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The Ballad of The Memphis Strange

from Recluse In Plain Sight by Johnny Dango

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lyrics

The Memphis Strange, she was a belle of a boat
A swan of a ship, but she couldn't float
She was slow in the water but fast to sink
When she up and went under in the big dark drink
1000 mules, some horses and logs
A couple tons of flax, some sheep and some hogs
Sunk in the river in a great big blaze
150 years ago, nearly to the day.

Wilbur Strange, he was a hell of a man
Sharper than a knife or a rusty box fan
Had him a scheme, he called it his dream
To make his fortune using iron and steam
Built him a boat, he thought it was an ark
He loaded up the Union boys well after dark
They set up the river making almost 5 knots
He pushed it up to 8 and blew the boiler pots

Poor old Wilbur wasn't ever the same
He ran from the river and he ran from his name
He was trained as a doctor, failed his engineer's test
So he loaded up his practice and he moved out West
On the frontier he made a tonic to sell
it cost a nickel a bottle and it burned like hell
Ole Wilbur claimed it cured the fever and mange
All the folks bought the potion of old Doc Strange

Wilbur discovered the poppy plant
When he went to St. Louis to visit his aunt
She gave him a sip of her home-brewed tea
It knocked him for a loop and he said "whoooeeeee!
I may not be a good builder of ships
But I can brew a concoction folks will put to their lips."
And ever since then we've been home on the range
And that's the true story of The Memphis Strange.

credits

from Recluse In Plain Sight, released September 1, 2017
Personnel:
Chris Jacobie: bass
Fred Mandujano: drums
Jason "Cornbread" Daly: guitar
Todd Thompson: piano
Ben Sasso: clarinet
Fletcher Murchison: mandolin
Johnny Dango: guitar, banjo, vocals

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Johnny Dango Austin, Texas

Johnny Dango is an Austin, TX-based musician. He's led his own bands, The Memphis Strange, and before that, The Stillwater Pioneers. He's also been a sideman for Brothers & Sisters and Stoney LaRue. It's been said he's from Stillwater, OK, but then it's also been said he's from outer space. Or worse. ... more

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