomfortable renting the man a room because her husband is away. The man assures her that no impropriety will happen and tells her that his valet and other travelers will be joining him shortly. Other in his party arrive, supper is eaten, and everyone prepares to settle in for the night. Priscilla, her children, and her servant go off to the kitchen to sleep…and she bolts the door. The man’s valet goes off to sleep in the barn with the other servants. The man beds down for the night in the cabin alone. In the middle of the night, a gunshot is heard, the sound of a thud, and the voice of the man exclaim “Oh, Lord!” A second gunshot is then heard. The man comes to Priscilla’s door and asks, “Madam, would you be so kind as to give me water and heal my wounds.” She doesn’t reply, but she watches him through a section of the chinking that is missing from between the logs of the cabin. The man scraps a gourd in an empty water bucket, he falls against a tree, and later he comes back and scratches at her door, too weak to speak. She remains silent.
At sunrise, she sends her small children 100 yards down to the barn to wake the servants and to tell the servants to go check on this man. The servants go in to the cabin and find the man barely alive. He shows them his bullet wounds. As the sun reaches the top of the trees, the man draws his last breath. Robert arrives home and the Grinders search through his trunks. They take his cash and other small items. It is said that Robert becomes angry when he discovers papers in the trunk identifying the man as Meriwether Lewis—the famous explorer and Governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory. When the Indian Agent who was accompanying Lewis arrives late, Robert tells him that Lewis killed himself.
The local magistrate calls for a coroner’s inquest to be held. Men are assembled, and facts are reviewed. They believe Robert guilty of murder, but are too scared of him to find him guilty. The inquest makes no official statement; therefore, no report is filed. Lewis is buried in a shallow grave near the Grinder’s establishment. Hogs and wolves are allowed to destroy the grave until one of Lewis’s friends visits and pays Grinder and makes Grinder promise to construct a fence.
Robert and Priscilla (who up to this point are “said” to have no means and barely a pot to pee in) have “suddenly” come into a large sum of money. Robert purchases a significant amount of acreage in Hickman County. They burn down the stand so that Lewis’s ghost (which is said to be heard walking across the puncheon floor, knocking at the door, asking for water, and driving Priscilla mad) doesn’t follow them when they move one county over to escape the stigma and rumors surrounding this tragic event. They become known as a well-to-do and much respected family. Many years later, when the North Carolina and St. Louis railroad is coming through, they claim imminent domain on the Grinder property in order to lay down tracks and construct a much-needed switch for the mining industries. The switch, which was actually what is sounds like– just a way to switch one track to another, came to be known as Grinder’s Switch. There’s no city at the switch site. There is an old depot that was moved in a few years ago and a display of old farm equipment was set up, but other than that than… Grinder’s Switch is a sign and a switch and a lot of stories.
Sarah Cannon once stated in an interview that she believed Robert Grinder bumped off Meriwether Lewis. So there you have it, if Minnie said it, it must be true.
Like Nina, I prefer zippers over buttons. They are far less likely to pop off your garment and roll under a sofa.
A story about a local place name? Once upon a time in the 1980s when improvisers would ask the audience to suggest a location, someone would invariably yell out “Spuzzum.” Not that they wanted to see a scene set in a one-gas-station-town on the treacherous Fraser Canyon Highway, but more because Spuzzum sounds funny. Apparently it comes from an indigenous word,“spozem” meaning “little flat (lands).” When the Coquihalla Highway was built, people stopped using the canyon route as much. And Spuzzum passed into history as a way to get a cheap laugh from your fellow audience members. While looking up “Spuzzum,” I came across an article about an incident that happened nearby during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush known as the “Fraser Canyon War” of 1858. It was a series of bloody encounters between one of the local First Nations and American and European gold miners who’d formed their own militia, with British troops arriving on the late on the scene to broker an end to the violence. It’s a sordid story of greed, atrocities and revenge which is part of the dark history of our province that they never taught us about in school.
You mentioned “Twin Beaks.” Two of Sesame Street’s parodies of adult shows that I like are “Game of Chairs” where Grover Bluejoy competes to rule Jesteros by playing musical thrones; and “Homelamb” where Sheep Agent Caa-rie is trying to find the Big Bad Wolf who is on the lam, little realizing it’s her new crush, Baa-Rody who is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Both have hilarious lookalike opening credit sequences that are worth looking up on YouTube.