Nora Ben & Eli

Nora Ben & Eli

Nora, Ben & Eli
Neotradition

To buy a CD, contact Nora, Ben, or Eli
or email us at norabenandeli@gmail.com.
It is also available at Ear X-Tacy
and the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft.


Tracks: (Click a song for info and lyrics)

1. The More Things Change
2. Cumberland Gap / Growling Old Man, Grumbling Old Woman / DRUGS!
3. Boys of Bedlam
4. Stomping at Decca
5. Bold Riley
6. Au Bord de la Fontaine
7. Jenny Broke her Peg Leg Dancing at the Ballroom
8. Pretty Polly
9. Jerusalem Ridge
10. Star of the County Down
11. Flight of the Tin Man / Dead Man's Hand
12. Scarborough Fair (Click here for sample)
13. The Road to Lisdoonvarna



More information


Neotradition is the original work of Nora, Ben & Eli. It was recorded at DSL Studios in Louisville, Kentucky. Reproduction was done by Discmakers.All art appearing on the album was done by Nora, Ben & Eli.

The More Things Change

Nora: Mandolin, percussion, lead vocals, harmony vocals;
Ben: Ukulele, percussion, harmony vocals;
Eli: Guitar, percussion, harmony vocals, lead vocals

The More Things Change was written around 1974 by Larry Bledsoe. (Special thanks to Larry for granting us permission to record his song.) We thought it applied pretty well to modern-day world situations, and we like the tune, which is why it appears on our CD.
Lyrics:

The world keeps getting older, time keeps ticking on
We keep searching for the answers, we've been searching for so long
Are we really any closer than we were when we first came,
Or do the more things change, the more they stay the same?

Eli sent the prophets to guide the children through the night,
But when the darkness lifted, they were blinded by the light
Now they just sit there so helplessly, and it seems like a cryin' shame
That the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The empire had a ruler, Nero was his name
Now he just sat and fiddled while the world was all in flame
Oh, Lord, I thought my heart would break when I heard that sad refrain
That the more things change, the more they stay the same.

You fat cats have the money, but you can also have the blame
You could feed the world, but you'd rather have your missles and jet planes
Lord, we must be a world of fools, being led by the insane
And the more things change, the more they just stay the same.

The world keeps getting older, time keeps ticking on
We keep searching for the answers, we've been searching for so long
Are we really any closer than we were when we first came,
Or do the more things change, the more they stay the same?

Or do the more things change, the more they stay the same?

And the more things change, the more they stay the same.
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Cumberland Gap / Growling Old Man, Grumbling Old Woman / DRUGS!

Nora: Guitar;
Ben: Banjo (Tuning: EADEg, EADEa);
Eli: Fiddle

This is a medley of three fiddle/banjo tunes which came to us from the Appalachian mountain regions of Eastern Kentucky.

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Boys of Bedlam

Nora: Guitar, harmony vocals;
Ben: Banjo (Tuning: EADEa); lead vocals
Eli: Guitar (capo 5), lead vocals

Boys of Bedlam is a song about asylums for the insane. "Bedlam" and "Maudlin" are names for the two hospitals. The song is somewhat old. Our version is based on that of Steeleye Span.
Lyrics:

To find my Tom of Bedlam, 10,000 miles I'd travel.
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes for to save her shoes from gravel.
Still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys, Bedlam Boys are bonny
For they all go bare and they live by the air, and they want no drinks nor money.
I went down to Satan's kitchen for to buy some food one morning
And there I got souls piping hot which on the spit were turning.
Still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys, Bedlam Boys are bonny
For they all go bare and they live by the air, and they want no drinks nor money.
My staff hath murdered giants, and my bag a long knife carries
For to cut mince pies from children's thighs with which to feed the faeries
Still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys, Bedlam Boys are bonny
For they all go bare and they live by the air, and they want no drinks nor money.
A spirit as hot as lightning did on my travels guide me.
The sun did shake and the pale moon quake whenever that they spied me
Still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys, Bedlam Boys are bonny
For they all go bare and they live by the air, and they want no drinks nor money.
And when that I have murdered the man-in-the-moon to a powder,
His dog I'll take and him I'll make howl as no daemon louder
Still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys, Bedlam Boys are bonny
For they all go bare and they live by the air, and they want no drinks nor money.
To find my Tom of Bedlam, 10,000 miles I'd travel.
Mad Maudlin goes on dirty toes for to save her shoes from gravel/
Still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys, Bedlam Boys are bonny
For they all go bare and they live by the air, and they want no drinks nor money.
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Stomping at Decca

Nora: Percussion;
Ben: Ukulele;
Eli: Fiddle

Stomping at Decca is a jazz tune written by Django Reinhardt.

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Bold Riley

Nora: Guitar (Tuning: DADGAD capo 9), lead vocals;
Ben: Guitar (Tuning: DADGAD capo 4), harmony vocals;
Eli: Fiddle, mandolin, harmony vocals

Though originally sung as a sea chanty, Bold Riley has been adapted into its more ballad-like version which we perform. We learned the song from a class taught by Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly.
Lyrics:

Oh the rain it rains all day long,
Bold Riley, oh Bold Riley
And the Northern Winds they blow so strong,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.

Oh come on, Mary, why so glum?
Bold Riley, oh Bold Riley
Come White Stocking Day you'll be drinkin' rum
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
Goodbye my sweetheart, goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley, oh Bold Riley
Goodbye my darling, goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
We're outward bound for the Bengal Bay
Bold Riley, oh Bold Riley
Get bendin', me lads, it's a hell of a way
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
Goodbye my sweetheart, goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley, oh Bold Riley
Goodbye my darling, goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
Oh the rain it rains all day long,
Bold Riley, oh Bold Riley
And the Northern Winds they blow so strong,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
Goodbye my sweetheart, goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley, oh Bold Riley
Goodbye my darling, goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.

Goodbye my sweetheart, goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley, oh Bold Riley
Goodbye my darling, goodbye my dear-o,
Bold Riley-o has gone away.
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Au Bord de la Fontaine

Nora: Guitar, lead vocals;
Ben: Accordion, vocals;
Eli: Fiddle, vocals

The French-Canadian Au Bord de la Fontaine is another song we learned from Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly. Our version is based upon that of
Le Vent du Nord.
Lyrics (in French):

Au bord de la fontaine, la belle ma dondaine
Au bord de la fontaine, la belle ma dondaine
Au joli mois de Mai, la belle ma la la la
Au joli mois de Mai, la belle m'a dondé
Au joli mois de Mai, la belle ma la la la
Au joli mois de Mai, la belle m'a dondé

Sur la branche d'un chêne, la belle ma dondaine
Sur la branche d'un chêne, la belle ma dondaine
Beau rossignol chantait, la belle ma la la la
Beau rossignol chantait, la belle m'a dondé
Beau rossignol chantait, la belle ma la la la
Beau rossignol chantait, la belle m'a dondé

Chante, rossignol, chante, la belle ma dondaine
Chante, rossignol, chante, la belle ma dondaine
Si tu as le coeur gai, la belle ma la la la
Si tu as le coeur gai, la belle m'a dondé
Si tu as le coeur gai, la belle ma la la la
Si tu as le coeur gai, la belle m'a dondé

Le mien n'est pas de même, la belle ma dondaine
Le mien n'est pas de même, la belle ma dondaine
Il est bien affligé, la belle ma la la la
Il est bien affligé, la belle m'a dondé
Il est bien affligé, la belle ma la la la
Il est bien affligé, la belle m'a dondé

Pierre, mon ami Pierre, la belle ma dondaine
Pierre, mon ami Pierre, la belle ma dondaine
En guerre s'est en allé, la belle ma la la la
En guerre s'est en allé, la belle m'a dondé
En guerre s'est en allé, la belle ma la la la
En guerre s'est en allé, la belle m'a dondé

Pour un bouquet de roses, la belle ma dondaine
Pour un bouquet de roses, la belle ma dondaine
Que je lui refusai, la belle ma la la la
Que je lui refusai, la belle m'a dondé
Que je lui refusai, la belle ma la la la
Que je lui refusai, la belle m'a dondé

Je voudrais que la rose, la belle ma dondaine
Je voudrais que la rose, la belle ma dondaine
Fut encore au rosier, la belle ma la la la
Fut encore au rosier, la belle m'a dondé
Fut encore au rosier, la belle ma la la la
Fut encore au rosier, la belle m'a dondé

Et que mon ami Pierre, la belle ma dondaine
Et que mon ami Pierre, la belle ma dondaine
Fut encore à m'aimer, la belle ma la la la
Fut encore à m'aimer, la belle m'a dondé
Fut encore à m'aimer, la belle ma la la la
Fut encore à m'aimer, la belle m'a dondé
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Jenny Broke her Peg Leg Dancing at the Ballroom

Nora: Mandolin;
Ben: Banjo (Tuning: EAC#Ea);
Eli: Fiddle

Jenny Broke her Peg Leg Dancing at the Ballroom is a traditional Alabama fiddle tune.

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Pretty Polly

Nora: Guitar (Tuning: DADGAD), harmony vocals;
Ben: G Tinwhistle, harmony vocals;
Eli: Banjo (Tuning: DGCDa), lead vocals

Pretty Polly is an Appalachian murder ballad. This one also comes to us from the Appalachian regions of Eastern Kentucky.
Lyrics:

Where is Pretty Polly? Over yonder she stands.
Where is Pretty Polly? Over yonder she stands
With diamonds on her fingers and her lily-white hands.

Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me.
Polly, Pretty Polly, come go along with me,
Before we get married some pleasures to see.

He led her over mountains and valleys so deep.
He led her over mountains and valleys so deep,
And then Pretty Polly, she began to weep.

"Willy, oh Willy, I'm afraid of your ways.
Willy, oh Willy, I'm afraid of your ways;
I'm afraid you will lead my poor body astray."

"Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right.
Polly, Pretty Polly, your guess is about right:
I dug on your grave the best part of last night."

She threw her arms around him and begged for her life.
She threw her arms around him and begged for her life,
And into her bosom he plunged the fatal knife.

She fell to the ground, and her blood it did flow.
She fell to the ground, and her blood it did flow,
And into her grave Pretty Polly did go.

A debt to the devil Willy must pay.
A debt to the devil Willy must pay
For killing Pretty Polly and running away.
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Jerusalem Ridge

Nora: Guitar;
Ben: Banjo (Tuning: EADEe);
Eli: Fiddle

Jerusalem Ridge is a bluegrass tune written by Bill Monroe.

Star of the County Down

Nora: Guitar, harmony vocals;
Ben: F Recorder, harmony vocals;
Eli: Fiddle, lead vocals

Possibly the most popular of all traditional Irish songs, Star of the County Down is one which has been in our plane of awareness for some time. We have performed an instrumental version of the song at a number of venues. However, we decided that we ought to sing it for our CD, as the tune invites many harmonies and words make for a more interesting arrangement anyhow.
Lyrics:

Near to Banbridge Town, in the County Down, one morning in July
Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen, and she smiled as she passed me by.
She looked so sweet, from her two bare feet to the sheen of her nut-brown hair,
Sure, the coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself to be sure I was really there.
From Bantry Bay up to Darry Quay, and from Galway to Dublin Town,
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen who I met at the County Down.
As she onward sped, sure I shook my head as I gazed with a feeling quare,
And I said, says I, to a passerby, "Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?"
He smiled at me, and he said, says he, "She's the gem of Ireland's crown,
She's young Rosie McCann, from the banks of the Bann, and the Star of the County Down.
From Bantry Bay up to Darry Quay, and from Galway to Dublin Town,
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen who I met at the County Down.
Well, I've travelled a bit, but I never was hit since my roving career began,
But fair and square I surrendered there to the charms of young Rose McCann.
I'd a heart to let, and no tenant yet did I meet with in shawl or gown,
But in she went, and I asked no rent from the Star of the County Down.
From Bantry Bay up to Darry Quay, and from Galway to Dublin Town,
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen who I met at the County Down.
At the harvest fair, she'll be surely there, so I'll dress my Sunday clothes,
With my shoes shon bright and my hat cocked right for a smile from the nut-brown Rose.
No horse I'll yoke, no pipe I'll smoke, let my plow with rust turn brown
'Til a smiling bride by my own fireside sits the Star of the County Down.
From Bantry Bay up to Darry Quay, and from Galway to Dublin Town,
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen who I met at the County Down.
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen who I met at the County Down.
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Flight of the Tin Man / Dead Man's Hand

Nora: Guitar;
Ben: Banjo (Tuning: DGBDa);
Eli: Fiddle (Tuning: GDAD)

This is a medley of two tunes written by Eli. He wrote Flight of the Tin Man, interestingly enough, in the middle of a gig. He later wrote Dead Man's Hand in Devil's Tower, Wyoming. The name of the second tune comes from Wild Bill Hickock's famous poker hand, "Aces and Eights," for which he was shot.

Scarborough Fair

Nora: Guitar, lead vocals;
Ben: Mandolin, harmony vocals;
Eli: Banjo, harmony vocals

Scarborough Fair is an ancient traditional English folk song. After recording our CD, it has become one of the most popular songs for us to perform in more concert-type venues.
Lyrics:

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who goes there
He once was a true love of mine.

Tell him to make me a cambric shirt.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Without no seams or needlework
Then he'll be a true love of mine.

Tell him to find me an acre of land.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Between the salt water and the sea strands
Then he'll be a true love of mine.

Tell him to plow it with a ram's horn.
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
And sow it all over with one peppercorn
Then he'll be a true love of mine.

Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who goes there
He once was a true love of mine.
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The Road to Lisdoonvarna

Nora: Guitar;
Ben: D Tinwhistle;
Eli: Fiddle

The Road to Lisdoonvarna is a traditional Irish tune. Since we end all of their concerts with this tune, it seems appropriate that it is also the last tune on our CD.

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